Journey of Christian from City of Destruction to the Celestial City

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 Credits
 These Pilgrim’s Progress Presentations are as a result of Bible Studies I did at my home church in Moose
Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada. The only thing I ask is that when you use them to present to others, that you
give the Good Lord credit through my name (Michal Lopianowski).
 Τhe version of Pilgrim's Progress I am using is the one by Barry Horner
 Most of the text in the presentations, if it is not sited on the page itself, comes from Barry Horner’s
Commentary on the Pilgrim’s Progress from his website: www.bunyanministries.org
 The comic snippets come from CREATOR ART STUDIO, published by KINGSTONE Comics at
www.kingstonemedia.com
 Any place where I mention Maltese Website as a reference, the material was taken from
www.lavvanztalpellegrin.com; which no longer seems to be working
 Other pictures are from www.garretttaylor.com and illustrations from Mike Wimmer
 As I complete more presentations I will be putting them on line; usually in the winter months

3. NOW I understand that they all
continued on till they came to the
foot of a Hill, at the bottom of
which was a spring. At this same
place two other ways joined with
the straight way coming from the
Wicket-gate; one turned to the left
hand and the other to the right at
the bottom of the Hill. However,
the narrow way continued straight
up the Hill, its name being
Difficulty.

4. • What does the hill represent?
 While the narrow way ahead is straight,
yet it ascends and descends in a
manner that is designed to sorely test
persevering pilgrims.
 Could be:
 persecution,
 physical difficulties,
 acts of self-denial,
 experiences of humbling our proud hearts,
 not seeking the praise of men,
 overcoming sinful habits of the flesh,
 graciously forgiving ingratitude, etc

5. • What does the spring represent?
 This is a clear reference to Isaiah
49:10-11 where Israel is
encouraged with the promise:
 "They will not hunger or thirst, Nor will
the scorching heat or sun strike them
down; For He who has compassion on
them will lead them And will guide
them to springs of water. "I will make
all My mountains a road, And My
highways will be raised up.""
Isa 49:10-11
 So God provides the means of
grace whereby pilgrims may be
enabled to conquer difficulties
He will drink from the brook by the wayside;
Therefore He will lift up His head. Ps 110:7

7. • Formalist and Hypocrisy may be of a ridiculing and
persecuting religion - never a suffering one.
• It is, however, striking that while formerly they took a
short cut to avoid the Cross, here they have to take a way
round about to avoid the hill; which things are also for an
allegory - many of the longest wanderings in life have
been begun to avoid a very little hill. (The Road, pg 84)
• Often it takes some interesting mental tricks or "schemes"
to avoid the painful realities of life.
 "Behold, I have found only this, that God made men upright, but
they have sought out many devices." Ecc 7:29

8. • Involving ourselves in a myriad of distractions.
 we become too busy to think, reflect, or even hear about things we can't handle,
enjoy, or control.
 We may even set up elaborate ways to avoid negative information, such as
skipping the hard news sections of the papers.
 There is nothing inherently wrong with busyness, but God offers a life that is busy
with joy
 For he will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the
gladness of his heart. Ecc 5:20
• Using a medium to escape the reality
 Drugs and alcohol
 1 I said to myself, "Come on, let's try pleasure. Let's look for the 'good things' in life." But I
found that this, too, was meaningless. 2 So I said, "Laughter is silly. What good does it do to
seek pleasure?" 3 After much thought, I decided to cheer myself with wine. And while still
seeking wisdom, I clutched at foolishness. In this way, I tried to experience the only
happiness most people find during their brief life in this world. Ecc 2:1–4 (NLT)
Thomas Nelson Publishers. (2001). In What does the Bible say about...Thomas Nelson Publishers. (2001). In What does the Bible say about...

9. • We may deny that life has problems by constantly telling each
other, "Everything's fine." Our conversation may be filled with
propaganda that we want to believe.
• In this way we can become like the false scribes that Jeremiah
described, whose cry was "peace, peace" when there was no
peace
 "They heal the brokenness of the daughter of My people superficially, Saying,
'Peace, peace,' But there is no peace. Jer 8:11
• God is the God of peace, but He also uses adversity to build our
character
 In the day of prosperity be happy, But in the day of adversity consider— God has
made the one as well as the other So that man will not discover anything that will
be after him. Ecc 7:14
Thomas Nelson Publishers. (2001). In What does the Bible say about...Thomas Nelson Publishers. (2001). In What does the Bible say about...

