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Living Life in its Fullness by Relating with the great “I AM”
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People often wonder if God is real; and if so, how to really know God and relate to God—not a religion, but El Shaddai—God Almighty—the living God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—God who expresses Himself as triune Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The question is; what are you looking for in God? What do you need or want from God? Who do you desire God to be? He introduced Himself to Moses as “I AM WHO I AM” or simply, “I AM.” What a name! He came as Messiah to the Jewish people as Yeshua, meaning in Hebrew, salvation; or as commonly known in the Greek, Jesus. So He became Lord and Savior to all humanity who will believe and place trusting faith in Him. So, what is IN THE NAME? He in fact has many names. The Lord personally used seven names to describe who He is, and who He will be to those who believe:
How to appreciate ALL HE IS? Get to truly know Him. One way God did prescribe as a way to relate and interact with Him was through seven appointed ways, or Feasts of the Lord. Messiah Jesus came to reveal the full meaning and relevance of these feasts. The more you engage and relate with Him and see what He accomplished on your behalf, the more fruitful your relationship in union with Him will truly be! |
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I AM
THE BREAD OF LIFE |
The Feast of Passover was approaching. The LORD had just performed the miracle of multiplying five barley loaves and two small fish into enough to feed a crowd of 5,000. The next day the people searched for Him; and after finding Him, engaged in conversation. He said some things that astounded them, including these statements:
I am the bread which is life! Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever trusts in me will never be thirsty. 36 I told you that you have seen but still don’t trust. 37 Everyone the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will certainly not turn away. 38 For I have come down from heaven to do not my own will but the will of the One who sent me. (John 6:35-36 JNT)
Yes, indeed! I tell you that unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life in yourselves. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life — that is, I will raise him up on the Last Day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I live in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live through the Father, so also whoever eats me will live through me. (John 6:53-57 JNT)
As He continued to share about the kingdom of God, many came to understanding and believed in Him. Yet there were also many who could not comprehend. It became apparent that some could see with spiritual eyes, and therefore, trust—believe; while those who could not see through eyes of faith were bewildered and frustrated. What was He really communicating? Isaiah had spoken something important about God’s covenant that helps us understand!
As for Me," says the LORD, "this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants' descendants," says the LORD, "from this time and forevermore." (Isaiah 59:21NKJV)
God’s Word breathed by His Spirit bears LIFE. It is the LIFE of His covenant—and LIFE of the LORD. As we receive His words with open hearts by faith, God’s Spirit breaths LIFE within us, watering the seeds of truth that His words bear. In such a way, His Words and Spirit IN US manifest God’s presence in us, causing us to live IN HIM—in UNION with Him. In John 17, the LORD prayed this would become reality!
I pray not only for these, but also for those who will trust in me because of their word, 21 that they may all be one. Just as you, Father, are united with me and I with you, I pray that they may be united with us, so that the world may believe that you sent me. 22 The glory which you have given to me, I have given to them; so that they may be one, just as we are one —23 I united with them and you with me, so that they may be completely one, and the world thus realize that you sent me, and that you have loved them just as you have loved me. (John 17:20-23 JNT)
In the LORD, we truly see El Shaddai, The All-Sufficient God who is the strength of our sustenance—and true bread of life.
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I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD |
The LORD was teaching in the temple. A group of religious leaders brought to Him a woman caught in adultery, a sin worthy of death. They tested Him by asking what He thought. He replied to her accusers, “The one of you who is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7 JNT) Her accusers, convicted by their own conscience, left. He said He did not condemn her, and that she should sin no more. He then shared something that brought peace and strength to her as well as others hearing.
I am the light of the world; whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light which gives life.
The light of the LORD reveals truth. Receiving His Words breathed by His Spirit bears the life of God’s truth. For, His words cut through the darkness of lies that condemn. His words and Spirit bear truth that sets people free. The LORD revealed this later in His conversation.
If you obey what I say, then you are really my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
Light, separating truth from lies, in essence is what the Feast of Unleavened Bread is about. Why does Scripture prescribe removing leaven from the home?
Leaven is a fermenting substance; a turbulent form of bacterium that is permeating and pervasive in nature. It spreads like a cancer or virus, contaminating, polluting and corrupting what it touches. It is what sin and bad influences do to our life.
