Key Scripture:  “God replied, “I AM THE ONE WHO ALWAYS IS. Just tell them, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ “God also said, “Tell them, ‘The LORD, the God of your ancestors — the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob — has sent me to you.’ This will be my name forever; it has always been my name, and it will be used throughout all generations” (Exodus 3:14-15, NLT).

• He is the God of the generations.
• He is the God that always is.
• He is “I AM THAT I AM.” This is derived from the Hebrew “Yahweh” or “Jehovah.” This expression indicates action.
• Inbuilt in the title or name is the promise of the presence of God being with His people on a daily basis.
• God is present everywhere, and absent from nowhere.
• God is self-existent, self-sufficient, and therefore all-sufficient.

The God that Always Is!

“The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus…You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead” (Acts 3:13-15, NIV). This Scripture refers to Jesus as the very author of life. It also confirms that God is the God of the generations. He is God from Abraham all the way through the ages to us. We are Abraham’s seed (Galatians 3:29).

Notice the past, present and future tenses used in the following verses. These prove that He always is (there) for us.

David was assured victory now because God had proven Himself in the past. He could confidently come against the giant in the name of the Lord God. “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you” (1 Samuel 17:37, NIV).

Paul testified that God had delivered him in the past, still delivers today, and will continue to deliver tomorrow. “He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers” (2 Corinthians 1:9-11, NIV).

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8). Jesus is the same past, present, and future. He is never-changing in an ever-changing world. We can count on Him to be there, and to help us (when we obey His commands).

Jesus was merely thirty-three years old, or was He? The pious religious onlookers assumed that Jesus had not reached fifty years old, and sarcastically asked “Have you seen Abraham” (John 8:57).  “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58).

Jesus is the “Alpha and Omega.” Listen to how the Living Bible puts it. “I am the A and the Z, the Beginning and the Ending of all things,” says God, who is the Lord, the All Powerful One who is, and was, and is coming again!”   (Revelation 1:8, TLB).  He is the beginning and ending, and is there in between. He is the all—powerful—one. He is omnipotent. He is one! Hope you noticed the past, present, and future tenses utilized in this verse. He is. He was. He is to come.

·         None like Him (Deuteronomy 32:39).

·         No God like Him (Isaiah 46:9).

·         No God beside Him (2 Samuel 7:22).

·         No God above Him nor is there any beneath (Joshua 2:11).

·         None before Him and none after Him (Isaiah 43:10).

·         None other than Him (Mark 12:32).

·         The Lord He is God and there is none else (1 Kings 8:60).

No wonder the Nigerians sing, “I have a very big God-o! He’s always by my side.”

·         He’s God in my past protecting me.

·         He’s God in my present leading me.

·         He’s God in my future, waiting on me, yet He’s never moved.

·         He created all things and He owns everything yet He purchased you and me.

The God that Is Always There

He is the God that always is. He is always there wherever I am.

• God is before His people (Micah 2:13).
• God is behind His people (Psalm 139:5).
• God is above His people (Deuteronomy 33:12).
• God is beneath His people (Isaiah 40:11).
• God is around His people (Psalm 125:2).
• God is with His people (Matthew 1:23).
• God is in the midst of His people (Isaiah 12:6).
• God is in His people (1 Corinthians 3:16).

When Jesus was born He was called Emmanuel meaning “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). See Isaiah 7:14; 9:6. He also called Himself “I am” (John 4:26; 6:35; 8:12; 10:7; 10:11; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1).

“O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my every thought when far away. You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD. You both precede and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to know! I can never escape from your spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the place of the dead, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.  I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night — but even in darkness I cannot hide from you” (Psalms 139:1-12, NLT).

Concluding Promises

“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).

“And he said, Certainly I will be with thee” (Exodus 3:12). “Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20, NLT).