The Blood Speaks...
Hebrews 12:18-24
Some strange language here
V18-21 Check out Ex. 19, Deut. 4 and Deut. 5
The awe and splendour of the Old Covenant
V22-24 The New Covenant is far greater than all that went before!
V24 sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel
Gen. 4:8-12 brother’s blood cries out to me
Abel’s blood spoke – it spoke of the guilt of Cain
Cain tried to deny the offence but the blood cried out against him and condemned him
My home village – corner of wall – newer than the rest – speaks of a 17 year old who drove a car into it a month after passing his driving test
A visible reminder of a mistake made – one of many – do you have any?
Of course not all our mistakes leave a visible mark – there can be inner brokenness – there can be harm done to others that continues to speak against you - your own conscience can have a bloodstain on it that speaks against you
Abel’s blood spoke against Cain and he became a restless wanderer
What speaks against you?
What accuses you?
What are the guilt bringing words that assail you?
Heb. 12:24 A new covenant – the old has gone, the new has come!
Blood that speaks a better word – the blood of Jesus!
Listen to what the blood of Jesus says – not the old accusing voices!
Seven things that the blood of Jesus speaks to you today…
1. Forgiveness Matt. 26:26-28
Jesus spoke these words shortly before he was crucified
He spoke these words to men who he knew would deny him – men who would flee from him in his hour of need
Even before they fully understood the problem he spoke of a solution
Solutions are so much better than problems!
Forgiveness confronts sin head on and provides a solution
Cain tried to hide what he had done to Abel – hence the question, “Where is your brother?”
We all have things we would like to hide or try and forget
Forgiveness is more powerful than this – forgiveness does not lessen the offence or cover up the fact that it happened – forgiveness deals with the offence – it removes the offence
Go to the doctor with a broken arm – don’t want to be assured that I am mostly healthy – don’t want to be told that I still have just over 200 unbroken bones – don’t want to be told that it could have been worse – I want a solution!
Forgiveness is the solution to sin – the amazing solution that cannot be found outside of Jesus Christ
How often have you wished that you could turn back the clock and rerun a part of your life so that you can say or do the right thing?
Of course you can’t do this – but you can bring your failures to Jesus and ask for forgiveness – the blood speaks forgiveness!
2. Redemption Eph. 1:3-8
What is redemption? Literally means to buy back
The blood of Jesus says that you have been bought back – the price has been paid for you
You may not value yourself ever so highly – especially when your failures speak against you
How much are you worth? The blood of Jesus!
God saw you in your spiritually dead state and paid the blood of Jesus to buy you into life!
3. Nearness Eph. 2:11-13
Brought near by the blood
Friend of mine visited a pig farm – return journey included tube train – much more space than usual – realised it was because of the smell!
It’s no fun being stinky and unloved!
Have you ever been rejected? Have you ever felt unwelcome?
Sin separates us from God – it is an offence to him
The blood of Jesus deals with the offence of our sin
Don’t hide – come close – the blood says that you can!
4. Peace Col. 1:17-23
Making peace by his blood (v20)
School – big tough kid is going to get you! – a threat of violence – a cause of fear and trembling
The devil has some weapons he uses with great effect – accusation and fear are two big ones
He wants to rob you of peace – he wants you to feel alienated from God – to feel that God has, is or is going to punish you
When the turmoil rises come back to the blood that brings you peace – speak of the blood and disarm the accusing thoughts – if you need to repent then do so – receive the peace that is on offer
5. Holiness Heb. 13:11-12
What is holiness? Purity, perfection, the nature of God
Metal sculpture from scrap – parts that have been soaked in oil can’t just be wiped or even washed clean – need to heat them with a gas torch to burn off and purge out the oil
Filthy black bits of metal can then be used to make something beautiful
God delights to take unclean people like us and make us a demonstration of his goodness – to make us objects of beauty
The means of our cleansing is the blood of Jesus – it is totally effective – there is no stain that it can’t remove
Remember Isaiah’s words: Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. (Isaiah 1:18)
Don’t receive any voice that says you can’t be made clean – the blood says you can!
6. Freedom Rev. 1:4-6
Freed us from our sins by his blood
Simple but powerful truth – freedom comes through the blood!
In your own strength you will find yourself back in the same position again and again and you will begin to have an expectation of failure
Failure will speak to you and sap your faith – the blood of Jesus speaks a better word – it speaks freedom!
7. Victory Rev. 12:10-11
Overcame him by the blood of the Lamb
Football teams – can argue about which is the best – many people have their favourite – maybe a premier league team like Man United or a jumpers-as-goalposts-league team like Taunton Town
Can give a lot of opinion about the teams but what really counts are results – who won the games?
There is a result in history that the devil hates to be reminded of – the cross!
Of course the cross initially looked like a victory for Satan – but he didn’t anticipate the second half when Jesus rose from the dead – he didn’t expect the temple curtain to be torn – he didn’t expect death and sin to be defeated
There are times in life when you will feel like you are being defeated and that you are not overcoming – these are times to remind yourself of the cross – remind yourself of the victory – remember what the blood speaks regarding who won that day
The sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel – what does it speak…
1. Forgiveness
2. Redemption
3. Nearness
4. Peace
5. Holiness
6. Freedom
7. Victory