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Increased Power during Prayer

Let us focus on a factor that adds tremendous power to intercessory prayer: asking God to apply the blood of Christ to the individual you are lifting up in prayer. The book of Revelation specifies three elements essential for victory over Satan: “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” (Rev 12:11) I call this verse the “crimson hinge” of Revelation because it is exactly in the middle of the book.  The three elements of course are: the blood of Jesus, the word of one’s testimony, and a willingness to die for one’s faith.

“All that He endured-the blood drops that flowed from His head, His hands, His feet, the agony that racked His frame, and the unutterable anguish that filled His soul at the hiding of His Father’s face-speaks to each child of humanity, declaring, It is for thee that the Son of God consents to bear this burden of guilt; for Thee He spoils the domain of death, and opens the gates of Paradise.” (ibid)

We need to keep in mind that Jesus suffered for each of us, and for every person for whom we pray.

The efficacy of Christ’s blood

Definition of Efficacy=Power to produce effects or intended results; effectiveness.

Rev 12: 10 says, “I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now  salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before God day and night, has been cast down”

The Power of His Christ! The New Testament repeatedly points to the blood of Jesus, and it is especially prominent in Matthew’s account of the Crucifixion.  Roger Morneau told his custom of opening to Matthew 27 and reviewing the Crucifixion section of that chapter (verses 45-65) before making intercessory prayer requests.

Matthew 27 mentions the blood of Jesus five times (verses 4, 6, 8, 24, 25.) Add the verses that describe the scourging, the crown of thorns pressed upon His brow, and the Crucifixion itself (verses 26, 30, 35) and you have a total of eight references to Jesus’ blood-more than any other Gospel writer. You can be sure that when any child of God turns to Matthew 27, points to those eight mentions of the blood of Jesus and urges that blood as a reason for God to act, Satan slinks away in anguish-totally silenced.

Ponder these points:

• It is the blood that makes atonement (Leviticus 17:11) “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.”
• We need to keep ever before us the efficacy of the blood of Jesus ( Our High Calling, 47) 

“Satan….trembles and flees when the merits of that precious blood are urged.” Testimonies 5 p.317

The word “urge” comes from the Latin urgere, “to press hard.” Other meanings include “to prod” “to push” “to entreat” “to implore” “to beseech.” The meaning of beseech include “to ask for earnestly; solicit eagerly”

Let us unite at the foot of the cross to “press hard” and as we pray, may we take the following as God’s message to us (Hebrews 6:14) “Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.”

Morneau emphasizes what he calls “three principles for effective intercessory prayer”

• Ask God to forgive the sins of the person for whom you are praying.
• Ask that the person be surrounded by God’s Holy Spirit-with a sense of the Holy Spirits presence and the peace that can bring.
• Claim the blood of Calvary on that person’s behalf.

In your imagination open your Bible to Matthew 27:45-65 and travel from Pilate’s judgment hall to Calvary. Roger Morneau does this before presenting requests to the Lord in prayer on behalf of another.

Whether you use just Matthew 27:45-65, or the eight direct or implied mentions of Christ’s blood in this chapter, you have this assurance, “It is the blood that makes atonement” It causes Satan to flee.

Resources

Great Prayers and Pray-ers of the Bible, Joe Engelkemier