God's Covenant Name
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I AM means God is the self-existent, all-sufficient and eternal one
I AM means God is the self-existent, all-sufficient and eternal one
14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ”
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”
I AM WHO I AM - Only God Can call Himself the I Am in the Absolute sense.
I AM WHO I AM - Only God Can call Himself the I Am in the Absolute sense.
The Great I Am.
This is significant because
Who is the I Am to you?
The stages of man’s existence
What is the end state of man? Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
What “The Great I AM” means?
The I Am, God sees us outside of time - illustration here of God’s view from eternity
What “The Great I AM” means?
I believe that through Jesus
What “The Great I AM” means?
1. He has no beginning
2. He has no end.
3. He never changes.
What are the implications of these meanings of “The Great I Am” to you?
Last week we studied God’s personal name, Yahweh - In giving us His personal Name, God introduced Himself in relation to Israel.
Yahweh came from “The I Am”. In this Name, God is not only declaring His absolute existence, but He is declaring His relationship to His people.
“I Am” is the Covenant Name of God. It was His covenant Name to Israel.
God has also entered into a covenant with us through Jesus Christ.
God has also entered into a relationship with us through Jesus Christ
Let’s explore how The “I Am” is significant to us. It is significant because since..
This is significant because
He has no beginning.
Therefore...
We all came from Him.
The Cosmological Argument for God
The principle of cause and effect. Everything in the universe is an effect of some cause. Therefore, the universe must have a cause. Aristotle called the first cause of the universe "the unmoved mover."
The Teleological Argument for God
Everything that requires design and is designed intelligently has an intelligent designer. The universe has an intelligent design, therefore it has an intelligent designer.
He is the uncaused one so he caused all of creation to exist. Not only that, He designed life so that we can enjoy it.
But how can God or any being for that matter not have a beginning? Well, if God is God, will we totally understand Him?
The question itself: “How can God not have a beginning is flawed?” Because in asking that, we are imposing a limitation upon God that He does not have. God is not limited by time and space. Think of this, God created time and space. So He could not have created time and space if He is limited by it.
I cannot bake a cake from inside an oven, I will be baked too. I will have to be outside the oven to bake a cake. In the same way, God has to be outside time and space in order to create the whole universe.
Makes sense? It does seem to make sense but it is still a poor way of explaining the eternal God. He is beyond our comprehension, with our limited minds trying to understand eternity is like a man born blind trying to understand the concept of color. Try..
That is why God is the Only One to say “I AM WHO I Am”. If someone asks me what’s my name? I’m Ramon. But who is this Ramon? Well, I’m a minister, a pastor, I’m the father of two and the husband of one. I work for Bank of America..
I have to really explain who I am. I cannot respond, I am who I am unless I am annoyed with the person.
God is the Only One Who can say “I Am Who I Am”, let’s leave it at that!
What does that mean? If God is the ultimate cause of the universe, whether we like it or not, all creatures, all of humanity - including everyone - Atheist, Agnostics, Seekers, Believers, those who are growing with Him - everyone is ultimately dependent on Him.
“Borrowed Capital of unbelievers”
God makes the sun to shine on both the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and unjust.
In America and other western societies - Laws of Western Civilization
You are and have been dependent all your life on the Great I Am.
What does this truth do to our prayers? We need God and we need to call on Him.
When you open your eyes everyday. Do you seek the Face of God and read His Book, or Do you seek the God of Facebook?
Secondly, the “Great I Am” is significant because since...
2. He has no End.
Therefore..
Therefore God is our ultimate destiny, and our life here on earth is just a preparation to meet that destiny.
Here’s the truth, your soul has a beginning but it has no end.
Therefore God is our ultimate destiny, and our life here on earth is just a preparation to meet that destiny.
It is foolish to live life like there is no other.
Life is not all there is. It is about “the life” or “living the good life”.
A good career, a good business, a hefty bank account these are all temporal goals. Well it’s not all too bad, I am building a legacy for the next generation.
