​The power of concerted prayer and agreement in faith was overtly demonstrated over Easter weekend. Our Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, summed up the results of the prayer convergence like this: "Shot down on a Friday...Good Friday...hidden in a cave, a crevice, all of Saturday, and rescued on Sunday...flown out of Iran as the sun was rising on Easter Sunday. A pilot reborn, all home and accounted for...a nation rejoices. God is good!" We certainly saw the hand of God in action as one of our American pilots was rescued from the mountains of southwestern Iran.
 
One F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down on Good Friday with two airmen in it. These airmen ejected from the plane but became separated in the rugged terrain where their plane crashed. The pilot was rescued on the same day, but the weapon's operator could not be located. He avoided capture by climbing a 7,000-foot ridge in Zagros Mountains despite injuries, including a sprained ankle. Upon reaching the top of the ridge, he hid in a narrow crevice to evade capture. At this point, he was able to send out a beacon signal. Pete Hegseth reports: "When he was finally able to activate his emergency transponder, his first message was simple, and it was powerful. He sent a message: 'God is good!'"
 
President Trump is calling the airman's rescue "an Easter miracle." The reason for this comment was because of the difficulty of the mission. In addition to our armed forces trying to pinpoint the airman's location, the Iranian forces were also hunting for him. They offered a bounty to anyone who could find him alive. It is reported that the United States rescue mission used one hundred fifty-five aircraft, including four bombers, sixty-four fighters, forty-eight refueling tankers, thirteen rescue aircraft, and more. American air power was used to destroy any Irian advancing units. At the same time, United States special forces made their way toward the stranded officer and lifted him from his hiding place. Regarding the number of personnel and equipment used in the rescue, President Trump said, "We were bringing them all over, and a lot of it was subterfuge. We wanted to have them think he was in a different location, because they had a vast military force out there—thousands of people were looking."
 
The Jerusalem Post reported that Israel's IDF assisted in the operation. They launched strikes designed to act as diversion, drawing Iranian security forces away from the crash site and toward other areas. General Frank McKenzie, a former commander of U. S. Central Command said, "We did in fact lose a couple of aircraft in that mission," but added that he would take that lose "any day" in a situation like this. "It takes a year to build an aircraft—it takes two hundred years to build a military tradition where you don't leave anybody behind."
 
President Trump acknowledged the watchful eye of the Lord in the rescue. "When you go into these areas, you don't come out like we came out. God was watching us." It seems many were led to pray Psalm 91 over the weekend operation. "I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.'" "...He will cover you with His feathers and under His wings you will find refuge, His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart...He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways...I will protect him, for he acknowledges My name..." For those intercessors who may wonder if their prayers are making a difference, this rescue was a demonstration of their effectiveness. Did you know that the U. S. military has a prayer guide written by Gloria Robles of Intercessors for America that is based on Psalm 91? God calls us to partner with Him in prayer. When we do, we will see His miracle-working power.

We are in the middle of Passover week. Included in this week is the celebration of First Fruits or the day of the resurrection of Yeshua/Jesus. This is Nisan 16 on the Hebrew calendar. In 1 Corinthians 15:20 He is called "the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." The New Living Translation says, "But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. So, you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when He comes back." (1 Corinthians 15:20-23)
 
For life to spring forth we must first have death. This was demonstrated with Jesus who willingly went to the Cross to take our sicknesses and diseases, pain and sorrow, sin and guilt on His body. During the three hours between noon and three p.m., He felt the pain of His spiritual separation from His Holy Father because of what He was bearing. The first two verses of the prophetic Psalm 22 is a look at what Jesus would say as He hung on the Cross. "My God, My God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving Me, so far from the words of My groaning? O My God, I cry out by day, but You do not answer, by night, and am not silent." 
 
The "groanings" of Messiah are followed by a statement of truth and comfort in verse three of Psalm 22. In this Psalm there is a move from despair to faith in the truth of who God is. "But You are holy, enthroned in the praise of Israel." (NKJV) "Yet You are enthroned as the Holy One; You are the praise of Israel." (NIV) The word "enthroned" or "inhabits" in the KJV is the Hebrew verb "yashab" which means to remain or dwell. God is everywhere! Psalm 139:7-10 makes this clear. "Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast."
 
