Archive for April, 2010

“Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” John 1:29

The meaning of the term “pleading the blood” was a mystery to me until I read Jack Hayford’s explanation.  He said it is as if we are in a court of law and the judge asks us, “How do you plead, guilty or not guilty?”  We are well aware that we have transgressed God’s laws, and without His provision for our sins we would have to hang our head and declare,” I am guilty,” but praise God our guilt was taken care of by the blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God.

This just celebrated the season in the calendar of Biblical events when we are most focused on the event that made this possible. As Jesus, our Lord and Savior, hung on the cross every sin committed up to that time was put on Him as well as every sin yet to be committed in the ages following.  What a horrible thought as we picture Jesus covered with every atrocity man could think of to commit as well as the ones we tend to overlook or excuse in ourselves as they are not so “big.”

I am so happy that I can plead the blood when my enemy, Satan, comes at me with guilt over confessed sins.  I can joyfully and thankfully proclaim, ‘I plead the blood.” With that plea I am also free of the guilt if I have confessed as His word tells us in I John 1: 9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all sin.”

It is so freeing to have a Savior who loved us so much He would give His life for us and take all of our sins on Himself.  That my friends is what I call a great gift and a supreme sacrifice. Let us rejoice and be glad that we can plead the blood.

© Peggy Park 2010.

Faith has always been somewhat of a mystery to me.  I have been mulling the topic over in my mind for months now in preparation for writing a new brochure. I came up with something I call the circle of faith which has helped bring clarity to the subject. I pray it does the same for any of you reading this.

I think the circle of faith is self explanatory but will comment on it anyway. As you can see god gives each of us a measure of faith. (I believe it is the same measure and comes at the salvation experience.)

We are given the wonderful privilege of adding to that faith by hearing the word as described in the previous blog.  We return the word of God to Him by speaking His promises aloud (the scriptures that apply to the situation we are dealing with at the time).  This gives Him His own word to work with and to honor. According to Isaiah 55:11 His word will not return void.

I compare speaking His word back to Him to the joy a parent feels when their child quotes back something the parent has struggled to get them to understand.  It is if to say, “They finally listened and got it.”  God wants us to be diligent to study and believe His word.  When we quote it back to Him it is as if, “We got it”.

The gift of faith is also mentioned in I Corth. 12:9 as a gift. I believe this is in addition to the measure given to each believer but I will rest on this as I have not studied it enough to understand this aspect of faith.

© 2010 Peggy Park.

As stated earlier we are each given a measure of faith when we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.  In addition we are told that faith comes by hearing the word.  God gives us faith, we believe His word, offer His word back to Him, consider not the circumstance, and remember to praise.  Faith starts with God, comes to the heart of the believer who then returns God’s word to Him by speaking.  God declares His word will not return void but will accomplish what he pleases and prosper in the thing for which He sent it (Isaiah 55:11).

We have established the fact that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word.  We are challenged to be diligent to build on the measure He gave us.  Scripture also tells us that faith expresses itself through love.  We can not be in unresolved conflict with others and expect our faith to operate.

James 2:17 tells us that faith without works is a dead faith.

Let us resolve to be full of the word of God and return His promises to Him to fulfill.    That puts a demand on the word.  It pleases Him to know His children have taken the time to seek out His promises and return them to Him.  Yes, faith is circular.  It starts with God, then passes through man who builds it by hearing and believing the word.  Then man returns the faith words to God who then moves to fulfill His promises.  His faithfulness feeds our faith.  Our inner man is built up and our faith increases as we recall His faithfulness in our lives.

Let us remember to offer up praise for He is worthy of all praise.

1. Hagin, Kenneth What Faith Is. Rhema Bible Church, 1983

© 2010 Peggy Park.