High and Silver Presents: The Pilgrim’s Progress

Faithful faces deadly foes—old and new—while Christian must overcome a major setback.

No new chapter in the Pilgrim's Progress this week, but I hope you enjoy this short Holy Week audio presentation. It's from 2018, but I've had a number of people tell me they listen to it every year, at this time of year. Back next week with Christian and Faithful.

The reverend and the sage have a look at some of the odder characters along the Pilgrim Road.

Christian meets some unusual fellows along the Narrow Way.

Zach and Mr. Sagacity talk about the iron cage and the freedom that comes from a look to the cross. (Special guest: Charles Haddon Spurgeon!!) ----more---- Here are the Scripture texts: Christ pours oil on the fire: 2 Cor. 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. The man in the iron cage: Luke 8:13 And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. Heb. 6:4-6 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. Luke 19:14 But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ Heb. 10:28-29 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? Rom. 1:24-25 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. 2 Cor. 7:9-11 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter. The Vision of the End: 1 Cor. 15 - (Whole Chapter) 1 Thess. 4:16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Jude 15 to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” John 5: 28,29 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. 2 Thess. 1:8-10 The Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. Rev. 20:11-14 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. Isa. 26:21 For behold, the Lord is coming out from his place to punish the inhabitants of he earth for their iniquity, and the earth will disclose the blood shed on it, and will no more cover its slain. Micah 7:16,17 The nations shall see and be ashamed of all their might; they shall lay their hands on their mouths; their ears shall be deaf; they shall lick the dust like a serpent, like the crawling things of the earth; they shall come trembling out of their strongholds; they shall turn in dread to the Lord our God, and they shall be in fear of you. Psa. 5:4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. Ps. 50:1-3 The Mighty One, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth. Our God comes

Faithful arrives at the gate and Christian at the cross.

Zach and Mr. Sagacity discuss the first few rooms of the Interpreter's house and last-ditch efforts of the enemy at the gate,. ----more--- If we claim to have sin, vs. if we confess our sin: 1 John 1:8-9 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Even if Spoken to, Christian offered no reply: Luke 10:4 Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. (Also connects to Faithful leaving with no bag, purse, sword, etc.) Knock and the Door will be Opened: Matthew 7:7-8 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. “I am going to Mt. Zion:” Psalm 2:6 As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill." Psalm 48:1-3 Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain, 2 beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King. (vs. the worldly fortress/citadel that Beelzebub maintains) Hebrews 12:22-24 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. God is willing with all his heart that the gate be opened to contrite sinners: Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Good-Will pulling Christian through the gate to avoid arrows: Jeremiah 31:2-3 Thus says the LORD: "The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest, 3 the LORD appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. John 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. “I Rejoice and tremble” Psalm 2:11-12 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. “An open door is set before you, which no man can shut.” Revelation 3:8 "'I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Those who enter here are never cast out: John 6:37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. Discern the strait road from the many false ways: Matthew 7:13-14 "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. The Interpreter as a picture of the ministry of the Holy Spirit: John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. John 15:26 "But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. John 16:13-14 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. “I will show you things beneficial:” Matthew 13:10-11 Then the disciples came and said to him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" 11 And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 1 John 2:20, 27 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge . . . But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie--just as it has taught you, abide in him. The Interpreter’s man lights a candle (illumination): Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. THE ROOM FULL OF DUST Sweeping vs. Sprinkling: Ezekiel 36:25-27 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit

In the final push to the wicket gate and beyond, new dangers and temptations threaten the pilgrims.

The pilgrims discuss the right and wrong use of the law and how these fit into the pilgrim way.

Christian makes a deadly mistake and chaos envelopes the City of Destruction.

Zach and Mr. Sagacity discuss chapter 2, the Slough of Despond, and the way that enemies and even close friends might treat a newly called pilgrim. -----more----- Here are the Scriptures: His neighbors watch him run: Jeremiah 20:10 For I hear many whispering. Terror is on every side! "Denounce him! Let us denounce him!" say all my close friends, watching for my fall. "Perhaps he will be deceived; then we can overcome him and take our revenge on him." Burden will sink him lower than the grave: Genesis 19:24 24 ¶ Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the LORD out of heaven. Revelation 20:15 15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 21:8 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death." What you leave behind not worthy to compare: Romans 8:18-19 18 ¶ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 17For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. Where I am going, more than enough to spare: Luke 15:17 17 "But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! Treasure stored up in heaven: 1 Peter 1:3-4 ¶ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, Matthew 6:19-21 19 ¶ "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ...and are secure there: Hebrews 11:16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. Obstinate's description of crazy-headed coxcombs... Proverbs 26:16 16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly. Confirmed by the blood of him who made it: Luke 22:20 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. Hebrews 13:20-21 20 ¶ Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Written by the one who cannot lie: Titus 1:1-2 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began Endless kingdom, we inhabit forever: Isaiah 45:17 But Israel is saved by the LORD with everlasting salvation; you shall not be put to shame or confounded to all eternity. John 10:27-30 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30I and the Father are one." Crowns of glory and shining garments: 2 Timothy 4:8 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. Romans 13:14 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. Zechariah 3:1-5 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. 2 And the LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, O Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?" 3Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. 4 And the angel said to those who were standing before him, "Remove the filthy garments from him." And to him he said, "Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments

Christian meets a new companion, an enormous setback, and a strong temptation.

Zach and Mr. Sagacity begin the digression, discussing Chapter 1 and the Scriptures behind it. ----more---- The Derek Thomas resource we mention can be viewed here: https://www.ligonier.org/learn/series/pilgrims-progress-guided-tour Or on RightNowMedia, which you can access here: http://churchlansing.com/rightnowmedia/ (According to the good folks at RNM, just your listening to this podcast connects you to our church enough to get you free access to their amazing catalog of Bible study resources, under our subscription.) Here are the verses we discussed: Isaiah 64:6 We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. Habakkuk 2:2 And the LORD answered me: "Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. Psalm 38:4 For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. Acts 2:37 ¶ Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Acts 16:30 Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31 And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." Hebrews 9:27-28 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. Job 16:20-22 My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; 21 on behalf of a man he pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend. 22 "Only a few years will pass before I go on the journey of no return. Ezekiel 22:14 Will your courage endure or your hands be strong in the day I deal with you? I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it. Isaiah 30:33 33 Topheth has long been prepared; it has been made ready for the king. Its fire pit has been made deep and wide, with an abundance of fire and wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of burning sulfur, sets it ablaze. Matthew 3:3, For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.'" But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Matthew 7:13 ¶ "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. 2 Peter 1:19 And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, Luke 14:26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Luke 9:62 Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." Genesis 19:17 And as they brought them out, one said, "Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away." . . . But Lot's wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. Luke 14:33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. John 3:16, 36 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. . . Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ----more----

In this pilot episode, Christian learns troubling news about the fate of his city and struggles to find anyone who will take it seriously.