As we contemplate Christ's crucifixion and resurrection, we should see a call to worship the Lord. That message began as Moses went to Pharoah to obtain the release from slavery for the children of Israel. "So, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, 'This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews says: How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, so that they may worship me.'" (Exodus 10:3) Today our enemy, the devil, does everything he can to stop us from worshiping the One True God. Just as God broke the bondage of slavery for the Israelites, Christ broke the bondage of sin and sickness for us on the Cross. He was resurrected on the third day with a message of victory over death and a call for us to come near to worship Him.
 
Rabbi Jason Sobel tells us that "Passover reminds us that without God's intervention, Israel would still be in bondage." After the Exodus, Moses realized that what is most important for God's people is His presence. Moses said, "If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here...What else will distinguish us from all the people on the face of the earth?" (Exodus 33:15, 16) This question is still for today. We should be defined by the presence of God. That comes as we open our hearts to worship Him. Today we glory in the resurrection of Christ and His promise of eternal life for those who believe in Him. Let us make today and the weeks to come ones of His Presence through extravagant worship! 

​The Hebrew month of Shevat is here. It is the eleventh month in the religious calendar and means "to strike or lash," which refers to the heavy rains of the season in Israel. It is meant to be a time of spiritual renewal and divine instruction. In the book of Deuteronomy, we can read the final words of Moses to remind the Israelites of God's lessons in the wilderness. "In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses proclaimed to the Israelites all that the Lord had commanded him concerning them." (Deuteronomy 1:3)
 
The month of Shevat was one of preparation for the children of Israel. They were about to enter the Promised Land with their leader Joshua ahead of them. God was doing a "new thing" with them as it is declared in Isaiah 42:19. "See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being, I announce them." At the beginning of the new year, we should be seeking the Lord for the new thing He will do with us in the year to come. It is His desire that we operate in righteousness so that we can be fruitful. He is positioning us for victory in the battles we may need to fight in the future.
 
As we meditate on God's Word, we grow in righteousness. The letter from the Hebrew alphabet associated with this month is TZADIK. It symbolizes the "righteous one." One of the names of God is Yahweh Tsidqenu, "The Lord Our Righteousness." The prophet Jeremiah foretold the coming of the Lord. "'The days are coming,' declares the Lord, 'when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In His days Judah will live in safety. This is the name by which He will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness.'" (Jeremiah 23:5, 6) Jeremiah's prophecy would be confirmed in the writings of the apostle Paul. Paul tells us how we can join in that righteousness. "It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is our righteousness, holiness, and redemption." (1 Corinthians 1:30)
 
It is through our faith in Jesus Christ that righteousness comes to us. (Romans 3:22) Our goal is to become like Him so that we are in right relationship with God and with others. There is a promise in Matthew 5:6 that we should grab hold of, especially during this month. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." Jesus came as the only one who could provide us with redemption from the curse of sin because of His perfect life. 1 Peter 2:24 explains it well. "He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed."
 
The vine that we connect to when we received Jesus Christ by faith is the vine of righteousness. Like the root of a plant that brings nutrition and sustenance to the plant, the root of the Vine that we attached to brings us righteousness and holiness so that we become who Christ is--"The righteousness of God in Christ Jesus." (2 Corinthians 5:21)
 
Since we are in the beginning of a new year and in the month where the Lord wants to do a new thing in us, let us focus on our identity in Christ and remember who we are in Him. Praise God that we became the righteousness of God because of our union with Christ. May our spirits awaken to the revelation of these truths.

​What do you do when life throws you a curve ball? My first inclination is to ask God why. The problem is that I rarely get an answer to my "why question." In return for my question, I hear, "Do you trust me?" Then, I review some of my trust Scriptures:
 
Psalm 9:10 - "Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You."
Psalm 13:5 - "But I trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation."
Psalm 84:12 - "Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in You."
Psalm 125:1 - "Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken, but endures forever."
 
