THE GREAT “I AM”

Pastor Chuck

Bernal February 12, 2017

The Bible records a collection of explicit, self-revelatory comments by Jesus commonly called the “I AM” statements. At that time, in that place, in that cultural context, these comments would have had a much more obvious meaning to, and impact on their hearers than may be immediately obvious for us. Yet, even two thousand years later, these statements remain powerful, provocative and life-changing.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?Those who know your name trust you, O LORD, because you havenever deserted those who seek your help. (Psalm 9:10 – GWT)

THE BASIS FOR THIS SERIES - A BOLD STATEMENT BY JESUS

I am telling you the truth, Jesus replied.Before Abraham was born, “I Am”. (John 8:58 – GNB)Jesus: “The absolute truth is that I was in existencebefore Abraham was ever born!” (John 8:58 – LB)

THE BACK STORY – MOSES MEETS THE GREAT “I AM” Moses asked God, “If I go to the Israelites and say to them: The God of your fathers has sent me to you, and they ask me, ‘What is His name?’ what should I tell them?” God replied, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the Israelites: Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever; this is how I am to be remembered in every generation. (Exodus 3:13-15 - HCSB)

God’s name is almost always translated LORD (all caps) in the English Bible. But the Hebrew (YHWH) would be pronounced something like “Yahweh,” and is built on the word for “I AM.” So every time we hear the word “Yahweh” or “Jehovah” - or every time you see LORD in the English Bible, you should think: this is a proper name (like Peter or John) built out of the word for “I AM” and reminding us each time that God absolutely is.

“I AM” = God is ____________________________________________________The God who made the whole world and everything in it is the Lord of the land and the sky. He does not live in temples built by human hands.  This God is the One who gives life, breath, and everything else to people. He does not need any help from them; he has everything he needs. (Acts 17:23-25 – NCV)

“I AM” = God is ____________________________________________________Before the mountains were born, before you birthed the earth - from forever in the past to forever in the future, you are God . . . in your perspective a thousand years are like yesterday past, like a short period during the night watch.

(Psalm 90:2-4 – CEB)

“I AM” = God is ____________________________________________________

I, Yahweh, never change. (Malachi 3:6 – NOGB)God never changes like shadows . . .

He is always the same. (James 1:17 – English Standard Version)

“I AM” = God is ____________________________________________________Yahweh! Behold, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm; there is nothing too hard for you.

(Jeremiah 32:17 – WEB)

“I AM” = God is ____________________________________________________As I was going through your city, I saw the objects you worship. I found an altar that had these words written on it: TO A GOD WHO IS NOT KNOWN. You worship a god that you don’t know, and this is the God I am telling you about . . . His purpose is that they should seek after God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. (Acts 17:23-25, 27-28 – NCV/LB)

“I AM” – THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT WORDS JESUS EVER SAID

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything . . . Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together . . . He is the beginning, supreme over all . . . So he is first in everything. For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ . . .

(Colossians 1:15-19 – NLT)In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him . . . So the Word became human[d] and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

(John 1:1-3, 14 - NLT)

Jesus is __________ Jesus is ________________ Jesus is __________________

Jesus is _____________________ Jesus is _____________________You are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.

(Matthew 1:21 – NLT)

Only Jesus has the power to save! His name is the only one in all the world that can save anyone. (Acts 4:12 – CEV)

. . . and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood

on the cross. (Colossians 1:20 – NLT)