As we actively receive and embrace the LORD and the light of God’s truth by His Word, His Spirit cleanses and sanctifies us. This is what the apostle Paul related as, “sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.” (2 Thessalonians 2:13 NKJV)
In the LORD, we have a living revelation of El Emet—
The God of Truth. (Psalm 31:5)
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I AM THE DOOR OF THE SHEEP |
The prophet, Joel, was speaking of Messiah when he proclaimed, “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered.” (Joel 3:5 MT; v. 2:32 others)
Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ came as LORD proclaiming that He was the way to eternal salvation, the gateway—or door—of heaven.
Yes, indeed! I tell you that I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All those who have come before me have been thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9 I am the gate; if someone enters through me, he will be safe and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only in order to steal, kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, life in its fullest measure. (John 10:7-10 JNT)
This word was truly fulfilled at the moment His fleshly life expired, as the veil to the Holy Place in the Temple was ripped in two from top to bottom. (Matthew 27:51) The very entrance to the place representing the throne room of God, where access had been restricted, became open.
Paul expanded on what this truly meant for those placing their faith in the LORD by explaining, “through him and on the ground of our trust, we have gained access to this grace in which we stand.” (Romans 5:2 JNT)
This grace is the fullness of the LORD’s salvation—eternal life with eternal access to God’s presence in heaven—and open access to God, “in earth as it is in heaven” while still on earth, through the presence of the Holy Spirit! Paul further explained how believers in the LORD follow after Him as true children of God bound for eternal life, in proclaiming that, “the Messiah has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have died.” (1 Corinthians 15:20 JNT)
The LORD came as a man to be the first fruit to ascend unto eternal life after substituting His sacrificial blood for the remission of sins. No longer would animal sacrifices be acceptable to God. He opened the door to eternal life! He lives eternally in heaven, as do those who have put their faith in Him, and follow Him.
In the LORD, we truly see El Hashamayim—The God of the Heavens. (Psalm 136:26)
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I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD |
The LORD came to fulfill prophecy and bear revelation of God’s covenant truths. He came fulfilling all the biblical feast of Shavuot represents.
While the disciples were celebrating this very feast, 50 days after His resurrection on the day of the feast of First-fruits, the Holy Spirit was poured out amongst them. It became known as Pentecost. Whereas this feast had been celebrated by remembering the giving of the Law to Moses, now it would truly represent the fullness of God’s covenant—His Word and Spirit.
In was on this day that Peter stood up remembering the prophecy of Joel, “I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh…” (Joel 2:28)
It was also about 550-600 years after the prophet, Ezekiel, spoke of the condition of His people and of His future solution…
The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost…So they were scattered because there was no shepherd… (Ezekiel 34:4-6 NKJV)
He continued…
For thus says the Lord GOD: "Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered…I will feed them in good pasture…I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick… (Ezekiel 34:11-16 NKJV)
In the midst of escalating political tension and corruption that was spurring an impending revolution against dominant Roman powers, the LORD arrived on the scene to make a difference. The religious leaders expected a political type to take his place as the Messiah-King. The LORD did take His place as the Good Shepherd of God’s flock. He came fulfilling Ezekiel’s prophecy.
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep….14 I am the good shepherd; I know my own, and my own know me — 15 just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father — and I lay down my life on behalf of the sheep. 16 Also I have other sheep which are not from this pen; I need to bring them, and they will hear my voice; and there will be one flock, one shepherd. (John 10:11-18 JNT)
The LORD came full of compassion. He came “moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36)
Truly, He manifested El Rachum—The God of Compassion (Deuteronomy 4:31) in the fullness of measure.
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I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE |
The primary purpose of the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah; Head of the Year) is to call us to prepare our hearts for the coming solemn Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). It begins a period of reconciliation with God; specifically, “Ten Days of Repentance” or “Days of Awe” which culminate in Yom Kippur.
The trumpet (ram’s horn, or shofar) was also used to alarm the people and prepare them for battle. It therefore, speaks of a day to arise in spiritual awakening.
In addition, trumpets were used to proclaim the entry of a king. Therefore, on this high-holiday, we also proclaim Messiah Jesus, the LORD King of the Universe, and honor His kingship and authority over all creation.
The LORD came as the Messiah-King to be the final sacrifice and reconciliation for sin. Those placing faith in Him are justified before God in His righteousness.
He has accomplished more through His sacrificial blood than a single day of confession could ever possibly do! He defeated the enemy of our soul and won the battle over the power of sin and death. By the power and authority of His resurrection, all those who put their faith in Him are justified before God and delivered from His judgment into eternal life.