Proverbs 3:5, 6 - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."
 
Isaiah 12:2 - "Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord Himself, is my strength and my defense; He has become my salvation."
 
Nahum 1:7 - "The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him."
 
My why question has been directed by the unexpected death of my husband's dear daughter. She was taken from her family too early in life. Her quiet, gentle personality will be sorely missed. So, we declare our trust Scriptures, and we take comfort in who God is and in the way our Church family has poured their love on us. My other "go to" is a book written by Elisabeth Elliott titled On Asking God Why. The author knows what it is to suffer loss and has compiled her thoughts on how to deal with different kinds of loss. Here are some of them:
 
Page 11 - "A true faith must rest solidly on His character and His Word, not our particular conceptions of what He ought to do."
Page 140 - "I wanted God to explain Himself to me when my expectations were turned upside down. God knew what I really needed was not explanations but sanctification and purifying. My notions about myself, my work, and my God needed to be put through the fire. My heart needed deep and painful scouring. 'Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.'"
Page 147 - Elisabeth quotes Evelyn Underhill: "If God were small enough to be understood He would not be big enough to be worshipped."
Page 149 - "Whatever dark tunnel we may be called upon to travel through, God has been there...Things are a mess, yet to turn our eyes back to the Cross of Calvary is to see the irrefutable proof that has stood the test of the ages: 'It is by this that we know what love is: that Christ laid down HIs life for us.'" (John 3:16 - NEB)
 
The conclusion I came to before and come to again and again remains the same. God's love for us is unfathomable. He demonstrated His love through the death of Jesus on the Cross. In this unimaginable act He took our sins upon Himself so that we can spend eternity with Him in heaven when we acknowledge what He has done. His mercies are new every morning. He has walked every road we must walk and is prepared to lead us into a place of peace and love. Great is His faithfulness! Bill Johnson of Bethel Church in Redding, California, says it all: "When I don't understand, I trust."

​At the end of our lives, we all want to hear the same thing from the Lord: "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful in a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" (Matthew 25:21) It is clear that we are all born with different gifts and abilities. It is our responsibility to make the best of our own. We may not be able to achieve the same things as others, but we can make an equal or greater effort. All of us will be asked the same question at the end of our lives: "What have you done with what I have given to you?"
 
This past week, the Lord would have asked Charlie Kirk that question. I am sure that he was able to answer that he used all his gifts fully, to the glory of God. There are times when it is particularly difficult to understand why someone is taken from this earth early in life. There are many asking God that question about Charlie. At the age of thirty-one, Charlie was taken from us through an assassin's bullet as he engaged with students at Utah Valley University. Raised in the Chicago suburbs, it became obvious to those around him that Charlie was wise beyond his years. He grew up to be a principled man who stood up for his beliefs. He was a kid with a dream who worked to make it happen.
 
At a young age, he discovered that he could inspire others, especially young people. He loved to debate. Though students at college campuses became his main target, Charlie dropped out of Harper College, near Chicago, to pursue his dreams. In 2012 he founded an organization called "Turning Point USA" whose main focus is defending religious freedom, democracy, and justice. Through podcasts on social media, he reached 100,000,000 young people every month. Turning Point now has over 850 college chapters.
 
Yearly, Charlie scheduled multiple meetings to college campuses throughout the United States for what he called his "Prove Me Wrong Tour." He encouraged debate in the public square and always demonstrated his wealth of knowledge. As he was well-spoken and well researched, he was effective in helping young people think for themselves and inspired them to participate in the life of our country. Charlie's faith was central to everything he did so he defended Biblical values and spoke the truth boldly. He was a patriot who loved our country and thought we could be so much better than we are. His message was one of revival and reformation. President Trump said that Charlie went about "championing ideas with courage, logic, humor, and grace."
 
A Scripture I have always grappled with comes from Psalm 116:15. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints."  Footnotes in my Bible help me understand. The word precious in Hebrew means valuable and costly. Another suggestion is that God rejoices when we arrive in heaven. Either way, I know that He feels our pain and grieves with us over this monumental loss.
 
