Chapter 4; Part 1: A Fierce Battle
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Chapter 4; Part 1: A Fierce Battle
Chapter 4; Part 1: A Fierce Battle
New Character in Chapters 4
Apollyon (page. 87)
Two men quickly retreating. (page 93)
The Voice of Another in the Valley (page 97)
Pope and Pagan (page 98)
New Places in Chapter 4
Valley of Humiliation (page 87)
Valley of the Shadow of Death (page 95)
The very Mouth of Hell (page 96)
We left Christian as he was leaving from the top of the Hill of Difficulty.
Here is where Christian was surrounded by comfort, and the fellowship of other Saints.
Christian had a very good feeling, as we all do on our so called “mountain top experiences.”
Christian was armed with the Armour of God.
On top of the Hill of Difficulty, feeling comfortable, and clad with shiny, new armour, you could say that Christian was feeling pretty good about himself.
But we will see that the line that Prudence, one of the Beautiful Maidens, said to Christian, really does ring true, when she said, “it is a hard thing for a man to go down into the Valley of Humiliation.”
Christian is about to find out that God did not give us His armour so that we made boastfully parade about, rather He gave it to us for battle.
He is also about to learn the lesson of 1 Corinthians 10:12, where it says;
Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
For Christians are not long on top of the mountain, until they must again go back down into a valley.
As soon as Christian comes off the Hill of Difficulty, he is plummeted into the Valley of Humiliation, where is immediately, put to the test.
As the name of the valley makes clear, Christian is about to be severely humbled by Humiliation.
Christian had not walked long in Valley until he spies a foul fiend coming his way.
His name was Apollyon.
At the sight of him, Christian thought about turning back for fear of him.
But than he remembered that his armour had no protection in the back.
And to turn back now would open him up to receive the darts of the wicked one before him.
In this, there is a two-fold lesson.
1. In the Christian life, there is no going back, only forward.
2. We must not turn our backs on the wicked one, but soberly, and vigilantly fight him off with the armour given us by the Lord.
With this in mind Christian goes forward, and meets Apollyon.
Apollyon asked Christian where he came from, Christian told him that he had come from the City of Destruction.
Apollyon than remarks on how Christian must have been one of his subjects, for he was the prince if that city.
Christian agreed that he was born under his domain, and was once one of his subjects.
This is true, for we are all born in the City of Destruction, and have the devil for our master.
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Christian than spoke of how Apollyon’s service was hard, and that he could not live on the wages.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Christian than asserts to Apollyon how he is now under the Lords service.
He asserts how he had made up his mind, and that he prefers everything about his new Masters service better than that of Apollyon’s.
Apollyon tries to convince Christian to turn back dew to the dangers ahead in the way he has chosen, also because of the shameful deaths that many of the Kings servants come to.
He tries to use the fact that the Lord ordains hardships in our life, as a means by which to deter Christian from the way.
Yet, Christian answers Apollyon’s discouragement rightly.
He says that the Lords restraint not to deliver His servants from hardship is a loving thing done to test their love for Him.
It also makes the glory of Heaven, final rest, and eternal communion with the Lord so much more precious, when we have been tried by the testings of this life.
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Apollyon than reminds Christian of all the failures eh has commited along his way.
He reminds him of how he almost choked in the Swamp of Despond, how he attempted to rid his burden the wrong way, how he sinfully slept, and lost his scroll, and how Christian sometimes seeks his own glory when talking about his journey thus far.
Christian agreed with Apollyon with his charges against him.
He said he had so often failed his Lord, but that He was always ready to forgive, and pardon.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Martin Luther: “So when the Devil throws your sins in your face, and declares that you deserve death and Hell, tell him this: “I admit that I deserve death and hell, what of it? For I know One who suffered and made satisfaction on behalf. His name is Jesus Christ, Son of God, and where He is there I shall be also!
With this Apollyon shrieked with rage, telling of how he hated Christians new found Lord.
Apollyon spread himself over the entire breadth of the way, and promised that today would be Christians last day on his journey, and that he would spill his soul.
Read the battle scene. (Page 90)
Christian received many wounds in his battle with Apollyon, he despaired in this time of testing.
He struggled with his own imperfections, and remaining unbelief.
But than the Word of God is brought afresh onto Christians mind, and in believing these truths, with renewed faith, he is spared.
It is the Word of God that gives Christian the victory, God renewed his hope, and with this sword he gives his enemy a mortal wound.
Christian alone could not defeat Apollyon, only the double edged sword of the Word of God could do that.
We, like Christian, must fight the devil with the Word of God, submitting the the God of that Word.
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
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.
But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Christian may have entered the Valley of Humiliation puffed up, and self confident.
But he departs with a humble reliance on the Word of God, and prayerful gratitude to his Master who graciously delivered him.
He tah departs with his sword drawn, he has learned his lesson, and now relies constantly on the Word of for protection.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Next weak we will see how Christians goes from this valley, to yet another one.
