i am
Content
4/28/2013
I AM
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Exo 3:13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? Exo 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. There are times when we hesitate to do God’s will because of feelings of inadequacy. Moses felt so inadequate to lead the children of Israel that he offered several excuses to God, but found God to be His adequacy. A right concept of God is essential to serving the Lord with power, purpose and proper perspective. God not only reminded Moses of His covenantly promise to Abraham, but used the name I AM to teach him about his unchanging and need meeting nature. Let us look at several aspects of God’s nature to enhance our sense of power, purpose and perspective: 1. The great I AM teaches us about GOD’S SELF-EXISTENCE We can praise God for His pre-existence before time. "In the beginning, God." He is above all, before all and greater than all. Thank God for His eternality that transcends all of time, people and events. He is greater than all history, present circumstances or future oppositionary powers because He always has been the eternally existing God. 2. The great I AM teaches us about GOD’S COMPLETENESS –
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I AM
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Moses had to learn that whenever we are feeling inadequate, God is totally sufficient, complete and adequate for all our needs. He completes whatever we are lacking in, may it be courage, wisdom or ability, He is our great I AM. He gives us the authority to do things that are far beyond the ability of human beings because He supernaturally enables us with His Spirit. Paul wrote, "Not that we are adequate to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God who also made us adequate as servants of the new covenant. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." (2 Cor. 3:5,6) 3. The great I AM teaches us about GOD’S SUPPLY. God is the purveyor of every good and perfect gift. He is the only one who always supplies without adding any sorrow. Moses doubted if He had the wherewithal to teach, lead and govern the people of Israel, but the great I AM assured him of availability of total resources. Quote: Hudson Taylor, the famous founder of the China Inland mission said, "God’s will done in God’s way will not lack God’s support." 4. The great I AM teaches us about GOD’S PROMISES. When God told Moses, Tell them I AM has sent you,". I AM will provide. Find strength for your weakness, find solutions for your problems, find deliverance for your difficulties, find peace for your stress, find relief from your pain, find victory from your defeat, find ability for you, " This apparently unfinished title is the most comforting title the heart of man could devise, because it allows us to add to it without
4/28/2013
I AM
3
any limitations. Whatever we feel the need of and even exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think." He will keep you in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Him because His trusts in Him. (Isa 26:3) Even in today’s Old Testament account, Moses faced much concern and anxiety over what God was calling him to do. He was at the point of pressing the panic button when he offered one excuse after another as to why he couldn’t fulfill the assignment. In this chapter God has just called Moses to deliver the people out of the hands of the Egyptians where the people had suffered abuse for a very long time. At this point in his life he was not ready to rush right out and conquer the world as he had been 40 years earlier. He was now timid, unsure of himself, and lacking in the assertiveness that he would need for the divine commission. He gulped at the idea and said, “See if you can get someone else to do it.” He came up with a lot of excuses why he was not the man for the job. He was not at this point a shining example of faith and trust in God. He had a lot of “what ifs.” What if I go and then the people don’t believe me? What if I can’t get the words to come out right? You know I can’t speak. Who am I going to tell them sent me here in the first place?” God answered each of his objections by assuring Him that He was everything that Moses needed Him to be. Today I would like to remind you that “God is Everything You Need Him to Be.” 1. How Do You Know This?: Digging into this scripture we find
4/28/2013
I AM
4
some answers that apply to us today just as much as it did to Moses. Moses was concerned about knowing exactly who it was who sent him. God said to him, “I AM that I AM.” Tell them “I AM” sent you. What does that mean? It was not just the TITLE of God but the SIGNIFICANCE or the MEANING of the TITLE. What does the title mean? What is the CONTENT of this title? The people in the East had a lot of gods. Which one was Moses referring to? Was this god one that could deliver? Did this god have the “goods” to deliver the people from the Egyptians? To clarify who it was, Moses made it clear that this was no new God to Israel. He was the SAME God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This is my name forever and this is my name to ALL GENERATIONS. Malachi 3:6 says, “For I am the Lord, I change not…” He is telling Moses, “I am truly he who exists and who will be dynamically PRESENT then and there in the situation to which I am sending you.” He said, “I will be with you.” Sometimes we don’t give it a thought that God is ACTIVELY PRESENT with me today--right now. He says “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). God made it known to Moses that His name was filled with His AUTHORITY and his POWER. God wanted Moses to know that He was always DEPENDABLE and has the RESOURCES to meet every need of the people. He is an unchangeable God and He is a present God to us today just as well. He has the resources to meet our needs. How do we know this? Many scriptures point to His
