A Survey of the Pilgrim's Progress Part 8

All right, well, good morning. We're gonna get started and hopefully you enjoyed our resurrection Sunday service. what a wonderful day, great, great celebration as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and hopefully, last, this past week you had a chance to see Pastor Mike's, teaching of our last section on our YouTube, video channel. If you haven't seen it, please go ahead and check that out.

It's very informative and. Truly will will bless you. Well, speaking of the previous sections, we learned from Pastor Mike that as Christian and faithful journeyed to the celestial city, they both would encounter different experiences which teaches us that as believers, God will put us through various sanctifying experiences in his plan of glorification. Now this morning we'll be covering sections 65 to 72.

Hopefully you had a chance to pick up your handout, Sunday school class handout. Well, as you come to our first section, section 65, we witness faithful's conversation with talkative. As you read the seven sections for this particular class, you saw that as Christian and faithful continue their journey to the celestial city, they see another traveler walking at a distance beside them. Now this traveler is a tall traveler and his name is Talkative.

And when you think of the name talkative, what thoughts come to your mind that he, what he talks a lot. He talks and talks and talks as we'll see in a few moments. Well, faithful and talkative strike up an interesting conversation. In fact, faithful says, come on then, let us go together and let us spend our time in discoursing of things that are profitable.

Well, talkative as his name implies, like I said, loves to talk a lot, and here's what he says. He says, to talk of things that are good to me is very acceptable with you or with any other. I will talk of things heavenly or things earthly, things moral or things evangelical, things sacred or things profane, things past or things that come, things foreign or things at home, things more essential or things circumstantial, provided that all be done to our prophet. I'm running out of breath as I'm talking about what he likes to talk about, right?

talkative would be a great late night TV host, wouldn't he? Because he loves to talk a lot. But as you read this section, you saw that after Faithful's lengthy conversation with Talkative, talkative made an immediate impression on Faithful, so much so that Faithful was convinced that talkative would make a very excellent pilgrim or Christian. Now why would faithful say this?

Well, in your class notes, it says we see that talkative showed many commendable qualities that true Christians display as commentator Ken Pole says that he is cordial and gratified by the company of other pilgrims. He is fervent in how he speaks of his faith as we all should. He enjoys most talking about the things of God and so do we. He expresses delight in God's word and knows his Bible well as most Christians should.

He's willing to address any subject provided the conversation is profitable and talkative was very fluent in his words. He had a very bold, enthusiastic and well spoken personality that was very contagious and attracted many. Now do these qualities identify talkative as a true born again regenerated believer of Jesus Christ? Not necessarily so.

And just because a person has these qualities, again, it doesn't mean that they have been saved by Jesus Christ. In fact, Matthew chapter 7 verse 21 says, and a lot of verses I'll be reading this morning will be from the Legacy Standard Bible translation. But Jesus said, not everyone who says to me, what? Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven will enter.

Now sadly these verses are speaking about those who have not truly placed their faith in Jesus Christ as the son of God. And have also proved their faith by their lifestyle. Well, faithful was easily deceived thinking that talkative was a believer. Now have you ever been deceived by someone like talkative, who by his words deceived you into thinking that he was a true believer of Jesus Christ?

And it's very difficult to tell sometimes, isn't it? To tell whether a person is a believer. They say they're a Christian, but are they truly a believer of Jesus Christ. And there might be a time in our Christian life that we have to humbly examine or judge another Christian's life to see if they are of the faith when they are habitually sinning.

And sometimes it hits close to home, doesn't it? Especially with our children, because as parents we might think that they, our kids are saved, but their lifestyle, their words, their thinking just doesn't prove it something just doesn't add up. They look like it outwardly, but they have not been truly regenerated on the inside, as Titus chapter 3 verse 5 says. And we need to keep praying for our children, right?

Keep praying for their salvation. Well, upon closer examination of talkative's life, there was reason to doubt. He looks like a Christian from a distance, but when you get close to him, watch out, as we'll see in a few moments. Next, let's move on to section 66 as Christian reveals to faithful the truth about talkative.

There is a shift as faithful leaves his conversation with talkative and speaks privately to Christian about talkative. Now Christian showed tremendous discernment here. He was not fooled and he easily, he wasn't fooled easily and he provided faithful with a stunning but a truthful evaluation of talkative. Christian knew of talkative's reputation in the city of destruction, and it's not a good one.

Especially among family and his friends. So Christian wasn't impressed with talkative and raised 3 areas of concerns which should challenge faithful to rethink his assessment of talkative. Now these serious issues will also help us out as we, as we guard, put up our guard and use our discernment whenever we encounter a person who might look like a believer. Well, the first serious issue was, and if you look at your class notes, is number one, though talkative, speaks well, his life doesn't measure up to his talk.

John Bunyan highlights the discrepancy between talkative words and his walk by saying he is the son of one Sawell and lives on Pading Row. His speech sounds refined and informed, yet it amounts to little more than babbling and gibberish. 1 John chapter 3 verses 7 and 10 tells us the apostle John says, little children, make sure no one deceives you. The one who practices righteousness is righteous just as he is righteous.

