I was invited to preach at a church in a European capital city. Just before the service, the pastor took me aside and said, “We don’t talk about the blood of Jesus. We went through World War II, and I am afraid it would make people feel uncomfortable mentioning anything about blood.” I gave him no answer. After my introduction to the congregation, I began to teach on the authority of a believer mentioning how the power of the blood of Jesus Christ was a merciful covering for our sins. I went on to say for a believer having knowledge and understanding of the power of Christ’s blood makes hell nervous. After that initial invitation, the pastor invited me back several more times in the following years.

Of late, I have noticed an absence of preaching about the power of the blood of Jesus. In some cases, it’s been relegated to the history of our faith, not a present-day reality. The old timers would “plead the blood” not as a magic formula or some superstitious act to remind God about the blood. It was a reminder for them that what they were about to pray would be empowered by the complete and absolute victory Jesus gained on the Cross. The power of the blood was acknowledged as part of their spiritual arsenal.

What makes awareness of the blood of Jesus so powerful was its ability to not only seal our covenant with God through the Lord’s blood sacrifice but to serve notice to demonic powers that forgiveness and freedom would be the outcome of our prayers of faith.

The priests under the old covenant entered an earthly tabernacle and sprinkled the blood of animals once a year, year after year. Jesus entered a Heavenly tabernacle once and for all time and sprinkled His blood on the Mercy Seat of Heaven. His blood was an act of mercy covering our sins so completely that when the Father looks down on our failings, He sees the blood of His Son. That is a powerful image to take with us into prayer.

The blood of Jesus was spilled for a single purpose. To allow us to come into God’s presence free from the things that held us captive. This freedom required the blood of His Son. “But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice” (9:26).

When we pray aware of what the blood of Jesus accomplished and provides for us, we will pray with the kind of authority that lets the spirits of darkness know this is a done deal and not open to negotiation. That is what the old timers understood when they would reference the blood of Jesus in their prayers of deliverance. It’s not something to be mocked by hipster theologians or neglected by the Church. Conscious recognition of the power of the blood of Jesus is required when we are called to confront dark spirits and situations that require the kind of power that only comes from the power of the blood.

“And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb, and by their testimony” (Revelation 12:11).