4/28/2013
I AM
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resources. “My God shall supply ALL YOUR NEED according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19). What do you need God to be to you today? One time John D. Rockefeller said “Oh, what I would give to be able to eat a hot dog!” He had the money to pay for it but he didn’t have the good health to digest it.” We have a whole variety of needs that God wants to meet. Not just spiritual salvation, but healing, financial, relationships, etc. The word SALVATION is an all inclusive word. I AM…..is an open ended sentence. God says, “I AM the Lord that healeth thee” (Exodus 15:26.) Scripture says, “But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head” (Psalm 3:3). If our religion is superficial it won’t do anything for us. It won’t work in our every day life. How can God become to us whatever we need Him to be then? Why are we not receiving what we need so much of the time? In John 8:56–58 Jesus is answering the criticism of the Jewish leaders. He says, "Your father Abraham rejoiced that he was to see my day; he saw it and was glad." The Jews then said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly! I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM." 1. Jesus is the door John 10:7 So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
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I AM
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If you are going to get saved and stay right w/ God it is going to be through Jesus. His shed blood, grace, and being filled w/ His spirit. viii. Revelation 3:8 – Jesus tells the church that He has placed an open door that no man can shut. T.S. - So when Jesus states, “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.” (John 10:9). We get a little better understanding of what He is saying to the people of the day and to us today as the church. Gate or Door - Thura The opening or the closure. 1. Old Testament models for the shepherd image, for going in and out, and for door prediction (especially in the messianic context of Ps. 118:19-21: "Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD. 20 This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter. 21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation." b. Jesus is the real messiah – the door to Heaven – the door or gate to the Holy of Holies with God. He is the true Messiah – He is the only way to the Father! He is the Door – the entrance to eternal life. 2. Jesus said I AM THE TRUE VINE JOHN 15:1 He is the one that gives life and He is the one that enables a vine to produce fruit. Without Him we can do nothing so it is imperative that we stay connected to the true vine. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me
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and I in him, he will bear much fruit apart from me you can do nothing." Psalm 80:8 : You have brought a vine out of Egypt; You have cast out the nations, and planted it. Isa 5:7: For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts [is] the house of Israel, And the men of Judah are His pleasant plant… The cultivation of the vine requires constant care or the fruit will very soon degenerate. After the rains the loosely made walls required repair; the ground must be ploughed or harrowed and cleared of weeds -- contrast with this the vineyard of the sluggard (Prv. 24: 30-31); in the early spring the plants must be pruned by cutting off dead and fruitless branches (Lev. 25: 3,4; Isa 5:6) which are gathered and burned (Jn 15:6). As the grapes ripen they must be watched to keep off jackals and foxes (Cant 2:15), and in some districts even wild boars (Ps 80:13). 3. John 14:6 Jesus answered, ’I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’" Man’s Quest: Greece said …..Be wise, know yourself Rome said…….Be strong, discipline yourself Judaism said …Be holy, conform yourself Epicureanism says…..Be sensuous, enjoy yourself Education says ….Be resourceful, expand yourself Psychology says ….Be confident, fulfill yourself Materialism says….Be acquisitive, please yourself Pride says….Be superior, promote yourself
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Asceticism says….Be inferior, suppress yourself Diplomacy says….Be reasonable, control yourself Communism says….Be collective, secure yourself Humanism says….Be capable, trust yourself Philanthropy says ….Be unselfish, give yourself (Swindoll, pages 270,271) Yet none of these ways has brought about fulfillment in people’s lives or entrance into eternity. For these people they soon discovered the emptiness of these pursuits and discovered reality check that these ways do not get you into Heaven. 4. Jesus said I AM the good shepherd following jesus the good shepherd will: The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psa 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. Psa 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Psa 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psa 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Psa 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. 5. Joh 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that
