“I Am” is the Tetragrammaton; Jesus used the name “I am” 23 times in the gospels for himself, 7 of these are specifically stated to identify him in John's gospel which concentrates on His deity.

He says of himself I am the way; I am the bread; I am the life; it is not exercises in who he wants to become but who he is as the eternal one.

In Ex. 3:15 God said His name to Moses as, “I am who I am” eyeh asher eyeh, this is my name forever. Above all other names God wanted this to be remembered as His permanent name. In this context his name is Holy, not to be used in vain.

Both eyeh and the name Yahweh (from the tetragrammaton YHWH) have the root meaning of underived existence; eternally self- existent.

Meaning, what is true of His being before is true of Him today, He has no change from past to future. He exists in eternity, is the self- existing, self- sufficient one, the cause of all things, and …. He will be to you whatever you need (Ex.3:14-15) as you walk in faith and obedience. God supplies our needs in Christ Jesus.

Jesus applied the eternal name I AM with Old Testament types and symbols to himself. When Jesus attached an Old Testament example to “I AM” to himself, he was indicating His divinity, that He was what the OT spoke of and stated in John 8:24 "for if you do not believe that I am, you will die in your sins" (the word he was added by the translators).

Anyone with a smidgeon of Bible knowledge would know you do not take Gods name in vain.

His recently published book “The Power of ‘I Am'” two words that will change your life today. But these are not just words especially when drawn from the Bible.

Osteen’s new book has reached the pinnacle of audacity as he uses this phrase he is doing exactly what we are warned against, for he is using I Am, God’s covenant name for the betterment of self. Osteen is teaching this as a decree for self change.

Furthermore, what people do not realize is that these decree exercises are also found in occult literature and have the very intention of taking Gods Holy name.

Osteen has been teaching the secret that Oprah said “changed her life”: people become what they speak and believe.

You create the reality about yourself and are continuing to create it with the words to speak, which is standard word faith teaching, also has its practice from the occult. In nearly all occult systems words contain power, and when they are attached to a gods name they are even more powerful. An example of this is found in the New Age movement, Elizabeth Prophet’s church, where she taught “the scientific use of the mantra or the dynamic decree of the Word,” otherwise known as “the exercise of God's power according to the spoken Word” (Mark and Elizabeth Clare Prophet, The Lost Teachings of Jesus).

Osteen’s life is ruled confessions that he states can transform your destiny by changing what you say about yourself; what you say and repeat will become reality.

In his sermons this idea is clearly illustrated: Whatever follows “I am…” will find you.  That is, when you’re thinking of yourself and you’re assigning adjectives to who you are, bear in mind that those states will find you and define you.”  

John answered, saying to all, "I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Luke 3:16)

And what of the centurion who said, "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. (Matt 8:8). It was a right answer as Jesus honored his humility. Osteen teaches the opposite, boasting of results by these two words

According to Joel Osteen, we can apply his name to ourselves for transformation in our personality and have the world deliver to us success and prosperity.

This is not Christianity he is teaching for it is self-centered, narcissistic, self aggrandizing

This is his newest book which betrays whom he is serving and it certainly is not the “I AM” of the Bible of which is capitalized on the cover of his book. The Table of Contents makes it perfectly clear as I Am is capitalized and used: “I Am blessed”; I Am a magnet for blessings; I Am free: I Am valuable; I Am a Masterpiece; I Am content; I Am Secure; I Am victorious; I Am Prosperous; I Am focused; etc , etc ad nauseum.

He claims the I Am's coming out of your mouth will be your success or failure.
The power of I Am works through your entire day.  Most of the time we can or have use the power of I Am against us. He has made merchandise of Gods holy name.

“Alright just repeat after me. I am strong. I am healthy. I am confident. I am confident. I am secure. I am talented. I am creative. I am disciplined. I am focused. I am valuable. I am beautiful. I am blessed. I am excited about my future. I am victorious. Alright how about amen?”

Did the Apostles teach that if we repeat words we will become them, or that we are to surrender our lives to God’s will for each of us as individuals? Did the apostles teach that by repeating words we can create reality for ourselves? Then why did were they killed for the gospel? Did they confess it? The problem is that people who are confused and lost love the false prophets words of peace and prosperity, to be flattered instead of facing reality which may not always be what they want it TO BE.

Lev 19:12 'And you shall not swear by My name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the LORD.” When the Lord renewed his covenant he reminded Israel Deut. 5:11 'You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.”

Not only is he taking the Lords name in vain but is using it in a vain manner.

If you maintain a positive confession, good things will automatically come your way. The world is not your oyster that you make pearls from by speaking words.

Can two words give you the power to change your life? Osteen believes he has found a profound principle based on a simple truth.

Saying you are this or that with Gods holy name before it presumes that God will make you what you confess (or by some magic it happens)

Lam. 3:37-41 Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass, when the Lord has not commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that woe and well-being proceed? Why should a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? Let us search out and examine our ways, and turn back to the LORD;”

So, when you go through the day saying what you want, that is positive, and you will receive it; from who?

This affects the gospel in who Jesus is to be Lord over one’s life, not words we use drawn from his word as if this is some kind of incantation book. God has not said all these things about everyone, that is lie that is in the face of God who says look to him.

According to Osteen we cause good and bad from our confessions, decreeing words. If we take his line of thinking we are responsible for the terrorist attacks as well as anything that goes wrong.

Zech. 10:2 “For the idols speak delusion; the diviners envision lies, and tell false dreams; they comfort in vain. Therefore the people wend their way like sheep; they are in trouble because there is no shepherd.”

Shepherds lead sheep to true food for nourishment not weeds to eat that are poison. They do not bring them into their own deception.

Again, God will be to us what we need, and His will is involved for our individual lives. There is no cookie cutter confession way to make things take place. Least of all using Gods name attached to your own desires through the power of words.

Do you despise God’s Lordship over your life that you need to claim through words what you want in your life? This shows rebellion in your heart.

The power of I Am is in the God whom you surrender to. Stop using his eternal name for yourself as Osteen teaches and acknowledge Jesus as Lord and master of your life and you will become content, joyful and your heart will be at peace (Phillipians 4:11; 1Tim.6:8; Heb.13:5)