Page 1 of 10 December 20th, 2020 I Am Pastor’s Notes

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CHRISTMAS TRADITION AROUND THE WORLD

[ PHOTOS ] FRANCE….

- Donkey - 12th-century France, churches would perform a Christmas ceremony in which they led a donkey on a procession through the center of town to the local church, where a service was in session.

- Donkey would remain next to the church's altar for the duration of the service, - Congregants would mimic its bray in a call-and-response part of service.

- Tradition was known as the “Feast of the Donkey” was accompanied by "raucous parties that usually got out of hand,"

- The celebration became such a problem that many towns eventually banned it.

[ PHOTOS ] & AMERICA….

- Christmas Pickle - The last ornament to be hung on German Christmas is Christmas Pickle. - Christmas pickle usually a blown glass ornament that may have been passed down through generations. - It’s tucked away in a hard-to-see spot (it is green, after all). - The first child who finds the pickle on Christmas morning gets a special gift.

- The trouble with this legend is that people in Germany were unfamiliar with it. - Glass tree ornaments were made in Germany, in the shape of fruits and vegetables and other objects. - Became very popular in America when F.W. Woolworth imported them in 1880s ….and the old German legend helped to sell more glass ornaments! Page 2 of 10 [ TITLE SLIDE ] NAMES GOD GAVE COMING MESSIAH

- IMMANUEL - GOD with us / He still is! - WONDERFUL COUNSELOR - came for those with PROBLEMS! - EVERLASTING FATHER - The Father you were created for and find… fulfillment in Him! Names are so Important to GOD…. - These are names of SALVATION / Names that give us VICTORY Fill us with HOPE / STRENGTH / SECURITY ______

TODAY.. Look at the Name that is behind all other names…

I AM Name GOD gave Himself - Hebrew it’s YAHWEH - Latin it’s JEHOVAH

- “I AM” / GOD uses for himself over 6500 x in Old Testament ALONE

- “I AM” Name GOD use for Israel whenever they were in NEED - Usually followed up with a Word for what they needed

Whatever they lacked in life He would/could Supply in HIMSELF

EXAMPLES:

1. In Exodus when people were sick because of their sin..

GOD called Himself - JEHOVAH rō-p̄ ə-’e-ḵā (Rapha) יְהוָ֖ה רפְאֶָֽ׃ [ Exodus 15.26b NKJV ] “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.” -“I AM YOUR HEALER” - Literally… Page 3 of 10

2. In Leviticus Moses gave people GOD’s Laws how they should live Holy.. People said, “How can anyone live this way?"

GOD called Himself - JEHOVAH mə-qad-diš-ḵem (Me-qed-dish kem) יְהוָ֖ה מְקדִשְכֶֽם׃ [ Leviticus 20.8b NKJV ] ….I am the Lord who sanctifies you. - I AM your SANCTIFIER / Who enables you to walk with me - I AM your STRENGTH / COURAGE / POWER FOR LIVING

3. Prophet Jeremiah discouraged by Israels inability to be faithful to GOD.. He called out to GOD, “We are so sinful and weak”

GOD called Himself - JEHOVAH ṣiḏ-qê-nū (Sid-qe-nu) יְהוָ֥ה צִדקֽנו׃ [ Jeremiah 23.6b NKJV ] ….this is His name by which He will be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS - I AM your Righteousness

4. Prophet Ezekiel’s day, people felt scared & alone with enemies all around

GOD called Himself - JEHOVAH šām-māh (Sam-mah) יְהוָ֥ה ׀ שָֽמָה׃ [ Ezekiel 48.35 NKJV ] ….the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE.” - I AM the EVER PRESENT one

5. King David felt lost & confused with NO FRIENDS

David called GOD - JEHOVAH rō-‘î (Ro-i) יְהוָ֥ה ,Psalms 23.1 NKJV ] rō-‘î ] ….The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. - YOU ARE MY SHEPHERD Page 4 of 10

6. To Abraham ready to sacrifice his son, GOD provided for him a sacrifice

Abraham called Him - JEHOVAH yir-’eh (Jireh) יְהוָ֣ה ׀ יִראֶ֑ה [ Genesis 22.14 NKJV ] ….The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided. - I AM your Provider

7. Prophet Isaiah who wasn’t sure how Israel will survive another day

GOD called Himself - JEHOVAH šām-māh (Som-mah) יְהוָ֥ה ׀ שָֽמָה׃ [ Ezekiel 48.35 NKJV ] ….the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE.” - I AM your defender - I will never abandon you - I AM the GOD who fights for you ______

WHEN JESUS… GOD with us… / Promised Messiah HE DID THE SAME THING GOD DID IN HEBREW SCRIPTURES!! - He took name “I AM” and applied to Our lives of BROKENESS & PAIN

EXAMPLES:

