God Is In The Present....Are You?

God Is in the Present. Are You?

Tired of regret and fear? God wants you to know Him in the present tense.

 

Do you find yourself living in memories, imaginations, and fears more than in the current moment? As Warren Wiersbe writes, “My past may discourage me and my future may frighten me, but ‘the life I now live’ today can be enriching and encouraging because ‘Christ lives in me.’” In Jesus in the Present Tense, Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe explores the “I AM” statements of God—from His burning bush conversation with Moses, to His powerful reassurances to the Israelites, to Jesus’ startling claim to be the Light of the World. Jesus in the Present Tense offers a fresh exploration of God—the I AM.

 

God doesn’t want us to ignore the past, but the past should be a rudder to guide us and not an anchor to hold us back. Nor does He want us to neglect planning for the future, so long as we say, “If it is the Lord’s will” (James 4:13-17). The better we understand our Lord’s I AM statements, and by faith apply them, the more our strength will equal our days (Deut. 33:25), and we will “run and not grow weary [and]…walk and not be faint” (Isa. 40:31). We will abide in Christ and bear fruit for His glory today—now.

 

In nine places in the Old Testament, the Lord “filled out” or “completed” the name I AM to reveal more fully His divine nature and His gracious ministry to His people.

 

·         Yahweh-Jire – The Lord who provides (Genesis 22:14)

·         Yahweh-Rophe – The Lord who heals (Exodus 15:26)

·         Yahweh-Nissi – The Lord our banner (Exodus 17:15)

·         Yahweh- M’Kaddesh – The Lord who sanctifies (Leviticus 20:8)

·         Yahweh-Shalom – The Lord our peace (Judges 6:24)

·         Yahweh-Rohi – The Lord our shepherd (Psalm 23:1)

·         Yahweh-Sabaoth – The Lord of hosts (Psalm 46:7)

·         Yahweh-Tsidkenu – The Lord our righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6)

·         Yahweh-Shammah – The Lord is there (Ezekiel 48:35)

 

Many Christians find themselves mired in past regrets or future fears, but the name of God itself reminds them that God wants us to live in the present. The more we understand and apply God’s I AM statements from the Old and New Testaments, the more we will realize God’s peace and joy. Then we will be free to live, serve, and know God more richly in the present tense—which is just where He wants us to be.

 

About the Author: Dr. Warren Wiersbe is an internationally known Bible teacher and the former pastor of The Moody Church in Chicago. For ten years he was associated with the Back to the Bible radio broadcast, first as Bible teacher and then as general director. Dr. Wiersbe has written more than 160 books, including the popular “Be” series of Bible commentaries, which has sold more than four million copies. He and his wife, Betty, live in Lincoln, NE.