I AM Changes i am: Victorious Overcomer

For everyone born of God overcomes the world.  This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.  Who is it that overcomes the world?  Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

I John 5:4-5

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ... 2 Corinthians 2:14

I am a victorious overcomer!

I’m looking at these verses, staring at the word “AM” and feeling completely befuddled.  Am is a present tense word.  The verses don’t promise me someday.  They don’t declare me to be in progress.   The word means in the now, right here, this minute.  Scripture tells me that my God is a Victorious Warrior, and, as a result, I am, as well.  This is not true.  I may have had some occasional rare glimpses of possibility, but nah, I am not an overcomer. 

Not long ago, I sat at a church dinner held in honor of a group of young men from the Sudan.  These boys, after watching their parents shot down in front of them, and their homes burned to the ground, marched across their massive country on foot, traveling mostly by night, journeying to freedom.  In spite of wild animal attacks, lack of food and fresh water, unmarked roads, rough terrain, weather difficulties, no maps, and no adult leadership, they kept going until they crossed into Kenya and found hope, and new life, in a refugee camp (you can Google the story of the Lost Boys of Sudan and read their story in full).  They deserve the title “overcomer.”  My blessed life pales in the arena of steadfastness, patience, and joyous thanksgiving these true overcomers exemplified.

Yet, as I dig a little deeper into the Biblical definition of “victorious” and “overcomer,” I think I’ve discovered something.  There is a problem with my perception.  I look at victory through the lens of the world, rather than through the eyes of God.  For some reason, his view is much different.  How do I know?  I recently re-read the story of Gideon (Judges 6 & 7).

Gideon, in my eyes (or as the rest of the world might view him), is a wimp.   Hands down.  If I had a picture dictionary, his face would be the one I’d expect to see next to the word fraidy-cat (in his defense, my picture could be an alternate).   During the days of Gideon, the Midianites ferociously cornered the Israelites.  They frequently attacked, destroying their livelihood, their crops, and their livestock.   God came looking for a man he could use to lead Israel out of bondage, and for some reason, he picked Gideon.  He found Gideon, busy beating out wheat…in a wine press.  In other words, Gideon, hoping to avoid conflict, hid in a place where he would be least expected.  I don’t think I’d really want to be found hiding when God came looking for me, but…back to the story.  I rather expected the Lord’s greeting to be a bit stern, but just goes to show I neither know God well enough, nor respond like him.  God’s greeting to this fatalist?  “The Lord is with you, O valiant warrior!”  Seriously?  Yep, the Lord saw something, I sure didn’t. 

What was it?  Since Gideon is listed in Hebrews 11 as one of God’s heroes of faith, I reckon that’s it.  In spite of the fear, in spite of hiding in the shadows, the Lord saw a glimmer of something capable of growth:  a faith that would result in obedience.  What caused Gideon to turn the corner?  There in a wine press, he saw a big God, who promised to be with him.  In response, Gideon did a little evaluating – if he had God-with-him, what good were the idols to whom his people had been clinging?  So, he tore them down.  Once the idols were removed, Gideon was free for the Spirit of God to come upon him.  The rest is history…

Maybe I could turn a corner, too.  Being a valiant warrior doesn’t mean an absence of fear, it means having the presence of God (Emmanuel, God with us – Christ in me, the hope of glory).  Being a valiant warrior doesn’t mean having all the right experiences, it means destroying all the wrong relationships with the “other gods” to whom I pay allegiance.  Being a valiant warrior doesn’t mean I’m capable, it means I’m available…WHEN…

So, I feel qualified to stand by the Gideons of this world and boldy declare that I am, indeed, a valiant warrior, even now, simply because God has promised me his presence, I’m learning to identify and tear down idols in the way, and stand (not, necessarily fearless) but available for when he calls.

I AM changes i am: in Him!

Ephesians 1:3.  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Ephesians 1:4.  For He chose us in him…

Ephesians 1:11.  In him we were also chosen…

Ephesians 1:13.  Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 2:6.  And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ.

Ephesians 2:13.  But now in Christ you who once were far away have been brought near….

Ephesians 2:18.  For in him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

Colossians 2:9.  For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ…

Colossians 2:10.  In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ.

 Read the Scriptures above carefully.  What is the common two-word phrase you read in every verse?  Now complete the following affirmation:

I am ­_______ Christ!  (This is your “affirmation” for today, which you should write on another 3 X 5 card.) 

To attempt to define this is almost impossible.  So, let’s try illustrating it (to do this little object lesson, you'll need paper and some laminating paper, or clear contact paper).

