{"id":6372,"date":"2024-04-01T20:46:59","date_gmt":"2024-04-01T20:46:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/?p=6372"},"modified":"2024-04-01T20:46:59","modified_gmt":"2024-04-01T20:46:59","slug":"trials-of-various-kinds-how-to-be-a-king","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/trials-of-various-kinds-how-to-be-a-king\/","title":{"rendered":"Trials of Various Kinds (How to be a King)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Click HERE for sermon audio<\/a><\/p>\n

Count it all joy, my brothers,[b<\/a>]<\/sup>\u00a0when you meet trials\u00a0of various kinds,<\/span>\u00a03\u00a0<\/sup>for you know that\u00a0the testing of your faith\u00a0produces steadfastness.<\/span>\u00a04\u00a0<\/sup>And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4)<\/span><\/p>\n

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

As is the character of much of the book of James, we have a text before us today which in many ways explains itself. This is a good thing, because what we are commanded to do in this text is so contrary to the nature of our flesh, and so difficult to put into practice that what we need more than anything is to hear it again and again and be reminded of it over and over. This text is not difficult to understand, but it is difficult to do. It is so difficult that when we speak with someone who is in the midst of some great trial and find that they are filled with joy, faith, and hope, we are shocked, or pleasantly surprised. But what we have here is not a command for only the most elite of Christians, or one which is an optional ideal if you can attain it, but it is a command for every Christian to do – for each one of us, and even you, boys and girls. So this afternoon I am speaking directly to you, weary mom, burnt out dad, exasperated child – and first, to myself.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Count It All Joy<\/b><\/p>\n

After his greeting, James opens his letter, exhorting the brothers, though they were going through quite a lot, to \u201ccount it all joy\u2026 when you meet trials of various kinds\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to human philosophies, and to our flesh, this simply does not make sense. It does not make sense to consider it a joy to face trials, suffering, difficulties, or hardships. They are called trials and suffering because of the very fact that they are not joyful, right? Well this is the very reason why James has to tell us this, because it is not the fleshly reaction, it is a work of grace – a work of the Spirit – by which Christians are to live as new creations in Christ Jesus.<\/span><\/p>\n

We need to hear this, especially considering the day and the culture in which we live. We live in a time of \u201csafetyism\u201d and \u201ccomfortism.\u201d If something is not safe or comfortable then it is to be avoided. Danger and discomfort are things that are to be avoided at all costs and we are to feel very empathetic to those who are unsafe or uncomfortable and figure out how to get them safe and comfortable. Trials are to be escaped and avoided! Take a pill to numb the pain, buy another streaming service to escape reality – do anything but acknowledge trials in the face with triumph! James does not share any such modern sentiments, but he tells us to count them all joy.<\/span><\/p>\n

This of course is not just James, but throughout the Scripture we are taught such a faith in the face of testing. The apostle Paul testifies in 2 Corinthians 7:4, \u201cIn all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.\u201d Peter also writes what sounds strikingly similar to James here, saying in 1 Peter 1:6-7, \u201cIn this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith – more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

So this is our call as Christians, to count it all joy when we meet trials of various kinds. Now, to count it all joy does not mean that we are not sad or sorrowful. Indeed, we grieve, but not as those without hope. The process of trials can be painful. And in the moment, we may not feel it as a joy. But the command is not that we are to feel it as joy, rather, we are to count it all joy. You can count it all joy, even when the tears do not cease to flow. And that is from God. Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing as Paul says elsewhere.<\/span><\/p>\n

I like what Puritan Thomas Manton says here, \u201cAfflictions to God\u2019s people do not only produce patience but great joy. The world has no reason to think that religion is a black and gloomy way\u2026 A Christian is a bird that can sing in winter as well as in spring; he can live in the fire like Moses\u2019 bush – burn and not be consumed, even leap in the fire.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