10. • Unlike Formalist and Hypocrisy, Christian has
great determination in the face of temporary
difficulty on account of his living hope.
 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great
mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of
Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and
undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by
the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In
this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been
distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than
gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise
and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 1Pet 1:3-7

11. • He is first strengthened by grace
• Sings as he goes, expresses genuine pilgrim motivation;
 rightly dealing with trials

12. • How?
 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations,
… Rom 5:3
 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter
various trials, … Jas 1:2-4
 I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults,
hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for
Christ. 2Cor 12:10 (NLT)
 … accepted joyfully the seizure of your property …
Heb 10:34

13. • Why?
 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation
brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven
character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has
been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Rom 5:3-5
 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing
that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its
perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Jas 1:2-4
 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in
weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the
power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my
weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I
suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2Cor 12:9-10 (NLT)

14.  For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your
property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one.
Heb 10:34
 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love
God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Rom 8:28
 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He
who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also
with Him freely give us all things? Rom 8:31-32
 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or
persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 37 But in all these things we
overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither
death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor
powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate
us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 35; 37-39
 Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In
all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Prov 3:5-6

17. • Pathway – Destruction
 The "gospel of self-esteem"
 Me centered, not God centered
 Give glory to the LORD your God
before he brings darkness, before
your feet stumble on the twilight
mountains, and while you look for
light he turns it into gloom and makes
it deep darkness. Jer 13:16 (ESV)
• Pathway – Danger
 The "prosperity gospel"
 Offers a comfortable pathway
 But those who turn aside to their
crooked ways the LORD will lead
away with evildoers! Ps 125:5
(ESV)

18. • Says; "If the way God is treating me, and the things God is doing in
my life don't make much of me and don't make me feel good about
myself, then I don't want to have anything to do with God!"
• True Gospel:
 The highest sense of satisfaction should be making much of Him, not having
Him make much of us.
 Test of true grace: Is the best thing God could give you is Himself to make
much of and enjoy? If you don't think that's the best thing He could do for you,
then you don't understand grace.
 If you think the best thing God could do for you is give you a good marriage, or
believing kids, or healthy body, or successful church, then you don't
understand grace.
 The most loving thing, the highest thing God could ever give you Himself for
your everlasting enjoyment.

19. Larry CrabbLarry Crabb

20. • In the last chapter Christian tried to
reason and share the truth with
Formalist and Hypocrisy.
• It is important he not continue with
them any longer:
 "Let them alone; they are blind guides of
the blind. And if a blind man guides a
blind man, both will fall into a pit."
Matt 15:14
 Do not be deceived: "Bad company
corrupts good morals." 1Cor 15:33

21. • He continues to head in the right
direction without looking either
backward or to the left or to the
right.
 "No one, after putting his hand to the
plow and looking back, is fit for the
kingdom of God." Luke 9:62

22. • No doubt he has cried to the Lord of the
Hill for relief from his increasing distress
 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice, And
be gracious to me and answer me. Ps 27:7
 And He said to them, "Come away by
yourselves to a secluded place and rest a
while." Mark 6:31
 1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2
He makes me lie down in green pastures; He
leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He restores my
soul; He guides me in the paths of
righteousness For His name’s sake. Ps 23:1–3

23. • Scroll
 Like a lady who is engaged to be married and gains assurance
by looking at the ring of promise that her prospective bride-
groom has given to her, so Christian is strengthened with the
token of God’s irrevocable covenant love, namely His
pledge of the Holy Spirit
 … having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit
of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a
view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of
His glory. Eph 1:13-14

24. • Garment
I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, My soul
will exult in my God; For He has clothed me
with garments of salvation, He has wrapped
me with a robe of righteousness, As a
bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
And as a bride adorns herself with her
jewels. Isa 61:10

25. • Pleased himself instead of doing what?
 Praising and thanking the Lord
 What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did
receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
1Cor 4:7
 Christian slips into the very condition he had earlier found to
be so deplorable in Simple, Sloth, and Presumption.
 Yet, as Kelman points out, he differed from them in two essential points, for
» (1) he had done something to earn repose, and
» (2) he repented when he was awakened.

26. Go to the ant, O sluggard,
Observe her ways and be
wise Pro 6:6
• Who could the
"someone" be?
 Possibly Evangelist?

27. • In other words, God's grace preparing a pilgrim for the task awaiting him;
and of God's help repairing his strength in the midst of it:
 Hagar found the "Spring" in what seemed a desert "God opened her eyes and she saw a
well of water" Gen. 21:19
 Moses was prepared for an uphill task, when before he went in to confront Pharaoh with a
demand for freedom, God said to him, 'certainly I will be with thee' Exod. 3:12
 Joshua was made aware of a "Spring" of comfort when, under the towering walls of Jericho,
One appeared to him who said, " I indeed come now as captain of the host of the LORD"
Josh. 5:14
 Gideon drank of the "Spring," when the Angel of the Lord called him to an arduous
enterprise, but first "looked upon him," and said, "Go in this thy might" Judges 6:14
 To Elijah, on the eve of a toilsome journey, that same sympathetic Voice said, "The journey
is too great for thee; arise and eat" 1 Kings 19:7
 And our Saviour was made like to these His brethren, and to many others on life's
pilgrimage since, when at the Jordan He was first certified of His Father's favour by voice
and sign, and then led up into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil Matt. 4:1

28. • Difficulties sift the company of professed travellers, by
separating false pilgrims from true.
 Formalist and Hypocrisy wanted happiness but not holiness;
 They sought a crown, but had no mind to take a cross!
• The Hill Difficulty, when on the Narrow Way, is never
insurmountable; and for true pilgrims there is always
support and refreshment on the path.
• There may be worse temptations in hours of rest than in
hours of difficulty.
 Watchfulness is needed to the end.

29. "The Bible will keep you from sin, or
sin will keep you from the Bible"
D.L. Moody