Amazingly, Man will always be Man until he is made a new creation or until he passes on!
I am smitten each time I read of the attempts on the lives of many who serve and served The LORD!
Frankly, this world has nothing like the bosom of Abraham Jesus spoke of:
The Bosom of Abraham occurs in only one New Testament passage, the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, which is only in the gospel of Luke (16:19–31; see Luke 16:22 and Luke 16:23). … Abraham’s bosom contrasts with the destination of a rich man who ends up in Hades.
Where does this come from, and why?
Hades? Sheol?
Sheol. … When the Hebrew scriptures were translated into Greek in ancient Alexandria around 200 BC, the word “Hades” (the Greek underworld) was substituted for Sheol. This is reflected in the New Testament where Hades is both the underworld of the dead and the personification of the evil it represen.
A very brief His-story about existence can be found below:
“In you all the families of the Earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3).
To understand some of the Bible’s most amazing and inspiring prophecies, we must embark on a study that begins 4,000 years ago—when God began working with a man called Abraham. Abraham was a remarkable figure. God made astounding promises to him that continue to affect not only his descendants but the whole world.
The story of his offspring is remarkable too. It covers much of what we know as the Old Testament. This is a story filled with great themes—the rise and fall not only of great men and women but of kingdoms and empires.
The story of Abraham’s descendants has its share of twists and turns and ups and downs and more than a few mysteries.
The books of the Old Testament describe Abraham’s offspring growing into a mighty nation—the Israelite kingdom—and entering into a special covenant relationship with God. Comprised of 12 tribes, or family groups, the nation gained prominence for a time.
Yet before long the Israelites divided into two competing kingdoms. When the larger of the two, which retained the name Israel (comprised of 10 of the 12 tribes), rejected its partnership with God, it set in motion one of history’s greatest mysteries when its people were forcibly exiled from their ancient homeland.
The smaller, southern kingdom of Judah—comprised of the two remaining tribes and remnants of another—failed to learn the lesson of its northern kinsmen. Its citizens likewise rejected God and were taken into captivity. For the most part, however, they retained their identity and have remained visible through history as a small and often persecuted race, the Jewish people.
The “bosom of Abraham” where all believers will be till that period – The judgement, where EVERY knee shall bow and acknowledge Christ as Lord.
Complex discussion really!
In my experience, I saw no castles, simply, I experienced a ‘timeless’ period. I have discussed this earlier.
In reading; I understand that many ‘conclusions’ have been reached! Experiences differ, but in the end there is a common thread
In my recollection, I have never voiced Black, Caucasian, Asian… there were simply others in my ‘dream’.
But focusing on our main share, we see what will occur.
The phrase “every knee shall bow…” comes from the Old Testament book of Isaiah. In the last half of the book (chapters 40—66), God prophesies through Isaiah the coming comfort to His people, Israel, who are in exile in Babylon for their covenant unfaithfulness. The phrase in question is found in Isaiah 45:23, which reads, “By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.”
The main thrust of the overall passage is that God is The only One who can save His people, as opposed to the idols that are worshipped by the nations. God is God and there is no other (Isaiah 45:5–6, 18, 22). Those who turn from their idols will be saved. Those who do not will be ashamed. The bottom line is that, before God, every knee shall bow and every tongue swear allegiance to God.
The apostle Paul quotes this passage twice in his writings, once in Romans 14:11 and again in Philippians 2:10–11. In the Romans context, Paul is writing about Christian liberty. The Christian is not to pass judgment on his brother or sister in Christ over non-essential issues—the examples given in the text are dietary habits and religious days of observance. In these things to which the Lord gave no specific command, we should not stand in judgment of our brothers or sisters in Christ.
The other quote, Philippians 2:10–11, comes in that wonderful Christological passage, the overall context of which is the call to Christian humility and how we should not consider ourselves better than others. Rather, we should look out for the interests of others above our own. In vv. 5–11, Paul uses Christ as the ultimate example of humility that we should follow. It was Christ who, being in the very form of God, emptied Himself and took on the form of a servant. In doing so, He became obedient to God to the point of death. This He did for the sake of His people. It is important to note the overarching theme of this passage—the humiliation and exaltation of Christ. Christ first humbles Himself and then submits Himself in complete obedience to the Father. Afterwards, the Father highly exalts Him above all things. Paul cites Isaiah 45:23 to say that at the feet of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Lord to the glory of God the Father.
