The Blood of Yeshua, A Key to Effectiveness

by Lonnie Lane

An important question came to me in an email about the blood
of Yeshua as related to our intercession. Aaron’s intercession as a priest unto
God, was largely about blood to atone for sins. As priests ourselves, it would
seem that the blood of Yeshua should have a central place in our  intercession. Could the blood be a key
to more effective intercession?

Here’s the question, followed by my answer: “I have just
read your article ‘Priestly ordination for a Nation of Priests.’ I would like to understand
what was meant by Aaron interceding for the 12 tribes of Israel. Am I right in
thinking that the 12 tribes represented the Nation of Israel, and the question
relates to how we can intercede for the nation of Israel….

Aaron interceded for Israel, which was made up of  twelve tribes, in the sense of being the
go-between from the people to God by way of administering sacrifices. He wasn’t
praying as we think of intercession. We’re functioning in the spirit; Aaron and
his sons were functioning in the natural realm, sacrificing animals and burning
offerings to make intercession for people’s sins to God. The sacrifices were an
appeal to God for His mercy and forgiveness of  sins: “For the life of
the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is
the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement” (Leviticus 17:11).  The New Living Translation (NLT) says it this way: “For the life of the body is in its blood. I
have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the
Lord. It is the blood, given in
exchange for a life that makes purification possible.” The writer of the
book of Hebrews says it clearly: “All things are cleansed
with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness”  (Hebrews 9:22).

The blood of animals only
covered the act of the sin.  It did not render the person sinless,
nor remove the sin nature that keeps us separated from God. The fact that there
were on-going sacrifices in the temple is indication sin still abounded.
Because, “in those sacrifices there is a
reminder of sins year by year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and
goats to take away sins” (Hebrews 10:3,4).  But God had a plan. “That
is why, when Messiah came into the world, he said to God, ‘You did not want
animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer’”
(Hebrews 10:5 NLT). The
ultimate reason for Yeshua being born and living His life was to die as an
offering of atonement for sin! It may be of interest to know, if you don’t already, that the book of
Hebrews was written before the Temple was destroyed by a Jewish person who had
come to fully grasp the atonement of Yeshua while sacrifices were still going
on in the temple.

The Bible tell us that “Messiah
Yeshua is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand
of God, who also intercedes
for us” (Romans 8:34 my emphasis).Yeshua intercedes for believers on the basis of His own blood. Notice
the verse connects His death with His intercession. (the verse interjects the
resurrection because if He hadn’t been raised there would be no intercession,
of course.) It is always the blood which distresses forgiveness which is the
goal of intercession. It is Yeshua’s blood alone that was the final and
complete atonement that removed the curse of sin and death for those who would
receive it. To receive it, we only need to believe it. If we truly believe, as
in a real conversion that turns-us-from-sin-to-God kind of change in our lives,
we are cleansed by His blood so we will no longer be partakers of sin on an
intentional basis. We become “partakers
of grace” (Phil 1:7) instead of recipients of judgment. God’s wrath or
judgment (or satan’s accusations for that matter) are rendered ineffective
because the blood of Yeshua ever makes intercession for us. It’s always about blood.

If we are partaking of that grace, then we will
live as people who are cleansed of sin, who live and love in holiness. We’re
more comfortable with the word ‘righteousness’ than ‘holiness’ perhaps, but
holiness is what God is looking for. Without going into it now (a subject for
another time), the object of having sin entirely removed from us is a full
identification with the death of Yeshua and a new self-identity that says, “I have been
crucified with Messiah and it is no
longer I who live, but Messiah lives in me; and the life which I now
live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave
Himself up for me” (Galatians 2:20). What
does that mean practically? God has told Israel and, therefore, us as well, “You shall be holy for I the Lord your God am
holy” (Leviticus 19:2). Peter, while writing about how one should live in holiness,
spoke of “the sanctifying work of the
Spirit to obey Messiah Yeshua and be sprinkled with His blood…”
(1 Peter 1:2), and then quoted the same verse: “…like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your
behavior because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.” (:15,
16).

Quite clearly, any
blood-bought child of God will live out his or her life with a quest to walk in
a manner consistent with Yeshua in holiness. The focus and goal of our lives
will not be for ‘stuff’ or ‘acclaim’ but to “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added
to you”  (Matthew 6:33). Here’s
the catch, however. If we attempt to live a supposed righteous life, and what ‘appears’
to be kingdom-seeking, but our goal is what we’ll get out of it, we’re not
seeking His Kingdom nor righteousness.  People may be fooled, but God – never.