4/28/2013
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believeth on me shall never thirst. 6. Joh 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: Jesus doesn’t just figuratively raise dead souls he gives unlively people new live he zoay or animates and gives vitality. 7. Joh 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. The famous Eddystone lighthouse off the coast of Cornwall, England, was first built in a fanciful way, by the learned and eccentric Winstanley. On its sides he put various boastful inscriptions. He was very proud of his structure, and from his lofty balcony used boldly to defy the storm, crying, "Blow, O winds! Rise, O ocean! Break forth, ye elements, and try my work!" But one fearful night the sea swallowed up the tower and its builder. The lighthouse was built a second time of wood and stone by Rudyard. The form was good, but the wood gave hold for the elements and the builder and his structure perished in the flames. Next the great Smeaton was called. He raised a cone from the solid rock upon which it was built, and riveted it to the rock; as the oak is fastened to the earth by its roots. From the rock of the foundation he took the rock of the superstructure. He
4/28/2013
I AM
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carved upon it no boastful inscription like those of Winstanley, but on its lower course he put, "Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it;" and its keystone, above the lantern, the simple tribute, "Laus Deo!" and the structure still stands, holding its beacon light to stormtossed mariners. Titles of God EL, ELOAH: God "mighty, strong, prominent" El appears to mean “powerEl is associated with other qualities, such as integrity (Num 23:19), jealousy (Deut 5:9), and compassion (Neh 9:31), but the root idea of might remains. ELOHIM: God “Creator, Mighty and Strong” (Ge 17:7; Jer 31:33) – the plural form of Eloah, EL SHADDAI: “God Almighty,” “The Mighty One of Jacob” (Gen 49:24; Ps 132:2,5) – speaks to God’s ultimate power ADONAI: YHWH / YAHWEH / JEHOVAH: “LORD” (Deut 6:4; Dan 9:14) YAHWEH-JIREH: "The Lord Will Provide" (Genesis 22:14) – the name memorialized by Abraham when God provided the ram to be sacrificed in place of Isaac. YAHWEH-RAPHA: "The Lord Who Heals" (Exodus 15:26) – “I am Jehovah who heals you” both in body and soul.
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YAHWEH-NISSI: "The Lord Our Banner" (Exodus 17:15), where banner is understood to be a rallying place. This name commemorates the desert victory over the Amalekites in Exodus 17. YAHWEH-M'KADDESH: "The Lord Who Sanctifies, Makes Holy" (Leviticus 20:8; Ezekiel 37:28) – God makes it clear that He alone, not the law, can cleanse His people and make them holy. YAHWEH-SHALOM: "The Lord Our Peace" (Judges 6:24) – YAHWEH-ELOHIM: "LORD God" (Genesis 2:4; Psalm 59:5) – a combination of God’s unique name YHWH and the generic “Lord,” signifying that He is the Lord of Lords. YAHWEH-TSIDKENU: "The Lord Our Righteousness” (Jeremiah 33:16) – As with YHWH-M’Kaddesh, it is God alone who provides righteousness to man, YAHWEH-ROHI: "The Lord Our Shepherd" (Psalm 23:1) – After David pondered his relationship as a shepherd to his sheep, he realized that was exactly the relationship God had with him, and so he declares, “Yahweh-Rohi is my Shepherd. I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1). YAHWEH-SHAMMAH: "The Lord Is There” (Ezekiel 48:35) – the name ascribed to Jerusalem and the Temple there, indicating that the once-departed glory of the Lord (Ezekiel 8—11) had returned (Ezekiel 44:1-4).
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YAHWEH-SABAOTH: "The Lord of Hosts" (Isaiah 1:24; Psalm 46:7) – Hosts means “hordes,” both of angels and of men. The name is expressive of the majesty, power, and authority of God and shows that He is able to accomplish what He determines to do. EL ELYON: “Most High" (Deuteronomy 26:19) – derived from the Hebrew root for “go up” or “ascend,” so the implication is of that which is the very highest. El Elyon denotes exaltation and speaks of absolute right to lordship. EL ROI: "God of Seeing" (Genesis 16:13) – the name ascribed to God by Hagar, alone and desperate in the wilderness after being driven out by Sarah (Genesis 16:1-14). When Hagar met the Angel of the Lord, she realized she had seen God Himself in a theophany. She also realized that El Roi saw her in her distress and testified that He is a God who lives and sees all. EL-OLAM: "Everlasting God" (Psalm 90:1-3) – God’s nature is without beginning or end, free from all constraints of time, and He contains within Himself the very cause of time itself. “From everlasting to everlasting, You are God.” EL-GIBHOR: “Mighty God” (Isaiah 9:6) – the name describing the Messiah, Christ Jesus, in this prophetic portion of Isaiah. As a powerful and mighty warrior, the Messiah, the Mighty God, will accomplish the destruction of God’s enemies and rule with a rod of iron (Revelation 19:15).
