A Burden Lifted and a Journey Begun Part 3
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Timorous and Mistrust
Beautiful Maidens - Discretion, Prudence, Piety, and Charity
The Hill Difficulty
The Pleasant Arbor (on the Hill Difficulty)
The House Beautiful
Immanuel’s Land
The Valley of Humiliation
As Christian is abandoned by Formalist and Hypocrisy at the foot of the Hill of Difficulty, we see Christian now beginning to make his ascent up the hill.
This is to resemble the various trials that we as believers will face in our pilgrimage.
It is truly said that the Christian life is either at one of three place - In a trial, Just leaving a trial, Or about to go into one.
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Genuine Christians are called to suffer hard times, that appear in various different forms.
This is where we find Christian, going up the hill of difficulty.
It is an upward climb to resemble the challenges involved in suffering.
We see Christian running, and than walking, and than finally crawling under the weight of his struggles.
Until he arrives at the Pleasant Arbor, this is a place set up by the Lord as a place of temporary rest for weary pilgrims.
Here we see him stop to rest, and while he does we see Christian take out his scroll.
Remember this scroll was given to him by one of the Three Shining Ones, as a way by which to encourage himself along his journey, because this scroll reminded him of what happened to him at the foot of the cross.
He looks at his new coat that he had been given, representing the righteousness of Christ imputed to him.
He thinks of all the grace he had been shown amidst all his struggles, and he reviews the promises of God in the middle of his difficulties.
This is what Christian ought to do, and this is what we must do amidst our troubles.
We must remember the grace, faithfulness, and promises of God.
But than we see something happen to Christian.
As he is resting, he falls into a deep sleep.
In his sleep his scroll falls out of his hand, and than someone comes to him, and wakes him up by saying, “Go to the ant thou sluggard, and consider her ways,” quoting directly from the Proverbs.
With this Christian sprang right up, and continued on his way.
We than see Christian reach the top of the hill where he meets two more people, Timorous and Mistrust.
They come to Christian telling him a fearful story of how their lions in the path ahead, and that the further they go along in this journey, the more dangers they encounter.
They tell Christian they are leaving the path due to the difficulties, their stories made Christian fearful.
Christian contemplated leaving, but he knew to do that their was nothing but death, and destruction.
But to go forward, though marked by difficulty, their was nothing by life eternal.
With this Christian goes forward, and Timorous and Mistrust leave.
Speak on how this proved the falsehood of Timorous and Mistrust’ faith, and the reality of Christians.
They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
Fearful of the things to come, Christian reaches for his scroll to comfort himself, and discovers it is not there.
Not knowing what to do he remembers that he slept in the arbor on the hill.
He falls on his knees and repents for his foolish act of sleeping in a place designed only for a temporary rest.
The whole way back to the arbor he chides himself for his “sinful sleep” as he calls it.
With every step he is reminded of his sinful choice of sleeping, where one should only rest.
This sleeping of Christian, I believe, is to represent sinful choices that Christians make in their life.
Due to his sinful choices Christian loses his scroll, representing him losing his assurance of salvation.
He thankfully receives his scroll and places it carefully in his pocket, this scroll was his assurance of his life and acceptance into the Celestial City.
After finding it, Christians heads on his way.
As Christian was walking, he lifts his eyes, and see a palace, and the name of the place was House Beautiful.
Speak on how Christian began to walk, but than notices the lion.
Fear strikes Christian as he is faced with the option of either turning back, or going forward.
Just than, the porter of the house, named Watchful.
Read what the porter says, and the poem. (Pg. 71)
With this urging Christian fearfully, yet courageously walks forward.
With trouble on both sides, Christian must keep his eyes forward on the straight path, and the House Beautiful.
Speak on how this relates to Peter when trying to walk to Jesus on the sea.
Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.
And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,
but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.
And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.
But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear.
But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”
He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.
But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”
Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Speak on how as long as Peter kept his eyes on Christ, he was fine, but the moment he took his eyes off Christ he sank.
Relate this to Christian.
Christian makes it past the lions, and comes to the House Beautiful.
All true Christians will persevere, no matter the opposition.
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
The House Beautiful is to represent the true Church, Watchful is to represent a Pastor, leading fearful saints through hardships.
Christian is than questioned by Discretion, Prudence, Piety, and Charity about the legitimacy of his testimony, and with much questioning he his joyfully permitted entrance.
This of course speaks to the fact that the true Church is made up believers only.
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Speak of the fellowship that they have in the House Beautiful.
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Speak on Christian fellowship.
We as believers edify one another, love one another, tolerate one another.
We carry each others burden, we speak with each other about each others sins, and we hold each other accountable.
This is what Christian is experiencing in the House Beautiful.(Church)
Here Christian is encourage in the word of God, taught how to pray, taught deeply in doctrine, and encouraged to trust in the Lord alone.
This has always been the job of the church, to equip the saints to be faithful, even through the battles of life.
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
This is what the fellow believers do for Christian in the house beautiful.
And knowing that Christian is going to have battles ahead they equip him.
They also replace his robes, with armor.
Speak on how the Christian is a solider.
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
This is the armor that Christian needs for the upcoming battles that we will look at next week.