The Blood of Jesus and the Much More (Hebrews 2:14-15)
This sermon explores the profound power of the blood of Jesus, connecting it to God's abundant provision and our freedom from fear. It invites listeners to grasp their identity as God's beloved children, enabling them to navigate life's challenges with deep peace and confidence.
This sermon emphasizes that the blood of Jesus is the source of God's "much more" for us, destroying the devil's power and releasing us from the lifetime bondage of the fear of death through its continuous cleansing.
Overview
The sermon begins by declaring the "year of the much more" and highlights how unexpected trials have marked its onset. The preacher shares a prophetic vision of a ship navigating a storm to arrive at a "land ahead," symbolizing God's promises fulfilled, and emphasizing that every trial will be passed through to a wealthy place.
Central to overcoming fear—especially the fear of death, which he identifies as the root of many fears—is embracing God's thoughts over fearful ones. Meditating on scriptures like Isaiah 26:3, which promises "perfect peace" (shalom, meaning wholeness and well-being), is presented as a way to engage God's love, which casts out fear. The sermon contrasts a "cursed man" who does not see good when it comes with a "blessed man" who does not experience heat when it comes because he focuses on blessings.
A key theological point is Jesus's incarnation: He partook of flesh and blood to identify with humanity, thereby destroying the devil, who had the power of death. This act releases believers from lifelong bondage to the fear of death. The sermon stresses the believer's identity as a child of God, rather than merely a disciple, underscoring the importance of understanding one's beloved status to truly receive God's truth.
Finally, the preacher elaborates on how God's holiness and mercy met at the Cross, where Jesus's death satisfied divine justice, allowing God to be both just and the justifier of those who have faith in Jesus. The blood of Jesus is presented as continually cleansing believers, silencing the accuser, and ensuring that the Holy Spirit's power follows faith in its atoning work.
Key points
- The current year is declared the "year of the much more," with the blood of Jesus identified as its producing theme.
- Many fears, including those related to health or finances, ultimately trace back to the fear of death.
- Overcoming fear involves internalizing God's thoughts from scripture and receiving a revelation of His perfect love.
- Jesus partook of flesh and blood to destroy the devil, who previously held the power of death, thereby releasing believers from its bondage.
- Believers are identified as children of God and Abraham's seed, loved and sanctified, an identity crucial for receiving God's blessings.
- God's justice and mercy converged at the Cross, allowing God to be righteous in justifying those who have faith in Jesus's atoning work.
- The blood of Jesus continuously cleanses the believer's conscience, preventing accusation and enabling the flow of the Holy Spirit's power.
In Joseph Prince's words
“The blood of Jesus must be the theme of this year. Amen because it is what produces the much more.”
“It takes a thought to heal a thought. God's thoughts are greater than the devil's thoughts.”
“Shadows cannot harm you.”
Outline
- I. Introduction: The Year of the Much More and the Power of the Blood
- II. Overcoming Fear Through God's Word and Love
- A. The impact of fearful thoughts
- B. Healing thoughts with God's thoughts (Isaiah 26:3)
- C. The revelation of God's perfect love casting out fear (1 John 4:18)
- III. Prophetic Vision: Through Trials to a Wealthy Place
- A. A vision of storms and safe arrival (Psalms 23)
- B. The purifying nature of trials (1 Peter)
- C. Emerging stronger and unstained (Psalm 66)
- IV. Jesus's Incarnation and Conquest of Death
- A. Jesus partook of flesh and blood to identify with humanity (Hebrews 2:14)
- B. Destroying the devil who had the power of death (Hebrews 2:14-15)
- C. Releasing from lifelong bondage to the fear of death (Hebrews 2:15)
- D. Our identity as children of God, Abraham's seed, not merely disciples
- E. The Melchizedek priesthood and its blessing (Hebrews 7, Genesis)
- V. The Blood of Jesus: Justification and Continuous Cleansing
- A. The devil as the accuser and agent of death (Ezekiel 28)
- B. God's holiness and mercy meeting at the cross (Romans 3)
- C. The blood continually purges the conscience from dead works (Hebrews 9-10, 1 John 1:7)
- D. The Holy Spirit's power follows the belief in the blood's cleansing
- VI. Conclusion: Live Conscious of the Blood's Power
Scripture references
- Isaiah 26:3
- 1 John 4:18
- Psalms 23
- 1 Corinthians 15
- 1 Peter
- Psalm 66
- Hebrews 2:14-16
- 1 Corinthians
- Jeremiah
- Ezekiel 28
- Psalm 91
- Hebrews 7
- Genesis
- Romans 3
- 1 John 1:7
- Hebrews 9
- Hebrews 10
- Romans 8:11
- Philippians
3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
1 Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:
2 Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.
14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
1 The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying,
2 Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord God; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?
2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
7 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.
1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.
1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Insights
God's peace encompasses wholeness in spirit, soul, and body.
Even shadows of death cannot harm those walking with God.
Mercy and justice perfectly meet at the cross of Christ.
Questions & answers
What is the core message of the "year of the much more"?
The core message is that the blood of Jesus is the theme and source of God's "much more," promising fulfilled divine promises and strength to overcome trials, leading to a wealthy place.
How does the sermon explain the origin of many fears?
The sermon states that many fears, such as those concerning health, finances, or travel, can ultimately be traced back to the fundamental fear of death.
According to the sermon, how does Jesus's incarnation defeat the devil?
Jesus partook of human flesh and blood to experience death, thereby destroying the devil, who had the power of death, and releasing humanity from its lifelong bondage.
What is the difference between being a 'disciple' and a 'son' in the sermon's view?
The sermon suggests that 'disciple' (talmidim) refers to students, while 'son' (child of God) emphasizes identity as beloved children. True learning and spiritual growth stem from this identity as a beloved son/daughter.
How does the blood of Jesus continuously cleanse believers?
The blood of Jesus cleanses believers continuously in the present continuous tense, purging the conscience from 'dead works' and silencing the devil's accusations. This belief in cleansing allows the Holy Spirit's power to flow.
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