One More Plague, Part 4

Turn with me in your Bible to Exodus chapter 12. Exodus chapter 12. We've been looking at one last plague. Most people talk about the death of the firstborn. We look at it as the protection of God's people.

Now, understand that we've been looking in Exodus chapter 12 at the selection of the Lamb. The selection of the land. This is the protection of the plague. And it all begins with the selection of the land. We talked about it last week: how this land had to be sinless, spotless. How this lamb had to be about a year old, and how this lamb had to be a male lamb. We looked at the selection of that lamb and tied it into Jesus Christ our Lord and showed you how that lamb was. Was portrayed throughout the scripture.

If you weren't here, I'd encourage you to pick up the tape from last week. We moved from the selection of the land to the sacrifice of the land. That they would take that lamb into their home on the 10th day of the month, and that on the 14th day they would slaughter that lamb. And the significance of that being is that they would learn to cuddle that lamb and love that lamb and hold that lamb and become. One with that lamb because they would learn to love that lamb. And then they'd slaughter it.

You see, to bring in a land that nobody knew, I mean, it wouldn't mean as nearly as much as a land that they had become friends with. Just like it was with the Messiah. He was the lamb that they dined with. He was the lamb they walked with. He was the land that they were able to watch as he performed miracles. And they became one with that lamb, and then they slaughtered that lamb. At Passover, some 2,000 years ago. You see, all that portrays the coming of the Messiah. We need to understand that.

This morning I want to talk to you about the sprinkling of the blood of the Lamb. The sprinkling of that blood. Because the Bible tells us they were to take that hyssop. It was a plant, not a very big plant, but a plant with a. a strong stem and and hairy-like end. And they would dip that into the blood and put that on the lintels and the door posts of their Of their homes. And Christ says that when I see the blood, I'll pass over you.

That's how the whole Passover thing began: I will pass over you. And that blood would spare the firstborn son in that home. That was important. But to understand that Christ was helping us see that there is great power in his blood. And this morning, I want to show you how that happens. We need to understand the p of the blood of the Lamb. So, let me explain to you the significance of that blood.

By giving you several points, so we'll get through as many as we can this morning, okay? The first is this: you must understand that people are redeemed because of the blood of the Lamb.

People are redeemed because of the blood of the Lamb. Peter said in 1 Peter chapter 1, verse number 18, that we are not redeemed with per things such as silver and gold, but how? But as of a precious, or as of the precious blood of the Lamb, the spotless Lamb, Jesus Christ our Lord. Revelation chapter 5 reads this way. Remember John had seen the lamb standing and slain and strong, and he would go and that lamb would take the The seal from the Father who sits on the throne. And it says that heaven would erupt in verse number 8.

And when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the 2 elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp and golden bowls full of incense. Which are the prayers of the saints, and they sang a new song, saying, Worthy art thou to take the book and to break its seals, for thou wast slain and didst. Purchase for God or redeem for God with thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. People are redeemed because of the blood of the Lamb. And all heaven rejoices, and all heaven knows that it was that lamb that was slain for the people of God.

See that? He purchased us. He redeemed us. He bought us out of the slave market of sin. How? By his blood. See that? People are redeemed because of the blood of the Lamb. That's important. Why? Because pardon is received. That's point number two.

People are redeemed because pardon is received, because of the blood of the Lamb. If you go back to Revelation chapter 1, it says this. Verse number five: Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth, to him who loves us and released us from his sins. How? Through his blood. Blood. Over in the book of Ephesians, the first chapter, the seventh verse, it says, In him we have redemption.

Through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of his grace. People are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb because that's the only way pardon is received. It comes through the blood of Jesus Christ our Lord. Hebrews 9:2 says that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. You see, Christ had to die. He had to die a specific death because his blood had to be shed. For the sins of the world. See that? That's how it works. 1 John 1:7 says, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.

Pardon is received through the blood of Jesus Christ our Lord. And when pardon is received, number three, purity is realized.

