The Great “I AM” Part 3

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.”

A Place of Habitation — A place FOR US; A place IN US (It’s the SAME PLACE!)

The time of Jesus’ departure was drawing near. Jesus used His remaining time with His disciples to encourage and commission them for ministry. But after more than three years with them, it seemed that they knew Him far better after the flesh, than after the spirit. And, while it might seem from the John 14 text, that His disciples were unable to fully comprehend the spiritual aspects of what Jesus was saying to them, we can rest assured that He was in no way wasting His time. He closed out His discourse with them with this remarkable statement: “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” (John 14:25-26, NKJV) Hallelujah! Thank you, Lord for the Helper, — the Holy Spirit!

John 14:1–141 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me (because the Father and I are ONE!). (Jesus gave a big clue here that the subject He is about to talk to them (and us) about is the HEART!) 2 In My Father’s house (YOU are His House) are many mansions (mone – spiritual dwelling places); if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place (topos – a spiritual place of habitation) for you (And IN YOU).

1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple (the house) of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (NKJV)

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also (you will be together in “I AM” with me). 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

Thomas was thinking of a physical place.

5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7 “If you had known (ginosko – to know experientially, personally, intimately) Me, you would have known (ginosko) My Father also (because He is in me); and from now on you know Him (ginosko) and have seen Him (Vs. 9b).”

Luke 1:34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know (ginosko) a man?”

Philippians 3:10 10 that I may know (ginosko – to know experientially, personally, intimately) Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,

Phillip was thinking of a physical person.

8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me (ginosko), Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

What it means to “BE IN” Christ, the Father, etc.

“BEing” must precede “DOing!”

10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works (The Father “BEing” IN ME must precede the Father DOing” His works through me). 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves (Because they are the Father’s works—I can’t do them without Him!). 12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me (Not just “Who” you believe, but from “What” spiritual location— “IN Christ”), the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. (NKJV)

Thomas and Phillip had the same problem that many of us, as His disciples, have today. We primarily think of the Lord as a physical person, using our natural mind and senses to understand Him. As a result, since God is Spirit (Jn.4:24), even after being a Christian for years, we scarcely know Him, if at all.

Since teaching on deliverance from Matthew 17, I often think about the disciples who were unable to cast the demon out of the epileptic child who was often falling into fire and water (Matt.17:14-21). I believe that is also a picture of us, His spiritual children when we vacillate between two opinions (faith or doubt).Epilepsy is a condition triggering seizure that interrupt normal life, causing one to look as if they are being tossed about by unseen forces and making one unstable (in all his ways) and prone to falling for whatever doctrine is currently popular—fire or water; heaven or hell (Jas.1:5-8; 1 Kin.18:21).

When the disciples asked Jesus why they couldn’t cast the demon out, He replied, “Because of your UNBELIEF.” I then think of the seven Jewish sons of Sceva who also couldn’t cast out a demon, even though they used the name of Jesus and of Paul (Acts 19:13-17). Before attacking them physically, the demon said to them, “Jesus I know (ginosko), and Paul I know (ginosko); but who are you?” Sadly, these exorcists had two things in common with the disciples: (1) they knew “Jesus”as a name but lacked ginosko:knowing Jesus personally and intimately. (2) Therefore, rather than having true FAITH which comes from knowing who Jesus really is and knowing who they are IN Him, they were operating in doubt and UNBELIEF!

How to remove UNBELIEF so we can KNOW HIM and KNOW WHO WE ARE IN HIM

But Jesus told His disciples that there was a cure for unbelief. He said, “This kind (of unbelief) does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” In other words, deep intimacy with God, along with humility and self-denial, especially fasting things that are feeding our unbelief, i.e., ungodly friends, social media, conspiracy theorists, overindulging in alcohol, porn in various forms, etc.

The disciples knew Jesus in the flesh, but not in the Spirit. That’s why it was expedient that He left them physically, so they could know Him spiritually through the Holy Spirit.

John 18:3–63 Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. 4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?” 5 They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. 6 Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. (NKJV)

This was nothing less than a manifestation of the PRESENCE and POWER of God the Father, living and resident “IN” a human being, who has believed and received the Father’s approval and blessing: “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”

This was also literally a demonstration of what we Charismatics call, “slain in the Spirit.”

I am closing this Teaching Series, “The Great “I AM!” with this question: “Whom are you seeking?”

Jesus still has the answer: “I am He.”