Thursday, March 13, 2008

Don’t Take Your Eyes Off Of It

Let me return to the passages in Matthew 27 that I discussed in “Who’s Responsibility Is It Anyway?” The NIV is the only translation to render verses 4 and 24 “It’s your responsibility.” Let me preface this by saying that I’m definitely not a student of Greek. In fact, I probably know just enough to be dangerous. :)

A quick word study though shows the word “optanomai” used here. The KJV translates the two passages here as “See thou [to that]” and “See ye [to it].” The definition of this word used in these passages is derived from several other words that all refer to actual optical vision. In this case, however, it’s not a passing glance or watching from a distance. It is a prolonged gaze with “wide-open eyes.” Judas and the crowd were instructed to stare at the innocent blood of Jesus.

When I saw this definition, the Holy Spirit spoke to me,
“Stare at the Blood, and don’t take your eyes off of it.”

Would you join with me to stare intently at the blood of Christ for this next season of time leading up to April 26th? Let’s study and search out the Word of God for truth and cry out for revelation of Jesus’ blood. I believe that as the Church gets revelation on the shedding of innocent blood there will be a corresponding revelation of Christ’s shed blood. Could it be that we haven’t fully understood either one?

With the life band prayer we’ve prayed for years, “God, end abortion and send revival to America.” Though seemingly unrelated, I believe the potential for a Great Awakening is directly tied to how we deal with the issue of abortion in the nation. We need revelation concerning blood. We need to understand the importance of blood to God. I’m praying that a great Communion Revival will come to our shores–one that does not exalt any man or pulpit, but one that exalts Christ’s sacrifice.

22 …without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. (He 9:22 NIV)

This is THE foundational truth of the gospel. Unfortunately, there is a preaching dynamic that’s mirroring a natural one in a profoundly negative way. Even as our weak constitution forces us to turn away at the sight of blood, churches are deliberately deleting any mention of blood in the pulpits. For the sake of trying to create a modern, relevant spirituality the preaching of Jesus’ blood has been forsaken. What we’re left with is a Westernized pseudo-faith that is no faith at all. We’re left smitten with the shame of powerlessness brought on by doubt and an unforgiving guilty conscience.

Let’s pray together that the Church will rediscover the foundations of her faith in Jesus’ blood. There is wonder-working power in the precious blood of the Lamb.

2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (He 12:2 NIV)

Tags: 22-Word Prayer, Abortion, Communion Revival, Conscience, Great Awakening, Life Band, Responsibility, Revelation, Shedding Innocent Blood