ACCESS THE FATHER THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS

September, 2000

Many today praise. They pray. They seek peace and desire to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit. But there is only one way to approach a holy God. There is only one way to access the throne of glory. It is "through the Blood."

Years ago I remember certain pastors expressing concern that speaking or singing about the Blood of Jesus would "offend" people coming to their services. They didn’t want to do that, so they concentrated on the more palatable attributes of God, e.g., His love or His mercy or His grace. Of course, Jesus giving His life, His Body broken and His Blood spilled out is the greatest testimony of God’s love, mercy, and grace, but… So the very core of the gospel, the very content of the communion, was cloaked with a perfume more pleasing to the populace.

Today I find churches and fellowships seeking to come into the presence of the Almighty, to the Throne of Grace, but without honoring the Blood of the Lamb slain. These have great praise, many "hallelujahs," even worship, but yet avoid the Blood because of its offense.

Even recently I have felt within myself the agitation of the Holy Spirit as praise and worship leaders seek to lead people into the presence of God. The songs are wonderful, but their order, dangerous. I witnessed people being led into the very presence of a holy God apart from access through the Blood of Jesus Christ. I kept hearing the Holy Spirit within, "Through the Blood, through the Blood, they cannot approach Me but through the Blood." The fire of God and His judgment "hit" one place and many screamed out because they were not "covered by the Blood of the Lamb."

Are we ashamed of the gospel today? Of Christ crucified? Of the Blood of the Passover Lamb (Jesus)? Do we fear men more than God? Perhaps we need a reminder that our God is a Covenant Lord. He has provided the Blood of Christ that we might be in the presence of His glory forever (Ephesians 1.4, 3.21). It is His Blood of the covenant that was shed for the remission of sin. We overcome sin, sickness, the curse, death, hell, and the grave by applying the Blood of the Cross. We overcome Satan and self by the Blood of the Lamb. The Lamb is Lord and rules over all creation. We are to humble ourselves and honor the Blood.

The Blood is applied through faith in our speaking and singing. We overcome by the Blood, as it is the word of our testimony. We testify as to its necessity and as to its sufficiency.

Our appeal to a holy God who is a consuming fire is through the Blood. The Blood calls and cries in the courtroom of God: You are justified, redeemed, clean, washed. You belong to God. You are at peace with God. You have eternal life. You triumph in the glory of His grace (Ephesians 1, 2; Hebrews 12).

Our approach to God is through the Blood. The Blood covers us, atoning for us (Leviticus 17.11). The Blood cleanses us (Hebrews 9, 1 John 1.9). The Blood cancels the debt and liability of sin (Hebrews 11.28, Hebrews 12).

Our access to God is through the Blood. The Blood carries us into the Holy of Holies (Hebrews 10.19). The Blood causes God to deliver us from judgment. It was a lamb for a household (Exodus 12), and Jesus is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.

Our accuser before God is defeated through the Blood. The Blood closes the door of opportunity on the devil (Hebrews 2.14).

For the Blood to be offensive is nothing new. Cain, in Genesis 4, brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. His brother Abel brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. The LORD respected Abel and his offering, but not that of Cain. Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. Both desired a relationship with God. Both brought offerings, seeking to draw near to God through a sacrifice.

God did not accept Cain’s efforts to draw near and establish a relationship. If Cain "did well," he would be lifted up. God would accept him. But Cain could not be glad in his heart that Abel’s sacrifice was acceptable. Abel approached God through blood sacrifice. Cain made his offering "in the process of time" (Genesis 4.3), not from the "first fruits" but from the excess of his labors. Jesus called Abel "righteous" (Matthew 23.24). Cain talked with Abel (Genesis 4.8). Something in Cain, however, wanted to murder Abel. That spirit that was in Cain rose up in envy to slay Abel, to destroy.

