Isaiah 40:8 "The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but THE WORD OF OUR GOD ENDURES FOREVER.”
The BIBLE is:
LIGHT -- Psalm 119:105,
FIRE -- Jeremiah 23:29,
SEED -- Luke 8:11,
BREAD -- Dueteronomy 8:3,
MILK -- 1 Peter 2:2,
HONEY -- Psalms 19:7,
MEAT -- Hebrews 5:14,
GOLD -- Psalm 19:10,
SWORD -- Hebrews 4:12,
HAMMER -- Jeremiah 23:29,
flexibility: the quality of bending easily without breaking adaptability · adjustability · variability · versatility Lord grant me this quality called flexibility-- new and fresh every morning is my prayer -- then give me spiritual eyes and ears to see and hear the blessings you send my way -- and the open my heart, mind, and soul to rejoice boldly as I praise your miracle of never-ending new creations moment by moment day by day! Amen.
THANKS-GIVING “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it
is like wrapping a present
and not giving it.”
“Two things I ask of you, Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God. Proverbs 30: 7-9
THANKSGIVING WAS FIRST OBSERVED BY ISRAEL Israel celebrated Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of the Firstfruits within a week’s period of time. They gave thanks to the Lord God for their freedom and bounty at the same time. The priest offered bulls, rams, and lambs for the nation on the first day of the celebration. Leviticus 23: 7-8 7 On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not do any laborious work. 8 But for seven days you shall present an offering by fire to the Lord. On the seventh day is a holy convocation; you shall not do any laborious work.’” On the second day, a sheaf of the first ripe barley was offered as the first fruit of the harvest. Leviticus 23:9-11 9 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 10 “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When you enter the land which I am going to give to you and reap its harvest, then you shall bring in the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest. 11 He shall wave the sheaf before the Lord for you to be accepted; on the day after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.
General Thanksgiving
By the PRESIDENT of the United States Of America
A PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLICK THANKSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"
NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed;-- for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish Constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;-- for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge;-- and, in general, for all the great and various favours which He has been pleased to confer upon us.
And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions;-- to enable us all, whether in publick or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us); and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New-York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.
(signed) G. Washington
Source: The Massachusetts Centinel, Wednesday, October 14, 1789
Thanksgiving means simply to give thanks, or be grateful.
It means to express appreciation.
Every language has a term which means thank you.
The histories of Israel and America have much in common.
Israel was in bondage in Egypt.
They escaped, wandered in the wilderness and finally settled in the Promise Land.
In the 17th century, a group of Protestants could no longer tolerate the religious tyranny of England.
They made a long ocean voyage, endured a harsh winter and finally reaped a bountiful harvest on the shores of the American continent.
Like that first group of Pilgrims, we annually set aside a time of remembrance and thanksgiving.
Psalm 103
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
3 Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
4 Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
5 Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.
6 The Lord performs righteous deeds
And judgments for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known His ways to Moses,
His acts to the sons of Israel.
8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.
9 He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.
12 As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
13 Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.
14 For He Himself knows our frame;
He is mindful that we are but dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
16 When the wind has passed over it, it is no more,
And its place acknowledges it no longer.
17 But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children’s children,
18 To those who keep His covenant
And remember His precepts to do them.
19 The Lord has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.
20 Bless the Lord, you His angels,
Mighty in strength, who perform His word,
Obeying the voice of His word!
21 Bless the Lord, all you His hosts,
You who serve Him, doing His will.
22 Bless the Lord, all you works of His,
In all places of His dominion;
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
THANKFULNESS FOR GOD’S DELIVERANCE The Lord commanded Israel to remember their deliverance from bondage perpetually. Deuteronomy 6: 6-9 6 These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy16:12 12 You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and you shall be careful to observe these statutes.
THANKSGIVING IS A TIME OF REMEMBRANCE We need to thank God for our blessings as a way of life; whether bitter or sweet, stormy or calm. We must constantly remember what the Lord has done for us. Habakkuk 3: 17-18 17 Though the fig tree should not blossom
And there be no fruit on the vines,
Though the yield of the olive should fail
And the fields produce no food,
Though the flock should be cut off from the fold
And there be no cattle in the stalls,
18 Yet I will exult in the Lord,
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.
