I AM In The Father

Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

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Message Intro/Review:

Alright my friends, if you're just tuning in with us for the first time, over the last couple months or so we've been studying together and learning about the identity and character of The Great I Am. This is the translation of the name God chose for himself when he encountered Moses at the burning bush, and it's also a phrase that Jesus identified with on numerous occasions. So we've looked at seven different "I Am" statements that Jesus made, from the Gospel of John. Then, beginning with last Sunday, we're now moving on to look at some of the promises Jesus made that also start with this same phrase: "I Am..."

So this morning we're going to dial in on John 14 again, where we were just a few weeks ago. John 14:6 is where Jesus declared "I Am the way, the truth, and the life." But a little further on in that same passage he makes another I Am Statement... in fact two of them together.

Our focus this morning is on John 14:20, where Jesus says...

Ref. John 14:20 "On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you."

To set the stage for what I feel the Lord would have me share about this, let me begin with a story... in fact, it's a story we

Illustration: The Story of Trent: An Identity Thief (from Robbie Dawkins book Identity Theif, pp.13-14)

Did you hear that? Trent's sense of identity as a thief was imparted to him by his earthly Father. So that sense of identity became how he thought about himself and his purpose in life, and it became the basis for how he acted.

Where do you find your sense of Identity? Has your sense of identity in Christ been stolen by the enemy?

Friends, listen closely. We are in a spiritual battle right now, and if you don't understand the purpose and power of your identity in Christ, then you won't be able to engage in that battle the way God intends you too. So I believe this is a very timely and practical message for many people who know Christ, but don't fully grasp who they are in Christ.

As Robby puts it, "Since the Garden, our true identities have been hijacked--stolen by Satan. We've fallen prey to the subtle, believable lies of the enemy that we are inadequate, powerless, ineffective. As a result, God's purposes for our lives are short-circuited. The enemy has shattered our understanding that we are made in the image and likeness of God. When we grasp the truth of who we are in Christ, we can walk with him into the realm of power reserved for each of God's children. We can do the things Jesus commanded us to do--heal the sick, rout demons, deliver the captives. The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Don't let him. Reclaim your true identity and live a life of purpose, passion, and power."

Our identity isn't just made up of our vital statistics: SS#, DL#, Bank Account #, Birthdate, Marriage Date, etc. More important than all those numbers is our own personal sense of who we are and what makes us unique. What makes me who I am, in large part, is how I think about what values I hold... what makes my life meaningful.

Think about it this way: How would you answer the question, “Who are you?” Beyond your name, what are the things that come to find that define who you really are? If someone wanted to get to know you, what are the things you would be most eager to tell them about yourself?

Our sense of Identity is all about our self-awareness. It's about how we view life, and our place in it.

It may be defined by the significant relationships in our life, with family and friends.

It may be defined by what we do with most of our time, like a studying for a student, or working for an employee.

It may be defined by hobbies that we enjoy, like running/coaching for me.

In the end, our identity is really about how we see ourselves and our purpose in life. What is your purpose and how are you fulfilling it?

Yet, for most of us, our sense of identity is not always pure… instead, it’s made up of some combination of the truths and the lies that we believe about ourselves. So if you really believe that you’re a failure, then you’ll probably live down to that belief. That belief will become part of your identity.

On the flip side, if you don't routinely think of yourself and identify yourself as a devoted follower of Jesus, you're probably not giving much time and energy to watching and listening for his leadership. Likewise, if you don't really see yourself as a soldier in God's army, you probably won't think much about the significance of spiritual warfare. This is where understanding our identity in Christ is so vital.

So what does John 14 teach us about our identity? Well, If we want to fully grasp the nature of our identity in Christ, then we have to start with understanding something critical about Jesus' identity. So hang with me here, for a few moments and we'll get back to the more personal and practical part of this.

What I want you to focus in on with me first is this:

Message Point 1: Jesus found his identity in his relationship to the Father In Heaven.

Look with me at a few of the verses that precede John 14:20. For the first phrase of verse 20, "I am in the Father..." actually gets mentioned and explained back in verses 10-11.

In fact, this whole passage begins with a request/question from one of the disciples, named Phillip. Phillip says to Jesus, "Show us the Father.", and then Jesus launches into an animated - if not frustrated - response.

Ref. John 14:10-11 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.

These verses pick up on a common theme in the Gospel accounts, and particularly in the Gospel of John. Essentially, they echo the notion that Jesus never acted on his own. He was always seeking and serving the Father's will. He was always watching and listening for the Father's lead.

In fact, on one occasion Jesus even said it this way:

Ref. John 4:34 "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work."

So when Jesus says "I am in the Father", what he means is this: "My sense of identity and my actions are rooted and grounded in my relationship to the Father, and what he wants me to do. The Father is everything to me."

We all have a part of our identity rooted in who our parents are. We take our name from them. We take our genes from them... not jeans. We take our values from them... at least for a while. But children are known to have a will of their own.

