Opening the Gates of Heaven Perry Stone

weary of her lifestyle and turn to God. There have been several times when I would, or would suggest that others, pray two prayers. The first is to commission angels to go forth and begin to penetrate the hedge of the adversary and break into the mind and heart of the sinner to where the light of the gospel and the rays of God’s love can be shed abroad in that person’s spirit. The second prayer is for God to form a spiritual thorn hedge around the person so he or she becomes uncomfortable with sin and addiction and surrenders to the Holy Spirit, who is able to deliver that person from bondage. P LEADING THE B LOOD When a sinner is repenting and turning to God, he may say a prayer asking the Lord to “cleanse me by the blood of Christ” or “wash me in the blood of Jesus” (Rev. 1:5). During the prayer, there is no visible sign of blood dripping from the heavenly temple and covering the new believer. However, the words and faith create a new person as God recalls the sacrifice of His Son on the cross. Years ago it was common for older saints, when praying for a person struck by illness or under a sudden attack, to “plead the blood” over the situation. Their influence for their aggressive petition came from the verse: “They overcame him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony … ” (Rev. 12:11).