Remember the Sabbath Day. Exodus 20:8 8 “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Communion is a time to remember the death of Jesus Christ. Luke 22: 19 19 And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
GIVE THANKS FOR YOUR SALVATION Remember the things Christ has done for you. Give thanks for your salvation, healing, and preservation in Him.
THE REASON FOR THANKFULNESS We do not deserve any of God’s goodness, the bread and the meat we eat, the very water we drink, taste of His mercy! His love clothes us. His spiritual blessings flow in a continual stream. We should praise God with thanksgiving in all circumstances and all situations.
UN-THANKFULNESS IS PROPHETIC Ingratitude and unthankful ness are signs of the end-time. The word, unthankful, mentioned twice in the Bible. Luke 6: 35 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. 2 Timothy 3: 1-2 1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy
LET US THANK GOD Let us thank God for the opposition we have had to meet, the resistance that has forced us to put forth our best effort, the disputes that have compelled us to re-examine our arguments and eliminate our flaws. Let us thank God for the struggles that have caused us to grow, The defeats that have kept us humble, the losses that have made us cautious, And the dangers that have kept us alert. Let us thank God for the risks we have had to take, That have brought out hidden strengths. Let us thank God for some of the enemies we have made, for to have no enemies means that we have not taken issue with wrong, defied any evil or rallied to the defense of the oppressed. Let us thank God for our critics who tell us the truth about ourselves.
Above all,
Let us thank God that good has often come out of evil; that struggles we would have preferred to avoid have turned into blessings; that confident in His love and goodness, we have found strength and courage to face whatever comes to run the race that is set before us.
Author unknown
Romans 8: 26-30 26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
Hebrews 12: 1-12 1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
A Father’s Discipline 4 You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; 5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
Nor faint when you are reproved by Him;
6 For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines,
And He scourges every son whom He receives.”
7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? 1 0 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. 11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. 12 Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble,
THANKSGIVING Our power is shut off, and suddenly we become thankful for electricity. Our garbage is not picked up, and suddenly we become thankful for the garbage collector’s weekly stop. A good friend dies and suddenly we discover how much he meant to us. Our water becomes too polluted to drink, and suddenly we appreciate pure water. Why is it, Lord, that we take for granted the uncounted blessing of life until they are removed from us? We take for granted, the mind you have given us, the beauty of the earth around us, the rain and soil combining to produce our food, the love of family and friends surrounding us. Today I thank you for being patient with us, for not forgetting us when we forget you, for loving and forgiving us, for music and singing, for rest and leisure, for those who understand us, for laughter and joy, for being with us always. Most of all I thank you for not withholding the blessings of life from us even though we take them for granted. Take us into the world where we turn words of thanksgiving into deeds of service. Amen Author unknown
THANKSGIVING AND GRUMBLING The head of the family at the morning meal asked the blessing as usual, thanking the Lord for the things so bountifully provided. Immediately afterwards, as was his bad habit, he began to grumble about hard times, the poor quality of the food he was forced to eat, the way it was cooked, and much more. His little daughter interrupted him: “Father, do you suppose God heard what you said a while ago?” “Certainly”---- with the confident air of an instructor. “And did He hear what you said about the bacon and the coffee?” “Of course”---- not quite so confidently. “Then, father, which did God believe?”
Psalm 104
The Lord’s Care over All His Works.
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great; You are clothed with splendor and majesty, 2 Covering Yourself with light as with a cloak, Stretching out heaven like a tent curtain. 3 He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters; He makes the clouds His chariot; He walks upon the wings of the wind; 4 He makes the winds His messengers, Flaming fire His ministers.
5 He established the earth upon its foundations, So that it will not totter forever and ever. 6 You covered it with the deep as with a garment; The waters were standing above the mountains. 7 At Your rebuke they fled, At the sound of Your thunder they hurried away. 8 The mountains rose; the valleys sank down To the place which You established for them. 9 You set a boundary that they may not pass over, So that they will not return to cover the earth.