1. To those who hunger Jesus said… [ John 6.35a NLT ] Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. - I AM the Bred of Life

2. To those who Thirst - I AM the Living Water… Come to me those who are Thirsty!!! [ John 7.37-38 NLT ] On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! 38 Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” Page 5 of 10

3. To those in Darkness [ John 8.12 NLT ] …”I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” - I AM the Light of the World

4. To those who need a Fresh Start [ John 10.9 NLT ] I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. - I AM the Door

5. To those who feel Abandoned [ John 10.11 NLT ] “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. - I AM the Good Shepherd

7. Those who feel Lost [ John 14.6 NLT ] Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. - I AM the Way 8. Those who feel Confused / I AM the Truth 9. Those who fear Death / I AM the Life

ALL THAT YOU NEED, ALL THAT YOU LACK, ALL THAT YOU COULD NEVER BE IN YOURSELF… JESUS IS TO YOU AND I.. THE GREAT “I AM” ______Page 6 of 10

Two questions from this Series

Q1: THOSE WHO KNOW JESUS.. ARE YOU LIVING IN THE FULLNESS OF HIS NAME?

The 3rd Commandment tells us not to take GOD name in vain

- Don’t USE GOD’s name as cuss word… also - It’s How to TAKE GOD’S NAME

When you became a Christian… you took the name of GOD unto yourself - GOD with us… became GOD with YOU! - He United Himself to YOU - Whatever “I AM” is… BECAME YOURS!

EXAMPLE: - Once upon a time… Beautiful girl names Jennifer Marie Wagoner - Greatest day of her earthly life… stood at alter with me… She became a Baldwin

- UNITED to me in marriage… TOOK my last name - All that was mine became hers ~

In the same way when you became a Christian… You took the name of GOD unto yourself. Page 7 of 10 The name “I AM”

- Means the properties of “I AM” in a sense became yours as well WHAT “HE IS..” YOU NOW HAVE ACCESS TO !!!

Peter said.. [ 2 Peter 1.4 NLT ] …He has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature…

Paul said.. [ Ephesians 3.6 NLT ] Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.

MEANS: Whatever you’re NOT / you NEED / you LACK… Whatever you’re NOT GETTING from someone else…. TO YOU He is… “I AM”

- You say… “I am so Messed Up!” HE says… “But ‘I AM’ so COMPLETE!”

- You say… “I am so Deficient” / “But ‘I AM’ so SUFFICIENT”

- You say… “I am so Doubtful” / “But ‘I AM’ so FAITHFUL”

- You say… “I am so Sinful” / But ‘I AM’ so GRACEFUL”

- You say… “I am so Weak” / But ‘I AM’ so STRONG”

….Believer TAKE HIS NAME… Don’t take it in VAIN Stand in the Strength of HIS NAME Page 8 of 10

- When doubters & Haters say.. “Who do you think you are?” - “Don’t think I am anything… BUT I KNOW THE GREAT ‘I AM’”

- When your Own heart whispers… “You are not”… SHOUT BACK… “HE IS, and I am UNITED IN HIM”

[ Colossians 1.27b NLT ] …this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. - The “I AM” in you gives you Power for living

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[ SPECIAL VIDEO SONG: “I AM” ] Just came upon this song

______Marc play Music….

Q1: Are you living in the Fullness of His name? Q2: THOSE WHO DON’T KNOW JESUS… ( not sure you do ) ARE YOU READY TO RECEIVE AND BELIEVE THESE NAMES THAT HAVE BEEN OFFERED TO YOU?

- What does your heart call Jesus? ( You can tell if someone’s a Christian by what name their heart calls Jesus ) Page 9 of 10

EXAMPLE: I can tell if you know me by what you call me - TELEMARKETER calls & ask for Mr. Baldwin… (script) - CALLS and ask for Pastor Terry // Usually a Sales person - TWO people call me Bug // Parents - TWO people call me Dad // My Kids - ONE calls me “Stud Muffin” // My Wife

WHAT NAME DO YOU CALL JESUS? - Do you know Him as: Emmanuel / Wonderful Counselor / Everlasting Father / Savior / YOUR Redeemer / YOUR Righteousness / YOUR Hope for Heaven

- Not Asking if you BELIEVE these things ABOUT JESUS… Asking if you CLAIM THEM AS YOUR OWN? - Are these the names your heart gives to Jesus?

[ John 1.12 NIV ] ( beginning or series ) …to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God …Believing in His name means… Taking His name for yourself

Jesus is ALL OF THESE in His very Nature… But He won’t be them TO YOU… Until you Choose to Believe Him Page 10 of 10

CLOSE: - Christmas Season is a Bright Sign pointing YOU to Jesus - “Unto YOU a Child is born” - “Unto YOU a Son is given”

- Will you Receive Him? Will you Believe on His Name?

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