TD Jakes - Blessed by the Blood (03/10/2021)
Jesus deliberately died outside the camp, rejecting confinement within religious walls, traditions, and rituals, to shatter religiosity and grant direct access to God for all—sinners and outcasts included. True worship is the sacrifice of praise from a genuine heart, especially in brokenness, for God desires living relationship over dead religion.
Jesus Died Outside the Camp
We have come to the 13th chapter, and the writer carefully notes that Jesus died without the camp. Jesus did not do all He did to get into a building—He did everything to get out. If you constrict Him in four walls, you have imprisoned Him.
It was never His will to be trapped in a building. You live in houses, but God does not need a house—earth is His footstool, heaven His throne. He is too big to be held in what you built.
Every now and then God sends something like this to shake you from thinking it is about a building. It is not about a building—it never has been. We built the building for you, not for God. God does not need a seat—He sits on the circle of the earth.
Our God Is Too Small
The problem with the church today is that our God is too small. If you lift Him up as He should be, your problems will shrink. He is bigger than doubts, fears, reservations—high and lifted up, holding all power.
Everything belongs to Him. He orders angels—they move. He commands demons—they come out.
But do not miss the truth: He died outside the camp. He loves Jerusalem—"O Jerusalem, how often I would have gathered you as a hen her chicks, but you would not." He wept over Jerusalem.
Yet when ready to die, He died outside Jerusalem. The writer notes this so you do not spend life trying to get into what He stepped out of—the incarceration of religiosity.
Religion Incarcerates, Relationship Liberates
Religion always incarcerates; relationship always liberates. He wrestled with the religious—they persecuted Him. Sinners did not—it was religious people, because His relationship indicted their religion.
He said you pray to impress with big words, long speeches—but really pray in your secret closet.
Religion never wants secret—it wants opulent, out front, traditional, teaching traditions. But your traditions make the Word of God of no effect.
You are more concerned about makeup, earrings—what they have on—than what is in them. God looks at the heart.
An Indictment Against the Camp
Religion is embarrassed before relationship—religion is all you have when no relationship. That He died outside the camp indicts the camp.
He said: I am through—you cannot hold Me. I am too big for your walls, laws.
So I eat on Sabbath, heal when not supposed to, let woman with issue of blood touch Me—never rebuked her, though law said not.
I did not come to honor it—I came to fulfill it. When fulfilled, finished with it.
I am taking you beyond walls. You have too many walls—read Scripture, say prayer, deacons stand front, wear white...
Jesus Never Saw "Church"
Discussions about having church in building—what would Jesus do? Jesus never saw church—pew, stained-glass, choir, praise team.
When churches built, Jesus gone over 100 years. He saw desert as church, Peter's boat as pulpit.
All this stuff you made has nothing to do with God's power. I do not need collar, suit, tower to preach—could preach in shower. The stuff is inside.
He died outside camp—shattered walls of religiosity, norms, routines, rituals. That is why they hated, sought to kill Him—He shattered theology, traditions, ideas, concepts, routine.
God Is a Disrupter
God is a shatterer, disrupter. Every now and then He sends something to disrupt order.
We got too big for our britches—thinking we control everything. Democrats, Republicans arguing—God says: let Me shut you up.
I send something you cannot legislate, not ready for—brings you to knees. You do not want to worship? I make you believe, serve, call My name.
I blow up parties, come on cruise ships, disrupt senate, courtroom. I am God—beside Me no other.
Access Through Bleeding Out
We talk about Jesus who died without the camp—went outside so we have access.
If died inside wall, I could not get in. He died outside so heathen, whore, hypocrite, liar, fornicator, whoremonger—could get to Him.
He put Himself out, bled out.
Look at somebody: He bled out.
Something is going to happen—on couch, kitchen, making coffee, side of bed, stuck in car. Something is going to happen!
Distinguished from Shadows
No lambs killed outside camp—specific place inside. Crucifixion was burnt offering, sin offering—for sins of world.
But He did not die where predecessors died. Every prior lamb foreshadowed Him—died on altar inside camp.
They were shadows. Former things passed away. To distinguish from placeholders, He died outside.
In theater: stand-ins hold position during setup—not stars. When perfect comes, partial done away.
When stage set, star brought out—He died outside so we have no continuing city—must be fluid walking with God.
The Sacrifice of Praise
Your praise is your offering. By Him, let us offer sacrifice of praise.
Offer means not necessarily accepted. Praise is sacrifice—not all praise, but what He accepts: sacrifice of praise.
If does not hurt, does not move Him. If no cost, does not move Him.
Lip service does not move God—hearts not validating. Easy praise does not move.
What moves: broken and praise, hurting and praise, tough time and praise. Flesh says stay home—you praise.
What Really Blesses God
Jesus offers it because touched by feeling.
Giving junk you have no attachment—He does not want either.
What blesses: give something you love, still attached.
Abraham loved Hagar—slept with, held, heard thoughts, secrets, tears. Bonded—yet gave up.
Sacrifice of praise: the one that got away, no you did not mean, exiled to unhappy but right situation.
With broken heart, tears nobody sees—lift hands, offer fruit of lips.
Fruit without relationship? No—what left when relationship over is fruit.
Ventilate Your Heart
God wants praise from mouth—abundance of heart, mouth speaks.
You can dance, clap—heart elsewhere. But mouth ventilates heart.
We are clogged—stress, anxiety, emotional illness—need heart ventilated.
Too quiet about feelings, inside struggles—calling tough, masculine. Unhealthy—turns to cancers, diseases, frustrations, anger.
Open spirit—say I love You anyway, praise You hurting, lonely, broken, aching.
I dare you—open mouth, let praises out of belly.
He Bled Out for Access
I will never be understood, held, get what wanted—but with You I make it. I glorify, thank You.
Refuse misery, disgruntled, angry, vindictive—lift hands, open mouth, give praise.
He bled out so you get in, have access, cry heard.
Guilty come to cross. He hemorrhaged, blood streaming—died within reach.
Blood falling on brokenness, frustration.
To brokenhearted mothers, fathers—He bled out. Kids not come, locked up, dead—He bled out.
Nobody understands—but He bled out outside so touch hem at 2 a.m., made holy.
Come Boldly—Open Your Mouth
You do not have to lie, fake, pretend—come boldly to throne of grace.
If come, He hears, answers, responds.
I dare you—like Hannah, act drunk in presence—let Holy Ghost touch.
Open mouth—whatever on you, nerves, upset—give heart to God.
Devil does not want mouth open—power of life, death in tongue.
Lift hands, open mouth—give sacrifice of praise.
I do not care look, what on, mess makeup, hair—I bless Lord at all times. His praise continually in mouth.
Open wide your mouth.