So what we really have here is a command of faith. We can count it all joy even when we don\u2019t feel it as joy, because faith looks beyond what we see and feel, to what we know. As James says, \u201cfor you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Trials are Testing<\/b><\/p>\n

Now one of the things I love about this text is that after James gives us this command, he explains to us the reasoning behind it, and indeed the reasoning helps us in counting it all joy. We are to count our trials as joy because we know that the testing of our faith produces steadfastness. The first thing to note here is that the trial itself is the testing of our faith. Trials are the testing of our faith, which means, therefore, that they are from God.<\/span><\/p>\n

Think of Joseph, how he met with trials of various kinds. Betrayed by his brothers. Framed by a high official. Forgotten in prison. And then after enduring through them all he testifies, \u201cWhat you meant for evil, God meant for good.\u201d You see, Joseph had eyes of faith to see that God and His sovereign hand was behind all the evil that was done to him. He was greatly afflicted – and the evil he received from men was the testing of his faith from His Heavenly Father. Vital to endurance and joy in trials is recognizing that they are the testing of your faith. Is it real? Or will it be exposed to be like the seeds that fell upon rocky soil that sprout up for a moment but when trials and testing comes gets trampled and quickly withers away?<\/span><\/p>\n

There are Various Kinds of Trials<\/b><\/p>\n

The next thing to note is that there are various kinds of trials. There are diverse ways in which God tests our faith. James does not tell us a specific trial that tests our faith, but that there are various trials, and we are to count the various trials joy when we meet them. It may be persecution, or loss, or sickness, or poverty not of one\u2019s own fault. Think of all the different trials which the Old Testament saints endured in faith – they were trials of various kinds. Think of Hebrews 11 where the writer says that time would fail him to tell of all who through faith conquered, and others endured suffering through mocking and flogging, chains, imprisonment, stoning, being sawn in two, killed with the sword. Some went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated, wandered about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.<\/span><\/p>\n

God gives various trials. He gives each of us a different set of tests in life. My trials might not be your trials. Your trials might not be my trials. And the fact that each of us face different trials is one reason why we are told to count them all joy – because if we are not counting them all joy, we will be tempted to compare trials. We will be tempted to murmur against the lot that God has given us, and wish that God would give us the trials of someone else. \u201cWhy can\u2019t our life be like theirs?\u201d We may think. But this is dangerous poison to the soul. We do not know what all others endure. And with certain blessings that God gives to others and not to us, we may not know what types of trials they meet with because of their estate in life. And you get a certain joy from your lot that they do not experience. So if we are counting the trials we meet with as joy, there will be no room for comparison or bitterness which rots the soul.<\/span><\/p>\n

Trials\/Testing produce steadfastness (or endurance)<\/b><\/p>\n

So what are these various trials or testings of our faith doing in our lives? James tells us, \u201cfor you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.\u201d The testing of our faith produces steadfastness. Steadfastness is endurance. It is the strength to stand, the strength to persevere. And this is vital to our Christian life. For the Christian, trials do not destroy our faith, but rather they give strength and endurance to our faith – steadfastness. They don\u2019t tear us down, they build us up. Have you ever known someone who professed faith in Christ, but then a great tragedy or trial struck them and they ended up walking away from the faith and said, \u201cI just don\u2019t believe in a God who would allow\u2026\u201d fill in the blank? The testing did not destroy their faith, it exposed that it was not real. It was rocky soil or thorny soil and was snatched away. But for the Christian, for the good soil, it is a different effect, it produces something, it bears fruit, it strengthens, giving endurance. So on the other hand, have you ever talked to a fellow believer, or experienced yourself, being on the other side of a trial and recognizing that you grew closer to the Lord, and your faith was strengthened and you learned and matured? That is the testing of your faith producing steadfastness.<\/span><\/p>\n