Purity is realized. Oh, that's so important. To be clean. Not to be partially clean. But to be clean, you know, we have a dishwasher in our house. Sometimes it doesn't do so good a job of cleaning the dishes. You take them out and they're still dirty. You know, that irritates me. It really does. You know, you buy a dishwasher, you expect it to work, right? You expect your dishes to become clean. In fact, going through a car wash and then your car not coming out clean. That irritates me too. Because if I'm going to pay money for something, I want to work, right?

Well, the bottom line is that when Jesus cleanses us, He doesn't just partially cleanse us so that we come out, you know, partially dirty, He cleans us up. We're clean. Purity is realized through the blood of Jesus Christ our Lord. Look over, if you would, to Hebrews. Chapter 9, verse number 14. We'll begin with verse number 13. It says, For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling Those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh. How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Colossians chapter 1, verse number 20. And through him, to reconcile all things to him, having made peace through the blood of his cross. Through him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven, and although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds. yet has now reconciled you in his fleshly body through death in order to present you before him holy and blameless and beyond rep He took away the blemishes that we might be beyond reproach, that we might be cleansed.

Over in the book of Titus, the second chapter. Titus chapter 2, verse number 14. That Christ gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zeal for good deeds. That's what God did. You see, purity can only be realized when pardon has been received, and pardon can only be received when people are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of Jesus Christ our Lord. That's how it all comes together. Now, you know, we think that sometimes we're dirty.

We feel unclean. That's not God's fault. That's because we sin, right? And that's why we have to go and confess our sins to our God. Remember, it was David who said, Purge me with hyssop. Why hyssop? Because hyssop was that plant used to put the blood on the doorpost and the lintel back in Exodus chapter 12. Purge me with hyssop. That I might be clean, that I might be forgiven of all my sin and even the guilt of my sin. Remember what Paul said over in the book of Corinthians when he said these words, verse number 9.

Do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous. Nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindles shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you, but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, you've been clean, you're washed. How? By the blood of Jesus Christ, our L. You see, we need to come to grips with the fact that when Christ forgives us, He forgives us of all our sins.

Psalm 103 says, Says he separates our sins as far as the east is from the west. And if we feel unclean, it's because there's unconfessed sin in our lives. There's something there that's keeping us from being what God wants us to be. You see, He cleansed us, He purified us so that we might be zealous to do good deeds, as Paul said to Titus in Titus 2:1. And that purity now is realized through Jesus Christ our Lord. But there's more. There's a lot more. Let me explain it to you.

Not only is pardon received and purity realized when people are redeemed, but peace is restored. Peace is restored. You know that you know Adam and Eve had this communion with God in the garden in the cool of the day They would commune with one another. They would talk with one another. They had a great relationship until sin entered the world. And then there was that separation of man from God because of its sin, because of their sin. Man was at enmity against God. There need be some kind of reconciliation.

There need to be the breaking of that barrier. And only God Himself could break the barrier. Only God could make a way for man to get to Him. And that would, of course, be through His Son. Jesus Christ our Lord. But we read about it in Colossians 1, verse number 20, that He reconciles us through the blood of His Son. It's that blood that causes there to be peace between God and man. You see, when I go to the Calvary's cross and I realize that Christ shed his blood for me, and I appropriate that cross work.

On my behalf, and realize that what God did for me, I could not do. So He did it for me. Peace is restored. I repent of my sins. I get right with my God. And all of a sudden, now there is a peace between me and God. What does the Bible say over in the book of Romans, the fifth chapter? Therefore, being justified by faith, we have Peace with God. How is a man declared right before God? That is because man believes in the finished work of Christ, the Calvary. And therefore I have peace with God. The Lord said in Isaiah chapter 1, verse number 18, Come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord.

Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, and though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Over in Romans chapter 5, verse number 9, we are justified, we are declared right by his blood. And verse 10 says that we are reconciled to God by the death of his son. See, God wanted to be at peace with us. How would he do that? How could peace be restored when there's enmity between God and man through the blood of Jesus Christ our Lord? Number five, not only is or are people redeemed because pardon is received and purity is realized and peace is restored, but because of the blood of the Lamb, power is revealed.