John 12:24 says, "...unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain." Charlie is a casualty of the internal war in our country. His message to "welcome without judgment, love without conditions, forgive without limit" must spread. The seed of Charlie has been planted, and we must pray that all the young people who were inspired by him choose to rise up like him in loving God and loving others. Pray for the soul of our nation and that the flames of revival would burn brightly as others pick up the torch that Charlie left for us.

On August 21, at the age of eighty-nine, evangelical leader James Dobson passed away. He was the son, grandson, and great grandson of ministers but decided to break from tradition to become a psychologist. Renown for promoting Biblical values and helping countless families through his organization, "Focus on the Family," he was advisor to five United States presidents. For me, the most impactful story of his life comes from his relationship with his father and his two children.
 
James Dobson shared an account about his growing up years. As a pastor and leader of revival meetings, Dobson's father traveled long distances from home. His wife was mostly responsible for raising James. When he turned sixteen, he began to develop a fresh attitude toward her. One night, after having a hard conversation with James, and in his presence, she called her husband and said, "I need you." He canceled four years of revival meetings and came home to be with his wife and son. Here is what James said about his life after his dad came home: "And my dad, by making that sacrifice, invested in me. We hunted, we fished, he was with me. It pulled me back from the edge. I was an only child, so that time with my mother and dad was idyllic."
 
After attending the University of Southern California, James Dobson became a leading child psychologist. In 1977 he began his radio program, "Focus on the Family." With thirty-four Christian stations to oversee, his own family began to suffer. His dad saw this and wrote him a letter warning him that if he did not invest time in his two children, he would lose them. As a result of this advice from his dad, James cut back on the travel so that he could do for his children what his dad had done for him.
 
When asked by CBN Founder Pat Roberson about his passion to champion traditional families, James told him, "...Everything that we have believed about the family for thousands of years, literally, is being questioned now and being undermined. And there is a real danger that the family will disintegrate." He went on to say, "...The family is the ground floor. That's the foundation for the entire culture. Everything sits on that—our institutions, our government, our way of life, our values, our children—everything sits on that foundation."
 
More than anything else, Dobson made it clear that a family's first priority needs to be teaching their children to love the Lord. "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up." (Deuteronomy 6:5-7) We would be wise to follow the advice of this extraordinary evangelical leader. If we desire to see our country prosper, we must put our focus on raising and honoring our families so that we place them in the heart of American life. 

​Treasures hidden below the sea are revealed when the tide goes out. The coastline of Maine is known for its boulder-strewn edges. When low tide occurs, you have the opportunity to climb up on some huge boulders and look out on the expansive ocean below. The boulders in Maine fascinate me as I look at their variety of layers laid down over thousands of years. The ocean has managed to place some grooves in the rocks, but the larger ones are immovable because they are deeply anchored into the ground.
 
At low tide one may hear the sound of the life that lives on the ocean floor. Habitats formed below are revealed and life comes alive in a new way. Rocks and sand are covered with varieties of seaweed that provide shelter and food for crabs, oysters, and snails. Sea birds peck at the seaweed to find gourmet morsels to digest.
 
Tidal pools become visible as the ocean pulls away from the shoreline. Waves that crash ashore leave deposits of crustaceans, fish, and plant life in hollowed out areas surrounded by large rocks, and small habitats or microcosms of the ocean beyond develop. New life appears in these small places, and a community grows. It is the large rocks and boulders that protect each community from being destroyed. Standing at the edge of a tidal pool, I remember how the Lord is our Rock. Psalm 62:2 says, "Truly He is my rock, my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken." 
 
Our lives, like the life that appears in tidal pools, also have moments of ebbs and flows where we feel exposed and vulnerable. It is during these times that we need to remember our Creator, the One who gives us life and encourages us to grow where we are deposited. During challenging times, He is the Rock who lifts us up and gives us new vision for life.
 
2 Samuel 22:2 and 3 says it this way: "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; the God of my strength, in whom I trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; my Savior, You save me from violence. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies." When we feel like we are being deposited in new areas of life, we must evaluate what is happening to see if it is time to start some new relationships and begin to explore possibilities that we never thought about before. God has a plan and purpose for us, and we must move with His flow. May He introduce us to some new and exciting possibilities.