Paul says something very similar in Romans 5:3-5, \u201c…we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God\u2019s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Steadfastness is an expression or a fruit of Christian faith. It is vital. It is how we endure trials of various kinds. And enduring trials of various kinds gives us more steadfastness. Steadfastness is not a mere emotion or a fleeting feeling. It is something stronger. It lasts when the feeling doesn\u2019t. It remains when the emotions flee or change. It is based upon knowing. I love what Calvin says here,<\/span> \u201cWe often feel an urge to do bravely, but the mood soon passes; so we must have perseverance. Real patience, he says, is such as will endure to the end. Work has the sense of effect here, victory not in one event only, but life-long persistence.\u201d \u201c…our life on earth is one long campaign.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

When we face trials of various kinds, we may be tempted to think that trials are taking away from us, but James tells us the opposite – they are actually producing something in us – they are making us whole, giving us what we need, indeed adding to us, producing, multiplying things in us. They produce strength – steadfastness.<\/span><\/p>\n

Think of how strength is built in our physical bodies – it is an analogy for building spiritual strength. When we lift weights through weight training or through physical labor we build muscle. But in order for muscle to build and grow, when you lift weight, the muscle tears and then it recovers back stronger. Through physical labor or weight training, you put your body through a trial, and you can do various kinds of lifts or exercises to strengthen different muscles in different ways. And in the moment it is painful, it is not comfortable, there is suffering that you must endure, but when you do, you produce steadfastness, strength. And for many who train the body, they will tell you, that you learn to love the suffering and the pain and the process, because you know what it produces. In other words you count it all joy. So in like manner, facing trials of various kinds is God putting us through the ringer in the gym of God\u2019s weightroom. Counting it all joy is recognizing you are putting in reps in God\u2019s gym.<\/span><\/p>\n

Steadfastness (endurance) brings Maturity (goal)<\/b><\/p>\n

But James is not done here. The chain of effects continues. The testing of your faith produces steadfastness, \u201cAnd let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.\u201d So once the testing of our faith has produced steadfastness, steadfastness brings an effect – making us perfect, complete, lacking in nothing. The word for \u201cfull effect\u201d is a form of telos, meaning the goal or end to which a thing is working. In this case it is being perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. Perfect is not intended to mean sinless perfection here, though we do not want to sin ever, but the following words show us what is meant and that is maturity or wholeness. This is the goal or end that these things are working in us. Joseph is not the same man at the end of Genesis that he was before he left his father\u2019s house. He learned humility, and obedience, and submission to God, and wisdom, to be able to have maturity and knowledge to rule in the end.<\/span><\/p>\n

This telos is exactly what we see in 2 Timothy 2:12 which says, \u201cif we endure, we will also reign with him\u2026\u201d This is how we become kings and reign with Christ – through much tribulation, and endurance through trials of various kinds. All godly kings and rulers go through this maturity arc. Think of king David. His path to kingly rule was through many trials. His father and brothers despised his youth. He was a shepherd and faced down lions and bears. He then progressed and moved on to slay goliath. He was on the run from king Saul who wanted to kill him. He had to exercise patience, maturity, endurance, and self-control to restrain himself from taking Saul\u2019s life when it was not yet his time. And then finally endured and matured to reign as king.<\/span><\/p>\n

And think even of the Lord Jesus. He humbled himself, Philippians 2. Putting on human flesh, being born from a virgin womb, and He grew in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man. He endured, waiting patiently till it was His time. He endured rejection from His own to whom He came. Satan tempted him with all the kingdoms of the world – but Jesus refused, knowing He had to suffer first. No crown before a cross. He was betrayed. He sweat great drops of blood in the garden. He endured the sham trial, the mocking, the beating, suffering of the cross, and death itself. He did not save Himself or call down 10,000 angels to rescue Him, He endured the suffering. And then when He rose from the dead, what did He tell His disciples? \u201cAll authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.\u201d And He ascended to the throne, to the right hand of God to rule and reign through enduring trials of various kinds.<\/span><\/p>\n

