{"id":4491,"date":"2021-06-07T14:42:15","date_gmt":"2021-06-07T14:42:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/?p=4491"},"modified":"2021-06-07T14:43:16","modified_gmt":"2021-06-07T14:43:16","slug":"how-to-have-a-stout-heart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/how-to-have-a-stout-heart\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Have a Stout Heart"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cI have said these things to you in figures of speech.\u00a0The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father.<\/span><\/span>\u00a026\u00a0<\/sup>In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf;<\/span><\/span>\u00a027\u00a0<\/sup>for the Father himself loves you, because\u00a0you have loved me and\u00a0have believed that I came from God.[a<\/a>]<\/sup><\/span><\/span>\u00a028\u00a0<\/sup>I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now\u00a0I am leaving the world and going to the Father.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

29\u00a0<\/sup>His disciples said, \u201cAh, now you are speaking plainly and not\u00a0using figurative speech!<\/span>\u00a030\u00a0<\/sup>Now we know that\u00a0you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that\u00a0you came from God.\u201d<\/span>\u00a031\u00a0<\/sup>Jesus answered them,\u00a0\u201cDo you now believe?<\/span><\/span>\u00a032\u00a0<\/sup>Behold,\u00a0the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when\u00a0you will be scattered, each to his own home, and\u00a0will leave me alone.\u00a0Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.<\/span><\/span>\u00a033\u00a0<\/sup>I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.\u201d (John 16:25-33)<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Introduction<\/b><\/p>\n

In our passage today, verse 33 famously stands out as one of the popular and beloved statements of Christ, and for good reason. Indeed we will spend most of our time there this afternoon. But first I want to give a brief explanation of all these verses before it that we read.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Explanation of the Passage in Relation to the Disciples<\/b><\/p>\n

Jesus begins by saying He has spoken to them in figures of speech, but that soon He will no longer speak in figures of speech but will tell them plainly about the Father. Now when Jesus says that He has spoken in figures of speech, He is not referring to helpful illustrations such as the woman who gives birth in the previous verses. But the idea is that He is saying that He has spoken to them in disguised language or cryptic language. And Jesus qualifies it so we can know exactly what He is referring to as His figures of speech, when He says that He will tell them plainly about the Father. We have seen so much discussion in John\u2019s gospel where Jesus is talking about the Father, and so many times, everyone is completely confused. But it is now time for Jesus to tell them plainly so they understand, as we see in verse 28. Nevertheless it is not until after the resurrection that things are made most clear.<\/span><\/p>\n

Verse 26-27 are interesting. Jesus says \u201cin that day,\u201d which I believe refers to the day Jesus was talking about in the previous section, which we established was post-resurrection. The content of these verses is very similar to verse 23-24. Putting these verses together we can really surmise was Jesus is saying to His disciples, which is that post-resurrection, when Jesus returns to the Father, the disciples will no longer have Jesus physically present with them to ask things of Him. But because of the work of Jesus, they will pray directly to the Father, not without Jesus as mediator, for they will pray in His name. Yet it is a real relationship they have with the Father, through Jesus, as Jesus says the Father Himself loves you. This gets at a beautiful and amazing point that we need to get right: the cross did not make God love us. It is because the Father loved us that He sent His Son to the cross. For God so loved the world, that He sent His Son. Or Romans 5:8, \u201cGod demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners Christ died for us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Then verse 29-30 the disciples claim that everything now makes sense and that they believe and know that Jesus knows all things and they have no more questions. Then Jesus responds in verse 31, basically saying, \u201cdo you? Are you sure about that? Not so fast.\u201d In verse 32 Jesus basically tells them that they are not out of the woods yet for the hour is coming when they will be scattered and they will leave Jesus, of course referring here to when Jesus is arrested and the disciples flee. But on the one hand, I don\u2019t think that verse 32 is a total condemnation of the disciples, as Jesus essentially says that He doesn\u2019t need them, because the Father is with Him. It is almost as if Jesus is saying that what He is going to go through, they cannot join Him in, it is His burden and His cross to bear, His work that only He can do, that He indeed came to do. And one of the reasons that I believe this type of thinking is underneath the surface here is because what Jesus prophecies they will do in verse 32 is a prophetic fulfillment of Scripture. In Zechariah 13:7 it says, \u201c<\/span>Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.\u201d So we shouldn\u2019t think of this so much as if Jesus were looking through a crystal ball to see the future, but as Him knowing that He came from the Father and that He is the Messiah, and also that He knows the Scripture, and therefore knowing that this would happen to the Messiah – Him.<\/span><\/p>\n