10 He sends forth springs in the valleys; They flow between the mountains; 11 They give drink to every beast of the field; The wild donkeys quench their thirst. 12 Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; They lift up their voices among the branches. 13 He waters the mountains from His upper chambers; The earth is satisfied with the fruit of His works.
14 He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, And vegetation for the labor of man, So that he may bring forth food from the earth, 15 And wine which makes man’s heart glad, So that he may make his face glisten with oil, And food which sustains man’s heart. 16 The trees of the Lorddrink their fill, The cedars of Lebanon which He planted, 17 Where the birds build their nests, And the stork, whose home is the fir trees.
18 The high mountains are for the wild goats; The cliffs are a refuge for the shephanim. 19 He made the moon for the seasons; The sun knows the place of its setting. 20 You appoint darkness and it becomes night, In which all the beasts of the forest prowl about. 21 The young lions roar after their prey And seek their food from God. 22 When the sun rises they withdraw And lie down in their dens. 23 Man goes forth to his work And to his labor until evening.
24 O Lord, how many are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all; The earth is full of Your possessions. 25 There is the sea, great and broad, In which are swarms without number, Animals both small and great. 26 There the ships move along, AndLeviathan, which You have formed to sport in it.
27 They all wait for You To give them their food in due season. 28 You give to them, they gather it up; You open Your hand, they are satisfied with good. 29 You hide Your face, they are dismayed; You take away their spirit, they expire And return to their dust. 30 You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; And You renew the face of the ground.
31 Let the glory of the Lord endure forever; Let the Lordbe glad in His works; 32 He looks at the earth, and it trembles; He touches the mountains, and they smoke. 33 I will sing to the Lordas long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. 34 Let my meditation be pleasing to Him; As for me, I shall be glad in the Lord. 35 Let sinners be consumed from the earth And let the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Praise the Lord!
GIVING THANKS TO GOD
On the third Thursday of every year, America celebrates Thanksgiving.
Though it is often regarded as a harvest festival, it is an opportunity to thank God for His many gifts.
Ephesians 5:20
Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
THE MANUFACTURER'S HANDBOOK
ON PRAISE AND THANKFULNESS
BE THANKFUL FOR THE GIFT OF GOD’S SON
Jesus Christ was given as a gift to this world because of God’s great love for people. John 3: 16
He is Alpha and Omega. Revelation 1: 18
He is the Chief among ten thousand. Song of Solomon 5: 10
BE THANKFUL FOR GOD’S UN-MEASURABLE GRACE
Even when we were dead in trespasses, He made us alive together with Christ that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace and His loving kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2: 5, 7
BE THANKFUL FOR GOD’S POWER AND OMNIPOTENCE
He is omnipotent. He has power in both heaven and earth. Matthew 28: 18
He has power over all flesh John 17: 2
Christ is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1: 24
BE THANKFUL FOR HIS OMNISCIENCE AND WISDOM
God has knowledge about all things John 21: 17
He has all wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2: 3
He is our wisdom. 1 Corinthians 1: 30
BE THANKFUL FOR HIS OMNIPRESENCE
God’s presence is in the midst of His people. Matthew 18: 20
His presence will last even to the end of the world. Matthew 28: 20
His presence should cause our hearts to burn within us. Luke 24: 32
BE THANKFUL FOR HIS MIRACLES
Jesus Christ opened the eyes of the blind. John 9: 25
He healed the sick and demon possessed. Matthew 8: 16
He healed the lame and crippled people. Luke 13: 10-13
BE THANKFUL FOR CHRIST’S WORDS AND PARABLES
His parables revealed truth to His disciples. Mark 4L 10-11
His Word lights our path. Psalms 119: 105
His Word is eternal and will never pass away. Mark 13: 31
BE THANKFUL FOR HIS PROMISES AND FAITHFULNESS
Christ promises rest for the soul. Matthew 11: 28
He promises justification. Roman 5: 1
He promises eternal life. John 11: 25-26
BE THANKFUL FOR ALL THINGS
Praise Him as a way of life, whether bitter or sweet. Habakkuk 3: 17-18
Praise Him when your are chastised. Revelation 3: 19
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
William Bradford's "A Call to Thanksgiving"
by: Kathryn E. Darden, William Bradford
Plymouth Colony, MA
Nov 20, 2012
First Thanksgiving
It was November of 1623. Three years before, the Pilgrims had left left their homes, jobs and extended families and braved a perilous voyage to a strange world to escape religious persecution in England. They survived the treacherous ocean voyage to come to a strange land and face a harsh climate without food or shelter.
