Nutrient 1 – Identity

The Intention of This Nutrient:

There are times when life can hit you so hard that you forget who you are. We are made in the image of God. Therefore, on the salvation journey, we must know who God is as we are looking to Him for salvation, guidance, and direction. Whether you are beginning your spiritual journey, or you are already on the journey, the nutrient of identity is a critical component to strength and growth. It is critical to gain and sustain an understanding of who God is and of who we are in Him.

At some carnivals and events, they have an attraction called a funhouse mirror. In this attraction, you would walk into a space full of mirrors. Parts of these mirrors are curved or tilted, which creates a distorted reflection. Therefore, when you look at the mirrors, the mirrors reflect a distorted view of yourself. Some of these mirrors may make you seem far too tall or far too short. Some may make you seem much wider or much thinner than you are. There are situations in life that occur where we can find ourselves in spaces or circumstances that cause us to see a distortion of who we truly are. We can know that we are more than a conqueror. But we can have a defeated thought that turns into a defeated belief and emotion. We can know that we are forgiven and that we have mercy. But we can go through a season where the reflection we see in our actions and behaviors are riddled with guilt and shame.

This nutrient is intended to establish our understanding of who we serve. By increasing our knowledge of who we serve, we will understand the image in which we were created. We will know who has our back. As the Bible says, “if God be for you, then who can be against you.”

Identity

1 John 5:7 states, “For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.” This scripture is referring to the trinity-God, the father; Jesus, the Son (the Word); and the Holy Spirit. John 1:1 states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” John 1:14 makes it clear that Jesus is the “Word”. It says, “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” God and Jesus were there from the beginning. When man sinned in the Garden of Eden, he was to be separated from God forever. However, being the merciful God that He is, He sent His only begotten son into the sin-filled Earth to offer the perfect sacrifice so that we might be reconciled to Him. After Jesus died on the cross and rose again, there was a need for man to be able to exemplify the same power and the same assurance that Jesus possessed. Therefore, Jesus said in John 14, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name. He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” Acts 1:8 states, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the Earth.”

I Am Who I Am

Foundational Scripture

Exodus 3: 1-14. Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So, he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. 3 Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.” 4 So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” 6 Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God. 7 And the Lord said: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. 8 So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites. 9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 So He said, “I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.” 13 Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” 

There are many descriptions in the Bible of who God is. In Exodus 3, God appears to Moses and commissions him to deliver the people from slavery in Egypt. In verse 13 Moses asks God, “who shall I say sent me?” In verse 14 God replied, “I am who I am.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, I am has sent me to you.” In this one simple phrase God expresses His permanence. God does not change.

God knew that Moses was going to face Pharaoh, a king who expects all who come in contact with him to bow down and serve him. Pharaoh was used to people compromising and falling in line with his commands. However, God stated, “I am who I am.” There is no compromise. Once God speaks a word, He is faithful to perform it. Despite adversity, He is God. On the mountaintop, He is God. In the valley, He is God. In times of chaos, He is God. In times of peace, He is God. Early in the morning, He is God. Late in the midnight hour, He is God. He is who He is.

We must also be consistent. Come what may, we must be children of God. We must take the stand, “I am who I am. Though you may talk about me, I am who I am. Though you may mistreat me, I am who I am. Though you may lie on me, I am who I am. Though everyone else might go in a different direction, I am who I am. Regardless of the situation or circumstance, I AM WHO I AM! I am like a tree that is planted by the water. I shall not be moved. For I have a God who is a sustainer. I have a God that will hold my hand. I have a God that will help me to stand. My God does not change. He is who he is! So, despite what I may go through: despite what I may face, I can “hold to God’s unchanging hand.”

His Name Shall Be Called

Foundational Scripture

Isaiah 9:2-6. The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined. 3 You have multiplied the nation and increased its joy; They rejoice before You According to the joy of harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. 4 For You have broken the yoke of his burden and the staff of his shoulder, The rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian. 5 For every warrior’s sandal from the noisy battle, and garments rolled in blood, Will be used for burning and fuel of fire. 6 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:2-6 is another scripture passage that identifies who God is. This scripture is mainly speaking of the birth of Jesus Christ. However, as stated in John 1:1, Jesus was there in the beginning of time. Before He was made into flesh, He existed in the heavenly realm.

He is the Light (verse 2) - In Isaiah 9:2 the Bible refers to Jesus as a light. When in sin, we are in a world of darkness. We do not see clearly. We are lost. Isaiah 59:9 speaks of this sinful state. It states, “Therefore justice is far from us; we look for light but there is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in blackness.” But God is a merciful God. In Isaiah 60:1-3, it states, “Arise, shine for the light is come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold the darkness shall cover the Earth and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.” Jesus is our light. For His word is a “lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.” John 1:4-5 states, “In Him was life and the life was the light of men....