9.20.26 - I Am for the World – Season 2 – Episode 3 “Sharing I AM”
I AM for the World – Season 1 “Jesus – The Great I AM”
Season 2 “Sent from I AM”
Ep. 1 – “The Prequel”
2 – “Keep Saying ‘Yes’ to I AM”
3 – “Sharing I AM”
Tools for Sharing I AM – Jesus uses the I AM’s to reveal himself to people.
They subtly break through walls and defenses and speak to deeper places in our soul.
“I AM for You and the World”
The Questions
Who Am I?
Where do I Fit?
Why Am I Here?
Is there More to Life?
The Feelings
The Needs
The Good News
I AM the Bread of Life.
Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35
Jesus brings the “fullness of life” our souls long for.
Questions, fears, needs, longings, ...?
Soul thirst, soul hunger, feeling empty inside,
When internal question begin to surface like:
“Is there more to life than this? ..... Is there something missing in my life? How do I act when I am empty inside?
These questions lead us to searching for all kinds of ways to get filled…. Fulfilled. This I AM points us to Jesus.
I AM the Light of the world.
Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life. John 8:12
Jesus brings clarity when navigating a sometimes dark and chaotic world.
Questions, fears, needs and longings ...?
Literally “fear of the dark”? When we are in need of “light and leading” in the chaos, darkness and unknowns of our life now and future. When we are dealing with the darkness within(sin), the darkness around (world) and the darkness above (satan).
Questions arising out of chaos, fogginess, despair of not knowing, feeling lost, helpless and vulnerable to the forces of brokenness and darkness and needing trust, reassurance, direction and divine leading.
I AM the Gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out and find pasture. Jn 10:9
Jesus brings acceptance and security knowing you belong with God.
Questions, fears, needs, longings…?
We long to belong. The gates at the Temple restricted access to God “to cleansing”.... to “being enough”, “to measuring up”. Intimacy with God is where we “belong”. What about if the gate that we think keeps us out of “belonging” is actually a person who welcomes us into a life of “belonging with the Father in His family”. There we live in unburdened freedom of movement in the Father’s kingdom ... “coming in and going out finding pasture”. Jesus is the access point to life at peace ... peace with God – we have a place at His table - that is where we belong.
I AM the Good Shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me and I lay down my life for the sheep.
John 10:14-15
Jesus brings the compassionate care we need. With Him we are fully known and fully loved.
Questions, fears, needs, longings…?
The need to be fully known and fully loved. Dealing with worry, anxiety and feelings of isolation, loneliness, confusion while needing attention, belonging, safety empathy, protection and presence.
Jesus “knows” us intimately, still loves us sacrificially and shepherds us with true goodness. Our hearts long to be truly known, truly loved and truly cared for by someone who is truly good.
I AM the Resurrection and the Life The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;
and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. John 11:25-26
Jesus brings a hope for full life today and forever that sin and death can’t take away.
Questions, fears, needs, longings…? All will face death and deal with questions of eternity, heaven and life beyond?
Jesus does not give us answers to every question but points us to Himself as the one who can give us a life that death can’t take away – a Life now that is at peace about the eternal future. We deal with “deathiness” and the end of things everyday – often things and people and hopes and dreams and relationships we dearly love. Jesus always brings LIFE into every situation... He is in the creating and recreating business. When He is in the room Life is there... hope & possibilities abound.
I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life no one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
Jesus brings reality and direction for living in distracting and confusing times.
Questions, fears, needs, longings...? We struggle under the weight of knowing the “right” way to do life now and forever.
The Way is living life in Jesus who brings “true reality” into our lives and delivers to us “life” in all its fullness.
The Way of Jesus leads us to come fully alive in the meaningful life He intends. This world offers many false paths, false gods and a plurality of choices which promise true life....... but Jesus makes things exceedingly clear ... He is the only WAY!
I AM the Vine; you are the branches. If you abide in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5
Jesus brings the life giving intimacy that makes a meaningful life possible.
Questions, needs, longings...? Jesus is addressing the hardwired longing in the human heart to “make a difference”, “be productive”, “make a meaningful contribution” ... to matter! On our own we will turn to ourselves to make this happen. We might use hard work, or special giftedness to strive for significance, to accrue wealth or status or titles or followers or friends. But without an intimate life with Jesus... like “a vine to a branch” it will all go awry. HE is the source of life and significance and intimacy with Him is the key to a meaningful life... a life that matters.