Power is revealed. How is that? Turn back with me, if you would, to Revelation chapter 12. You know, every year when we go to Israel and we go to the wedding wall, a lot of women have crosses around their necks. And when you go down to the way wall, you're asked to cover your cross. Don't let it be seen. You know why that is, don't you? Because to the Jew, it's a stumbling block. Right? Of course it is. Cursed is everyone who hangs on the tree. They don't want to believe that you're coming to their wall and wailing for the coming of the Messiah when they crucified their Messiah.

See? But we realize the power of the cross, don't we? It's clearly seen in Revelation 12, verse number 10. And I heard a loud voice in heaven. Saying, Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down. who accuses them before our God day and night. And they overcame him because of what? The blood of the Lamb. And because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even to death.

Now, to understand the context of Revelation 12, you must understand that Michael the archangel throws Satan out of heaven right before the tribulation begins. I know for some of you that's hard to take because you think he was already thrown out a long time ago. He was thrown out morally, he was not thrown out geographically. He's not thrown out geographically to Revelation chapter 12. And there he is thrown out of heaven. And that paves the way for the believer to be caught up into heaven and go to glory.

But the Bible says that he accuses the brethren day and night. That means that Satan has access to the throne of God. Say, well, how can that be? Well, he did in Job chapter 1, right? And, you know, God can allow anything he wants to happen. So he does. And he accuses the brethren day and night. But now this accuser has been cast down. He's been cast down. If you want to know more about that, get the tape on Revelation chapter 12. There are three of them. But he's been cast down, and the Bible says, And they, who's they?

That's the brethren that he accuses day and night. They overcame him. Who do they overcome? Satan. Whoa! You mean we can overcome Satan? You bet. We've already overcome Satan. You know why? Because of the blood of the Lamb. You see, you realize that during the tribulation period that Satan does all he can to go after Gentiles and kill them, sl them. And in doing so, they win. Because you see, He can't keep you out of heaven. He can't keep you from doing what God has already accomplished in your life.

And they are the overcomers. They are the ones who were committed to the word of the testimony, who didn't love their life. They were strong for God, not weak for God. Why? Because of the blood of the Lamb. And even though Satan would accuse them, we have an advocate, 1 John says. We have an advocate. We have a defense attorney in heaven. We have the Lord Jesus Christ who stands up and says, You know what? I died for that sin. My blood has washed away that sin. You can accuse them all you want, Satan, but their sins have been, under the blood of the cross, washed away.

Well, that's good news. That's refreshing because he takes away the sin, he takes away the stain, he takes away the guilt, he takes it all away. And we are the overcomers. We are the ones who win. See, that's the power of the blood of Jesus Christ our Lord. Power is revealed over and over and over again every day because Satan stands before the throne of God and accuses you every single day. She did this, or he did that. If they're a Christian, they shouldn't be acting like that. They shouldn be talking like that.

And Christ says, He stands up and says, Well, I died for that sin. My blood covered that sin. And Satan has nothing to say. And so what he tries to do is slaughter man. And kill him, but he can't keep him out of heaven, can he? He can't keep you out of heaven because of the blood of the Lamb. See, power is revealed through the blood of Jesus Christ. Our Lord. But there's more. Not only that, but paradise is reached. Paradise is reached. How are you going to get to heaven? Paradise can only be reached through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Revelation chapter 7, verse number 9. After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count. From every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the thr and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes and palm branches were in their hands, and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb. And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, Amen.

Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying to me, These who are clothed in white robes, who are they? And from where have they come? And I said, that is John speaking, and I said to him, My Lord, you know. And he said to me, These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation. And they have washed their robes and made them white in what? The blood of the Lamb. The blood of the Lamb.

For this reason, they are before the throne of God and they serve Him day and night in His temple. And he who sits on the throne shall spread his tabernacle over them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the sun beat down on them, nor any heat. For the lamb in the center of the throne shall be their shepherd. And shall guide them to springs of the water of life, and God shall wipe every tear from their eye. You see, paradise can only be reached through the blood of the Lamb, and the robes need to be washed in that blood.