I AM
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Exo 3:13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? Exo 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. There are times when we hesitate to do God’s will because of feelings of inadequacy. Moses felt so inadequate to lead the children of Israel that he offered several excuses to God, but found God to be His adequacy. A right concept of God is essential to serving the Lord with power, purpose and proper perspective. God not only reminded Moses of His covenantly promise to Abraham, but used the name I AM to teach him about his unchanging and need meeting nature. Let us look at several aspects of God’s nature to enhance our sense of power, purpose and perspective: 1. The great I AM teaches us about GOD’S SELF-EXISTENCE We can praise God for His pre-existence before time. "In the beginning, God." He is above all, before all and greater than all. Thank God for His eternality that transcends all of time, people and events. He is greater than all history, present circumstances or future oppositionary powers because He always has been the eternally existing God. 2. The great I AM teaches us about GOD’S COMPLETENESS –
4/28/2013
I AM
2
Moses had to learn that whenever we are feeling inadequate, God is totally sufficient, complete and adequate for all our needs. He completes whatever we are lacking in, may it be courage, wisdom or ability, He is our great I AM. He gives us the authority to do things that are far beyond the ability of human beings because He supernaturally enables us with His Spirit. Paul wrote, "Not that we are adequate to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God who also made us adequate as servants of the new covenant. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." (2 Cor. 3:5,6) 3. The great I AM teaches us about GOD’S SUPPLY. God is the purveyor of every good and perfect gift. He is the only one who always supplies without adding any sorrow. Moses doubted if He had the wherewithal to teach, lead and govern the people of Israel, but the great I AM assured him of availability of total resources. Quote: Hudson Taylor, the famous founder of the China Inland mission said, "God’s will done in God’s way will not lack God’s support." 4. The great I AM teaches us about GOD’S PROMISES. When God told Moses, Tell them I AM has sent you,". I AM will provide. Find strength for your weakness, find solutions for your problems, find deliverance for your difficulties, find peace for your stress, find relief from your pain, find victory from your defeat, find ability for you, " This apparently unfinished title is the most comforting title the heart of man could devise, because it allows us to add to it without
4/28/2013
I AM
3
any limitations. Whatever we feel the need of and even exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think." He will keep you in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Him because His trusts in Him. (Isa 26:3) Even in today’s Old Testament account, Moses faced much concern and anxiety over what God was calling him to do. He was at the point of pressing the panic button when he offered one excuse after another as to why he couldn’t fulfill the assignment. In this chapter God has just called Moses to deliver the people out of the hands of the Egyptians where the people had suffered abuse for a very long time. At this point in his life he was not ready to rush right out and conquer the world as he had been 40 years earlier. He was now timid, unsure of himself, and lacking in the assertiveness that he would need for the divine commission. He gulped at the idea and said, “See if you can get someone else to do it.” He came up with a lot of excuses why he was not the man for the job. He was not at this point a shining example of faith and trust in God. He had a lot of “what ifs.” What if I go and then the people don’t believe me? What if I can’t get the words to come out right? You know I can’t speak. Who am I going to tell them sent me here in the first place?” God answered each of his objections by assuring Him that He was everything that Moses needed Him to be. Today I would like to remind you that “God is Everything You Need Him to Be.” 1. How Do You Know This?: Digging into this scripture we find
4/28/2013
I AM
4
some answers that apply to us today just as much as it did to Moses. Moses was concerned about knowing exactly who it was who sent him. God said to him, “I AM that I AM.” Tell them “I AM” sent you. What does that mean? It was not just the TITLE of God but the SIGNIFICANCE or the MEANING of the TITLE. What does the title mean? What is the CONTENT of this title? The people in the East had a lot of gods. Which one was Moses referring to? Was this god one that could deliver? Did this god have the “goods” to deliver the people from the Egyptians? To clarify who it was, Moses made it clear that this was no new God to Israel. He was the SAME God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This is my name forever and this is my name to ALL GENERATIONS. Malachi 3:6 says, “For I am the Lord, I change not…” He is telling Moses, “I am truly he who exists and who will be dynamically PRESENT then and there in the situation to which I am sending you.” He said, “I will be with you.” Sometimes we don’t give it a thought that God is ACTIVELY PRESENT with me today--right now. He says “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). God made it known to Moses that His name was filled with His AUTHORITY and his POWER. God wanted Moses to know that He was always DEPENDABLE and has the RESOURCES to meet every need of the people. He is an unchangeable God and He is a present God to us today just as well. He has the resources to meet our needs. How do we know this? Many scriptures point to His