So all throughout the farewell discourse, Jesus has, in one moment comforted His disciples, and then in the next moment told them things that are not typically comforting, like, you will be persecuted for my name’s sake. So why has Jesus done this? Why has He told them all these things? Verse 33, Jesus says, \u201cI have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.\u201d Jesus has told them that they may have peace in Him. Despite all of the difficult times coming toward the disciples, there is nothing that they will face that will catch Jesus by surprise. He knows all things, and He has overcome all things. Despite all that they will face they will have peace in Christ through all of it, they will have joy that cannot be taken away in all of it, so they are to take heart, and not be discouraged when Jesus leaves and when they face the painful things that they will face.<\/span><\/p>\n

But are these things in verse 33 only for the immediate disciples that Jesus was speaking to? We understand that most of the discussion about figurative speech, coming days and hours, and each scattering to his own home, are things directly concerning the disciples, and thus strengthen our faith with a much different application than the disciples. And we know that one of the problems with modern evangelicalism is that so many people just rip any and every verse out of context and apply it to themselves however they want. Most people are not aware of the context in which verse 33 takes place. With that said, I believe God has used verse 33 to rightly comfort many believers with bad hermeneutics, because I believe these things in verse 33 do indeed belong to each disciple of Jesus.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Number one, the peace that the disciples may have is a peace that is enjoyed only in Christ. It is by virtue of union with Christ that such peace is had. Anything that comes to one believer by virtue of union with Christ also belongs to every other believer. Christ has given all of Himself to all of His people. If peace is a benefit of union with Christ, then everyone in Christ may have it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Number two, tribulation is had by virtue of being in the world. As long as we are in the world, we will have trouble. It is by virtue of living in a fallen world still present with sin and unbelievers that we will have trouble. Certainly the tribulation that we face is not the same tribulation the disciples faced, not everyone has the same degree of trouble in this world. But lighter trouble does not make it cease to be trouble.<\/span><\/p>\n

Number three, the command to take heart is based upon the fact that Christ has overcome the world. As long as Christ has overcome the world, we are to take heart.<\/span><\/p>\n

So there are two things that we are assured of here. One is that we will have trouble in this world. We will have trouble. How often are we surprised or upset when we face trouble? We should not be. Jesus told us it would happen. The modern person just wants to do everything he can to escape and avoid all trouble at any cost. That\u2019s what we saw all last year with orders to stay home and stay apart. There were of course lots of different motivations from different people, but one of the things that was revealed was just how far people would go to avoid having any trouble. We just want to avoid it. We don\u2019t like being uncomfortable. But this is not how Christians should live. Trouble is no trouble for us. In fact, since Jesus told us that we will have trouble, there is nothing we can do to avoid it. Seeking to avoid trouble only makes more trouble. And this goes for any kind of trouble, because trouble comes to us in many different forms. It could come in the form of sickness and death. It could come in the form of slander or social rejection. It could come in the form of fines or imprisonment for meeting together. The possibilities are endless. We will all face various forms of trouble. We should not be surprised at whatever form it comes in, but rest assured that Jesus was not a liar.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The other thing that we are assured of here in this verse is that not only will we have trouble, but we also will have peace in Christ. There are at least two different kinds of peace that we have in Christ. One is judicial peace with God – we are no longer enemies and hostile to God and under His judgment, but through the substitutionary work of Christ, we are made God\u2019s friends, we are forgiven and justified. The other type of peace is experiential, which Jesus is talking about here. There is an experience of peace that we can have in Christ, despite facing tribulations. This is an experience of calm contentedness in Christ. Though the waves of the world may be tossing about us, our hearts can be still within us through resting in Christ. It is a peace that passes understanding. It is a peace that can look trouble in the face, whether it be hatred from enemies or the loss of your family like Job, and say, \u201cBlessed be God, it is well with my soul.\u201d Maybe you know someone, or likely it has been you at some point, who has been an anxious stressed-out mess in the midst of trouble. This is unbecoming of a Christian and inconsistent with our Christian profession. And I say this in humility, knowing that that has been me before. But it ought not to be so. This peace is available to us in Christ – why do we not go to Him? For we are assured that we can have that peace in Him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since we are assured of tribulation, what should we do?<\/b><\/p>\n

