DO WE HAVE JOY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT?

       Do we have joy in the Holy Spirit? I’ll ask it again. Do you—do I—as Christians—have joy in the Holy Spirit?

     Paul wrote in Romans 14:17, “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” I have heard for years ABOUT the Holy Spirit—but do I really know the Holy Spirit and what impact He has in my life to lead me, and to give me joy in the Holy Spirit?

      In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit came upon people at certain times for certain purposes. For example, Joseph interpreted Pharoah’s dreams, and Pharoah said of Joseph the following in Genesis 41:38-39:

"Can we find anyone like this, a man who has God’s spirit in him?” So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as discerning and wise as you are.”

     Joseph was given God’s Holy Spirit to interpret Pharoah’s dreams. That led to Pharoah making Joseph a ruler in Egypt, an acknowledgment of the Spirit’s power in Joseph’s life to lead during Egypt’s famine crisis.

   Jesus, however, shared with His disciples a different dynamic of the Holy Spirit after He was to die and rise again. The Holy Spirit would now live forever inside persons who surrendered their lives to Jesus. The temporary filling for a specific purpose was to give way to a more permanent filling.

   Jesus shared in John 15, 16, and 17 the following characteristics of the Holy Spirit, or “Counselor” in the life of a believer:

1. The Holy Spirit will enable believers to testify powerfully about Jesus and His love for mankind.
2. The Holy Spirit will convict mankind of its sinfulness, how to become righteous in God’s sight, and the judgment that awaits Satan and those that follow Satan.
3. The Holy Spirit will guide believers “into all truth”. There will be no more ambiguity about what truth is.
4. The Holy Spirit will “declare to you what is to come”. In other words, He will make Christians aware of God’s timetable for events. I don’t believe this means exact timing, but an order or sequence of events. 
5. The Holy Spirit will glorify Jesus by taking what was by birthright for Jesus, and “declare it to you”, to believers. That means Jesus’ power to do His works on earth will be given to us as believers.
6. The Holy Spirit will enable believers to live as one with Jesus, with God, and with other believers to show proof that God sent Jesus to love the world and the people in the world as God loves them.
7. In Romans 8:26 Paul writes that the Holy Spirit “ever lives to intercede, or pray, for us with groanings too deep for words.” 
8. Lastly, the Holy Spirit will give us joy that is “complete” as Jesus described in John 16:24. We may be sorrowful for a short time, but in the end comes joy from the God of the entire universe, and Jesus’ Holy Spirit that lives in us.

     Life many times is difficult, and I think this difficulty distracts us—I know it does me—from understanding who the Holy Spirit is, and what He can do in our lives.

     I think the first step toward having joy in the Holy Spirit despite our difficulties, is to recognize that there is a Holy Spirit in the first place that lives inside of believers in Jesus. 

     The second step is to understand that the Holy Spirit is present to help and comfort us in any situation. 

        Only then can we have “joy in the Holy Spirit”!

THE MAN WITH THREE NAMES

     In the 1960s Clint Eastwood made a series of three movies made in Italy which were considered “spaghetti westerns”. The titles of the movies were “A Fistful of Dollars”, “For a Few Dollars More”, and “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly”. In each of them, Eastwood was referred to as “The Man With No Name”, because of his enigmatic character in which he brought about justice, albeit violently, to villain characters in each movie. I can’t even watch the movies today because of their violence.
     But today, I’m going to emphasize that I am now ‘the man with three names’. I again reiterate—I am now ‘the man with three names’. How did I come to this conclusion? I read it in Revelation 3:12. Here it is:

“The one who conquers I will make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never go out again. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God—the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God—and my new name.” Revelation 3:12

     So, to make a long story short—here are now my three names—one of them given to me on the day of my human birth, and two of them written directly on me on the day of my spiritual birth!

1.  “Arlen Yoder”—given to me on the day of my human birth.
2. “God follower”—written directly on me on the day of my spiritual birth!
3. “New Jerusalem ‘goer’ “, if ‘goer’ is a word—also written directly on me on the day of my spiritual birth!