In both of Paul’s citations of Isaiah 45:23, he is echoing the truth that there will come a time when “every knee shall bow and every tongue confess” to the glory of God. In the Philippians citation, Paul is declaring the divinity of Jesus when he says that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Him as Lord. This is a clear indication of what will occur at the Second Coming of Christ. During the first advent, Christ came in humiliation and died a humiliating death on the cross for the sins of the world. In His second advent, Christ will come with power as the Conquering King. When that happens, it will be as our Lord Himself predicted in the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 25:31–46) and as the vision the apostle John received in Revelation 20:11–15. When the King of kings and the Lord of lords returns to this earth, then will come true what the prophet Isaiah foretold all those years ago: “Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall swear allegiance.”
The lesson for those living in the “here and now” is that we must heed the warning of the writer of Hebrews who said: “So, as the Holy Spirit says: ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, “Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.” So I declared on oath in my anger, “They shall never enter my rest”’” (Hebrews 3:7–11, citing Psalm 95:7–11).
If we have heard and responded to the gospel, then we must live each day in light of its truth, shining the light of Christ into a dark world. Those who have not responded to the gospel are exhorted to respond today and not harden the heart. It is appointed for each of us to die once and then to face the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Those who have responded to the gospel with faith and repentance will do so gladly and willingly. Those who have hardened their hearts to the call of the gospel will do so with great fear and trembling
We started with attempts on the life of Jesus
There were 6 recorded attempts on the life of Jesus Christ. And the last attempt on His life will show how all these other events come together, which actually occurred at His crucifixion. And we’ll also see how Jesus Christ was truly isolated and alone when He died that death for us.
There were 6 recorded attempts on the life of Jesus Christ. And the last attempt on His life will show how all these other events come together, which actually occurred at His crucifixion. And we’ll also see how Jesus Christ was truly isolated and alone when He died that death for us.
https://www.ucg.org/sermons/the-attempts-on-the-life-of-jesus
One such attempt is:
“They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town
was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff.”
LUKE 4:29
But, what happened next?
“But He walked right through the crowd and went on His way.” Vs. 30
Mind you, this happened with Stephen and they did in a way ‘achieve’ what they set out to do. But, to God’s glory it was to a very, very, very inexplicably awesomely better place! Glory!!!
Do we recall when the Apostle Stephen Is Stoned to Death?
“When the council members heard Stephen’s speech, they were angry and furious. But Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit. He looked toward heaven, where he saw our glorious God and Jesus standing at his right side. Then Stephen said, “I see Heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right side of God!”
The council members shouted and covered their ears. At once they all attacked Stephen and dragged him out of the city. Then they started throwing stones at him. The men who had brought charges against him put their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. (This is stated for its His-story•cal significance! )
As Stephen was being stoned to death, he called out, “Lord Jesus, please welcome me!” He knelt down and shouted, “Lord, don’t blame them for what they have done.” Then he died.
Saul approved the stoning of Stephen! Some faithful followers of The Lord buried Stephen and mourned very much for him.
Acts 7:54-8:2 (CEV)
These are strange and disturbing stories, much like what we see even today.
today
Jesus, just baptized by his cousin John, is driven—or is it led?—by the Spirit into the wilderness
for forty days and put to the test by the Devil. He returns to Galilee where he begins teaching in
the synagogues and healing. Soon he is being praised by everyone.
Now, back in his hometown, Nazareth, Jesus attends synagogue there and, as we heard last week,
reads from the prophet Isaiah:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
He returns the scroll and sits down. Then he breaks the expectant silence with a stunning
announcement: “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” The people of Nazareth
understand that Jesus has just audaciously identified himself with the anointed—messianic—
savior Isaiah foretells. Understandably, they are surprised—“Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”—but their
initial reaction is not negative; on the contrary: “All spoke well of him.”
In our existence now; Satan has his effect. Resist him and he will flee from you, Amen. The Name of Jesus has been placed above every name that was, is or ever will be, Amen. Use it!
The devil is already defeated—but you have to enforce your victory! Here are four times when you should use the Name of Jesus.
There is a force so vast in its power that it triumphs over any problem, any trial and any situation. Demons flee from it, disease cannot remain in the face of it, lack and fear dissipate before it, and every darkness is instantly shattered by it. Even death itself cannot contend with it. What is it?
The Name above all names. The Name of Jesus.