You might try asking one of your kids something like this: Would you like to help me with some work I need to get done? What percentage of the time do you suppose a kid will answer, "Sure, I'd love to dad/mom. My heart is to do whatever you want from me."

Parents, can you imagine having a perfectly obedient child who never seeks to do their own will instead of yours? Sign me up for one of those kids, eh!?!

Yet clearly, that was indeed the heart of Jesus, because of how he thought of his identity. While he walked this earth, he never did whatever he wanted to do. He was always committed and submitted to doing the Father's work.

Now, we should also bear in mind here that Jesus previously offered this insight to his disciples on many occasions, but on this occasion it was just a day before he would go to the cross to be crucified for our sins. So, surely he had that act of supreme obedience in mind. And surely, at the same time, he wanted to make sure his disciples would understand why he would allow such a thing to happen to him.

In short, he was forewarning them. He was making sure they would remember later what it was that really motivated him to sacrifice his own life.

So that, my friends, is the most important thing about Jesus' own sense of identity, among many great things.

He lived his life on this earth with a laser like sense of identity and purpose: to know the Father and to serve the Father… to do whatever the Father wanted done.

That brings us then, to the second clause in this three-fold statement: Jesus said, "I am in the Father, and You are in me…."

"You are In Me." Here's the idea behind that statement:

Message Point 2: ** In the same way, Jesus wants us to be 'in Him'....Sothat our identity 'in Christ' is at the very core of how we think and act.**

We're human, right? Maybe that's what you're thinking. This is not a fair point of comparison because we're merely human... that is, imperfect and fatally flawed. Full of ourselves much of the time. True enough.

But the point is that we have literally become something new... a new creation Paul calls it, when we say yes to Jesus and allow him to become Lord of our lives. So here's the real question: Are you living with the identity of a dead person... that is the old you... or a newly created one... that is the new you "in Christ".

Can I be blunt here? If you're still thinking and acting as if you're not really a new creation in Christ then the enemy has succeeded in stealing your identity. He's got you thinking you can't really be who Jesus wants you to be or do what Jesus wants you to do.

The more certain you are of your identity in Christ, the more purposeful and powerful your life in Christ will become.

So, for example, consider these words from John 14:12-13.

Ref. John 14:12-14 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

What is this about? It's about prayer. Essentially, Jesus is talking about the way we approach prayer, and the results of our prayers. He's saying that if we really understand our identity in Him, and our authority in Him, it will shift the way we pray. We'll pray with greater discernment of what Jesus really wants in any given situation, and as a result we'll see greater things happen.

In fact, Jesus even says we'll see "greater things" than what he himself had been doing. Can you imagine a prayer life like that? That’s an amazing promise to press into!!

For the last few years I've been pressing in on this with a renewed commitment, yet honestly, I still feel like I'm only scratching the surface.

Illustration: Engaging the Battle - Praying for Righteousness and Justice to be Restored.

Over the last few decades, our governmental system has largely become corrupted by leaders who were more committed to gaining power and wealth than they were to serving our nation. For example, if you’ve been following the saga of Lt. General Michael Flynn...

eg. Recent developments with Gen. Michael Flynn -

In the same way that Jesus was able to discern what the Father wanted in every situation he faced, we ought to be able to do the same by way of our identity in Christ. The more connected we are to him, the more completely we'll be able to discern and pray what he wants.

True, we won't ever do it perfectly just like he did. But that should never become a cop out reason for failing to seek him more and more completely.

Knowing who you really are in Christ is absolutely critical to living for Christ, and working with Christ more effectively. What I'm saying... and I'm merely relaying the sentiments of Jesus himself, is that being "in Him" should literally change how we approach every day of our lives. It should serve like a filter that impacts our thoughts and actions in every circumstance we encounter.

If we allow our worldly identity to be more important and more central to our daily lives than our spiritual identity, then we will not be fruitful and effective in the kingdom of God. He has given us all we need, but we have to put it to good use.

We can go on being content with worldliness, or we can press into godliness and really go for it. Which will it be for you?

Ref. 2 Peter 1:3-9 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

Does that thought ever haunt you? That is, the idea of ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord?

As my friend Dave Jackson has put it, try beginning each day with this question: "Lord, what are we up to today?"... what do you have in mind for me? Because I am in you, I want to do whatever you want me to do.

Every time Jesus said, “I Am…” he was making a statement about either his identity or his actions.

Jesus’ I Am statements, like the two in this passage, provide the opportunity for us to created our own ‘I Am’ statements about who we are in Christ.

Illustration: The Poster in my Office - “Who I Am In Christ"

I am God’s child. As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ. I am justified through faith. I am united with the Lord, and one with him in Spirit. I am a member of Christ’s body. I am chosen by God and adopted into this family. I am complete in Christ. I am free from condemnation. I am confident that God will complete in me the good work he began. I am God’s workmanship. I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realm.

Do you get the idea? Maybe you could even make a list of your own. Or at least look one up online and begin to recite it to yourself. Each one of these statements about who we are is based on being In Christ.

