I received a letter concerning “pleading the blood of Christ” and whether it was appropriate to do this. The person felt it was. To “plead the blood of Christ” (by saying, “I plead the blood of Christ”) is thought by some to be an effective means of waging spiritual war and/or protecting yourself from demonic activity. I will do my best to answer this person’s letter.

This is an important topic, and I think there is a lot of confusion concerning this in the body of Christ. To demonstrate just how “messed up” the topic of “The blood of Christ” is within the body of Christ, I was watching a YouTube video and noticed how one man (Tyler Perry) was praying the following prayer over another man (TD Jakes) as he laid his hand on his head: “I pray the blood of Jesus will come upon you right now!”^[1] This prayer makes no sense. But the people loved it and cheered. What would it even mean to “pray the blood of Jesus will come upon you right now”? I have no idea. There is no basis for this in Scripture.

There are many “buzz words” in the church. Let us be careful that we truly understand what we mean when we use them. Otherwise, we could be leading others astray. God would not be glorified in such cases. I am not saying this man (Tyler Perry) has the same thoughts and understanding as the person who wrote me about pleading the blood of Jesus. But I am mentioning it because there is a lot of confusion in the body of Christ. I don’t think God is very pleased. On this note, I “plead” Ephesians 5:11:

Have no fellowship with the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather even reprove them. (Ephesians 5:11)

The Questioner

Pleading Blood of Jesus: Meaning: According to Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, plead means: (1) to ask for something that you want very much, in a sincere and emotional way (syn. “beg”) (2) to state in a court of law whether or not you are guilty of a crime; plead guilty/not guilty/innocent. When somebody pleads [the] blood of Jesus, this refers to pleading “not guilty” (in heavenly courts of justice) because of the blood of Jesus (that purchased us).

My Response to the Questioner

At the outset, I would like to state (for the audience) that what you are stating is that pleading the blood of Jesus is done before the judge (God himself) as a defence against accusations from the devil (the accuser of the brethren in Revelation 12:10). I suppose that as long as you understand what you are saying, you can “plead the blood of Jesus” in order to reassure your heart of Christ’s victory on the cross. But the Bible never tells us to plead the blood of Jesus. It does, however, tell us to stand firm in our faith, to abide in God’s word, and to remain in Christ (see for example, John 8:31-32, John 15:4, Galatians 5:1, Ephesians 6:13, and 1 John 2:6). In fact, I can name more than 100 verses telling me to do this^[2][3]. But not one exists telling me to plead the blood of Jesus.

There is nothing wrong if, in a moment of need, you declare what Christ has done for you in paying your debt on the cross. There have also been times when I have been genuinely led by the Holy Spirit to speak of the blood of Jesus Christ in prayer (that is, through declarations). This may happen particularly if you feel like some type of demonic attack has been leveled against you. But the most effective prayers are Spirit-led ones. The solution to your problem is always obedience to Christ. It is not in a phrase, or in an expression, no matter how popular that expression may be. Jesus did not cast out demons by using formulaic prayers, but by the finger of God!

“But if I expel demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you!” (Luke 11:20)

How did Jesus do it? He did it by paying attention to what the Father was showing him (see John 5:19). This is that which humans do not like to do! For some reason, they like to take their eyes off of God! And then they gravitate towards religious practices which find approval with man. Jesus did nothing through mechanized prayers. There were no mechanized, prescribed, repetitive, or formulaic prayers in Jesus’s ministry. He did not teach that or model that in any way, shape, or form!

The Questioner

According to Galatians 3:13, ‘Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.”’

My Response to the Questioner

Christ certainly did become a curse for us. For this reason, the debt has been paid in full! We are free to live our lives righteously before God. Only, Paul writes, “do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (see Galatians 5:1). Because the debt has been paid, we can rest in Christ’s completed work on the cross. We do not need to strive to earn God’s approval. We have it already! However, from the standpoint of sanctification, we are commanded to walk in the light, so that God’s power can be demonstrated in us. Otherwise, we will expose ourselves to needless trouble!

