Vineyard Church | Weekly Update May 7th, 2025

Hi Vineyard fam, 

He is… Our new sermon series, which began this past Sunday, dives into the seven profound I AM statements made by Jesus in the Gospel of John. Building on the foundation set by our previous focus on the Gospel of Luke and its ties to the Ten Commandments, this study invites us to deepen our trust in Him and foster an intimate connection with His divine will.

Jesus using the statement “I AM” is a link to the way God introduced Himself to His creation in the Old Testament, and the way His creation described their meetings with him. I spoke of these in the sermon but have had several requests to make them available in another context, which is why I am writing rather than video-ing today. 

As you read through the names below, I would invite you to do so in a posture of prayer. Allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you about these names and consider how you might have known God in this way as you examine the path of your life. As we are introduced or re-introduced to who God is, we can begin to create or rehabilitate an image of the Father that leads to trust.

YHWH: The tetragrammaton (fancy word that means four letters) name of God given to Moses in Exodus 3.

YAHWEH-JIREH [yah-way-ji-reh]: "The Lord Will Provide" (Genesis 22:14) – the name spoken by Abraham when God provided the ram to be sacrificed in place of Isaac.

YAHWEH-RAPHA [yah-way-raw-faw]: "The Lord Who Heals" (Exodus 15:26) – “I am Jehovah who heals you” both in body and soul. In body, by preserving from and curing diseases, and in soul, by forgiving our sins.

YAHWEH-NISSI [yah-way-nee-see]: "The Lord Our Banner" (Exodus 17:15), The banner identifies a rallying place. This is where the commander is, where the center of the unit is, where encouragement comes from. 

YAHWEH-M'KADDESH [yah-way-meh-kad-esh]: "The Lord Who Sanctifies, Makes Holy" (Leviticus 20:8; Ezekiel 37:28). God makes it clear that He alone, not the law or our individual efforts, can cleanse His people and make them holy.

YAHWEH-SHALOM [yah-way-shah-lohm]: "The Lord Our Peace" (Judges 6:24) The name Gideon gives to the altar he built after the Angel of the Lord assured him, he would not die.

YAHWEH-TSIDKENU [yah-way-tzid-kay-noo]: "The Lord Our Righteousness” (Jeremiah 33:16). It is God alone who provides righteousness; ultimately in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ, who became sin for us “that we might become the Righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

YAHWEH-ROHI [yah-way-roh-hee]: "The Lord Our Shepherd" (Psalm 23:1). After David pondered his relationship as a shepherd to his sheep, he realized the nature of his relationship with God, and so he declares: “Yahweh-Rohi is my Shepherd. I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1).

YAHWEH-SHAMMAH [yah-way-sham-mahw]: "The Lord Is There” (Ezekiel 48:35). Our Father is a God who is present with us.   

YAHWEH-SABAOTH [yah-way-sah-bah-ohth]: "The Lord of Hosts" (Isaiah 1:24; Psalm 46:7). The name expresses the majesty, power, and authority of God and shows that He is able to accomplish what He determines to do.

We face this reality: To trust Him, we must know Him. Over the course of the next 7 weeks, Jesus will present His identity to us that will allow us to consider our trust in the one who calls us to put down our selfish ways, pick up the cross, and follow the path He created. It is this trust that allows us to pray our prayer for the series, from Father Tom Keating:

Welcome, welcome, welcome. 
I welcome everything that comes to me today, because I know it's for my healing. 
I welcome all thoughts, feelings, emotions, persons, situations, and conditions. 
I let go of my desire for power and control. 
I let go of my desire for affection, esteem, approval, and pleasure. 
I let go of my desire for survival and security. 
I let go of my desire to change any situation, condition, person, or myself. 
I open to the love and presence of God and God’s action within. Amen.

Adam Greenwell
Pastor
Billings Vineyard Chruch www.billingsvineyard.org