To illustrate this point, the LORD raised a man, Lazarus, who had been in a tomb for four days. He did this, “for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may receive glory through it.” (John 11:4 JNT) He, therefore, declared:
I AM the Resurrection and the Life! Whoever puts his trust in me will live, even if he dies; and everyone living and trusting in me will never die.” (John 11:25-26 JNT)
Placing our trust in the LORD, we become united with Him by faith, and our soul is justified before God to live for eternity.
Truly, He has prepared a way and a place for those who place their faith in Him. In Him, we see El Chaiyai—The God of my life (Psalm 42:8) and El Yeshuati—The God of my salvation. (Isaiah 12:2)
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I AM
THE WAY, THE TRUTH THE LIFE |
Towards the end of His earthly ministry, the LORD was sharing a Passover meal with His closest disciples. He shared many key truths about the kingdom of God. When it came time to ritually clean his hands, he illustrated through practical demonstration the way by which the disciples would share God’s love and serve one another. He served them in humility by washing their feet. If that didn’t startle them, He said something that startled them even more.
“I AM the Way — and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 JNT)
The LORD revealed that He not only is the true way or path to eternal life, but IS eternal life—and the true atonement fir sin, opening the way of eternal life. What did He really mean? The apostle, Paul, shed light on the meaning of this in revealing that if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will also be united with him in a resurrection like his. (Romans 6:4)
As we suppress our carnal sinful tendencies (lust of the eye, lust of the flesh and pride of life) allowing them “to die” and put our faith in the LORD, trusting in the Holy Spirit to enable us to rule over those tendencies, we become united with the LORD in His resurrection, and live IN HIM—the power of His resurrection—HIS WAY, HIS TRUTH and HIS LIFE.
Truly, no single day of atonement, verbal confession, collection of good works or blood sacrifice can satisfy God’s righteous requirements for the remission of sins. There is no way to reconcile our sins with a righteous, perfect God and make amends for transgressing His law; except coming before Almighty God with brokenness of heart and humility, receiving the sacrificial blood atonement of the LORD, Jesus the Messiah.
In the LORD, we truly know El Gibbor—The Mighty God, who has gone before us in triumph over death, and gives us strength through His Spirit; not only for today, but for eternity. Truly, He is El Olam—God Everlasting. |
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I AM THE TRUE VINE |
After sharing that He is “the way, the truth, and the life,” the LORD continued teaching, adding HOW to live IN THE WAY—permanently being a temple—or tabernacle or sanctuary—for the Holy Spirit.
If you love me, obey my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. 18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. 19 Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. 20 When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.” (John 14:15-28 NLT )
He then headed with them towards the Garden of Gethsemane. There He challenged them to tarry with Him and pray. There, He prayed His greatest prayer, as recorded in John 17. Before doing so, however, He shared a great truth about how to live THE WAY OF THE KINGDOM—individually and together as a community of faith.
“I am the real vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 Every branch which is part of me but fails to bear fruit, he cuts off; and every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes, so that it may bear more fruit. 3 Right now, because of the word which I have spoken to you, you are pruned. 4 Stay united with me, as I will with you — for just as the branch can’t put forth fruit by itself apart from the vine, so you can’t bear fruit apart from me. 5 “I am the vine and you are the branches. Those who stay united with me, and I with them, are the ones who bear much fruit; because apart from me you can’t do a thing. 6 Unless a person remains united with me, he is thrown away like a branch and dries up. Such branches are gathered and thrown into the fire, where they are burned up. 7 “If you remain united with me, and my words with you, then ask whatever you want, and it will happen for you. 8 This is how my Father is glorified — in your bearing much fruit; this is how you will prove to be my talmidim (disciples). (John 15:1-8 JNT)
The Feast of Sukkot, or Tabernacles, is in essence a celebration of our relationship—“follow-ship” and fellowship—with God. It is a time we remember His faithfulness, and are grateful that He chose us to enter into intimate communion and fellowship with Him. That relationship finds itself and is expressed in its fullness through relationships amongst a community of believers worshiping and living in the LORD’s WAY—in SPIRIT and TRUTH—the WAY of HIS LOVE and FAITHFULNESS. In such a way, we bear His identity and character, and live a part of HIS VINE.
In living in His vine, and experiencing the flow of His sap—His Holy Spirit—we experience His presence! Truly, then He is revealed as Immanu EL—God with us. (Isaiah 7:14)
Enjoy His vineyard! Know His presence! Relate and engage with Him in intimate union and fellowship! Enter into His life—His love, His peace, and His joy—that yours be full!
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