I earn desire this last Passover meal with you. But not only that, privileges are rewarded by the blood of the Lamb. Privileges are rewarded by the blood of the Lamb. Book of Romans 8, chapter, 32nd, verse. He who did not spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how will he not also with him freely give us all things? He didn't spare his son. He delivered his son up. He delivered his son up to be the sacrificial lamb. His son's blood would be spilt at Calvary. And how much will he give to us who believe on his name?

What do we receive? Ah, privileges are rewarded. We receive the greatest of all love, right? The love of God, Romans 5:5, has been shed abroad in our hearts. Everybody wants to be loved just as they are, right? They don't want to have to change to be loved. They just want to be loved, and God loves them. And the love of God has been shed abroad in their hearts. And when you understand the love of God, You come to Him, you repent of your sins, you get right with Him because you want to be a part of that relationship.

In the peace of God, Christ said in John 14: the peace that I give you is not like the world gives. It's my peace. It's the ability to be tranquil amidst all kinds of conflict. That's some of the privileges that I've re to the children of God. Not only his love and not only his peace, but his joy. The joy comes from Jesus Christ our Lord. And that's the only way it comes. He says, I came that they might have life and they might experience it more abundantly. And that my joy might be made fu in them.

He wants us to experience his joy. We also receive his strength, his companionship, his relationship. Much less eternal life and all the privileges to rule and reign with him forever. Privileges are rewarded because of the blood of the Lamb. They are. Not only that, because of the blood of the Lamb, praise is released. Praise is released. Back to the book of Revelation. Revelation chapter 5, verse number 8. We already read it earlier, where they sang the new song, saying, Worthy art thou to take the book.

and to break its seals for thou wast slain, and didst purchase for God with thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. And thou hast made them to be a kingdom and priest to our God, and they will reign upon the earth. And I looked and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and the living creatures and the elders, and the number of them was myriads of myriads. And thousands of thousands saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and might and honor and glory.

And blessing and every created thing which is in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea and all things in them, I heard saying, To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever. And the four living creatures kept saying, Amen. And the elders fell down and worship. You know, one thing about heaven is that praise is instantaneous. Praise is part and parcel to heaven. You see, in heaven, it's just instantaneous. Praise is released because of the blood, the Lamb, the one who was worthy to be slain.

And that's the way it should be with us, right? There should be a releasing of praise. Automatically, because of the blood of Jesus Christ our Lord. That's the way it will be in heaven for all eternity. Just we'll get used to it now.

Start doing it now. Praise is part and parcel to the people of God because of the Lamb that was slain. Let me give you one more.

Because of the blood of the Lamb, your presence is requested. Your presence is requested. In the book of Hebrews, tenth chapter, after the writer of Hebrews explains. About the sufficiency of the sacrifice of Christ at Calvary. Verse number 19 says: Since therefore, brethren, we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of what? Of Jesus. We have confidence to enter the holy place because of the blood of Jesus Christ our Lord, by a new and living way, which He inaugurated for us through the veil that is His flesh.

And since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience. And our bodies washed with pure water. Let us draw near. When the writ of Hebrews addresses them as brethren, he's addressing the Jewish nation themselves. He 's not addressing Christians, per se, he's addressing the Jewish people. He says, brethren, brethren, because of the blood of Jesus Christ, because of his sacrifice, you need to draw near into his presence.

You need to come to him. You need to give your life to Christ. And that's the significance of the power of the blood of Jesus Christ our Lord. And all that was portrayed and pictured way back in Exodus chapter 12. And what God would do through the blood that these people would take from the land and put on the doorposts and the lentil of their home. They would believe that the death angel would pass over them because of what God said. About the blood. How about you? What God says about the blood is that that's how people are redeemed.

That's how pardon is received. That's how purity is realized, and peace is restored, and power is revealed. That. That is why praise is automatically released because of the blood of Jesus Christ, our Lord. And your presence is requested. Have you drawn near to Jesus Christ? Have you given your life to the Lamb of God? Have you appropriated his finished work on the cross on your behalf? That's the only way to heaven. There is no other way. That's it. Let's pray.