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“Self-centeredness leads to a demanding spirit that will ultimately leave victimization in its wake. ‘I AM’ leads to openness, freedom, acceptance, generosity and love that goes so far beyond what you and I will ever be able to provide on our own.”
As quoted from the book "Victor - Breaking Free From a Victim-Based Society" by John H. Hovis Page 98.
God often referred to Himself as "I AM" in the Old Testament of the Bible. I believe that self-centeredness comes as we fail to realize what this "I AM" is all about. When we take on the responsibility of defining and making happen our own identities in life, "I AM" takes on a meaning that makes victimization happen in ways God never intended.
“I AM” is such an appropriate description for the name of God. Basically what God is trying to get across is the fact that when it comes to anything good, God is the “I AM.” In other words, if you think good is all powerful, God’s name is “I AM POWERFUL.” If you think good is loving then God’s name is “I AM LOVING.” There are so many attributes that might be associated with a good God that it is just easier to shortened His name to “I AM.”
The Bible says that we are made in the image of God. I believe that this means that the name “I AM” is something that has meaning in our lives as fully as it does in God’s. Problem is that we either have no idea as to what “I AM” means in our lives or we take “I AM” so personally as to eliminate God completely from the picture.
Even though we are made in God’s image, we are not the “I AM”. Only God has that name. We do reflect His name in ways that make this world see Him in the light needed. It is when we take on the identity of “I AM” that we live in a place where victim making is the norm. There is nothing wrong with reflecting who God is. It is not a prudent strategy to believe that we somehow are what God says He is.
Most people deal with the issue of not having a clue when it comes to the “I AM” living inside them. These are the folks that are working so hard to prove something that God has already made happen. It is when we come to grips with the “I AM” inside each of us that identity starts to have the power to make victors of us all.
When it comes to God’s name reflecting in our lives, we need the Bible to help us flesh that out. Today, instead of reading just one verse, I want to take a look at some of the places where we too can apply an “I AM” based identity. Each of the verses below are connected in one sense. Each verse is a summation of what Jesus said as He made “I AM” statements.
“I AM” in the life of a vctor only happens in Christ. “I AM” doesn’t happen as we work hard. It doesn’t happen by desiring it to be. It only happens as we are in the one that the “I AM” describes in the first place. Take a look with me now at several places Jesus makes “I AM” statements. Let’s see if we can’t figure out what “I AM” might look like in the life of a victor.
- In John 14:6 Jesus says - I am the way, the truth and life. This means we can know the truth and move powerfully in that truth.
- In John 15:5 He says, I am the vine - This means we have a connection.
- From Revelation 1:8, Jesus tells us - I am the Alpha & Omega - Jesus will always be there.
- John 6:47-50 has Jesus saying - I am the bread of life – I take this to mean we find the nourishment needed for life in Jesus.
- In John 8:12, Jesus says - I am the light of the world - We don't have to face the darkness alone.
- He says in Matthew 28:20 - I am with you always - We are never alone.
- And in Revelation 1:17-19, Jesus claims that - I am alive forever more - We have a hope for eternity.
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