Arriving without shelter and with little food or other provisions, they lost half of their number that first winter to the cold, sickness and starvation. Slowly the Pilgrims built dwellings and planted gardens and building the Massachusetts Pilgrim Colony, "Plymouth Plantation." The pilgrims learned much from their Native American friends about how to best plant crops in North American soil. However, the first two years their small food supplies were heavily rationed.
When the third year saw a bountiful harvest, peace with the Indians, and less sickness, Governor William Bradford and the Pilgrims felt the need and desire to thank God for their new life in a new land where they could worship the Lord without fear of persecution. To All Ye Pilgrims Inasmuch as the great Father has given us this year an abundant harvest of Indian corn, wheat, beans, squashes, and garden vegetables, and has made the forests to abound with game and the sea with fish and clams, and inasmuch as He has protected us from the ravages of savages, has spared us from pestilence and disease, has granted us freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our conscience; now, I, your magistrate, do proclaim that all ye Pilgrims, with your wives and little ones, do gather at ye meeting house, on ye hill, between the hours of 9 and 12 in the day time, on Thursday, November ye 29th of the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and twenty-three, and the third year since ye Pilgrims landed on ye Pilgrim Rock, there to listen to ye pastor, and render thanksgiving to ye Almighty God for all His blessings.
--A Thanksgiving Proclamation Attributed to Governor William Bradford
Lord my Deliverer – Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
Jehovah – The Lord – Exodus 6:2-3 •Jehovah-Adon Kal Ha’arets- Lord of Earth – Josh 3:13 •Jehovah-Bara – Lord Creator – Isaiah 40:28 •Jehovah-Chatsahi – Lord my Strength – Psalm 27:1 •Jehovah-Chereb – Lord the Sword – Deut. 33:29 •Jehovah-Eli – Lord my God – Psalm 18:2 •Jehovah-Elyon – Lord Most High – Psalm 38:2 •Jehovah-Gador Milchamah – Mighty in Battle – Ps 24:8 •Jehovah-Ganan – Lord Our Defense – Ps 89:18 •Jehovah-Go’el – Lord My Redeemer – Is. 49:26, 60:16 •Jehovah-Hamelech – Lord King – Psalm 98:6 •Jehovah-Hashopet – Lord My Judge – Judges 11:27 •Jehovah-Helech ‘Olam – Lord King Forever Ps10:16 •Jehovah-Hoshe’ah – Lord Saves – Psalm 20:9 •Jehovah-Jireh – Provider – Gen. 22:14, I John 4:9, Philip 4:19 •Jehovah-Kabodhi – Lord my Glory – Psalm 3:3 •Jehovah-Kanna – Lord Jealous – Ex 34:14 •Jehovah-Keren-Yish’i – Horn of Salvation – Ps 18:2 •Jehovah-M’Kaddesh – Sanctifier – I Corinthians 1:30 •Jehovah-Machsi – Lord my Refuge – Psalm 91:9 •Jehovah-Magen – Lord my Shield – Deut. 33:29 •Jehovah-Ma’oz – Lord my Fortress – Jer. 16:19 •Jehovah-Mephalti – Lord my Deliverer – Psalm 18:2 •Jehovah-Metshodhathi – Lord my Fortress – Psalm 18:2 •Jehovah-Misqabbi – Lord my High Tower – Psalm 18:2 •Jehovah-M’gaddishcem – Lord my Sanctifier – Ex 31:13 •Jehovah-Naheh – Lord who Smites – Ezekiel 7:9 •Jehovah-Nissi – Banner – I Chronicles 29:11-13 •Jehovah-Rohi – Shepherd – Psalm 23 •Jehovah-Rophe – Healer – Isaiah 53:4,5 •Jehovah-Sabaoth – Lord of Hosts – I Sam 1:3 •Jehovah-Sel’i – Lord my Rock – Psalm 18:2 •Jehovah-Shalom – Peace – Isaiah 9:6, Rom 8:31-35 •Jehovah-Shammah – Present – Hebrews 13:5 •Jehovah-Tsidkenu – Righteousness – I Cor 1:30 •Jehovah-Tsori – Lord my Strength – Psalm 19:14 •Jehovah-Yasha – Lord my Savior – Isaiah 49:26 •Jehovah-‘Ez-Lami – Lord my Strength – Ps 28:7 •Jehovah-‘Immeku – Lord Is With You – Judges 6:12 •Jehovah-‘Izoa Hakaboth – Lord Strong -Mighty – Ps 24:8 •Jehovah-‘Ori – Lord my Light – Psalm 27:1 •Jehovah-‘Uzam – Lord Strength in Trouble – Is 49:26
Exodus 3:14
God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM."
