Prayer is one of the tools of fellowship with God. If prayer is a key ingredient and tool of fellowship, then there must be a basis for why believers are able to have fellowship with the Father.
What is the basis of our fellowship with God?
The basis is the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Because of the precious blood of Jesus Christ, believers are able to have fellowship with the Father. The blood is the basis and condition that makes fellowship and prayer possible.
Fellowship Through the Blood
1 John explains the relationship between fellowship and the blood of Christ:
1 John 1:3, 7-9 “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Notice the connection. Fellowship is possible through the blood of Jesus Christ. When believers sin, fellowship with the Father is hindered. That is why confession is necessary. The blood of Christ cleanses from sin, and fellowship with the Father and the Son is restored.
Prayer is therefore connected with forgiveness, holiness, and fellowship. Sin can hinder prayer, which is why the blood of Christ is so important to the prayer life.
Why Is the Blood Important?
There is another reason the blood is important: life is in the blood.
Genesis 9:4: “But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.”
God considers the blood to be connected with the life of the flesh.
Leviticus 17:11, 14: “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. For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.”
The blood is important because Scripture presents blood as being associated with life. This is why the blood of Jesus Christ is so significant. Through His shed blood, salvation is granted, and the Holy Spirit is able to give life to the believer. The blood is not something God treats lightly. John Macarthur takes away that blood is involved in the atonement of sin.
The Blood and the Life of Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ spoke about His flesh and blood in connection with eternal life:
John 6:53-56: “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.”
The passage is about receiving Christ for salvation rather than being a doctrinal reference to the Lord’s Supper.
The Apostle Paul also speaks seriously about the body and blood of Christ in connection with the Lord’s Supper:
1 Corinthians 11:27-29: “Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.”
The warning concerning the Lord’s Supper is not a statement that taking the Supper determines salvation. The point being emphasized is the seriousness with which the believer should regard the body and blood of Christ.
God Sees Suffering
The blood is also connected with suffering. Genesis 4 gives a striking example. After Cain killed Abel, God said:
Genesis 4:10: “And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.”
God heard the voice of Abel’s blood. This demonstrates how seriously God regards suffering and shed blood.
Another example is found in Revelation 6. The Tribulation saints cry out to God concerning their suffering and bloodshed:
Revelation 6:9-11: “And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.”
Their prayers are connected with their suffering and blood.
Revelation 8 then shows prayers being offered before God and God’s judgment following:
Revelation 8:3-5: “And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand. And the angel took the censer, and filled it with the fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.”
The prayers of the saints are presented before God, and God’s power is manifested in judgment.
Power in the Blood
There is also a connection between the blood and spiritual warfare. Blood is necessary to overcome Satan.
Revelation 12:9-11: “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”
The blood is therefore connected with several important aspects of the spiritual life:
- Fellowship and holiness
- Life
- Suffering
- Victory over Satan
These things become especially significant when considered in connection with prayer and spiritual warfare.
Jesus Christ as the Greatest Example of Prayer
The greatest example of prayer should be Jesus Christ. His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane was one of the strongest examples of prayer because He put His whole heart and soul into it.
Hebrews 12:1-3: “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”
Jesus Christ is the primary example to look toward.
Hebrews 4:14-16: “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Because Jesus Christ is the great High Priest, believers can come boldly to the throne of grace. The High priest can only approach God through blood. Satan and his minions realize the importance of blood. When they do spells, they use blood.
The Blood Speaks
The power associated with blood is not merely a human concept. Scripture explicitly says that blood can speak.
Hebrews 12 makes an extraordinary comparison:
Hebrews 12:22-24: “But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.”
Abel’s blood cried from the ground, but the blood of Jesus Christ speaks “better things than that of Abel.”
Why can Jesus Christ be the believer’s High Priest when he prays?
Because of the blood.
Why can Christ intercede when a believer’s prayer is imperfect?
Because of the blood.
Romans 8 teaches that the Spirit helps believers in their infirmities and that Christ intercedes for them:
Romans 8:26-27: “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
The blood speaks for the believer.
Redemption Through the Blood
The blood of Christ is also connected with redemption and reconciliation.
Colossians 1:12-20: “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled. In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard…”
Through His blood, Christ provides redemption and forgiveness and makes peace through the blood of His cross. The point being emphasized is that the blood is central to God’s work of redemption and reconciliation. This power is made available to all mankind only if you accept it.
All Things Are Yours in Christ
First Corinthians 3 continues this thought:
1 Corinthians 3:21-23: “Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.”
Through the power of the blood, you can take claim on everything.
How Does the Power of the Blood Work in Prayer?
How should believers apply these truths to their prayer lives?
1. Have Faith
Faith is essential to prayer. If a person has faith in the blood of Jesus Christ for the salvation of his soul, then he should also recognize the power associated with Christ’s blood.
Many Christians sing songs about the blood:
- “There is power in the blood.”
- “Under the blood.”
- “Saved by the blood.”
- “Nothing but the blood.”
- “There is a fountain filled with blood.”
But the question is whether the believer actually believes what he is singing. Faith means believing what God says.
2. Claim the Promise
The second principle is to claim it. When a person has faith, he believes what God says and believes that what God has promised will come to pass. George Müller demonstrated this kind of prayer. When he prayed, he claimed God’s promises by faith and trusted that God would answer. However, there is an important boundary: believers do not know God’s will completely. God may answer:
- Yes
- No
- Wait
But as a believer grows in his relationship with the Father, he becomes more familiar with God’s character and with the kinds of things that God will say yes to, no to, or ask him to wait for. This was part of the depth of George Müller’s prayer life. His relationship with God was so deep that he had confidence in what he was praying for.
The believer can pray with faith and claim the promise on the blood, because the blood speaks.
3. Use the Word of God
Prayer should be grounded in God’s Word. One of the key ways to persuade God in prayer is to quote Scripture back to Him. George Müller would point to a specific verse and say, in effect: “This is what You promised, Father.”
The believer can bring God’s promises before Him. The prayer can therefore be: “Lord, does not Your blood speak? And because Your blood speaks, bring this promise to pass.”
This is a powerful prayer life because it combines faith, the blood of Christ, and the promises of God.
3. Suffering
There is another element that has already been discussed: suffering. Prayer can become more powerful when the flesh is brought under suffering. This is one reason fasting is associated with prayer. When a person fasts and prays, the flesh experiences deprivation while the believer seeks God.
The suffering of Jesus Christ was not only for salvation. Scripture also teaches believers about suffering for His sake.
Philippians 1:29: “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.”
The believer’s suffering can therefore become part of his sacrifice of service to God.
A Living Sacrifice
Romans 12 describes the believer’s body as a sacrifice:
Romans 12:1-2: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
The believer’s body is to be presented as a living sacrifice.
In the Old Testament, sacrifices were associated with a sweet savour before God. The same principle is used here to illustrate how sacrifice and suffering can be connected with one’s relationship with God.
When a believer is going through hardship and continues fasting, praying, and seeking God, he is offering himself to God as a living sacrifice. Consider someone who has lost his job, is struggling financially, has no one helping him, is facing the possibility of homelessness, and has laboured for years in ministry without seeing the fruit he hoped for. He gets down on his knees, fasts, and prays: “God, will You help me?”
The suffering itself becomes part of the sacrifice being offered to God. God is smelling the incense that is offered by this sacrifice, compared to a fat Christian who is just giving a prayer.