The Great I Am

Living as a disciple of Christ is a wildly amazing journey! Though exciting and blessed, at times it involves a great deal of suffering. In those heated moments of trial, it sometimes seems like our life is on fire, with difficulty happening all around us. Several years ago, I endured a fiery season experiencing a series of denial letters from potential employers, financial hardship and what seemed like an endless amount of difficulties. But it was in that season of trial that I was reminded of the familiar story of Moses and the burning bush. When God called out to Moses, He used that which was on fire to reveal His identity, I AM WHO I AM. And although the bush was on fire, it was not consumed. In my season of trial, I learned something vital: that the goodness of God's character is infinite. I experienced His direction in the unknown, provision through the wilderness, strength in times of weakness, and everlasting love each day. Similarly to the burning bush, that fiery season was not meant to consume me, but to show me a greater revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ. For this I'm grateful because for me there is truly nothing greater than knowing Jesus. God's wonderfully infinite and mysterious character demands that we follow Him daily in order to know Him more. Because He yearns to give us a deeper revelation of Himself, He gets our attention in ways both dramatic and subtle. He is often best seen in times of suffering. The Great I Am is a devotional providing daily whispers from God's Word, revealing Who He is, what He is doing, and how He is exactly Whom and what we need Him to be. For anyone desiring to know God more personally, The Great I Am provides biblical insight on the invaluable treasure of our personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Who is Jesus Christ? These fourteen chapters answer that question in his own words: I AM the light of the world... I AM the way, the truth and the life... I AM the Good Shepherd... I AM the alpha and the omega... Why a book on the I AM sayings of Jesus? Because so much of our religious emphasis today focuses on "feeling more fulfilled..." or "improving our relationships with others." While these are important and have their place in our discussions, this book puts the emphasis on the place of God in our lives. The questions are practical: What shall I believe? What shall I do? And so Lavin writes for the people in the pews as well as for their pastors. When Ron Lavin preaches it is close to the ground, relevant for the right now, absent of high-sounding theological verbiage, and reveals a big pastor's heart. Read the book for exhilarating ideas for your own preaching, digest the book one chapter at a time to gain a better understanding of what it means to be a follower of Christ in these turbulent, fast changing '90s. Prepare To Be Impressed. Jerry L. Schmalenberger, President Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary Ronald J. Lavin is senior pastor of King of Glory Lutheran Church in Fountain Valley, California: He is an active, dynamic preacher and public speaker, conducting workshops and seminars in the areas of church growth and small group development throughout the western United States. He has served on boards of directors for LCA and ELCA national committees and seminaries. He is well-known for pastoring two congregations that have increased between 1,000 and 2,000 in membership during his tenure. He is the author of ten books (seven published by CSS) and numerous articles.

"I Am The Great I Am" is unique as it is written in the voice of God. In this book, He tells in detail how He revealed the answer to the number 666 to His messenger, the Angel of Philadelphia. "I Am The Great I Am" also contains answers to other mysteries found in the book of Revelation such as the new name, the white stone, the key of David and the identity of the man with the number 666. After reading this profound book, you will have no doubt there is a God and that He indeed is love.

Throughout history mankind has sought to prove his identity in his quest to find out the origins of his existance, going as far as to create for himself man-made diety / Gods in order to worship. This book will uncover in great detail the One True and Living God, who His name is, and the origin / creation of the Humankind creation. It is a readable book that allows its readers to follow along as well as bring them a vast array of new and valuable understanding about a God who loves them and has always been concerned for their well being and happiness. So take this journey into the heart and mind of the Creator-God as he reveals Himself to His creation.

Did you know that God has a divine name? He told Moses, "This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations." So what happened? Why do most people only know God by his titles of God, Father, and Lord, instead of by his true name? What happened to the command that God was to be remembered by his name for all generations? What you will realize is that the Israelites referred to God by his true name from the time God his name to Moses until the silent years, the time between the Old Testament and New Testament. Discover the mystery of why God's name went missing, along with the Ark of the Covenant, Sacred Fire, Shekinah Glory, Spirit of Prophecy, and the Urim and Thummim. What did these elements all have in common? What you will find out is they were all communication tools that God used to speak to his people. He took them away, hoping his children would long to hear his voice, so that when his Son Jesus came into the world they would be ready to finally listen. Take a journey with me through the history of God's divine name and discover how God has communicated with his children throughout the ages and how he continues to speak to us today. What you will discover is that with God's name comes EVERYTHING!

The author would take his readers on a ride from the Self-Revelation of the I-AM that the Lord God is with Moses, through King David, to the I-AM of the Messiah of Israel and of the Incarnation, and to the I-AM of the Dogma of the Church as the People of God. It is argued that the Grace and Truth of the Lord God cannot rightly be grasped in all of their depth in the world without becoming able to integrate both the continuity and the discontinuities of this Revelation with us, even in our own times.

Adversity is inevitable. Life guarantees it and the Bible confirms it. Chonda Pierce, Michael W. Smith, and other recognized Christians reveal times when adversity became an invitation from the Great I Am to know Him more.