​I had no sooner finished sending out our email about Tammuz 17 and the significant events that occurred for the people of Israel on that date, when fire sirens began to blow. We were about to have our own Tammuz 17 encounter. The sirens got louder and louder until I realized fire engines were coming to the building we live in along with seven other families. A total of four fire trucks, including an aerial ladder truck, pulled into our parking lot. Along with them came an ambulance, three police vehicles, and two PECO trucks. One could smell the smoke from the fire that was coming from our next-door neighbor's condominium.
 
We learned later that the fire started when a charging cell phone exploded. The firemen put on their suits and then they went to work. First, they broke the bedroom window where the fire burned. Thick black smoke poured out of the window. The hose was attached to the fire hydrant and ran to the front door and up the stairs of the second-story condo so water could be poured on the fire. The lone teenager was out of the unit, but his cat was trapped upstairs. Four firemen went inside looking for her and were able to rescue her.
 
As I stood on my deck watching all the activity at our neighbor's condo, I began to wonder if we needed to evacuate and, if so, what I should grab and bring to safety. I could feel the panic begin to set in. Now, I know that Scripture tells us that our treasures are in heaven, but I confess that I have earthly treasures that I have collected over the years. I have multiple Bibles with personal notes in them, books that I have read and kept, and photographs showing treasured moments with family and friends. In addition, I have collected shells, rocks, and souvenirs from various sites I have visited. Then, there is my "Wesley" clock that God arranged for me to purchase after I fell in love with it at the store. I could go on!
 
I was put at ease when one of the firefighters yelled to me that he would like to come upstairs and check our bedroom to be sure there were no hot spots. He explained to me that there is a firewall between our units. It was doing its job of protecting us, which meant we did not have to evacuate. Praise God! Just after the fireman left, peace started to invade my soul as I remembered Scriptures. The first one that came to mind was Isaiah 43:1-3. "But now, this is what the Lord says—He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: Fear not for I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior..."  
 
The Lord is our firewall! This word, I learned, can apply to construction or computer network traffic. In construction it is a fire-resistant wall that compartmentalizes a building. In computer transmissions, it is a barrier between a trusted network and an untrusted one. My attention has now been shifted to all the people in our nation who are dealing with great loss of loved ones, homes, and possessions from floods, hurricanes, fires, and volcanoes. The losses are staggering! In these times, it seems that tragedy slips by “our firewall.” This is a mystery, locked in the heart of God. Yet, we must not negate the Word of God because of tragic circumstances. Faith assures us that He will be with us during heartache. Psalm 144:2 still applies. "He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer my shield in whom I take refuge..." He walks with us in all seasons of life and lifts us up to help us travel through what may look like impossible situations. This week, may I ask you to join me in prayer for all those who have been traumatized by great loss. May the God of Israel and our Lord and Savior bless them with peace, guide them with wisdom, assure them of His love, and redeem all that has been lost.

Tammuz, the fourth month on the Hebrew calendar, is significant for the events that took place and the lessons we can learn. Today I want to highlight the seventeenth of Tammuz that starts a three-week period that ends on the ninth of Av. (Av 9 is another significant day that goes down in history as a day of infamy.) The three-week time period between Tammuz 17 and Av 9 that we are now entering has become known as "The Dire Straits." Observant Jews will set the three weeks aside to repent and ask for forgiveness from God for the sins of their fathers. Five catastrophes occurred in Biblical history on Tammuz 17.
 
Here is how the prophet Jeremiah describes the three weeks called "The Dire Straits." "Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude: She dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: All her persecutors overtook her between the straits. (Lamentations 1:3 - KJV) The first of the five catastrophes occurred when the children of Israel came to Mount Sinai. Moses was with God receiving Torah. The Israelites became impatient and decided to make their own god. They collected and squandered the wealth God had arranged for them to take from Egypt to make an idol—the golden calf. God's desire was to see His people prosper, but because they did not know their true identity, they worshiped a false god.
 
