The 7 "I AM" Names of God — Old Testament to John's Gospel

Hello and welcome to Through the Bible with Les Feldick. An Oklahoma rancher and farmer, Les Feldick has been teaching homestyle Bible classes for 20 years in Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas. Les Feldick's unique style of Bible teaching has made the books of the Bible come to life. When Les is teaching, it's so interesting that people say time just seems to fly by. And now, here is Les Feldick. And now we just got from the printer this afternoon book number seven. Can you get that in there Sharon? Book number seven. A lot of you have been waiting for it, and for those of you out in television, you're aware of the first six, but now we have number seven. So you're ready for it. You call us or write to us and we'll get them in the mail to you. I'm amazed as much as anything by what the books seemingly are accomplishing. They're using them, and the Lord's using them, and so that thrills our hearts. All right, I guess that's enough for announcement. We've got a lot to cover yet, and as I wait for that camera roll, I'm betwixt and between. I've got enough for two half hours, but I don't know if I can squeeze it into one. Now that's a dilemma, isn't it? But let's finish up the eighth sign that we didn't have time to get in our last program, which is in chapter 21, and you'll remember in earlier programs I pointed out that the first seven of these signs all directed at the nation of Israel were before His crucifixion. I think in the early part of these signs, as Israel is without joy, Israel is sick, Israel is impotent, the nation still has a flicker of hope to still recognize the Messiah. Now I know it's hard for a lot of people to comprehend, and some may think I'm even way out in left field, but I'm of the thinking that as Christ made His appearance to the nation of Israel, at least based on the Old Testament promises, they could have had the King and the Kingdom, had they of just believed Him. But God in His foreknowledge knew that they weren't going to accept it, He knew they would reject it, and so everything falls in place to fulfill the eternal purposes of God, which was the cross. But I've used the expression, He made a valid offer. They could have had the King, but they just refused to see Him. So all through these first three or four signs, the nation is still in a position where they could have repented, they could have recognized who He was, and they could have experienced the fruition of all the promises. By the time we get down to the account of Lazarus, then of course it's evident they're not going to accept Him. They are getting ready to reject Him in crucifixion, and they're going to call for His death. Now I think it's also amazing that after the crucifixion and His resurrection, He again still spends 40 days appealing to the nation of Israel through primarily the 12 or the 11. Then as you come into the early chapters of Acts, Peter and the 11 continue to plead with the nation of Israel to recognize the One they crucified was the Messiah. That's the whole theme in those early chapters. So God has yet not canceled the nation of Israel, and everything is still within a prospect at least that they could have the King and the Kingdom, although Christ of course knows what they're going to do. Now then as we come into chapter 21, this will be after His death, burial, and resurrection, and we'll begin right at verse 1. I want you to pick up the mindset of these 11 men. Now it's still only 11, Judas is gone, and Matthias isn't in yet. But chapter 21, verse 1. Acts 21a "...after these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias, and on this wise He showed Himself. There were together Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathanael of Cana, and Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing." Now I think that is classic. Do you all realize what that is indicating? What does Peter now expect from the Messiah? Nothing. So where is he going back to? Well his old life of fishing. I mean it's all done. That was just 3 years in frustration, and so he says to the others, I'm going fishing. After all that's where He made His living. And they said unto him, what? Oh Peter wait a minute, He's going to be back, He's going to be raised from the dead, hold on. No, they don't know any different, and so they say, we'll go with you. And they go right back to where they had been before. So they went forth and entered into a ship immediately. Now don't picture a great big battleship, or a great big fishing boat like they use today. It was a small little vessel, but anyhow it was large enough to accommodate this group of men and their nets. So that night they caught how much? Nothing! Underline that, nothing! Now I know it's one thing to go fishing with a rod and reel, and a hook and a worm, and go all day and catch nothing, but with a net? I think that must be next to impossible to never catch a single fish net fishing. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus said unto them, Children, have ye any meat, any food? And they answered, No. Can't you just hear them? Have you ever talked to a fisherman that's been fishing all day and caught nothing? Hey fishermen haven't changed, and these guys were no different. I'll bet that was the biggest sound of disgust that they'd ever said. All night and nothing, no nothing. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right hand of the ship, and you shall find they cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fish. Ephesians 2.7 Now you know as soon as things happen, minds start clicking don't they? And O. Johns was ringing a little faster than the others, and so he says to Peter, it's the Lord. Who else could know that all of a sudden there's a school of fish right off the right hand side of the boat? It's the Lord! Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he gird his fisher's coat unto him, for he was naked. Now I always have to qualify that. He wasn't stark naked, he wasn't in his birthday suit, he had merely removed his outer garments. I think much like a lot of young guys would do today, if they're putting their boat into the water or they're taking it out, they may take off their trousers or something like that, but they don't strip down to stark nakedness, nor were these men I think under these circumstances. But they had removed their outer clothing. And he did cast himself into the sea, and the other disciples came in a little ship, for they were not far from land, as it were 200 cubits, dragging the net with fishes. As soon as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon. Now where did those fish come from? Not out of the net, but what was there? Everything was already prepared. Now remember all up through the Old Testament, what is Israel being promised? The King and the Kingdom. Now this Kingdom is on earth, and Jerusalem will be the capital. Israel will be the top nation of the nations, that's their prospect. And by the time the nation is brought into that Kingdom experience, everything is going to be ready. They're not going to have to work by the sweat of their brow to get the nation restored after tribulation. Everything is going to be ready, even as breakfast was when they came to shore. Ephesians 4.10 "...and Jesus said unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught." So Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, not a bunch of little offspring, but full grown large fish. Now I've been trying to find a significance for this number, and I can't find the 153 per say, but I think the reason the Lord has seen fit to number it in Scripture is to show that not one single Jew is going to miss the end gathering for the Kingdom. That's the only way I can look at it, and we'll look at some verses in the Old Testament here in a second. But nevertheless remember now the net is full, and not a single fish is going to be lost. Contrary to Luke chapter 4 when they cast the net at the Lord's command, the net broke, and the fish all got away. Well that was indicative of Israel's history. Nothing really jelled for them, and they never enjoyed all the promises that God had given. But now the net doesn't break, and not a single Jew that is intended to go into the Kingdom is going to be lost. And yet though there were so many, was not the net broken. Turn back with me to Ezekiel 37. Ezekiel 37 is a chapter that we've looked at so often, especially in prophecy, and it's the vision of the dry bones. Then if you happen to run across Amos on your way back there, why then drop in there if you will, and we'll look at a verse in Amos chapter 9. But first Ezekiel chapter 37, and you all know the account of the dry bones in the opening verses, and how they began to shake, they finally came together, they formed, and then the skin came on them, but as yet no breath. Well that's just a picture of the nation of Israel coming back out of their dispersion, as we've been seeing them do now for the last 30, 40, 50 years. But as yet the breath hasn't been breathed into them, they're still spiritually dead. Now you come into verse 11 of Ezekiel 37, and then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. How many? All of them. Not minus the ten lost tribes like a lot of people like to think, but every tribe is going to be represented in their return. God knows who they belong to. The whole house of Israel. Behold they say, our bones are dried, our hope is lost, we are cut off. In other words they've been out in dispersion for so long, they have lost their national identity as a nation, and they were in graves. They were nationally dead, and that's all this vision is showing, that the day is coming when the whole house of Israel will be brought back to life nationally. Not that the Jews are going to be resurrected and then come back, but the nation as they come out of the dispersion amongst the Gentiles will fill up the land. Now verse 12. Ephesians 1.12a "...therefore prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, O my people, I will open your graves..." Now that just simply means living Jews out amongst Gentile nations, God's going to bring them back to their homeland. "...and I will cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves. I shall put my Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I shall place you in your own land." All the United Nations can do whatever they want with it, and Syria can demand whatever they want. The Egyptians may tell everybody what has to be done, but in the final analysis God's going to do it His way, and the land of Palestine or the Middle East belongs to the sons of Abraham. And the Lord says, I've spoken it, performed it, and it's going to happen. Now when He gets ready to bring the saved of Israel, which will only be a remnant, and it's not going to be every Jew that's living, but when God brings that remnant into the nation of Israel, not a one is going to be lost. Just like that net full of fishes, not a one flopped out. And that's why I think the count was given 153. Now if you'll turn over to the right from Ezekiel and find Amos. Now Amos is right after Hosea, Joel, and then Amos. Amos chapter 9 verse 9. Now those are mental crutches. Some people wonder how I remember these Scripture verses. Well use crutches. Here you have Amos chapter 9 verse 9. Amos 9. Amos 9. For lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth." What does that say? Not a kernel of what God wants to keep is going to be lost. Not a single fish was lost out of that net full. Not a single Jew that is ordained to go into the Kingdom is going to miss it. Now that's the Sovereign God, and so everyone that God has ordained to go into the Kingdom is going to find His place in it. God has spoken it. Now let's come back to John and we'll finish the chapter. I know I'm not going to have time for what I had intended to do this last half hour, but I don't know if I'm going to have enough here. Maybe I can do both of them yet anyway. But in John 21 again, after they brought the fish up, and the Lord has breakfast