And again, maybe you've met someone, maybe in a church, maybe here at Cornerstone who, who is just like talkative. He talks to others about God, he handles the scriptures well in order to arrive at conclusions. He can take doctrine, he can break it down for others to understand it. However, prayer is absent from his life, showing faith in God is nonexistent and repentance of sin is nowhere to be found.

You don't hear this person asking for forgiveness if he offends someone or going to God first and asking for forgiveness. Well, in this allegory, faithful thinks that Christian is just jesting about talkative life. Well, Christian says that he would not joke about one's salvation, right? That's a serious issue, or falsely accuse talkative about not being a genuine Christian, right?

That's a serious matter when you think about it. And Christian witness talkative conversation and here's what he says. He says religion has no place in his heart or house or conversation. All he has lies in his tongue, and his religion is to make noise therewith.

Can you imagine? what a reputation to have, right? The best quality about you is your tongue, right? That's not necessarily a good quality to have.

Talkative has a hypocritical do as I say, not as I do type of belief. But when you think about talkative life, who do we think about in the Bible? We think about the Pharisees, remember? The religious elite of Israel who had a do as I say, not as I do type of philosophy.

Well, in Matthew chapter 23 verse 3, Jesus says, therefore all that they tell you, do and keep, but do not do according to their deeds, for they say things and do not do them. Sounds just like talkative. But commentator Ken Pole says even animals when they act according to their God-given natures, serve God better than he. We all talkative.

True salvation, salvation, excuse me, salvation is more than knowing and saying the right things. It is a change of heart that leads to a changed life, and that's the issue, right? For a person who's truly born again, a changed heart leads to what? A changed life.

In 1 Corinthians chapter 4 verse 20, We see it says, for the kingdom of God does not consist in words. It's not just words, right? As we live our Christian life, but in power, power according to the Holy Spirit who resides inside of us. Well, the next serious issue that should get faithful to rethink his assessment of talkative is number 2, though talkative appears to be a passionate pilgrim, his life looks better from a distance than from close up.

this past Monday, I don't know if you had a chance to see the national championship game, college national championship game on, on TV where Baylor won, right? Baylor beat Gonzaga. And it was really interesting how the cameras scanned over, all over the court, but then they scanned and they showed they were focusing on Baylor, the team that won the national championship for, for college. And it showed that team praying.

They were huddled together and they were praying. Now the question is, we would say, wow, those guys must be Christians. Was that true? Maybe from a distance they look like they're believers, but we really don't know if they truly are.

As I mentioned earlier, talkative's reputation in the city of destruction was not a good one, especially among family and friends. When he travels away, talkative represents himself very well to those who he meets. however, his actions do not measure up to what he is proclaiming. Ken Poles again says he is knowledgeable, well spoken, and polite, but to those who know him more intimately, he falls short.

His actions towards them are sinful, unjust, and unreasonable. He is a saint abroad and a devil at home. Well, his religion is but a facade he has built to cover his life. The third serious issue that should get faithful to rethink his assessment of talkative is 3, though talkative is fervent in how he speaks of his faith, his witness before others is both deceptive and it's dangerous.

Again, Ken Pole says his life discredits the words he speaks. His hypocrisy leads to devastating consequences and this is what he says here. He says his conduct causes many to fall, disgusting some and causing them to turn away from the faith. You see the impact that our lives have on people.

He says while deluding others into thinking a believer can live comfortably with sin in his life, we know that's not true at all. In fact, Psalm 66:18 says, if I see wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear. Well, Christian has a comment about talkative and he says he is the very stain, reproach and shame of religion to all that know him. Can you imagine?

Can you imagine someone saying about that about a person who acts like or says he's a Christian, but truly is not a believer in Jesus Christ. talkative lacked integrity, right? Integrity is, integrity is what, living what you believe, right? Living what you believe when no one's watching you.

That's what integrity is. Doing the right thing again when no one is watching. Proverbs 19:1 says, better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than he who is crooked in his lips and is a fool. Sounds like talkative, right?

I just, this week I had an opportunity to talk to a shoe repair man in Moreno Valley, and he told me that years ago he was about to enter into the shoe repair business with a gentleman who he was working with who said he was a Christian. But every day this man would go to the cash register and take money out of the cash register. So I asked him, I said, Javier, I said, and he says he was a Christian, and he shook his head and he said yes, he said he was a Christian. Now can you imagine again, we have to make sure that our walk matches our talk.

Well, what do you think of Christian's assessment of talkative? Now, someone may ask, why is Christian being judgmental and severe to talkative? Isn't it wrong, we hear this, to judge another person? We hear it all the time, right?

Well, Matthew 7:1 says, do not judge that you will not be judged, for with, for with what judgment you judge, you will be judged and with what measure you measure, it will be measured to you. The word judge there in that verse means to bring about an unjust criticism, criticism about someone, OK? Bringing about an unjust criticism about someone when you judge them. When you think about a Christian's assessment of talkative, is not unjust, is it?

But fully warranted because of talkative lifestyle. And though in the thought, when you really think about the word judgment, another word for judgment is discernment, OK? Discernment, being discerning. The definition of discerning is an act of perceiving something.