On a piece of paper, draw a picture of yourself – you can be as fancy as you want – or as sketchy as you want.  Oh, we can’t forget that in John 15, Jesus also says that He is in us.  So, put Jesus (really His Holy Spirit) inside the picture of you.  Since you are “in him,” but we can’t see him – put the picture you have drawn inside some laminating paper, or clear contact paper.  Seal it tightly.  Now, do one more thing.  Also, in John 15, Jesus says that He is “in the Father.”  So, everything you have done thus far needs to be inside another piece of laminating paper.  Seal it tightly. 

Take a close look at what you have made.  Reflect on what it means to be “in Him.”  What would change about you if you really understood and believed this concept?

I AM changes i am: royalty!

In love, He predestined us to be adopted as His children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will… (Ephesians 1:5)  To those who have received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12).  For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of Sonship, and by Him we cry, “Abba – daddy!”  The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.  Now if we are children, then we are heirs of God and coheirs with Christ (Romans 8:15-17).

Have you ever traveled to a third world country and seen the hundreds of children who live on the streets – hungry, dirty, many without family or home?  These nameless faces are a perfect portrait of who I was without Christ.  However, the Son of God chose to leave His heavenly home to come and open his arms for any child willing to be embraced. Believe me, I longed for that relationship. I was adopted – given a home and a family – a place to belong!  Not just any family, mind you, the family of the KING!  Now, I am a daughter, a child, of the King.  All the rights of a natural born child are mine.  I am royalty!  There were no conditions to be fulfilled – the offer was simply made to “all” who would come...and I came! Oh, there was a price that had to be paid, of course, and the Son paid the redemption fee. The payment was steep – He had to give up his own life, so I could step into His Father’s embrace.  This is unfathomable to me as a mom, but the Father agreed; and so the real Son died in order that I could have this home, this family, a new identity, and a new life. 

Think further.  Can you just imagine what a fearsome thing it is to live orphaned, abandoned, and hungry on the streets?  Street children don’t live long lives.  They are prey to every imaginable predator – evil people, disease, famine/starvation, animals, and natural elements (to name just a few).  Street children live a life of uncertainty, insecurity, and hopelessness.  Fear is their constant companion.  They are a slave to fear.  But when the king chooses to adopt, he sends fear running.  In his house, there is no fear, because his perfect love casts it out (1 John 4:18).  This analogy works for me, too!  Without Jesus, I, too, am a slave to fear and insecurity.  What a gift!  I am given not just eternal life, but innumerable gifts meant to set me free...

What an Abba!  What a daddy!

Reflect...

1)    If you were like one of those dirty street children (which you were) what was your life like on the streets?

2)    If you were one of those children, what is your new life like as a child of the King – as royalty?

3)    If you were one of those children, what do you think about this new life?

4)    If you were one of those children, do you desire to give all this up and go back to live on the streets again?  Why or why not?

5)    How does this relate to your “identity” in Christ as a child of the King of Kings…

Add these truths to your ever growing list:

I am a ­­­child of God.  I have a daddy who is pleased with me.

I am an heir of God, a coheir with Christ.  The inheritance of the Kingdom is mine.

I am no longer a slave to fear.

I AM changes i am: chosen

For He (God) chose us to be in Him (Jesus) before the creation of the world to be Holy and Blameless in His sight. (Ephesians 1:4)

That word “chosen” absolutely amazes me.  Growing up, I was rarely chosen for anything.  I knew what it was like to be “unchosen” – especially when it came to sports.  As a little girl, I wore big clunky shoes with braces fitted in them, because my feet were “broken.”  At least that was my perspective. So, I didn’t participate in athletics the way a lot of kids did growing up.  So, at recess or gym class, whenever a game began, team captains were awarded the honors of picking their teams.  Remember what that was like?  We all lined up, and one by one they chose their teammates.  Everyone knew that the last couple remaining were the worst ever players in the whole wide world.  The one who wasn’t picked was even worse than the worst, and most of the times, their names weren’t ever called.  They just walked, head hanging to the other side. Let’s just say, I understand how it feels to not be picked. 

But, God chose me.  He chose you.  Not only did He choose us, but He hand-picked us before He ever created the world.  At that time, when the earth was without form and void, He knew your name (Isaiah 43:2, “I call you by name.”  I don’t understand it.  Yet out of all the people who would be born, somehow, He knew my heart.  He knew your heart, and looked inside of you, and said, “I pick ­­­­­­­­­­­­­__________ (here'’ where you insert your name) to be holy and blameless.”  That is how He sees you…  That is who you are – a blameless and holy creation.  After some consideration of this fact, I wrote the following poem.  I pray the meaning of being a chosen one becomes much clearer to you:

It’s hard to see

Why God chose me
Before the world began
But He looked in my heart and set me apart
And called me to be part of His plan.