So what should we do? Peace is available to us in Christ, and we are assured that we will face trouble. What should we do? Jesus tells us. We should take heart. I love those two words: take heart. We should not fret, fear, run, or hide. We should not be afraid or cowardly. We should take heart. We should be stout-hearted.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is a Stout Heart?<\/b><\/p>\n

We should have thick, beating hearts that are pulsing with contentment, confidence, happiness, and optimism in Christ, regardless of the troubles and threats that lie outside the body. A stout-heart is not one that is moved by the subjective winds of the world outside the body, but it is directed by the objective word of God that Christ has shed abroad in our hearts. Someone who has a stout heart is confident in Christ regardless of other people who are cowering in fear around them. A stout heart is confident to walk directly into the trouble that comes with the truth, regardless of the timid advisors who whisper compromise and middle ground solutions in his ear.<\/span><\/p>\n

I think of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who despite everyone around them, just refused to bow down to the idol, without hesitation. It was seriously no problem for them to be thrown into the fiery furnace. When you read that passage they are just oozing with stoutness of heart. The king gave them all kinds of opportunities to bow down, but it wasn\u2019t even a second thought for them. They were confident God could deliver them, but even if He chose not to, that wouldn\u2019t change a thing.<\/span><\/p>\n

I think of young David, when he went to visit his brothers who were camped out with the fearful Israelite army, quietly allowing Goliath to mock the living God. David said, \u201cWhat are you guys doing? This guy is uncircumcised, he can\u2019t just mock the living the God. So David, displaying a stout heart, went to fight him, without the armor Saul tried to give him, for it was not tested. I love what Doug Wilson says about this. He says that when David saw Goliath, he did not see someone too big to fight; he saw someone too big to miss. That\u2019s a stout heart.<\/span><\/p>\n

With another kind of trouble, I think of Job. His possessions, his wealth, his servants, his health, his children – all taken from him in a moment. How did he respond? The Bible says in all these things Job did not sin. Job said, \u201cThe Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name Yahweh.\u201d That is a stout heart.<\/span><\/p>\n

We could go on and on with other biblical examples, and examples from Church history and what not; but this is what we are told to do in the face of tribulation: take heart.<\/span><\/p>\n

But you know what is very fascinating to me, and really helps us understand what it means to take heart even more? It\u2019s the way the King James Version translates it: \u201c…in the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world\u2026\u201d Be of good cheer. Now I don\u2019t think one is right and the other is wrong here. I think they help us understand what it means to take heart. What does it mean to take heart? In large part it means to be of good cheer. Now just as we talked about with joy a couple of weeks ago, being of good cheer, is not some superficial cheesiness. It doesn\u2019t mean we walk around dressing like clowns and painting smiles on our faces. It is rather a deep, underlying hopefulness about us that cannot be taken away. And it is a hopefulness that is founded in the resurrection and the overcoming of Jesus Christ. It is a perpetual attitude that nothing can bring us down because of Christ. It doesn\u2019t matter how bad our pain is or how nasty people are to us, there is nothing that can bring us down. Yes there will be times where we weep and mourn for experiencing great losses. But we will not weep as those do who have no hope. We do not lose heart. We are, even in tears, of good cheer.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Power of Good Cheer<\/b><\/p>\n

Church, there is a great power in being of good Christian cheer. Good cheer in a stout heart is a powerful thing. First, it is of a persuasive power. Most people are anxious and stressed when they have trouble, and they are no fun to be around, they are a drain. But have you ever been around a Christian who is at total peace and contentment in the midst of great trouble? Everyone who is around such a person at such a time always says, \u201cI want what they have.\u201d Good cheer and a stout heart is a powerful apologetic.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is also a disarming power. If the trouble a Christian is facing is that of persecution, or involves enemies surrounding them, taking heart and being of good cheer can often be a disarming power. Think of the passage that says, \u201ca gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.\u201d Someone who is anxious and stressed out cannot give gentle answers, they only make the situation more tense. But someone who has a stout heart fit for troubles of every kind because they are of good cheer is prepared to give gentle answers. Think about Paul and Silas in prison in Acts 16. There was an earthquake and the jailer was going to take his life because he was afraid the prisoners had escaped. But Paul and Silas remained there with everyone and stopped the man from falling on his sword and he was converted. Now what kind of guys stick around in jail to save the life of their enemies? Guys with good cheer and stout hearts. Their good cheer disarmed the jailer.<\/span><\/p>\n