     So in conclusion, I am now “the man with three names”!

WHAT IS THE ROAD TO 'UNDERSTANDING'?

“Mankind, with his assets but without understanding, is like the animals that perish.” Psalm 49:20

     Let’s look at my world right now in the United States and Ohio:

1. Donald Trump is back in the White House. He proclaimed that the United States would experience an age of prosperity never seen before in America. Many people will likely dispute that claim. I watched the inauguration just like I did Queen Elizabeth’s funeral, enjoying all the ‘pomp and circumstance’. I don’t envy them, but I sometimes wonder what living in their world would be like.
2. The Cleveland Cavaliers over halfway into this season have been the best basketball team in the NBA. They just keep winning—and winning—and winning. I watch their games like a hawk, following their every move and commentary about how they are doing it, and other teams who can’t figure out how to stop them.
3. The Ohio State Buckeyes on Monday night won the National College Football Championship. They lost about a month ago to the dreaded team up north whose name won’t be mentioned—the fourth year in a row--and everyone thought all was lost. But OSU proved on Monday night by beating Notre Dame that they are the best team in the land. It was a story to be long remembered in the annals of college football.

     So this is my world. It seems like a dream—or dreams--come true. Everything seems to be coming together—and I admit that I do feel a sense of joy. What’s missing then? Why is my heart still aching?

     I think it's because I know this euphoria is only temporary. It’s like a drug fix. It makes me feel good for now—but in a few weeks or months, the euphoria will fade away. The memory I have of the good times will be just that—a memory. I then will look for something to fill the void—to give me a new sense of euphoria—then another—then another.

     You see—I know the end of the story. The Bible's clear about it. I did a video recently that included the words of the song “Imagine”. If only we could ‘imagine’ away problems. But they are here to stay. Sin is still sin according to Romans 3:23. People are going to continue to hurt and even kill others. There also will be many deceivers who come in the future, maybe even soon, that try to “deceive” others as is described in Matthew 24—to draw them down the wrong path—toward an eternity in hell.

     I think it’s great to bask in and be happy about the good things that are happening now. But, we also need to deal with reality. We are all going to suffer hardship at some point and die—unless the rapture occurs before then.

     At the inauguration, and with the sports teams that I love, there were and are many millionaires and even billionaires who are living extravagant lifestyles. I do realize, however, that many humble people have worked hard to be where they are—many likely even put into their positions by God. But the end for all of them is the same as the rest of us—the grave. They can’t take their millions and even billions with them.

     Psalm 49:20 which we read previously sums it up. I'll read it again: “Mankind, with his assets but without understanding, is like the animals that perish.”

     What then is the road to ‘understanding’? I could do a long dissertation here about what it is. But I don’t have to because there is one scripture that sums it up in a nutshell. Here it is in Micah 6:8:

“Mankind, he has told each of you what is good,

And what it is the Lord requires of you:

To act justly, to love faithfulness,

And to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

     In conclusion, how to have ‘understanding’ and ‘walk humbly’ with our God is revealed very definitively in the Bible. I encourage all of us—to check it out very soon—before it’s too late.

THOUGHTS & IMAGINATION VS. PRAYERS & INSPIRATION

     The title of my post today is “Thoughts & Imagination Vs. Prayers & Inspiration”. Lately, two things have been popping up frequently as ways that people talk about and address problems. Here they are:

1. Thoughts: When tragedy strikes a person or a group of people, then many in authority as well as in the media often say, “Our thoughts are with you”. I always think to myself, “What can good thoughts alone do to help ease the burden that people face?”
2. Imagination: Last week at Jimmy Carter’s funeral Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood sang the famous John Lennon song, “Imagine”, supposedly one of Jimmy Carter’s favorite songs. I always thought it was a nice song full of hope. I never, however, looked at or thought much about the words. Following is verse 1 and the chorus:

[Verse 1]

Imagine there’s no heaven

It’s easy if you try

No hell below us

Above us only sky

Imagine all the people

Living for today

[Chorus]

You may say I’m a dreamer

But I’m not the only one

I hope someday you’ll join us

And the world will be as one

     Well, what do you think? John Lennon wrote, sang, and dreamed about how the world would be a better place if there was no “heaven” or “hell”—and if all we had was what we see now—and we all just lived for, as he said, “today”.