ready. Now it doesn't give it here, but in Luke's Gospel what does the Lord do with them? He eats. He ate. Now that's in His resurrection body, and the only reason I'm always emphasizing that is because in that new resurrected body, which will be the kind of body we will have for the eternal state, He was able to eat and drink, He conversed, they saw Him, they touched Him, He was tangible, and yet He could be here one second and miles away the next. Now those are all prospects of what we're going to enjoy one day as our new resurrected body. Then of course as you finish the chapter here, and I don't want to spend the time on that. You've heard sermon after sermon on it, when Peter confronts God with the question, Do you love Me more than these? Now I've heard some preach that the these were His fellow disciples. Where was Peter's love? Fish! That was his occupation. He loved that Sea of Galilee, he loved his occupation, and the Lord knew that. In fact when Peter back in Matthew 19 was with fishing like I am with ranching. I know the Lord has a lot of things for me to do, and maybe I shouldn't even feel that I can keep my first love, but I do. I love my ranching, and I love my cattle, and I'm just glad the Lord lets me continue on with both sides of the dish. Now what was Peter talking about? His fishing, his occupation, which he loved. He said, to follow You. Now what are we going to have there for? Well he wasn't talking about salvation, he was talking about reward, and what the Lord said. Well when I come into the Kingdom, you're going to sit on the twelve thrones, ruling the twelve tribes of Israel. So never lose sight of the fact that Peter loved his fishing. Then of course the Lord goes on and tells him how he was to feed the sheep, which of course he does. When we get into the Book of Acts, who in the world is Peter addressing? The Jews, not Gentiles. Now I shake people up when I say some of these things, but I say it on the basis of the Book, and no one has been able to convince me otherwise. Peter never had a ministry to Gentiles, except the one time at the house of Cornelius. After that he confined his ministry to the Jews, as the Lord says here, that he was to feed the sheep. Well I know I'm going to get myself in a bind, but what I intend to do for the next half hour, and I'll see if I can do it in 6 minutes, so get ready for a fast run through Scripture. It's going to be fast. We're going to tie all this together, because it still all fits. It's not way out in left field at all, but we're going to see the 7 Im's of Israel's need in the Old Testament, and compare it if we have time, with the 7 Im's that Jesus claimed to be in the Book of John. So we've got to look up 14 references in 6 minutes. That's a reference every 30 seconds isn't it? Let's start back in Genesis chapter 20. Genesis 22, and here we have the account of the ram caught in the thicket, and he didn't have to kill Isaac after all. When Abraham realized that the Sovereign God provided the sacrifice in verse 14 of Genesis 22, Abraham called the name of that place, Jehovah Jireh. As it is said to this day, in the mount of the LORD it shall be seen. Jehovah Jireh meant, I am your provider. Remember Jehovah contracted is the I Am. I Am your provider, that's what Jireh means in the Hebrew. Next one is Exodus chapter 15, and they have just come out of Egypt with all of their pagan diseases. Now the Lord says, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and do what thou hast right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee which I have brought upon the Egyptians. For I am the LORD of Jehovah that healeth thee, and in the Hebrew it was Jehovah Rapha. Next one is Exodus chapter 17, and here they have just defeated the Amalekites when Her and Aaron held up Moses' arms. Then Moses built an altar, and he called the name of it Jehovah Nissi, which means, I am your banner. Next one is in Judges 6.24, and it's the account of Gideon when he had defeated the armies that were about to destroy Israel. And after Gideon had destroyed the enemy in chapter 6, then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and he called it Jehovah Shalom. You all know what Shalom means, peace. And translated it's in the Hebrew, I am your peace. Meeting every need now of the nation of Israel. Next one is Psalms 23.1 where we read it as, The LORD is my shepherd. The Hebrew would read it Jehovah Raph, if I'm not mistaken, and it's the LORD is my shepherd. I don't believe I'm going to make it. Here again Jeremiah is looking forward to the Kingdom, and in verse 6 he writes, In his days Judah shall be saved, Israel shall dwell safely, and this is his name, whereby he shall be called the LORD our righteousness. In Hebrew it would be Jehovah Sidkenu. Then the last one in the Old Testament is Ezekiel 48. Now this is the Kingdom, they are all set, and it was around 18,000 measures, that is this New Temple. And the name of the city from that day shall be Jehovah Shammah. In other words, I am there. Now that concludes the seven I Am's intrinsic to Israel's need in the Old Testament. Now we've got a minute left, let's try John. In John chapter 6, and there are seven I Am's again, just like there were seven in the Old Testament, there are seven in the book of John. The first one is in John's Gospel, chapter 6 verse 35, where he says, I am the bread of life. The next one is in chapter 8 verse 12, I am the light of the world. Chapter 10 verse 7, I am the door of the sheep. Chapter 11 verse 25, I am the resurrection and the life. Chapter 15, I am the true vine. Now that's seven I Am's in John's Gospel. Then you get to the book of Revelation chapter 22, you have the eighth one, the New Beginnings, I am the bright and morning star. Night is past, eternal day is coming. Les Feldick Ministries, Route 1, Box 760, Kinta, Oklahoma, 74552. That's Route 1, Box 760, Kinta, Oklahoma, 74552. Through the Bible with Les Feldick is viewer supported, and your gift is appreciated. Thank you, and be sure to tune in next time for Through the Bible.