Funny how many times in speaking we say, "I am."
I am -- mother of
I am -- wife to
I am -- hungry
I am -- employed
I am -- athletic
I am -- religious
I am -- I am -- I am
yada yada yada---
Verse 15: God said, "this is my name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations."
In medieval times, God was sometimes called The Seven.[The seven names for the God of Israel over which the scribes had to exercise particular care were:[
Eloah (God)
Elohim (God)
Adonai (Lord)
Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh (I am that I am)
YHWH (I am that I am)
El Shaddai (God Most High)
YHWH Tzevaot (Lord of Hosts: Sabaoth in Latin transliteration)
Those "Christians" who think of the Lord Jesus Christ as just a great man who never really claimed to be God need to confront His amazing statement to the scribes and Pharisees there in Jerusalem when they were berating Him in the temple. "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day," He said. Then, when they questioned that assertion, He went on to insist that "Before Abraham was, I am" (John 8:56,58).
This was such a bold claim to deity, that they immediately prepared to stone Him for what they thought was blasphemy. But He somehow "hid Himself," (v.59) and escaped.
Of course, if He was not God, what He said was blasphemous, which was a capital crime under the Mosaic law (Leviticus 24:16). He was actually claiming to be the God to whom Moses spoke at the burning bush, when he asked God what His name was. God had answered that His name was "I AM" (Exodus 3:14)—that is, He is the God who is eternally self-existent, transcendent to time as well as to space and matter. And that was who Jesus was claiming to be!
But what about His claim that He and Abraham had seen each other, and that Abraham rejoiced to see His day? Abraham's time was centuries before that of even Moses.
That claim probably was in reference to the very critical time when "the word of the Lord[that is, the pre-incarate Christ] came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward" (Genesis 15:1).
This was the very first of His great "I am" claims, as He promised to be both Protector and Provider to Abraham in a strange and hostile land.
It is fascinating to note the frequency of such "I am" claims in the Bible after this first one, and how they occur in multiples of seven, a fact which seems possibly designed—not by the human authors, of course, but by the Holy Spirit who inspired them (that is, of course, assuming my own somewhat arbitrary countings are correct).
For example, there are seven "I am"s in the Book of Genesis, the first being Genesis 15:1, as already noted. The second is in Genesis 15:7, where God, speaking to Abraham, said simply:"I am the Lord." The word, "Lord," of course, is the Hebrew Yahweh (or Jehovah), and carries essentially the same meaning as "I Am," or "The One Who Is."
Then, there are 21 (i.e., 3x7) "I am"s in the Book of Exodus, including the divine answer to Moses, already mentioned, "I AM THAT I AM" (Exodus 3:14).
The wonderful Book of Psalms contains seven "I am"s that speak prophetically and sadly of the future sufferings of the incarnate Christ. These are:
"I am a worm, and no man" (Psalm 22:6).
"I am poor and needy" (Psalm 40:17).
"I am . . . a stranger unto my brethren" (Psalm 69:8).
"I am full of heaviness" (Psalm 69:20).
"I am poor and sorrowful" (Psalm 69:29).