Let me sum this up.
Yeshua bled out his last drop of blood since the sacrifices were drained of
their blood to make atonement. His blood, via His death, paid the price that
enabled mankind to be restored to God as God had originally created mankind to
be in union with Him. We access that forgiveness by faith (the very thing that
Eve departed from when she doubted (lost faith in) God’s goodness and believed
the lie of the snake instead). When we believe He paid for our sins and it
becomes our reality, we can then live our lives as those who are freed from sin
– we can live in right standing with God. Now that the barrier is gone we can
have a relationship with God. We should be able to hear Him, as “My sheep hear My voice” (John 10:27).
God becomes a part of our daily lives. Our desire is for His Kingdom and no
longer is the world and it’s ‘rewards’ our highest priority. God’s will become
our highest priority and while He may have us do those things which we desire,
we will long for Him to be glorified in what we do. We are changed and made “new creations” (Galatians 6:15). We have
a new nature, one that longs for holiness and the presence of a Holy God. If we
make mistakes, we can go to God on the basis of the blood of Yeshua and receive
the forgiveness that’s already ours.

Understand this is not a quickie dusting off of sin
if we went into it willingly and intentionally. In that case, you need to deal
with God to change your weak character so you can be who He’s made you to be – a
person living in holiness. It does mean that when we fail, we are not to take
on guilt and condemnation. “There is now
no condemnation for those who are in Messiah Yeshua” (Romans 8:1). That’s
no, none, zilch, nada. Conviction is not the same as condemnation.  Conviction is being made aware a
correction is needed. Condemnation is hopeless. We’re never hopeless in Yeshua!
Rather, just as children learn from trial and error, and from their mistakes,
so do we. God would not have made us “babes
in Messiah” (1 Cor 3:1 KJV) if we were to be fully matured from the get-go
when we come to the Lord. We have to learn. It’s a process. So each time we
fail somehow to walk in holiness, or even if we make some dumb mistake, we can
go to God for help because of the blood of Yeshua.  The blood of Yeshua is alive and continually makes
intercession for us, because it never wears out or becomes obsolete – It’s
eternal!! “Therefore let us draw near
with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find
grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4;16).  We now have access to all God said
because His blood obliterated the barrier that had existed between us and God.
With no barrier – because of the blood – we have access to all of God!!

Now, with regard to our own prayerful intercession (which is
what we started this article with), we can petition God on the basis of
Yeshua’s blood for God’s blessings, prophecies and promises. These are
rightfully ours (or those we’re praying for) because of the blood of Yeshua. They’re
ours not on the basis of anything we’ve done but on the basis of what Yeshua
has done to satisfy God’s wrath against sin. Perhaps we should consider telling
God less of what we want Him to do and more of declaring what Yeshua did and
already promised us. We often ask/plead/request/petition God to do things He
may have already promised us: Healing, wholeness, family salvation,
forgiveness, restoration, reconciliation, provision…. by virtue of living under
Yeshua’s atonement. When we are wrestling in our lives and come to God in
prayer about sin or weakness in ourselves, or are praying for someone else, we
can come to Him with His Word related to what the blood of Yeshua accomplished
(there are many verses to be found).

Rather than praying subjectively (out of our thoughts and
desires) it seems much more would be accomplished in prayer by asking God to
apply the efficacy of the blood of Yeshua to our situations and lives. Efficacy
means the capacity to bring about the desired end, the effectiveness, power,
productiveness, capacity, competency, potency, vigor, proficiency, capability,
and efficiency. Wow. Oh, I just have to stop right here and pray. Will you pray
with me?

Abba, we come in
Yeshua’s name, believing that all that His blood atonement accomplished can be
ours by Your Great Grace. Lord, bring about in each person’s life reading this
(and my own), the full intention of Your will in Yeshua’s blood-shedding death.
Together we ask that the effectiveness and the power of the blood of Yeshua
would accomplish the productivity and competency of completely delivering us
from any and every sin and its iniquity (ongoing consequences) in our lives. We
ask, on the basis of Yeshua’s blood, that the fullness of Your Kingdom
righteousness would be ours.  We
pray that the potency, vigor and proficiency of all His blood bought for us will
work within us to enable us to be capable and efficient to bring Your
salvation, Your healing and deliverance, and Your Kingdom to those whose lives
we touch. We give you thanks for all of it even now for Your glory, Lord. We
will watch and see what You will do as we continue to hold this before You. Amen.

Reprint of this article is permitted as long as you use the following; Use by permission by Messianic Vision, www.sidroth.org, 2011.

Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif.  All rights reserved. Used by permission.