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)

The words “cleanses us from all sin” is referring to sanctification here, and not eternal salvation. This passage is written to Christians! They are firmly saved already! They have been forgiven for all their sins, eternally! But their walk with Christ will be hindered unless they “walk in the light.”

The word “blood” here refers to the atonement or propitiation for our sins procured by the death of Christ on the cross. Galatians 3:13, which you have quoted, should lead us to rest and freedom from striving, knowing that Christ has paid our debt in full. Because of this, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (see Romans 8:1)! If there is no condemnation, then we do not need to strive to achieve it. We do not need to fight the devil in our own strength. I am not against “pleading the blood of Jesus” or declaring Christ’s blood in prayer, if it helps you to enter into Christ’s rest (that is, sanctification). But I am opposed to it (and so is God) if you think that this is a means of adding to the finished work of the cross. You have all the power you need already (see Ephesians 1:19-21). Your problem is in your willingness to submit to God. Your answer is not in a formulaic prayer!

The Questioner

Why do we need to defend ourselves in courts? (1) There are Heavenly courts (see Daniel 7:9-10); (2) There is a Judge (see Hebrews 12:22-24); (3) There is an Advocate (see 1 John 2:1-2); (4) There is an accuser (see Zech. 3:1, Rev. 12:10).

My Response to the Questioner

I will respond to each of these passages, one at a time.

The Questioner

There are Heavenly Courts: “I saw until thrones were placed, and one who was ancient of days sat … and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.” (See Daniel 7:9-10)

My Response to the Questioner

Daniel 7:9-10 is indeed about a heavenly court. It is a court in which God has all of the authority, even as Jesus himself said that all authority had been given to him (see Matthew 28:18-20). Having said this, we do not in any way add to that authority by our words. We are called to be ambassadors of Christ, walking in his authority, as we allow him to live his life through us. Therefore, it is imperative to do as he commands. And he has not commanded us in his word to continually plead the blood of Jesus Christ. If he had, it would be clear, and not inferred from passages taken out of context.

Again, I’m not saying you cannot or should not “plead the blood of Jesus Christ.” What I am saying is that it is not prescribed. And it is easy to say it, without even understanding what it means. But if it helps you to walk in your authority as a believer, then by all means do it. But to prescribe it as a directive in Scripture would be wrong, and fleshly. You would need to be careful not to teach it as a precept of Scripture, when Scripture never mandates it. It can become idolatrous, even, if we put an undue emphasis on it. We should always remember to keep a balanced view of the Scriptures, and to emphasize what God emphasizes. One thing God emphasizes above all others is our need for sanctification. It is stated as “his will” in the Bible.

For this is the will of God: your sanctification … For God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification. (See 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7)

This is very explicit in the Scriptures. But pleading the blood of Jesus Christ is not even mentioned a single time!

The Questioner

There is a Judge: “But you have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and … to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Abel.” (Hebrews 12:22—24)

My Response to the Questioner

This passage tells us that God is the judge of all. Of course, he is. In Genesis 18:25, as well, we read that Abraham stood before Jesus (Yahweh, the Man, in that passage), and declared him to be the judge of all the earth. As such, we must listen to him carefully and seek to be obedient to his leading. And that is why on several occasions, I have mentioned the blood of Jesus in my prayers — because there was indeed a genuine leading. I want to be obedient to God, because he is my judge! Let us seek therefore to be obedient to him! This is so critical, and will prevent us from teaching that “pleading the blood of Jesus” is a rule, when the judge has not declared it to be a rule!

The Questioner

There is an Advocate: “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (1 John 2:1, KJV)

My Response to the Questioner

Notice in this passage how it states that Jesus Christ is our advocate with the Father. In other words, it is Jesus who presents us before the Father as worthy because of our faith in him. We do not defend ourselves. In other words, we can go to God, and say, “Lord, I sinned. I acknowledge my sin. Jesus, you paid my debt on the cross. I receive forgiveness based on the finished work of the cross.” There is nothing wrong with this. But you do not need to “plead the blood of Jesus Christ” in order to do this. What you need to do is understand what Christ did in dying for you on the cross.