4/28/2013
I AM
5
resources. “My God shall supply ALL YOUR NEED according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19). What do you need God to be to you today? One time John D. Rockefeller said “Oh, what I would give to be able to eat a hot dog!” He had the money to pay for it but he didn’t have the good health to digest it.” We have a whole variety of needs that God wants to meet. Not just spiritual salvation, but healing, financial, relationships, etc. The word SALVATION is an all inclusive word. I AM…..is an open ended sentence. God says, “I AM the Lord that healeth thee” (Exodus 15:26.) Scripture says, “But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head” (Psalm 3:3). If our religion is superficial it won’t do anything for us. It won’t work in our every day life. How can God become to us whatever we need Him to be then? Why are we not receiving what we need so much of the time? In John 8:56–58 Jesus is answering the criticism of the Jewish leaders. He says, "Your father Abraham rejoiced that he was to see my day; he saw it and was glad." The Jews then said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly! I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM." 1. Jesus is the door John 10:7 So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
4/28/2013
I AM
6
If you are going to get saved and stay right w/ God it is going to be through Jesus. His shed blood, grace, and being filled w/ His spirit. viii. Revelation 3:8 – Jesus tells the church that He has placed an open door that no man can shut. T.S. - So when Jesus states, “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.” (John 10:9). We get a little better understanding of what He is saying to the people of the day and to us today as the church. Gate or Door - Thura The opening or the closure. 1. Old Testament models for the shepherd image, for going in and out, and for door prediction (especially in the messianic context of Ps. 118:19-21: "Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD. 20 This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter. 21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation." b. Jesus is the real messiah – the door to Heaven – the door or gate to the Holy of Holies with God. He is the true Messiah – He is the only way to the Father! He is the Door – the entrance to eternal life. 2. Jesus said I AM THE TRUE VINE JOHN 15:1 He is the one that gives life and He is the one that enables a vine to produce fruit. Without Him we can do nothing so it is imperative that we stay connected to the true vine. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me
4/28/2013
I AM
7
and I in him, he will bear much fruit apart from me you can do nothing." Psalm 80:8 : You have brought a vine out of Egypt; You have cast out the nations, and planted it. Isa 5:7: For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts [is] the house of Israel, And the men of Judah are His pleasant plant… The cultivation of the vine requires constant care or the fruit will very soon degenerate. After the rains the loosely made walls required repair; the ground must be ploughed or harrowed and cleared of weeds -- contrast with this the vineyard of the sluggard (Prv. 24: 30-31); in the early spring the plants must be pruned by cutting off dead and fruitless branches (Lev. 25: 3,4; Isa 5:6) which are gathered and burned (Jn 15:6). As the grapes ripen they must be watched to keep off jackals and foxes (Cant 2:15), and in some districts even wild boars (Ps 80:13). 3. John 14:6 Jesus answered, ’I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’" Man’s Quest: Greece said …..Be wise, know yourself Rome said…….Be strong, discipline yourself Judaism said …Be holy, conform yourself Epicureanism says…..Be sensuous, enjoy yourself Education says ….Be resourceful, expand yourself Psychology says ….Be confident, fulfill yourself Materialism says….Be acquisitive, please yourself Pride says….Be superior, promote yourself
4/28/2013
I AM
8
Asceticism says….Be inferior, suppress yourself Diplomacy says….Be reasonable, control yourself Communism says….Be collective, secure yourself Humanism says….Be capable, trust yourself Philanthropy says ….Be unselfish, give yourself (Swindoll, pages 270,271) Yet none of these ways has brought about fulfillment in people’s lives or entrance into eternity. For these people they soon discovered the emptiness of these pursuits and discovered reality check that these ways do not get you into Heaven. 4. Jesus said I AM the good shepherd following jesus the good shepherd will: The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psa 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. Psa 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Psa 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psa 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Psa 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. 5. Joh 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that