Trials Have Meaning and Purpose<\/b><\/p>\n

Trials are necessary and trials have meaning and purpose – they have a telos. And this brings great joy to know that suffering in this life is not meaningless because we have a telos – we have a sovereign God who gives purpose and meaning to all things, including trials of various kinds. The world has no category for this. The world thinks that suffering and violence and hunger are meaningless and senseless. But this is not so. For if we endure, we also will reign with Him.<\/span><\/p>\n

And you see, Jesus did not only endure suffering in order to reign, but He also counted it all joy, as Hebrews 12:2 says, \u201cfor the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.\u201d Jesus counted it joy to suffer for the sins of His people and to endure what He endured. The greatest trials and suffering ever to be put upon anyone, He did it perfectly – in the sense of sinless perfection. He counted it joy. He was pleased to suffer for you, His chosen. He was glad to endure trials to be your savior and king. Would you also not then count it a joy to endure for Him? To be made more like Him? To be brought to maturity in Him, more and more conformed to His image? If you know He did it for you, you will want to do it for Him.<\/span><\/p>\n

This also the testimony and example of the earliest Christians in the New Testament Church, who laid the foundation for us. In Acts 5 some of the apostles are arrested for preaching the gospel and they are brought before a council, and they endure and stand firm and then Acts 5:40-42 recounts what happened, \u201c…and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Application<\/b><\/p>\n

Let me leave you with a few points of application as we consider how to put these things into practice.<\/span><\/p>\n

First, count it all joy beforehand, so that when you meet various trials, you will be ready and know what to do. Believe it now, have it set in your heart and mind now, that you will count it all joy. In a word, be prepared. You will face trials, you have faced trials. It is a life long campaign, so prepare to be a victor. You win a battle, you win a war, in part by preparation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Second, as part of that preparation, be prepared to resist the temptation to grumble and complain when you meet trials of various kinds. That is the first fleshly reaction we are tempted to – to complain and grumble because something has upset our plans. But you cannot grumble and rejoice at the same time. So know the schemes of the enemy, and be prepared to win that fight – that you are going to count it joy and not as a reason to complain. Complaining and grumbling produces bitterness which makes you frigid and frail and saps the strength of your soul. Joy makes you strong, and gives steadfastness. The joy of the Lord is our strength.<\/span><\/p>\n

Third, do not take any of this as a reason to seek out trials. Don\u2019t seek them out, you will have plenty come to you. So don\u2019t seek trials, but don\u2019t run from them when they do come. One commentator says, \u201cJames\u2019 purpose is not to encourage his audience to enter into the fire, but rather to rejoice when they feel its flames.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Fourth, when you meet these trials, know what it is producing in you and let steadfastness have its full effect by seeking to learn and grow from your trials, so that you may lack nothing. Look for the lessons. What is God teaching you? What is God showing you about yourself? What weaknesses are being exposed, that you may learn to grow in from your trial. We are here, because we are not done maturing yet. So what does your trial show you you are lacking, that you may no longer lack in it. Do you lack patience? Do you have an ungodly temper? Do you have a loose tongue? God gives us trials that we might let steadfastness have its full effect, that we might no longer lack in those things?<\/span><\/p>\n