Listen: Even the next generations have an end.
Are we building a legacy only for our children, or their children and the next generations after them, or are we building a legacy outside of time for all of eternity.
I like how St. Peter puts it.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,
13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,
I like how St. Peter puts it.
1 Peter
Don’t build something that can perish, be defiled and can fade. Build on the living hope of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
How do we do that? Build your life on that hope.
It is not wrong to have a successful career, to have money if you use all of that to eternity. Now some of you may think, here it comes, he’s gonna say give it to the church..
Let me tell you this. Let us set our hearts right before God first. Then ask Him to enable you to give to what has eternal value because our souls are eternal and our money is not!
That is why Jesus came on a mission to seek and save that which is lost.
We will face God no matter what - Keith Green’s song
Either in judgement or in glory.
Two Judgement seats.
The Bema Seat of Christ -
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
For those who haven’t received Jesus.. The Great White Throne Judgement. To some there is no topic in the Bible that is more terrifying.
Make sure you have received Jesus and given your life to Him. Also, be part of God’s redemptive work, be busy.
For those who have — be part of God’s redemptive work, be busy.
Fulfill the Great Commission - does that mean that I will abandon everything and be a minister? That is not what this means.
Lead your family to Christ.
Lead your family to Christ.
Well my children are ok, they follow a certain way, nope. Christ is the Only Way. Your faith is not their own, you may have believed in Jesus, but if your family has not, you will not see them in heaven.
Baptism yesterday - Ryan’s story - “He understood the meaning of baptism and how special it is and he told me. “Pastor Ramon, I want my kids to be baptized too.” Music to my ears, symphony in heaven. He brought his kids Preston and Savannah and his friend Erica, I shared the gospel to them, right there they gave their life to Jesus and they were all baptized.
Next step: Discipleship (ITIM)
Secondly, the “Great I Am” is significant because since...
3. He never changes.
Therefore, He is the God of our present reality.
I debated within myself, should I end with what I made number 2 and talk about judgement then lead you into an altar call?
But I want to talk to you about Who God is in the present.
“If we could just be, for a few minutes each day, fully where we are, we would indeed discover that we are not alone.” (Henry Nouwen 1932 - 1966)
What does this mean?
I don’t have a good job
God should be our present reality.
I don’t get along with my wife
Don’t be held in prison by the past. Don’t be held in fear by the future.
John 6
It is in the now, that God can be found.
The Bible says now is the day of salvation.
God continues to captivate us everyday, the Bible says His mercies are new every morning which means everyday can be a fresh encounter with God, every day is a story of deliverance.
Today can be a turning point in your life. We can experience life in a different way. Everyday you are offered an opportunity to see things in a much better way than you have before.
Same as Moses.
We read this earlier from John..
58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”
When the Jews heard these words from Jesus there reaction was to pick up stones to throw at him…
What should this mean to us?
Whenever we see Jesus state the words I am “ego eimi” those words are only found in another Biblical manuscript, the Septuagint, which is the Greek translation of the Old Testament.
“Ego Eimi”
Ego Eimi means I am Who I Am. Jesus .
Jesus is the God of Your Present.
He said before Abraham was, I am.
Make it personal, before you were born. Jesus is the I am.
Before I suffered this loss. Jesus says I am.
Before I failed. Jesus says I am.
Before I was deeply hurt. Jesus says I am.
Before I became sick. Jesus says I am.
He is there with you every step of the way and He has never changed a bit.
He remains true to you. - Jesus
God drew you to Jesus, in fact you are here.. that means the promise of Jesus is yours, He will not cast you out. You will never be an outcast in Christ.
What does this do to our prayer? Just knowing that the great I am, can step from eternity into our realm of time and space is actually a powerful reality. It should make us really excited and privileged.
Invite Jesus into your present reality today.
Explain the “I Am of Jesus” Greek Septuagint
“Bread of Life”