A Command<\/b><\/p>\n

But notice also back in John 16:33 that this is a command to take heart and be of good cheer. It is a command. This means it is something we are to actively pursue. It is not something that we are to wait around for, waiting for it to happen to us. It is something we are to do. Having a Christ-like attitude and being of good cheer is a choice that you have to make. In the day in and the day out, the choice is yours. You can choose to hold on to bitter, anger, and stress, and so be a miserable person to be around. Or you can obey Jesus and take heart, and be of good cheer.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are of course some practical differences between the way men and women will display stout hearts. Generally speaking men are going to go and ethically slay in the marketplace of the world, working hard and doing business with a good cheer about them when everyone else is complaining and uptight and what have you. Women are generally going to display a stout heart in going about their duties with good cheer, refusing to participate in the gossip and discontent complaining of other women, but happy and honored to help their husbands and raise their children. This is true for moms and dads, but particularly moms who are home with the kids most of the day, you will notice that if you are stressed out and uptight, then your kids will be too, and then you get mad at them for it and only worsens the situation. Moms, you just need to be determined to obey Jesus and enjoy the peace that belongs to you in Him and take heart. No matter how grumpy or whiny your kids are, or no matter how bad of a mood your husband is in, you just be determined that you will obey Jesus, and let your good cheer disarm the situation. Again, not a superficial peppiness; but a contented hopefulness and optimism in Christ no matter what. The choice is yours. It is not your kids\u2019 or your husband’s choice to make for you. And that of course goes for everyone in their own situations.<\/span><\/p>\n

How can we have a stout heart?<\/b><\/p>\n

So this is what we are commanded to do; but how can we do it? What are some practical helps to have a stout heart and be of good cheer?<\/span><\/p>\n

One, you can’t have a lion heart of good cheer without first having the peace that comes from union with Christ. You must be at peace. You must be content. If you want help to take heart and be of good cheer, you must first rest in Christ and be at peace in Him. This involves trusting His providence and being happy with it. It involves believing His promises about working all things to your good. Without this fundamental rest and peace we are not fit to go out and conquer. If you are in Christ, you always have Christ and always will, and thus you have all you need to always be at peace and be content in Him. Your peace in Christ is not based upon the troubles you do or don\u2019t face. It is based on Christ\u2019s covenant faithfulness to you.<\/span><\/p>\n

The second way that we can have a stout heart and be of good cheer is to enjoy the Lord. Enjoy Him. In the book of Nehemiah, the people of Israel are gathered together to hear the Law read to them for the first time in a long time. And after the reading of the law the people weep for what they have heard. But Nehemiah says to them in Nehemiah 8, \u201c<\/span>Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.\u201d The joy of the Lord is our strength. Do you want to be strong and strong hearted to face trouble? You have to know where our strength comes from. It comes from the joy of the Lord. Joy makes us strong.<\/span><\/p>\n

The third way that we can have a stout heart and be of good cheer is to laugh on a regular basis. The phrase \u201claughter is the best medicine,\u201d is not something found in the Bible, but I believe the idea is. Proverbs 17:22, \u201cA joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.\u201d Or listen to the KJV, <\/span>\u00a0\u201c<\/b>A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.\u201d Strong hearts are happy hearts.<\/span><\/p>\n

A fourth way that we can take heart and be of good cheer, is to appropriately drink wine. Now, to be sure, I am not commanding this, for this is not a command. But it is a legitimate option. Sometimes a good glass of wine will go a long way to gladden and strengthen our hearts, for it is one of the very purposes that God gave us wine, to gladden our hearts. Psalm 104:14-15, \u201cYou cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man’s heart.\u201d This of course, like everything else, must be enjoyed properly by faith in Jesus Christ.<\/span><\/p>\n

A fifth way that can help us take heart and be of good cheer is to sing Psalms. James 5:13 says, \u201cIs any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.\u201d The more we sing Psalms in our church, in our homes, in one another\u2019s homes together, the more we will have stout hearts. The Psalms were made to strengthen and gladden our hearts as we sing them together.<\/span><\/p>\n