Fifth and finally, look to Jesus. Hebrews 12:1-3, \u201cTherefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.\u201d Look to Him. Jesus is steadfast. He does not grow weary or fainthearted. He endured for you, that you might endure. He will keep you and hold you up. A bruised reed He will not crush and a faintly burning wick he will not quench. He is strong and steadfast for you and His love is faithful and enduring when we need it most. You don\u2019t do this alone. You have a great cloud of witnesses, you have a church, you have Christ, and He is steadfast.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Click HERE for sermon audio Count it all joy, my brothers,[b]\u00a0when you meet trials\u00a0of various kinds,\u00a03\u00a0for you know that\u00a0the testing of your faith\u00a0produces steadfastness.\u00a04\u00a0And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4) Introduction As is the character of much of the book of James, we […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":685,"featured_media":6373,"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":[1582],"tags":[33,1973,92,124,181,274,277,1975,1976,474,557,562,567,625,666,672,678,679,696,699,701,1972,716,747,765,1974,1114,1172,1228,1258,1273,1971],"class_list":{"0":"post-6372","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sermon","8":"tag-33","9":"tag-2-4","10":"tag-a","11":"tag-all","12":"tag-be","13":"tag-christ","14":"tag-christian","15":"tag-count","16":"tag-endurance","17":"tag-faith","18":"tag-god","19":"tag-gospel","20":"tag-grace","21":"tag-how","22":"tag-it","23":"tag-james","24":"tag-jenkins","25":"tag-jesus","26":"tag-joseph","27":"tag-joshua","28":"tag-joy","29":"tag-kinds","30":"tag-king","31":"tag-life","32":"tag-lord","33":"tag-meeting","34":"tag-sermon","35":"tag-spirit","36":"tag-testing","37":"tag-to","38":"tag-trials","39":"tag-various","40":"entry"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/04\/R.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":6386,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wisdom-for-kings\/","url_meta":{"origin":6372,"position":0},"title":"Wisdom for Kings","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"April 8, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Click HERE for sermon audio 5\u00a0If any of you lacks wisdom,\u00a0let him ask God,\u00a0who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.\u00a06\u00a0But\u00a0let him ask in faith,\u00a0with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like\u00a0a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sermon"","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/04\/R-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/04\/R-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/04\/R-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6441,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/the-crown-of-life\/","url_meta":{"origin":6372,"position":1},"title":"The Crown of Life","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"April 22, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Click HERE for sermon audio Introduction In this verse James sets before us the whole aim and goal of this first section of the letter, and indeed what is the aim and goal of our whole Christian lives. 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So also will the rich man\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sermon"","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/04\/70831-jobandhisfriends-job-friends-bible-painting.1200w.tn_.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/04\/70831-jobandhisfriends-job-friends-bible-painting.1200w.tn_.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/04\/70831-jobandhisfriends-job-friends-bible-painting.1200w.tn_.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/04\/70831-jobandhisfriends-job-friends-bible-painting.1200w.tn_.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6679,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/catechism-on-the-book-of-james\/","url_meta":{"origin":6372,"position":3},"title":"Catechism on the Book of James","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"August 25, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"I wrote this catechism on James as I recently worked my way preaching through it. It is not a theological or systematic catechism. It is simply a catechism on the book of James, using mostly the language of James himself, to help one remember the contents of the book. Chapter\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "theology"","block_context":{"text":"theology","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/theology\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/08\/300px-Saint_James_the_Just.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":6676,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/if-anyone-wanders\/","url_meta":{"origin":6372,"position":4},"title":"If Anyone Wanders","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"August 22, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Click HERE for sermon audio My brothers,\u00a0if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone\u00a0brings him back,\u00a020\u00a0let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. (James 5:19-20) Introduction Today we conclude the book\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sermon"","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/08\/pexels-mgnationstudios-20428404-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/08\/pexels-mgnationstudios-20428404-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/08\/pexels-mgnationstudios-20428404-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/08\/pexels-mgnationstudios-20428404-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/08\/pexels-mgnationstudios-20428404-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/08\/pexels-mgnationstudios-20428404-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6545,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/even-the-demons-believe\/","url_meta":{"origin":6372,"position":5},"title":"Even the Demons Believe","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"June 10, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith\u00a0but does not have works? Can that faith save him?\u00a015\u00a0If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,\u00a016\u00a0and one of you says to them, \u201cGo in peace, be warmed and filled,\u201d without giving them the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sermon"","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/06\/OIP.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6372","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=6372"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6372\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6373"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6372"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6372"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6372"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}