Though I was crippled and lame,

Still forth He came-
His finger pointed at me.
“It’s you I choose,
Come, you’ve nothing to lose –
A part of my team, you’ll be.”

I looked around

There were others to be found
Much more worthy than I’d ever be.
“Lord, is it not a mistake?
There are others to take…
Look closer, I think  you’ll agree.”

I trembled with fear,

But His response was clear
As compassion filled His eyes.
“No mistake!  You’re my choice.”
My heart soared and rejoiced.
I felt humbled, uniquely prized.

Whom He calls – He justifies –

Justifies – glorifies.
He is for us!  We’re precious to Him.
Not one can charge us.
Not one can condemn us.
We’re transformed by His love within.

So faithful I’ll be,
To the One who chose me
Who sees me as nobody sees.
My heart I give.
My life to live,
To proclaim His excellencies!

(1 Peter 1:1-2, 1 Peter 2:9, Romans 8:29-33, Eph. 1:4)

 Well, grab a few more of those 3 X 5 cards.  It’s time to add to your “i am” statements.  Here they are:

1)       I am hand-picked by God, specially chosen.
2)      I am known by name.
3)      I am holy.
4)      I am blameless (more on these last two later).

 Spend a little time reflecting on these truths.  Sit with them. What do they really mean to you? 

I AM Changes i am: created with purpose

 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."   So God created man in his own image,
                        in the image of God he created him;
                                               male and female he created them.  (Genesis 1:26-27, ESV)

Year’s ago, The Who made popular a song we more recently know as the CSI theme song.  The refrain is fairly haunting, “Who Are You...Who? Who?”  The question crescendos with a scream, “I really want to know!” Even me!  I really want to know who I am; who God says we are.  I, too, want to have my theology match my reality.  So, as we begin start to dig into some identity truths, the best place to begin is at the beginning when God created the heaven’s and the earth... He didn’t just randomly decide to create.  God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit molded man with purpose and clothed him in dignity. 

It’s important to take note of a couple of Hebrew words that are used in this passage.  First, the word that’s been translated God is “Elohim – meaning more than one, but less than many.”  In the beginning was “Elohim,” the Trinity (Genesis 1:1).  The “three-in-one” fellowshipped together in perfect unity.  They certainly didn’t NEED human beings, but Elohim created man because they desired to (Rev. 4:11).  Someone has said that we were created out of the Holy “Us of God” – out of fellowship for fellowship.

The second important word is the word translated image.  This word (tselem) means “a likeness; a resemblance; not an exact replication or duplication, but a shadow of the original.”  We were created to reflect the nature of God.  That’s exactly what Isaiah 43:7 says, “Everyone who is called by my name; whom I created for my glory.”  To give something glory simply means to reflect that one’s character.  We aren’t meant to be a perfect copy, but a representation of… 

These two critical components of this one verse tell me two things about “who you are”:

1)    It pleased God to create you! In fact, He knew He was going to make you before you were even a thought in your mother’s mind; from the beginning of time you were in His plan.  He knew what you would be like, the things you’d do and exactly who you would become – and still, the God of the Universe was pleased to bring you into this world.  You are His heart’s desire.

2)    You were created with a purpose in mind – to be an image-bearer of the Lord.  Think about that for a moment.  That’s a pretty grand purpose in light of whom you are representing.

3)    You were created to fellowship with the Deity.  The three-in-one enjoyed each other so much, they wanted more...and you were chosen! 

Here’s a little assignment.  Grab some 3 X 5 cards.  Write the following identity truths on them:

1. I am His heart’s desire…
2. I have an important reason for being alive – a master-plan purpose!
3. I am created to be an image-bearer of the Lord!
4. God longs to fellowship with me (His want-to is intimacy with his creation).

Now, pull those cards out regularly.  Read them carefully (when you can, read them aloud; maybe even shout them out loud, so it cements them in  your heart).  At the least, say them convincingly.  Allow your mind to engage your heart with what you are saying. Write about them in your journal.  Tell the Lord what comes to your mind in regards to these two thoughts – Now, share these truths with someone else who needs to hear them (I’m sure you can find someone!)…

I AM changes i am

Three weeks ago, I began a series I was titling “The Other Side.”  My thinking was to reflect on what it is like to be on the other side of things we hear talked about as Christians.  For example, what if we’re the one wanting to be forgiven, instead of the one who needs to forgive?  What if we’re the receiver of hurtful words, not the one who must learn to guard our tongue?  However, in light of the start of a new school year, and a new chapel theme at Arizona Christian, where I work part time, I am going to put that series on hold.  Our theme at ACU this year is “I AM changes i am.”  #transform. 