A sixth way we can take heart and be of good cheer is to confess our sins. Psalm 34 tells us that happy is the man whose sin is forgiven. So often we walk around with a guilty conscience because we have sinned, and we have not confessed that sin and received forgiveness. And that discourages us from taking heart. It takes away our good cheer. Happiness is always one step away: repentance. If you refuse to confess your sins you will never be happy. But there is much relief and happiness when you do. If you have a guilty conscience from unconfessed sins you are not ready to go out and conquer.<\/span><\/p>\n

This leads to a similar seventh way to have a stout heart and be of good cheer. And that is to mortify your sin. And mortify your flesh. It is not from our natural flesh that we can take heart in the midst of tribulation. It is not from our flesh that we can be of good cheer when we face trouble. The more that we keep our flesh and our old self alive and well, the less heart we will have when trouble comes. Sin makes us weak. If we keep it around we will be weak. But if we mortify it, put it to death, kill it, we will be strong. Proverbs 31:3, \u201cdo not give your strength to women.\u201d Men, your glory is your strength. Do not give it away. And we most easily give it away to women. Fight for your life and your sons\u2019 lives, and the lives of your fellow soldiers in arms here, against lust, against setting your eyes upon impure things. You cannot take heart and be of good cheer and go out and conquer if you have given your strength to women. Sin saps the strength of our hearts.<\/span><\/p>\n

Eighth, and finally, and most importantly, how to have a stout heart and be of good cheer: look to Jesus Christ. Look to Christ. Look at Him and His lion heart before the Pharisees who were vipers and sons of the devil. He did not back down. He called them those things. Look at Him before the temptation of the devil in the wilderness. He was not phased. Look at Him, pure and strong in all His ways. Look at Him before the Father in prayer in the garden, sweating great drops of blood. But those great drops of blood dripped from a stout heart, who faced down what He endured at the cross with the ultimate poise and grace. Look at His lion heart as He rose from the dead, coming up out of the heart of the earth, and now as He rides forth on a white horse through history with a sword coming out of His mouth to conquer the nations. Look at Jesus Christ! Is there anyone like Him? Any man who has had any good strength has got it from Jesus Christ.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why Should We Take Heart?<\/b><\/p>\n

This is fundamentally why we are to take heart: because Christ has overcome the world. \u201cTake heart; I have overcome the world,\u201d Jesus says. Jesus Christ has overcome the world. He has defeated sin, He has overcome death, He has thrown down the prince of the power of the air, the ruler of this world and all his hosts, He has been seated at the right hand of the Father, and has reversed the ancient curse. What is there left to touch us or defeat us? The sword cannot separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Nakedness can\u2019t do it. Famine can\u2019t do it. Nothing in all creation, for Christ has overcome it all.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Since Christ has overcome the world, there is to be no surrender and no compromise with the world, for Jesus has overcome it. We are not to compromise with sin in our lives. We are not to compromise with worldliness and ungodliness. To do so is to join the side of the losers. We are not to surrender any square inch to the enemies of God. Christ isn\u2019t surrendering anything. Christians are to be about the mindset of Christ, which is a mindset of total victory.<\/span><\/p>\n

Stout hearts come from assurance of victory. Just as sure as we are of tribulation, we are more sure of victory. When you know you can win, when you see victory, in battle, in competition it\u2019s invigorating. It\u2019s like sharks tasting blood in the water.<\/span><\/p>\n

Church, we can see the victory, we know it is ours, Christ has won it, we can taste it! Why are we downcast? Why do we act like we are going to lose?<\/span><\/p>\n

Why are you stressed? Why are you anxious? Why are you afraid? Why are you angry? Why are you discontent? Why are you bitter? Why are you irritable? In Him you may have peace. Take heart; for Christ has overcome the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