The power and authority of the Name of Jesus rightfully belongs to you as a born-again Christian, and He expects you to use it! Before Jesus ascended to be seated at the right hand of the Father, He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” Matthew 28:18, NIV). He has the authority!
What did He do with it? He delegated it to us when He said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mark 16:15, 17-18, NKJV).
The Name of Jesus works. There is far more power wrapped up in this one Name than you may even realize. Smith Wigglesworth once said, “There is power to overcome everything in the world through the Name of Jesus.”[1] That means you can put the Name of Jesus to work in every area of your life—big or small. Below are four times when you should use the Name of Jesus.
1. Use the Name of Jesus to Put Sickness to Flight
“In my name…they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” –Mark 16:17-18 (NKJV)
Notice this verse doesn’t say the sick might recover—it says they will! No matter how minor or severe, sickness and disease don’t belong in your body. You are healed! But you have to take your health by force and take it by faith. Every sickness and disease has a name—the flu is a name, cancer is a name, heart disease is a name. Every name must bow to the Name of Jesus.
In his book Ever Increasing Faith, Smith Wigglesworth told a story about a man who had been bedridden and was in desperate need of healing. He sent for a group of his friends who were faith-filled people, asking them to pray the prayer of faith over him. But after praying, they didn’t have any immediate results. So, they left—discouraged.
When they were still standing outside, one of them said, “There is one thing we didn’t do.” So, they went back inside, gathered in a group and started to whisper the Name of Jesus. At first, as they whispered, nothing seemed to happen. But, as they continued to whisper, “Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!” the power began to fall. As they began to see this manifestation, their whisper turned into shouting. As they were shouting the Name—that powerful Name—the man got up from his bed and got dressed.
What changed?
They had started out by praying in faith for the healing of this man—but their eyes were on the man and his condition the whole time. When they changed their focus and fixed all their attention on the Name of Jesus, their faith took hold of the power that is in His Name.
When you use the Name of Jesus, Satan backs off. He has no choice. The only thing he can do is try to deceive you into believing something other than what the Word says. So, when you start believing for your healing or divine health, don’t allow him to get a foothold. The Bible tells us to give him no place. Instead, learn to be bold.
When we use the Name of Jesus to lay hands on the sick—we’re ministering the love of Jesus to them. It’s the love of Jesus within that will cause you to put your own feelings aside—your reservations about laying hands on people in public or in other situations—and will give the opportunity for the love of God to operate.
Healing is God’s calling card. If you will learn to use the Name of Jesus, you won’t have any trouble getting people saved. It is the easiest thing in the world to get people saved when you get them healed first.
Jump-start your faith in the Name of Jesus with this confession.
2. Use the Name of Jesus to Rebuke Lack
“Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.” –Philippians 2:9-10
Just like every sickness has a name—lack is a name. And it covers more than money. Any area where you are in lack—peace in your family, joy in your spirit, finances—every name in that category has to bow to the Name of Jesus. Everything you read in Deuteronomy 28 that is under the curse of the Law, is lack, and it is of the devil. You have been redeemed from everything under the curse. So, don’t tolerate it!
THE BLESSING is your lot—that’s what you’re to expect. Nothing less. How do you contend for it?
By using the Name of Jesus when the devil comes to steal from you. Just as you wouldn’t tolerate someone barging into your home and taking your goods, you can’t tolerate the devil and his attempts to take what is rightfully yours in the Name of Jesus.
So, when lack tries to come into your family, rebuke it. Say, “Lack, I rebuke you in Jesus’ Name. You’re not coming into my family. You can’t come into my bank account. Jesus came that I might have life and have it more abundantly. I take my BLESSING now, in the Name of Jesus.”
Stand your ground in every area. Revelation 19:13says the Name of Jesus is the Word of God! So, when an evil spirit is trying to bring sickness, poverty, depression or any other garbage into your household, you don’t have to quote every scripture you know to stop him. You can just point your finger at him and say, “Jesus!” That’s like throwing the whole Word of God in his face at one time!
3. Use the Name of Jesus to Send Demons Packing
“In My name they will cast out demons.” –Mark 16:17 (NKJV)
Have you ever noticed the devil doesn’t play fair? Well, God never told you to give the devil a fair shot either—He said use the Name of Jesus on him. He’s already defeated—you’re just keeping him where he belongs.