At any moment in time, due to our fleshly nature, we may falter in our understanding. It happens. Or, you may find yourself in the throws of a spiritual attack, where your guard is down and suddenly you have some doubts. You may feel the devil (or a spirit) suddenly challenging you in your conviction. If so, please feel free to “plead the blood of Jesus Christ.” If you find this to be faith-building, then you may do that, as long as you understand what you are doing, and as long as you do not prescribe it as a formula. If you did so, by prescribing it as a formula, you would be sinning, and leading people into idolatry. The blessing, the power, the victory, is not in a formula, but it is in your faith!

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world: your faith. (1 John 5:4)

I once experienced a spiritual attack on my faith. It was demonic. God allowed it to test my faith. I then took an article I had written, called Healing Scriptures, and went over those Scriptures one by one. I did not “plead the blood of Jesus.” Within 30 minutes, I obtained complete victory over this attack. It had been a serious attack, but I’m convinced God allowed it to show me just how powerful his word is! I would like to point you to that article, which you can find at https://revivalfire.ca/healing-scriptures/.

The Questioner

There is an accuser:

He showed me Joshua the high priest standing before Yahweh’s angel, and Satan standing at his right hand to be his adversary. (Zechariah 3:1)

I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “… for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night. (See Revelation 12:10)

My Response to the Questioner

These verses show that we have an adversary (the devil and the demons that are under him). Our advocate, however, is Jesus. Let us turn to Jesus, in faith, and submit to him, so that we can find freedom from our accuser. In this, we will have complete victory. Even as we read,

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:6-7)

The devil (or one of his demons) may indeed gain access to us if we are not in submission to God. God will then allow the spirit access as a disciplinary agent. The spirit may be evil, but God is good, and will allow evil, sometimes, for our own good. If you want a good example of how the devil, or a spirit, can have access to you if you are failing to obey God’s voice, please read my article, The Revealer of Mysteries, available at https://revivalfire.ca/the-revealer-of-mysteries/. In this article, I careful detail how a spirit had access to me (for a whole week) until I properly aligned myself with God’s will. When I did as God wanted me to do, the spirit immediately left and I was completely free.

The Questioner

According to Romans, “Who could bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” (Romans 8:33-34)

My Response to the Questioner

I think you are confirming my point beautifully. We are not the ones who need to justify ourselves before God! It is God who justifies, and not us. Furthermore, God is interceding for us, expecting us to walk in holiness. As we walk in holiness, he will grant us freedom to serve him with joy and the entire fruit of the Holy Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, as we find in Galatians 5:22-23).

When Paul and Silas were in jail, do you see them rebuking the devil? No, they were singing songs. And then God supernaturally caused the prison doors to open up (see Acts 16:25-26). They were not preoccupied with having to defend themselves. On the contrary, they were preoccupied with simply resting in Jesus and following what the Holy Spirit was leading them to do! Hence, even Paul, when he was in prison, wrote,

Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, “Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4)

The Questioner

How do we overcome Satan? “They overcame him because of the Lamb’s blood, and because of the word of their testimony. They did not love their life, even to death.” (Revelation 12:11)

My Response to the Questioner

In this passage, we see that it was their unwavering faith in what Christ did on the cross (specifically his death on the cross) that enabled them to overcome. For that is what the word “blood” refers to here. It refers to his death. Consider the words of Pilate:

“I am innocent of the blood of this righteous person.” (See Matthew 27:24)

What did he mean? He meant, “I am innocent of the death of this righteous person” (Jesus). Blood refers to death in this context. Note also that Christ died for us, but did not bleed for us, as we read:

“For while we were yet weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6)

Again, Jesus did not bleed for the sheep, but he laid down his life for the sheep:

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)

So in Revelation 12:11, when it says, “They overcame him because of the Lamb’s blood,” it is specifically referring to the fact that they overcame as a result of their faith in Christ’s death on the cross. It is not a reference to “pleading the blood of Jesus Christ.” That would be taking that passage completely out of context (many have done this, including many leaders).