In June of 2011, I felt led to purposely look at the ‘I AM’ statements of Jesus.  Even then, we discovered, that A (if I truly understand WHO HE IS) + B (who i am because of WHO HE IS) = (then) C (I will live confidently in my identity).  So, if you feel so inclined, you can go back to those blogs for a refresher.  However, in light of our new theme, and a conversation I had with a student this week, my goal is to dig more deeply into the concept of who I am, really, in Jesus.  It seems all of us struggle with living out of our true identity.  The student I met with this week has head knowledge, just like all of us...but she struggles with the “how” part of the living out - the place where reality is met with her theology.  As we start this series, I begin with a note and a challenge I wrote her:                                                                                       

Good morning,

I’ve been thinking about our conversation this week.  I’m not trying to force any “Aha” moments, where all of a sudden you just “get” the how of victory in Jesus. I do, however, pray that you can begin to believe the very things God believes about you (no matter what your “feelings” might say).  Somehow these truths need to get from your head down into your heart. I’ve wondered what is blocking that from happening.

The most interesting truth struck me today as I was reading Mark 6:5-6.  Basically, without writing out the verses, it says that Jesus could not do any miracles in his hometown.  Why?  What limited him?  What held him back from doing what he was doing everywhere else?  Verse six holds the key, “He was amazed at their lack of faith.”  Their unbelief limited God’s ability to work in the life of the very people he had come to help.  Think about that.  Just a question for you – could the victory you are seeking be blocked by this very thing - faith?

Of course, even our faith, Scripture tells us, is a gift of God.  It is not anything we can “work up.”  So, how do we increase that faith, which will help bring victory into reality?  My mind went first to the story revealed in the gospels about the healing of the young boy from an evil spirit.  Jesus words to the man seemed a bit harsh, “If you can?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.”  Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief (Mark 9:23-24).”  First key to increasing our faith is prayer for God’s favor.  It’s OK to ask for the gift of faith.  It should be a regular prayer request.

I also remembered the passage in Romans 10.  “Faith comes from hearing and hearing from the Word of Christ (17).”  Second key is continual exposure to Scripture.  Freedom is found in the truth (John 8:32).

So, let’s pray for an increase of faith, together...and let’s explore the Scriptural truths about our identity.  As we do this “work” – we may be overwhelmingly surprised at the miracle of freedom.

The Other Side: Of Hurtful Words, 2

Last week we started to look at Proverbs 26:2 and the relationship between this passage and hurtful words without cause:

Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow to its flying, so a curse without cause does not come to nest (Proverbs 26:2).

This passage actually gives us a terrific word picture.  One meant to illustrate how we should respond when we’re on the “other side” of wounding words.  Words, which we can’t seem to un-do the damage of, because we keep re-living them.  Words that were meant to cut deeply – and did!  Words, that after evaluation, didn’t hold any merit, were nothing more than empty, wasted air, except that their arrow struck deep into our hearts and minds.  They absolutely hit the mark. 

Here’s the illustration.  The passage wants us to picture a small bird looking for a place to nest.  However, for one reason or another, the bird can’t find a resting place.  Instead of settling in on the branch of some tree, it can’t stop flitting from place to place. 

Words without cause need to be treated just like those birds.  Instead of offering them a branch on the tree of our heart, shoo them away; and, for heaven’s sake, don’t build them a bird house and put out seed each morning (instead, you might consider putting up a scare crow…).  In other words, don’t keep mentally going back over the conversation.  Quit picking at the scab and opening the wound.  What a waste of good energy that could be used for Kingdom work.  That’s why the enemy keeps shooting those words on fiery darts into the battlefield of your mind.  He knows how distracting dwelling on our own hurts can be!  The sage of Proverbs is trying to give us a soothing salve of healing help – wisdom for wise living.  In contrast, continuing to live in the pain of past conversations is considered foolishness.  Oh, how I don’t want to be foolish!

In case that word picture isn’t enough, Solomon gives us another one a little further down in the chapter:  As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool returns to his folly. (Proverbs 26:11).  Seriously, does that not gross you out?  Well, so should returning over and over again to the words without cause that we let disturb us – over and over and over again.  When we do; we are that dog! Ick!

I’m a visual person.  So, this morning in my journal, I jotted down some words I’ve recently heard spoken in reference to me.  I sat with them for a bit.  What I needed to confess, I’ve confessed and given back to Jesus to cleanse.  I’ve sincerely written a thank you note to the person who helped me see correcting truth.  However, there are other words, which have gotten back to me, that really don’t hold water.  On those words, I drew wings, and I’ve sent them on their way. 

So, if you’re in that same place, I encourage you, some words you gotta just “let fly away…”  Now, back to Kingdom work!