Now, here’s how he comes at you—he sends demons, or evil spirits. But you have authority over every one of them. If the spirit of strife, envy, suicide, murder, drugs, alcoholism or any other wrong spirit tries to enter your home and family—deal with it IMMEDIATELY! Speak to it; say, “I command you in Jesus’ Name to take your hands off my children. You spirit of rebellion, drugs, alcohol (whatever it is), I break your power over my child, my spouse, my family. I forbid you to operate in his or her life anymore. I take by force what belongs to me and that includes my children and my family. You get out of my home and family, in Jesus’ Name!”
If you aren’t born again, or you don’t have faith in what you say when you use the Name of Jesus, you won’t get results. That’s what happened in Acts 19:13-16 when Jewish exorcists went to a demon-possessed man and said, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” That demon spoke up and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” And then that demon whipped all seven of those boys, tore all their clothes off and rode them all out of the house nearly dead.
You see, they were using a Name that they had no right to use. They could have used it. All they had to do was accept Jesus. But they didn’t accept Jesus; they accepted Paul and what he did and were trying to use the Name of Jesus like some kind of hocus-pocus.
They realized it was the Name that was getting things done, but they were not using it as their right. That devil knew it, and he didn’t have to bow to that.
When you are born again, and you have faith in the Name—there is no situation too great for that Name. But you have to take what belongs to you by force. You have to force Satan—with the Word of God and the Name of Jesus—to give up ground in your life. He’s a thief, he’s a killer, and he’s an outlaw. He’ll steal anything you’ll let him have. So be bold with the Name of Jesus—don’t let him steal your kids, don’t let him steal your money, don’t let him steal your ministry, don’t let him steal your church. Be forcible in the spirit and force him out.
If you even smell the devil from a distance roaming and trying to break into any area of your life, don’t wait for it to escalate—get him out! And do it with the Name above all names.
4. Use the Name of Jesus for Supernatural Protection
“The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.” –Proverbs 18:10
Oh, how the devil doesn’t want you to know this one. His entire profession is steal, kill and destroy. So, when you start using the Name of Jesus to protect you, your family and your property—he’ll go out of business in your neck of the woods. Saturating his plans with the Name of Jesus will stop him from oppressing you and your family, and will keep you safe.
There was a pastor of a church in Los Angeles, Calif., who spent his life serving God. He was not a spiritual novice—he was a good, honest, God-loving, God-worshiping man. And he knew about spiritual laws.
He was walking home from church one night when he noticed four men following behind him. They kept getting closer and closer, and he knew something wasn’t right. He tried to run off (he was in his 60s at the time), but they caught up to him, jumped him and started beating him. He was able to run up onto the front porch of a nearby home, which happened to belong to members of his church, and started banging on the door.
When they opened the door and saw what was happening, they just shut the door! So, this pastor was in trouble. He grabbed a broom from the front porch and started trying to fight off the men. Then, one of the men pulled out a weapon, and the situation escalated.
Suddenly, it dawned on him that he needed to use the Name of Jesus! So, he yelled out, “In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth, you touch not God’s prophet and do him no harm!”
Those men immediately backed off out to the sidewalk. He kept pointing his finger at them and saying, “In the Name of Jesus!” And all four ran off!
He didn’t need physical strength, he didn’t need help from people—he needed one thing and he used it. The Name of Jesus drove danger far from him.
The Name of Jesus is your supernatural protection, your emergency number and your rescue vehicle, all wrapped up in one. It responds immediately, acts perfectly, and gets the job done without delay or hiccup. It should always be your first line of defense and will help you when there seems to be no way out.
That is what happened to a Christian man who was on a 747 airplane that crashed into another commercial airliner, killing most of the passengers. Both planes went down and were on fire. All the exits were blocked or engulfed in flames, and he was trapped inside. In his moment of impossibility—he did what he knew to do—he called on the Name of Jesus.
Now, before he had left on this trip, he had prayed over his travel and believed God for safety. He put his faith stake in the ground before he even left. And now, as he called on the Name of Jesus, the next thing he knew, he was out on the wing. He didn’t use an exit—he was just translated out. Just suddenly out of danger without any natural explanation.
That’s the power of the Name of Jesus.
In conclusion, when you use the Name of Jesus in these four situations—or any situation—you will discover for yourself what that exalted Name can do. Begin to speak it with confidence and authority. It’s a mighty weapon of warfare that never fails!
https://blog.kcm.org/