Being a Christian is to be Conquered by Christ<\/b><\/p>\n

Do not fight against Him, or the Spirit\u2019s work in your life. Give your burdens up to Him. Give your sins up to Him. If you do not come in glad submission to Jesus Christ, He will conquer you as His enemy. He has overcome the world, you think you are stronger than that? Maybe your life is a mess and you have no peace anywhere. You are stricken with guilt over your sin. There is only one solution. Come to Jesus Christ. He will forgive your sins and free your conscience. He will give you a peace that passes understanding that comes from peace with God. He can give you a stout heart and good cheer. He has overcome the world. Your sin is not too much for Him. Your problems are not too unique. Surrender to Jesus Christ, for you are conquered.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Click HERE for sermon audio<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cI have said these things to you in figures of speech.\u00a0The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father.\u00a026\u00a0In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":685,"featured_media":4492,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[1554,274,1557,1553,382,557,560,562,1555,591,596,625,678,679,687,699,701,765,1556,1144,1172,1551,1552,1365],"class_list":{"0":"post-4491","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-uncategorized","8":"tag-cheer","9":"tag-christ","10":"tag-conquer","11":"tag-courage","12":"tag-disciples","13":"tag-god","14":"tag-good","15":"tag-gospel","16":"tag-happy","17":"tag-have","18":"tag-heart","19":"tag-how","20":"tag-jenkins","21":"tag-jesus","22":"tag-john","23":"tag-joshua","24":"tag-joy","25":"tag-lord","26":"tag-overcome","27":"tag-sin","28":"tag-spirit","29":"tag-stout","30":"tag-take","31":"tag-world","32":"entry"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2021\/06\/stout-heart.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1113,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/prayer-as-communion-with-god\/","url_meta":{"origin":4491,"position":0},"title":"Prayer as Communion with God","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"August 30, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cAnd when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Faith"","block_context":{"text":"Faith","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/faith\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":4516,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/covenantal-prayer\/","url_meta":{"origin":4491,"position":1},"title":"Covenantal Prayer","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"July 12, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Introduction This afternoon, we will be looking at a few sections of verses at a time, so we will read them as we come to them. This High Priestly Prayer of our Lord is not a rambling disconnected assortment of thoughts that randomly come to Jesus\u2019 mind as He prays.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2021\/07\/David.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2021\/07\/David.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2021\/07\/David.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2021\/07\/David.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2021\/07\/David.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3832,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/what-is-in-the-sons-hands-john-331-36\/","url_meta":{"origin":4491,"position":2},"title":"What is in the Son’s Hands? John 3:31-36","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"August 12, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 31\u00a0He who comes from above\u00a0is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and\u00a0speaks in an earthly way.\u00a0He who comes from heaven\u00a0is above all.\u00a032\u00a0He bears witness to what he has seen and heard,\u00a0yet no one receives his testimony.\u00a033\u00a0Whoever receives his testimony\u00a0sets his seal to this,\u00a0that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2019\/08\/dy9ctpk.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2019\/08\/dy9ctpk.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2019\/08\/dy9ctpk.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2019\/08\/dy9ctpk.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2019\/08\/dy9ctpk.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2019\/08\/dy9ctpk.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1228,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/praying-without-losing-heart\/","url_meta":{"origin":4491,"position":3},"title":"Praying Without Losing Heart","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"January 21, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cAnd he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, \u2018In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Christ\"","block_context":{"text":"Christ","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/tag\/christ\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":4559,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/made-one-in-christ\/","url_meta":{"origin":4491,"position":4},"title":"Made one in Christ","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"September 8, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"20\u00a0\u201cI do not\u00a0ask for these only, but also for those\u00a0who will believe in me through their word,\u00a021\u00a0that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that\u00a0they also may be in\u00a0us, so that the world\u00a0may believe that you have sent me.\u00a022\u00a0The glory that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Faith"","block_context":{"text":"Faith","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/faith\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2021\/09\/church.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":4293,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/misguided-desires-for-heaven\/","url_meta":{"origin":4491,"position":5},"title":"Misguided Desires for Heaven","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"December 28, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"36\u00a0Simon Peter said to him, \u201cLord, where are you going?\u201d\u00a0Jesus answered him,\u00a0\u201cWhere I am going\u00a0you cannot follow me now,\u00a0but you will follow afterward.\u201d\u00a037\u00a0Peter said to him, \u201cLord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.\u201d\u00a038\u00a0Jesus answered,\u00a0\u201cWill you lay down your life for me?\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Faith"","block_context":{"text":"Faith","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/faith\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/12\/heavens.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/12\/heavens.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/12\/heavens.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/12\/heavens.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/12\/heavens.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/12\/heavens.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4491","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/685"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4491"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4491\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4492"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4491"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4491"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4491"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}