During "The Dire Straits," the daily offerings brought to the first Temple were suspended in 586 BC. This is because Nebuchadnezzar's army began their siege of Jerusalem. It was in 70 AD that the walls of Jerusalem were breached by the Roman Empire during the second Temple period. Prior to the Bar Kokhba Revolt, a Roman military leader named Apostamos burned a Torah scroll. This burning set a precedent for the burning of Jewish books and Torah scrolls throughout the world. Finally, the sanctuary of the Temple was desecrated when an idolatrous image was placed there. There is controversy over who did this. Some say the Babylonians, while others say it was Apostamos.
 
How can remembering these events help us to move out of seasons of difficulty that seem to repeat themselves during similar periods of time each year? As I said before, we must recognize our true identity in Christ Jesus. Because we are God's children, we have favor with Him and the ability to break out of destructive patterns in life. Our enemies are defeated foes because of our position in Christ. "And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:6) In addition, we are told in Romans 8:37 that "...We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." 
 
Since we are grafted into the family of God, the enemy of our souls may try to disrupt our lives with conflict and disasters during this same time period. He wants us to agree with the decrees of his kingdom rather than the decrees from the Kingdom of Heaven. We must be vigilant not to allow the schemes of the enemy to take hold of us. The power of the risen Christ is available to everyone who believes and confesses that He is Lord. Our confession must be, "I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me...forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12-14)

​Some of the old hymns written about the blood of Jesus declare it to be our victory. Likewise, Scriptures proclaim this, such as Ephesians 1:7. "In Him (Jesus) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding." The Church needs to remember that the purchase price for our redemption was the blood of Jesus. "We were bought with a price,” 1 Corinthians 6:20 and 7:23 tell us. The blood of Jesus is the only recognized currency in heaven. It is through faith that we appropriate the blood of Jesus.
 
If we look at the history of the blood covering, we must start with Adam and Eve in the Garden. When they sinned against God their attempt to cover their nakedness with fig leaves was insufficient. It took the slaughtering of animals and shedding of their blood to cover their sin. The blood sacrifice became the atonement or covering of the sin of Adam and Eve. The sacrificing of animals during the time of the Old Covenant was a foreshadow of what would ultimately be fulfilled in Christ at the Cross as He offered us a New Covenant.
 
The Lord spoke to Moses about the blood as he was leading the Israelites to the Promised Land. "For the life of the creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourself on the altar..." (Leviticus 17:11) We must understand that it is the blood that carries the gift of life from God. Up until the birth of Jesus, there was no perfect sacrifice for sin. That is why so many animals had to die regularly for the covering of sin. When Jesus went to the Cross, the blood He shed was pure and uncontaminated. 1 Peter 1:19 calls it "precious blood." For this reason, the sacrifice of the shed blood of Jesus only needed to be done once. (Hebrews 9:12) t took away our sins from the past, present, and future.
 
Romans 3:25 and 26 in The Passion Translation explains the sacrifice of God through His Son beautifully: "Jesus' God-given destiny was to be the sacrifice to take away sins and now He is our mercy seat because of His death on the Cross. We come to Him for mercy, for God has made a provision for us to be forgiven by faith in the sacred blood of Jesus. This is the perfect demonstration of God's justice, because until now, He had been so patient—holding back His justice out of tolerance for us. So, He covered over the sins of those who lived prior to Jesus' sacrifice. And when the season of tolerance came to an end, there was only one possible way for God to give away His righteousness and still be true to both His justice and His mercy—to offer up His own Son. So now, because we stand on the faithfulness of Jesus, God declares us righteous in His eyes!"
 
The enemy of our souls does his best to discourage the Church from teaching about the power of the blood, taking communion, and pleading its power. He is helpless against it. The value of the blood as we plead it includes mercy, forgiveness, pardon, healing, protection, deliverance, and peace. The song, "O The Blood" by Gateway Worship and Kari Jobe, has a chorus that explains the power of the blood. "Oh, the blood of Jesus washes me. Oh, the blood of Jesus shed for me. What a sacrifice that saved my life; Yes, the blood, it is my victory." We would do well to keep this in mind.