That brings us, last but not least, to the final phrase in Jesus statement:

"I am in the Father, you are in Me, and I am in you."

Think of this as an "I Am" Sandwich: Jesus is the bread and you're the meat... or jam, if you don't like meat... or peanut butter if you don't like jam... or cheese if you don't like peanut butter. You can think of whatever you like on that sandwich, as you long as you understand that Jesus is the bread.

This third clause circles back around to who Jesus is. Jesus is in the Father, and Jesus is also in us.

Message Point 3: Jesus promised he would be in us - by way of the Holy Spirit - to help us stay connected to him.

This last phrase connects back with the promise I spoke of last Sunday, from Matthew 28:18, where Jesus said, "I am with you always".

Again, bear in mind the context here. Jesus was speaking to his disciples the day before he would go to the cross. He knew he would be leaving them physically, but wanted them to know he would still be with them spiritually. So he was preparing them to receive the gift of his Spirit.

As you look at John 14 verses 15-18, it's all about the ministry of the Holy Spirit, who was yet to come into the lives of Jesus' disciples.

Ref. John 14:15-18 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you."

Do you know what an advocate is and does?

"He lives with you and will be in you." Jesus says. In other words, this is how Christ is in us. We are in Christ by faith in what he's done for us and by the increasing understanding/revelation of who he's making us into. Christ is in us by the Holy Spirit, which is the Spirit of Christ.

"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." Jesus says. So Jesus is actually identifying himself with the Spirit.

This, by the way, is one of the many reasons why Christians believe in the doctrine of the Trinity. Right here in John 14 there is a beautiful interplay between the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. The doctrine of the Trinity is not explained, but it's clearly implied by these words. All three are completely and perfectly united, yet all three are also distinct from one another at the same time. They are of the same essence and purpose, yet they each have their own role to play.

Just thought I'd throw in a tiny bit of systematic theology for those of you that are into that sort of thing. But for the rest of you, let me put it like this:

The Father sent the Son to earth. The Son did what the Father wanted him to do with the help of the Spirit. Then the Son went back to the Father, so he could send the Spirit to remain here with us. Those who are in the Son - that is, in Christ - now have his Spirit in them.

All this is great news because it means that we have a renewed purpose and power to live here on earth in such a way that we can literally change the world. We can overcome evil. We can heal the sick. We can deliver the oppressed. We can prevail against the gates of Hell. We can represent Jesus to the world.

And we can do all these things not simply because of who we are, but only because we are in Christ and his Spirit is in us.

Conclusion

Illustration: Artist Steve Penley.

After college, Penley was working odd jobs while painting when his talent was recognized by an attorney and art enthusiast, Robert Steed. Penley quickly gained recognition for his bold brush strokes, vivid colors and historical icon paintings. Penley is now one of America’s most celebrated artists with works exhibited across the globe. He has created multiple projects for Fox News, major companies such as CocaCola, AirTran/Southwest, Kaiser Permanente, as well as several U.S. Presidents and foreign heads of state. His work can even be found in the U.S. Capitol, where it’s displayed on loan for visitors from across the country to enjoy. Penley’s paintings represent the very best of America and serve as a reminder of the leaders and institutions that make our country great.

Steve Penley is also a a strong and faithful Christian which is revealed in this portrait of Christ. It has been said of Penley that he focuses on the humanity of the face of Jesus and avoids all of the grandeur, trappings and icons that can sometimes build up around religious figures

According to one anecdote, at the end of each week Penley takes whatever colors are left on his palette and turns them into a painting of Jesus' face. Why would he do that? To remind himself that he is in Christ, and all his gifts as an artist are to be used with that mindset.

Friends, it's time to strap on your seat belt and get ready for a ride. I believe the next few weeks and months are going to be an intense season of spiritual warfare over the future of our nation. Every realm of our lives is subject to this battle: The political realm, the economic realm, the social realm. All of them will be rocked by this raging conflict between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light. This contrast and conflict between light and darkness, or truth and deception, will become increasing visible and tangible. Yet, I also believe the Lord’s goodness and grace will be manifested to those who seek him and are steadfast in faith. I trust by faith, that God is on the move, and aims to bring the restoration and renewal our nation and the world so desperately needs. However, If you don't know who you are in Christ, or you lose sight of that reality, you may become disoriented and effectively disabled from standing your ground.

Important Reminders/Announcements:

Zoom Room Home Group on Weds. at 7pm

National Day of Prayer Online - Look for details on our Facebook page and on the CCV Email. Livestream starts at 10:30am on Thursday morning.

Prayer Focus for May - Family Ministry & Lydia DeMass

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Benediction:

The Aaronic Blessing from Numbers 6:24-26

The Lord bless you and keep you;

the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;

the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’

HYPERLINK "https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2011:29&version=NIV" Matthew 11:29

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Mark 14:62

62 “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

HYPERLINK "https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2024:49&version=NIV" Luke 24:49

I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

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HYPERLINK "https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A29-34&version=NIV" https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A29-34&version=NIV