I would like to point out that in this same passage, it says, “They did not love their life, even to death.” Yes, many of these people will die as martyrs, as we read in Revelation 6:11, 13:10, and 20:4. Thus, from this passage, we see that we do not always overcome by gaining our lives, but sometimes by losing them. All this to say, there are no “magic formulas” in God’s kingdom. We are to remain humble, teachable, and obedient. And we may end up having to give up our very lives in the end. However, we will gain them back again later (see Revelation 20:4-6).

The Questioner

Blood Speaks: 1) Abel’s blood cried out for revenge:

Yahweh said to Cain, “Where is Abel, your brother?” He said, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” Yahweh said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries to me from the ground. (Genesis 4:9-10)

2) Blood of Jesus speaks better than the blood of Abel:

[You have come] to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Abel. (Hebrews 12:24)

My Response to the Questioner

The term “blood speaks” is a figure of speech. To an onlooker, the blood of Abel was a testimony (or a witness) against Cain. It “spoke” or revealed that Cain had murdered his brother. The blood of Jesus is also a testimony (or a witness) that “speaks” or reveals many things of much greater significance than the blood of Abel! First, the blood of Jesus “speaks” of, or reveals, God’s righteous judgment against sin. Second, the blood of Jesus “speaks” or reveals God’s covering, propitiation, or atonement for sin. Speaking of Jesus, John the Baptist said,

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (See John 1:29)

This blood is powerful. However, it is not you “pleading the blood of Christ” that makes it powerful! Rather, it is what Christ did that makes it powerful!

At any given moment, according to the Spirit’s leading, you may choose to enter into the burden of the Lord by agreeing with him, and speaking what he leads you to speak, even as God told Balaam to only do (and speak) that which he told him (see Numbers 22:20). But your words do not add to God’s power in any way, shape, or form! Remember, in this passage (Hebrews 12:24), it says that the blood itself speaks. It is not you speaking!

The Questioner

Conclusion: We plead blood of Jesus (ask blood of Jesus speak on our behalf) in order to overcome Satan (against his accusations in courts of heaven) and present ourselves (or those we pray for) NOT GUILTY.

My Response to the Questioner

Wrong! We already saw from Romans 8:33-34 that it is God who justifies. We do not justify ourselves at all! What God wants is our humility, and our unconditional surrender. Remember the tax collector? This man prayed, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” Jesus said that this man went to his house justified (see Luke 18:13-14). We are to submit ourselves to Christ, and to allow him to live his live through us. It is called the surrendered life (see Galatians 2:20), and this was Paul’s “secret.” In order to accomplish this, Paul said, he had to die daily (to his flesh).

I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. (1 Corinthians 15:31)

I am not saying there is no place to “resist the devil”. The Bible tells us we are to “resist the devil” in James 4:7. But that is very minor compared with submitting to God. God is the one who justifies you (read Romans 8:33-34 again). Our main problem is our failure to die to ourselves and believe God’s word about what it says about who we are in Christ: we are redeemed children of God. When we realize this, and walk in it, Satan cannot touch us beyond what God has permitted, and we will be safe. Yes, we may also end up giving up our lives for it, for many will be martyred for no fault of their own.

I hope you understand these things. That is why I say, I will only “plead the blood of Jesus”, if it is Spirit-led. I do not think I have ever genuinely felt God leading me in this specific way (to actually “plead” the blood of Jesus), but I have genuinely felt him leading me to speak concerning the blood of Christ several times in prayer. And I’m happy to do that if God leads me. But I will not make it a ritual, or a cure, for all of my ills. The Bible does not teach that.

[1] https://youtu.be/DMvxdR8hRI8 ↩
[2] https://www.openbible.info/topics/abiding_in_christ ↩
[3] https://www.openbible.info/topics/obeying_god ↩