4/28/2013
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9
believeth on me shall never thirst. 6. Joh 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: Jesus doesn’t just figuratively raise dead souls he gives unlively people new live he zoay or animates and gives vitality. 7. Joh 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. The famous Eddystone lighthouse off the coast of Cornwall, England, was first built in a fanciful way, by the learned and eccentric Winstanley. On its sides he put various boastful inscriptions. He was very proud of his structure, and from his lofty balcony used boldly to defy the storm, crying, "Blow, O winds! Rise, O ocean! Break forth, ye elements, and try my work!" But one fearful night the sea swallowed up the tower and its builder. The lighthouse was built a second time of wood and stone by Rudyard. The form was good, but the wood gave hold for the elements and the builder and his structure perished in the flames. Next the great Smeaton was called. He raised a cone from the solid rock upon which it was built, and riveted it to the rock; as the oak is fastened to the earth by its roots. From the rock of the foundation he took the rock of the superstructure. He
4/28/2013
I AM
10
carved upon it no boastful inscription like those of Winstanley, but on its lower course he put, "Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it;" and its keystone, above the lantern, the simple tribute, "Laus Deo!" and the structure still stands, holding its beacon light to stormtossed mariners. Titles of God EL, ELOAH: God "mighty, strong, prominent" El appears to mean “powerEl is associated with other qualities, such as integrity (Num 23:19), jealousy (Deut 5:9), and compassion (Neh 9:31), but the root idea of might remains. ELOHIM: God “Creator, Mighty and Strong” (Ge 17:7; Jer 31:33) – the plural form of Eloah, EL SHADDAI: “God Almighty,” “The Mighty One of Jacob” (Gen 49:24; Ps 132:2,5) – speaks to God’s ultimate power ADONAI: YHWH / YAHWEH / JEHOVAH: “LORD” (Deut 6:4; Dan 9:14) YAHWEH-JIREH: "The Lord Will Provide" (Genesis 22:14) – the name memorialized by Abraham when God provided the ram to be sacrificed in place of Isaac. YAHWEH-RAPHA: "The Lord Who Heals" (Exodus 15:26) – “I am Jehovah who heals you” both in body and soul.
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YAHWEH-NISSI: "The Lord Our Banner" (Exodus 17:15), where banner is understood to be a rallying place. This name commemorates the desert victory over the Amalekites in Exodus 17. YAHWEH-M'KADDESH: "The Lord Who Sanctifies, Makes Holy" (Leviticus 20:8; Ezekiel 37:28) – God makes it clear that He alone, not the law, can cleanse His people and make them holy. YAHWEH-SHALOM: "The Lord Our Peace" (Judges 6:24) – YAHWEH-ELOHIM: "LORD God" (Genesis 2:4; Psalm 59:5) – a combination of God’s unique name YHWH and the generic “Lord,” signifying that He is the Lord of Lords. YAHWEH-TSIDKENU: "The Lord Our Righteousness” (Jeremiah 33:16) – As with YHWH-M’Kaddesh, it is God alone who provides righteousness to man, YAHWEH-ROHI: "The Lord Our Shepherd" (Psalm 23:1) – After David pondered his relationship as a shepherd to his sheep, he realized that was exactly the relationship God had with him, and so he declares, “Yahweh-Rohi is my Shepherd. I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1). YAHWEH-SHAMMAH: "The Lord Is There” (Ezekiel 48:35) – the name ascribed to Jerusalem and the Temple there, indicating that the once-departed glory of the Lord (Ezekiel 8—11) had returned (Ezekiel 44:1-4).
4/28/2013
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YAHWEH-SABAOTH: "The Lord of Hosts" (Isaiah 1:24; Psalm 46:7) – Hosts means “hordes,” both of angels and of men. The name is expressive of the majesty, power, and authority of God and shows that He is able to accomplish what He determines to do. EL ELYON: “Most High" (Deuteronomy 26:19) – derived from the Hebrew root for “go up” or “ascend,” so the implication is of that which is the very highest. El Elyon denotes exaltation and speaks of absolute right to lordship. EL ROI: "God of Seeing" (Genesis 16:13) – the name ascribed to God by Hagar, alone and desperate in the wilderness after being driven out by Sarah (Genesis 16:1-14). When Hagar met the Angel of the Lord, she realized she had seen God Himself in a theophany. She also realized that El Roi saw her in her distress and testified that He is a God who lives and sees all. EL-OLAM: "Everlasting God" (Psalm 90:1-3) – God’s nature is without beginning or end, free from all constraints of time, and He contains within Himself the very cause of time itself. “From everlasting to everlasting, You are God.” EL-GIBHOR: “Mighty God” (Isaiah 9:6) – the name describing the Messiah, Christ Jesus, in this prophetic portion of Isaiah. As a powerful and mighty warrior, the Messiah, the Mighty God, will accomplish the destruction of God’s enemies and rule with a rod of iron (Revelation 19:15).
