I don’t like surprises.
I take that back - I like some surprises.
Surprise birthday parties. Surprise refunds on my taxes. Surprise gifts in the mail from friends. Surprise free drinks at Starbucks. All of those surprises are awesome.
But, I don’t like surprises which leave me reeling. A text from a parent saying - “can you call me?” An email from an employee - “are you available to meet?” The air-conditioner breaking in the middle of the summer. A flight being cancelled or missing a connection.
I’ve told the people around me - “I don’t like surprises, so if you think something might happen, warn me in advance.” Despite my requests, life doesn’t send advance warning when things go haywire. We don’t receive a calendar request from a future crisis, asking us to hold time in our schedule.
While we will always be surprised by some events in our lives, there are some events we can anticipate and plan on.
Those events are summarized in Revelation 12. Verses 10-12 let us know what we can expect.
“Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, “It has come at last— salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth— the one who accuses them before our God day and night. And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens! And you who live in the heavens, rejoice! But terror will come on the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you in great anger, knowing that he has little time.”
Allow me to summarize those 3 verses into four truths you can count on today.
1. We have salvation and power in Jesus.
2. We will be accused by Satan.
3. We will overcome by the blood of Jesus and the word of our testimony.
4. We will face sustained attacks from Satan.
“Wow, Scott! That’s kind of intense.” This passage is quite intense, but so is life when you’re in a war between two spiritual kingdoms which are attempting to claim ownership for the same territory - you!
Those fourth truths and their source in Revelation 12 were the inspiration for Chris Davenport's debut single, "Plead the Blood." In an interview with CCM, Davenport stated, “So wherever you hear it, my prayer is that it reminds you of the most powerful defense, the most assured claim that you can wield — the blood of Jesus.”
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Davenport has obviously spent time meditating and considering how the Gospel can transform the attacks we face and the battles we endure spiritually.
When we remember that we have salvation and power in Jesus, we can gratefully sing “what can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood.”
When we remember that we will be accused by Satan, we can boldly sing “nothing good have I done, nothing but the blood.”
When we reach for the power to overcome that is available to us in Christ, we can resolutely sing, “what can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood.”
When we anticipate angry attacks from Satan because of what Jesus did on the cross, we can take a deep breath and sing, “This is all my hope and peace, nothing but the blood of Jesus.”
Even with all this knowledge, there will still be times when the intensity of our enemy’s accusations and attacks surprise us and take our breath away. They may even send us reeling or knock us down.
But in those moments, we’d be wise to remember the words Jesus spoke to His disciples the night before He went to the cross.
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
Because Jesus has overcome the world, our trials and sorrows can be overcome by the power of His blood. This is why we plead the blood, no matter what comes our way today!
Scott Savage is a pastor and a writer with the best last name in the world. Scott’s writing helps you laugh, challenges you to think, and invites you to grow. He leads Cornerstone Church in Prescott, Arizona. Scott is married to Dani, an award-winning attorney, and they are the parents of three growing savages. You can read more of Scott’s writing at scottsavagelive.com.
