The Great “I AM” Part 2

This message began when I heard the Lord say, “My people need to focus their hearts and minds much more on Who I am, rather than what I do.”

The Essential Question: “What is Your NAME?”

Soon after mankind appeared on the earth, even before written language developed, people found a need to enter into covenants and agreements, in an attempt to assure certain desired activities and performance would occur, and the exchange of goods and services would take place in a predictable and satisfactory manner. I’m sure it wasn’t long until it became evident that these agreements were only as strong as the NAME/IDENTITY (legitimacy and character) of the weakest party. In today’s world, almost everywhere you go and whatever you do, the Essential Question is, “What is your NAME?”— “Can I see your ID?” For financial transactions, the next Essential Question becomes, “Can I see your Credit Card?” Then for larger promissory transactions, the Essential Question becomes, “Can I see your Credit Report?” In Moses’ and Jesus’ day, your ID, Credit Card, and Credit Report was your FAMILY NAME. Nothing was more important than having a “GOOD FAMILY NAME!” You had power in your world to do things and gain the trust and help of others when your family NAME was well known in your community by people who knew your father, grandfather, and other relatives to be people of integrity, honesty, and men of their word.

Moses asked God The Essential Question: “What is Your NAME?” Ans: “I AM WHO I AM!”

Exodus 3:13–14 13 Then Moses said to God (Elohim), “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?”

14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”15 Moreover God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The Lord God (Yahweh Elohim) 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….’(NKJV)

As a precursor to the Old Covenant, in a slightly indirect way, Moses asked God

The Essential Question: “What is Your NAME?” God answered: “I AM WHO I AM.” In essence, God says, “You know our FAMILY, therefore you know ME. There may be other gods (elohims), but I AM YAHWEH Elohim, the LORD GOD of your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — they are My SONS. We have a good NAME! I AM YAHWEH Elohim, that is My NAME forever!”

Jesus asked His Disciples The Essential Question: “What is My NAME?” Ans: “I AM!”

Matthew 16:13–17 13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” 14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I AM?” 16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah (son of Adam) for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. (NKJV)

As a precursor to the New Covenant, Jesus asked His disciples “The Essential Question:” “What is My NAME?” — "Who do you say that I AM?" Peter answered: "You are the Christ, THE SON of the living God (‘I AM’)." Jesus was highlighting the fact that Who we are (our IDENTITY) is defined by our family NAME. There are only TWO FAMILIES in existence, one from earth, whose father is Adam, and One from Heaven, whose Father is “I AM - Yahweh Elohim.”

Family IDENTITY begins with the first father who imparts it to his sons, who then imparts it to their sons, and so forth.

John shared his personal revelation of Who God is and who we are in Him by opening his letter to the Seven Churches in Revelation with this stunning salutation: “Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.” His salutation is from not only the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, but also the entire family of God which includes all of us who are no longer of the family of Adam, but who were, are, and will be One together “IN CHRIST!” Do you see that?

How can YOU Please God?

Hebrews 11:5–6 5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (NKJV)

Mark 1:9–11 9 It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. 11 Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (NKJV)

Enoch was the son of Cain, who murdered his brother Abel for bringing a better sacrifice to God. His punishment was to wander an earth cursed because of his sin. But in spite of inheriting a very undesirable family NAME, apparently Enoch sought after God so diligently that he was rewarded by being adopted by a new Father with a new NAME: “HE IS”/”I AM.” “Enoch” means initiating. His faith/love so pleased God that he initiated something new: he missed both death and Sheol and was taken directly into the presence of God. Enoch pleased God and was taken, while Jesus pleased God and was given. I believe Enoch represents faith for those who are “in Adam,”where as Jesus represents faith for those who are “in Christ.” Enoch "WAS" but Jesus "IS." By faith, we believe that Jesus carries the father's “I AM” IDENTITY.

"He IS" is another way of saying, "I AM," connecting the identity of Jesus, the Son, with the identity of His Father, who are rewarders of those that diligently seek him. The Greek word translated "seek" in English, means to crave, to strongly desire and go after with all your heart.

John connects Jesus, in the Book of Revelation, with the Old Testament identity of “the Great I Am” by saying, "Who was, Who is, and Who is to come." I believe the reference to Enoch in Hebrews, connects him with the God Who was. Whereas saying, "We must believe that He is," brings us into the present and into the eternal nature of Jesus. Clearly, the greatest reward of diligently seeking Him is that we become like him. The greatest reward for Enoch was to be taken out of the world, to be with God. As New Covenant believers, our greatest reward is to be left in the world, manifesting Jesus— being in the world, but not of it. Enoch had to leave the world to be closer to God, but through the Holy Spirit, we can be closer to Jesus by remaining here in the world.

But we must please Him by BELIEVING His IDENTITY: that “HE IS”/” I AM” and BELIEVING His RESPONSE: that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him by allowing us to be made like Him and carry His identity forever with Him. Another key revelation, too good to miss, is that Enoch represents people living “in Adam, before Christ. No matter how good they are and how much they love God, any acceptance and approval comes at the end of their life. But for those living “in Christ,” our acceptance and approval comes at the beginning, along with our new birth and new family identity. Enoch’s testimony that “he pleased God” came at the end when he was taken, but Jesus’ testimony, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased,” came from heaven at the beginning, before doing anything in ministry.we must please Him by BELIEVING His IDENTITY: that “HE IS”/”I AM” and BELIEVING His RESPONSE: that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him by allowing us to be made like Him and carry His identity forever with Him. Another key revelation, too good to miss, is that Enoch represents people living “in Adam, before Christ. No matter how good they are and how much they love God, any acceptance and approval comes at the end of their life. But for those living “in Christ,” our acceptance and approval comes at the beginning, along with our new birth and new family identity. Enoch’s testimony that “he pleased God” came at the end when he was taken, but Jesus’ testimony, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased,” came from heaven at the beginning, before doing anything in ministry.

In our next session, I feel directed by the Lord to explore what Paul really meant when he said, “That I may KNOW Him (Phil.3:10).” What does it require to truly know Jesus and what does it mean to truly know who we are in Him?