"I . . . am as a sparrow alone upon the house top" (Psalm 102:7).
"I am withered like grass" (Psalm 102:11).
These all occur in psalms that are specifically known to be Messianic psalms (thus referring to Christ) because they are quoted as such in the New Testament.
The prophetical books abound in "I am" statements by the Lord. The second division of Isaiah, for example, (Isaiah 40-66) contains 35 such claims (7x5). The first is Isaiah 41:4. "I the Lord, the first, and with the last; I am He." The last is Isaiah 60:16. ". . . I the Lord am thy Savior and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob." However, the first division of Isaiah, which has a different theme than the second division, has no such "I am" statements.
The Book of Ezekiel contains 70 of these great assertions (more than any other single book). Jeremiah contains 21 of these statements. Then, all the smaller prophetical books of the prophets have a total of 21 "I am"s. All told, the 17 prophetical books contain a total of 154 (22x7) of God's great "I am" claims.
The final such claim in the Old Testament is found in Malachi 3:6, in which God appropriately reminds everyone that "I am the Lord, I change not." He is the great "I AM," the self-existent God. We must remember always that our own personal Savior and Lord Jesus Christ has revealed to us that He Himself is that same great I AM.
It is in the Gospel of John, however, that the most beautiful and personally meaningful "I am"s are found. There are seven of these, as follows:
How anyone could hear or see these claims and then still deny that they were claims to deity is a great mystery. For example, how could anyone except God Himself claim to be the way, the truth, and the life?
Well, maybe a madman might make such a claim, or maybe a gross scam artist of some kind. But no honest, sane person could ever do so—unless the claim were true!
That is the choice. Either Jesus Christ was mad or wicked—or else He truly is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the one way to reach God, the incarnate truth about God, and the only real giver of eternal life with God. One will come to the same conclusion as he examines each of these seven great "I Am" claims.
The Lord Jesus Christ is "very God of very God," as the old creeds expressed it. God "created all things by Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 3:9) and it is "in Him we live, and move, and have our being" (Acts 17:28). Furthermore, it is He who has "made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself" (Colossians 1:20).
Look also at the remarkable claim in John 11:25-26: "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."
Death has always been man's great enemy. It always seems a great tragedy and sorrow when a loved one dies, and people generally try to stay alive as long as possible. But Jesus claims to be able to restore one's life even after he dies, and then to keep him alive forever! What a preposterous claim for any mortal man to make!
Yet He demonstrated His ability to do just that when He Himself defeated death, rising bodily from the grave on the third day. After all, He is the I AM, the self-existent One! Therefore He is fully able to make good on His promise to those who come to Him for forgiveness and salvation, "Because I live," He says, "ye shall live also" (John 14:19).
There are also seven great "I am" statements in the Book of Revelation, and one of the key verses of this set has to do with His resurrection. "I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death" (Revelation 1:18).
"Believest thou this?" He would ask today, just as He asked Martha long ago as she was grieving over the death of her brother, Lazarus (John 11:26). How could anyone doubt the overwhelming evidence of Christ's victory over death (the evidence of the empty tomb, the many post-resurrection appearances, the transformation of the disciples, the testimony of 2000 years of hosts of lives also transformed through faith in Him)? Many have believed, of course, but there are multitudes who have not, and for them there is the dread prospect awaiting them of an eternity without God. "If ye believe not that I am He [but "He" is not in the original; Jesus just said, `I am'], ye shall die in your sins" (John 8:24).
It is significant that the other six "I am"s in Revelation also stress His eternal existence, from eternity to eternity.
Note the list below: (the first one with the remaining six)
"I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death" (Revelation 1:18)
"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending" (Revelation 1:8).
"I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last" (Revelation 1:11).
"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end" (Revelation 21:6).
"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last" (Revelation 22:13).
"I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star"(Revelation 22:16).
Our glorious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to whom we have trusted our eternal souls, is more than just a great religious teacher who was martyred for His faith long ago. He is alive on His throne in heaven, having defeated death forever. He was our great Creator, our sin-bearing Savior and will be our eternal Lord and King.
Psalm 103