     He didn’t stop there. Listen to verse 2 and the chorus:

[Verse 2]

Imagine there’s no countries

It isn’t hard to do

Nothing to kill or die for

And no religion too

Imagine all the people

Living life in peace

[Chorus]

You may say I’m a dreamer

But I’m not the only one

I hope someday you’ll join us

And the world will be as one

     Mr. Lennon imagined that the world would be a better place if there were no countries that had opposing views—and didn’t fight for what they believed in. I agree that the world would be a better place if there were no fighting for possessions and land—but will that ever happen in our lifetime? He even went so far as to “dream” that a world without religion would be better for everyone—then maybe everyone would get along, and “would be as one”.

     I believe that thinking good thoughts—and imagining the world being better make for good sentiments and a nice song. But they forget something—reality!

     The reality is that we live in a sinful world full of sinful people. I know that many people don’t want to even consider what the Bible says about anything—but the truth is that we can’t think or imagine away problems. Thinking or imagining away problems has no teeth in them to help anyone face the realities of life.

     What is the answer if thoughts and imaginations can’t do anything? Only two things have the answer.

1. Prayers: The only thing we can do is look toward and pray to a loving heavenly father that is described in the Bible. He is the only One who can really help us.
2. Inspiration: God is the most important person to inspire people to do great things to help our world and the sinfulness that is in it.

     Nowhere in scripture does God and His Son Jesus instruct followers to think good thoughts to bring about change. But, there are 357 references to prayer. Jesus and the apostles in the New Testament alone instructed over 100 times that people pray to God to bring about change.

     Now, let’s look at the word imagine or imagination used in the Bible. There were in total only seven usages of these words. And in EVERY usage it depicts the evil in men—not their goodness. Ezekiel in chapter 13 says twice that the false prophets prophesy out of their own “imagination”. And in Acts 17 Paul said that God is nothing like the Athenian’s images "carved out of gold, silver, and stone" that are “fashioned by human art and imagination.”

     Dee laughs at me when I share my aversion to the “Our thoughts are with you” sentiment. Many people I think are hesitant instead to say “Our prayers are with you”, due to fearing backlash from their bosses or the people that support them. It’s much like the increasing mandate by many leaders of government or companies for their underlings to use the “Happy Holidays” phrase as opposed to saying “Merry Christmas” during the holiday season.

     So, instead of thinking good thoughts and imagining good outcomes that in reality don’t have any positive effect—let’s instead, as is described in Luke 22, pray fervently as Jesus did in the garden to His loving Heavenly Father. And let’s pray prayers as described in James 5:16 that are “very powerful in its effect”. These prayers in turn can inspire us to do great things to help our fellow man.

THE NEW JERUSALEM

     First, I want to wish everyone who watched this video post, a "HAPPY NEW YEAR"! Speaking of "new", the title of my post today is simply, “The New Jerusalem”.

     For this first day of the year in 2025, I will read Revelation 21 about the New Jerusalem, the majestic city almost too wonderful to describe—and what lies ahead for the people of God whose names are written in the “Lamb’s Book of Life”. I urge you to read along and take it all in.

     Here it is—Revelation 21—from the Christian Standard Bible. I hope you get as excited as I am about the prospect of going to “The New Jerusalem.”

All Things Made New

1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” 6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.

7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

The New Jerusalem

9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.

10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.

12 Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.

14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.

16 The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. 17 Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.

18 The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.

21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

The Glory of the New Jerusalem

22 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.

24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. 25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). 26 And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.

27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.