2 Corinthians 4:7 “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” (KJV)
God thunders these words over you, “this is my beloved child in who I am delighted”. Remember this whenever you hear the accusations coming from inside you. Speak forth this truth, “Jesus shed his blood for me and placed his treasured Holy Spirit inside me.” Throw yourself on the mercy of the shed blood of Jesus and be reconciled to God.
1 Corinthians 15:45-58 “And so it is written, the first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” (KJV)
Jesus always brings us the victory. We stand on his promises because he paid our debit in full.
The Blood Brain Barrier
In 1996 at the (Nurture, Equip and Train) NET Training Institute in Titusville, I took a class called The Pharmacology of Addiction. In this class, we learned about the blood brain barrier.
A very basic description of the blood brain barrier is a thin layer of blood that covers the brain to protect it from foreign substances. It has openings in it that allow certain neurotransmitters or chemicals necessary for our body to function to obtain access to the brain. It is actually a barrier between the brain and the outside blocking harmful matter from entering our brain.
Our bodies produce neurotransmitters, which are impulses throughout our nervous system. Examples of these neurotransmitters are stimulants, depressants and opiates to protect us and allow us to function properly.
These neurotransmitters are the method, which the nerve cells in your brain communicate with each other. For example, if I burn my hand, my body releases a stimulant called “substance P”. This stimulant causes me to feel pain. Pain is a friend because it warns me there is something wrong. When I pull my hand away, my body releases an opiate to numb the pain.
If we take extra stimulants, opiates and depressants into our bodies, we get high, because these chemicals pass the openings in the blood brain barrier bypassing the protection God gave us. Long term or excessive use of chemicals can actually change the shape of brain cells. Our body gets used to the increased chemicals and adjusts. Then when we try to stop, it is painful because our body screams for what it was used to getting. This is why people experience withdrawal.
When we receive Jesus into our hearts, He covers us with His blood. The blood of Jesus protects us and is a barrier that keeps harmful things from us. It also allows familiar things like thoughts (belief systems), attitudes, and actions entrance in to our lives.
God allows us to make choices and experience the consequences of them, even if they are bad choices. As we cry out to Him and confess our sin to Him and another human being, we can receive the help we need to change. God gives us the power to change things that we allow to enter His blood barrier. He can heal the sick openings. Some people call this process of sanctification or inner healing.
The Armor of God
Ephesians 6:10-20 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” (KJV)
The Helmet of Salvation
Isaiah 52 says Jesus’ face was so brutally beaten and his entire body so disfigured making it difficult to recognize him as a man. The blood of Jesus gushed from his face as Isaiah 53 depicts that he was marred beyond identification. There was nothing attractive or majestic about his appearance. When I consider how gruesome a beating was inflicted upon him, I am reminded this incomprehensible sacrifice is for us. Think about the excruciating pain he endured as his eyes were swollen shut and possibly gouged, his ears were shred and his mouth, teeth, chin and cheeks were bruised and bleeding beyond recognition. He received a crown of thorns scorning his kingship.
Luke 22:64 says when they hit Jesus they asked him to prophesy, by telling them who hit him. This was not only an attack on his thoughts, attitudes, emotions and imaginations, but it was a direct attack on his prophetic ministry. His testimony was rejected. Remember in Revelation it says, "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Consider also in Isaiah 53 that it was the Lord’s good pleasure to make him an offering for our sin. He was acquainted with our deepest grief, rejection and hurt.
This corresponds with the helmet of salvation, which protects our head from wounds. This includes our thoughts, attitudes, emotions, imaginations and temptations. When we apply the blood of Jesus to these areas, we are able to reign victorious because of his suffering. Consider a temptation we encounter, the Word of God proclaims there is no temptation for which God does not provide a way to escape. Ask Jesus to cover your eyes, ears and mouth with his blood and enable you to overcome temptation about the lust of the eyes, the things that you hear and your vocabulary or speech. Plead the blood of Jesus over your thoughts and imaginations and read the Word of God. Revelation declares that they overcame trials and temptations by the blood of the Lamb and the Word of their testimony and loved not their lives unto death. Take a moment to meditate on the penalty paid to purchase the helmet of salvation before we discuss the rest of the armor.
The Breastplate of Righteousness and Girding Your Loins with the Truth
Matthew 27 depicts soldiers scourged Jesus prior to delivering him to crucifixion. This indicates affliction greater than we can possibly imagine the flesh literally frayed from his bones. The blood must have spurt from and covered his entire body. Isaiah 53 signifies he was whipped and beaten so we could be healed and whole. It coincides with the provision made by the breastplate of righteousness and having loins girt with the truth. These pieces of armor not only protect the body from injury, but also guard the heart from wounds. It indicates absolute wholeness. Truth came by Jesus Christ and Ephesians 6 discusses having your loins girt with the truth. Loins are indicative of the birthing place. Recently, I read Isaiah 53 says Jesus died without any descendents because he gave his life as a substitute for ours providing a royal inheritance. Our Father is the King of all creation. Personally, I believe that this not only provides for salvation and protection over our loved ones but also authority for the believer to come against curses and wiles of the devil. Our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against demonic strongholds.
The Shield of Faith
Jesus sweat great drops of blood in the garden due to the depth of agony he experienced. His request to the Father was to let this sacrifice pass from him. If you ever wonder about God the Father saying no to any of his children, this may provide an answer to that question. Reflect on your children and let me ask you if you have ever told them “no”. Please take into consideration that even though you said “no” they had a choice to walk in compliance to you or rebel against your authority. What was the outcome? Jesus had the ability to choose whether to walk in submission or rebellion to the Father and his choice was obedience. We are likewise encouraged to run the race and rely on Jesus who authors and enables us to complete our faith, as stated in Hebrews 12. Jesus endured the cross because he had a vision of us and rejoiced in what he saw. These fiery darts advancing toward him in the garden caused him to sweat great drops of blood in agony yet respond affirmatively to the Father. We likewise can approach God with the fiery darts of the enemy assailing us and use the shield of faith Jesus provided through the shedding of his blood. Jesus agreed to be washed in his own blood to pay for our sins. How do we respond to him when he wants to wash us with the blood of Jesus? Again, I am thinking of young children at bath time, do they respond affirmatively and say, “Awesome I cannot wait?” Most children do not, particularly if they are playing. Do we ever respond to the Lord negatively when he requests our cooperation with him in washing some aspect of dirt from our lives? Maybe I am not as sanctified as you are but I have been resistant, at times. The shield of Faith can seem weighty unless we remember that it is his shield and his strength, not ours. We are dependent upon his power.
Zechariah 4:6 “not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” (KJV)
The Gospel of Peace on Your Feet
Jesus was crucified as a criminal to bring to us the gospel of peace. He died for insurgents to demonstrate the incomprehensible love of God. The blood flowed from his hands and feet so we could stand on his word and proclaim the gospel to others.
Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! (KJV)
The Sword of the Spirit
Isaiah 53 states Jesus was pierced for our transgressions. He acquired God’s forgiveness for our rebellion. When the soldiers pierced his side with the sword, both water and blood flowed out. 1 John 5:6 says God revealed Jesus Christ as his son by baptism in water and shedding of his blood. Remember the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus when he was baptized and the Father’s voice thundered this is his beloved Son in whom he takes delight. The soldier’s sword was to ensure Jesus’ death, however the sword of the Spirit guarantees our life.
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