 We went ancient on the names of God series with the story of Ezekiel. We found an obscure name for God, actually only used once in the final verse of the book of Ezekiel: Yahweh ShammahWe know that "Yahweh" is the name God gave Himself as the "I am that I am" or self-existing one. What is this "Shammah" part? It's a simple meaning really: "God (or Yahweh) Is There." In it's context, this name-- God Is There --is overwhelming! A quick recap of the prophet Ezekiel's perspective will bring this to light. Ezekiel saw the physical presence/manifestation of God Almighty in the temple in Jerusalem. Ezekiel grieved as he watched the presence of God leave that place as well. He spoke of the current and coming judgement and exile of the Nation of Israel. Ezekiel 37 outlines the "dry bones vision" where Israel is "resurrected." In the next couple of chapters (Ezek. 38-39) he foresees Israel in being in the Promised Land (which happened in 1948). At the end of Ezekiel (chapters 42-48) God asks them to build a magnificent temple in Jerusalem. The details are many and we know that "Ezekiel's temple" has never been built. It's coming at some point! As Ezekiel closes out his prophecy of the future temple, he concludes with this final statement -- Yahweh Is There! What a Hope and Confidence! As Ezekiel saw God leave...he can see a day when God's Powerful Presence is back in the Temple. We then talked about the reality that God is going to fulfill that promise to Israel, but He has also blessed us by bringing His presence to earth in the Messiah-- Jesus! Beyond that He started an insurgency by giving His presence, in the person of the Holy Spirit to all of Jesus' disciples! Although there is a promise Ezekiel shares with us for Israel that will be a FUTURE reality, we know that Jesus made a promise of sending the Holy Spirit to us as a PRESENT reality! Jesus said, "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (the Holy Spirit), that He may be with you forever." (John 14:16 NASB)God Is HERE! We invite you listen to Pastor Phil share this powerful story online | 