Cain’s offering represents the offering of "good works," the work of one’s own hands, the way that seems right to a man but whose end is death. Abel’s offering was a bloody lamb, offered in faith. Abel understood that innocent blood must be shed to atone. His lamb demonstrated a faith in the Lamb (Jesus) that would come to take away sin. Cain offered works of his own righteousness, hating good. 1 John 3.12 says that Cain was of that wicked one, and slew his brother because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

This is what I see today. I see those who:

1. Circumvent the Way. These seek to outwit the Word, to gain superiority by approaching God in a way they deem more to their own liking. These go around the Blood, dancing and praising and hoping their sacrifices will be acceptable anyway.
2. Corrupt the Truth. They pervert and debase the truth by neglecting and leaving out the way of access and approach God has commanded and prescribed. These dishonor the truth by disdaining the Blood for fear of its offense. These, at the worst, come to God with the blood of chickens or animals or even human sacrifice instead of acknowledging the Blood of Jesus, God’s only and unique Son. These slight and do despite to the requirement of God by carelessness or by intention to ignore the Blood of the Covenant of Grace.
3. Counterfeit the Life. These do not come through "the Door." They want the gifts without the Giver. They want life apart from the Blood of Christ. Theirs is a pretense of life, a masquerade, a transforming of oneself as a messenger of light. These devise their own religious system, bringing sacrifices and offerings of their own making and choosing, seeking acceptability through works of their own righteousness.

Right now the spirit of Cain rises up against the Way to destroy the true sons of God (Jude). The spirit of Belial seeks to cling and yoke itself to believers to corrupt, make worthless, bring lawlessness and unrighteousness, to seduce believers into participation with the works of darkness (2 Corinthians 6). Asmodeus masks and mocks the means of grace, mimicking and making light the glory of God, the manifestation of His grace in the provision of the Christ, the Passover Lamb slain before the foundation of the world.

I know that many, many of you reading this are pastors, ministers, people with ministries, Bible study leaders, leaders and officers in your churches. I admonish you and implore you to speak and sing of the Blood of the Lamb, of the Blood of the Cross, of the Blood of Jesus, of His body broken, in every service and at every gathering of the saints. I implore you to watch and cry for the Blood to be upon you, within you, around you, between you and all evil, between you and the author of evil. Plead your case. Plead the Blood of Jesus as your defense. Plead, having faith in the Blood of Jesus (Romans 3). Let the Blood witness against Satan and all accusation and every device of evil.

Sing and speak of the Lamb slain and honor the Blood of God’s Son as God the Father does. Sing your hallelujahs to the Lamb. Join the choirs of Revelation and sing their songs. Approach the Father only through His Son. Apply the Blood. Access the Throne of Grace and Glory God’s way. And then watch. The Holy Spirit comes in power as your offering of Christ is acceptable to the Father.

There is only one way to eternal life according to truth. It is…through the Blood (Hebrews 9.14, 10.22).

The Father offers you peace, safety, provision, warmth, security, love, protection from dark powers. We are not to focus on the darkness and the evil, but on the brightness of the glory of the risen Christ, the Bridegroom coming. Conform to God in His holiness, for He dwells in the light with no darkness, no evil. Sing, and smile, for it is God, after all, who resurrects the dead. He raised Jesus from the dead, and He raises you from the dead. Pass from death to life through faith in Jesus. Pass through death to life as you follow Him.

Many come to Craighouse as spiritual orphans and wounded soldiers. They come for refuge and for healing. They come to receive truth in an atmosphere of grace and compassion. And we are now seeking to find a location to expand the teaching and healing times and to fulfill the vision God has given us of a refuge center for Christians. The name "Craig" comes from the word "crag," meaning cleft in the rock. We want Craighouse to be a shelter from the storms and onslaughts of the world and Satan.

God will make a place for Himself, a place where He is honored and where His people can come for respite and recovery. You can be part of this that God is doing. I thank you and know that He will bless you.

God is able to establish you in the doctrines of grace, to do exceedingly abundantly above all that you can ask or think, and to keep you from falling that He might present you faultless before the presence of His glory with joy. May you be blessed with all that He is for you in Christ Jesus and satisfied with Him.

Calling the nations to resurrection,

Mary Craig

Grace be unto you, and peace, from Him which is, and which was,
And which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before His throne;
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten
Of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.
Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own Blood,
And has made us kings and priests unto God and His Father;
To Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1.4-6)