Would you be free from your burden of sin? There's power in the blood, power in the blood. Would you o'er evil a victory win? There's wonderful power in the blood.

As a child I fondly recall singing the song, “There’s Power in the Blood,” but wondering how blood could have such power. From a purely physical perspective, the presence of blood would suggest a wound or injury which would naturally weaken the source of the liquid. As I entered my teen years and later I began to recognize the metaphorical nature of the lyrics.

In Ephesians 1 the Apostle Paul includes a long prayer of thanksgiving which in Greek, we learn, is one extended sentence. In the prayer he highlights the believers’ blessings in Christ, including the power available to them.

What’s interesting to me is how much Paul emphasizes the Christian’s power over “all rule and authority, power and dominion… not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” (Ephesians 1:21) How can Christ’s death and resurrection provide that kind of supernatural power? How do believers access this power? Is it available to anyone who believes? Why would we need to access it?

These questions and more spring to mind the longer I reflect on the concept of the power made available to Christians through Jesus’ work on the cross. One thing that is clear, however, is the fact that we have power and we need to be prepared to use it. The battle language employed by Paul in Ephesians 1, an image he returns to near the end of the letter in chapter 6, is not meant to be a convenient writing technique. We are in a war and have power at our disposal.

Do you recognize the truth that your faith in Christ is not without struggle? There may be family members or friends who disagree with your decision to follow Jesus and the way it impacts your life. In addition, there are spiritual forces at work seeking to weaken your defenses and, ultimately, cause you to doubt the eternal nature of your salvation. Knowing they exist, and claiming Christ’s power over those forces, is essential to solidifying your commitment.

God, I acknowledge that you sacrificed your only son so that I might not only live with you in heaven one day, but truly live on this earth now. Help me access your supernatural power so that I might experience victory over sin on a daily basis.

Throughout This Day: Take comfort in the truth that you possess supernatural power that God invites you to use.



Tags: power Ephesians 1 spiritual battle sovereign spiritual warfare
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