Is an act of perceiving something that's what discernment means so Christian was judging or perceiving something in talkative life that wasn't adding up it just wasn't right his antennas were going up. He says he's a Christian, but his life did not match it. So when you judge or show discernment with another person's lifestyle or thoughts, be very careful. We have to do that, but be careful because if you judge with the wrong attitude, you judge with pride against another person, it's like you standing above that person and acting as their judge, right?

And that's not the way it's supposed to be. God is, is our ultimate judge. But be discerning as you look at another person's life. Remember in the same passage in Matthew chapter 7 verse 5, Jesus said, before you confront someone with their sin, first take what?

The log out of your own eye first, right? So when someone claims to be a Christian, give them the benefit of the doubt, but be wise, careful, and use plenty of discernment. Now here are some helpful question, questions to ask yourself as you try to be discerning about a person who confesses Christ, but his lifestyle doesn't match his talk. Do they love God and His word?

What does their Christian lifestyle look like? Is their Christian consistency? Do they repent of sin? And do they ask for forgiveness?

Now, First John chapter 2 verse 3 says, and by this we know that we have come to know Him if we what if we keep his commandments. That's right. Our Lord Jesus Christ has some very sharp words for the Pharisees, remember? Christ's words were against those who are hypocritical in their living and as a result would lead others astray.

And Matthew chapter 7 verses 15 to 16, Jesus says, beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing. But inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruit, right? And that's where discernment comes in.

That's where the judging comes in to look at another person's life and see if there is fruit in their life that's consistent as they live their life on a daily basis. And again, like I said, sometimes it touches close to home, when you look at your children, are they living or they say they're a Christian, but are they truly a believer of Jesus Christ? But Ken Paul says, sadly, as we know, there are many in the church who fit the description of talkative. They talk like pilgrims they have convinced themselves that they are on the way to the celestial city.

Sadly, their lives do not match what they are saying. Let's move on to section 67 as Christian shows faithful, the fallacy of talkative. The fallacy of talkative. Talkative is fooling himself and to think that he can make it to the celestial city as a good Christian just by hearing the word of God and speaking it to others.

Well, we all know this morning that talkative thinking is way off, right? Way off base. Talkative speaks like a Christian and doesn't think that his life needs to bear the fruit, which a true believer of Jesus Christ must have in their lives. What what would be some of the fruit that a genuine believer of Jesus Christ shows?

Well, Galatians chapter 5 verse 22 tells us, and this verse very well, but the fruit of the spirit is what is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We should see that type of fruit in a person who claims to be a believer, a follower of Jesus Christ. Ken Pole says he craves conversation but not commitment. He delights in doctrine but not devotion.

He does not grasp the vital relationship between faith and works. And talkative me we also think that if a person is saved by grace alone, he doesn't have to show evidence of saving faith. Well, Ephesians chapter 2 verses 89 tells us, and this verse by grace, you've been saved through faith, it is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, so that no 1 may boast. And then Ephesians chapter 2 verse 10 says this, for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good.

Good works which God prepared beforehand so that he, he, we would walk in them as believers in Jesus Christ, God prepared our works that we would perform here on this earth before the foundations of the world. Those works were already set, ordained for us to perform here on this earth. James chapter 2 verse 17 says, even so, faith if it has no works is what is dead by itself. So your works prove the evidence of genuine saving faith.

And speaking of showing works that prove saving faith, Ken Paul says false faith produces assent or acceptance but not action. True faith is a faith that works. And I love that quote. Let me just read it again.

False faith produces assent or acceptance, but not action. True faith is a faith that works. Christian provides 3 statements showing the importance between faith and works, and if you look at your class notes, you'll see that number 1, speaking truth and living truth are as diverse as the soul and the body. James chapter 2 verse 26 says, for just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

The second connection between faith and works, #2, the soul of religion is doing the practical part. Ken Poles again says our love to God is made manifest or shown in our actions and obedience, not our ideas and theories. And this verse very, very well in James chapter 1. I'm gonna read verses 22 to 25, just, just for a second.

It says, but become doers of the word and merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror, for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of freedom, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work. This man will be blessed in what he does.

And here's the practical part of a person exhibiting genuine faith. It's in James chapter 1 verses 26 and 27. Which says pure and undefiled religion, if you're truly saved before God and the Father is this, this speaks about a person who's truly a believer, to visit orphans and widows and their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. And the last connection between faith and works, #3, and the last day, men shall be judged according to their fruits.

The Lord Jesus Christ told a parable in Matthew 13 which tells about a sower planting seed, which is the gospel, and its relationship to fruitfulness. To this parable, Christian says, hearing, but as sowing of the seed and talking is not sufficient to prove that fruit is indeed in the heart and life. In other words, what Christian is saying that having fruit in your life brings evidence of a born again life or a regenerated heart that desires to obey God's word. Where after hearing all of this, faithful was about to cut the string in his relationship with talkative because faithful has seen his false profession of faith and he was about to move away from talkative.

However, Christian said, hold on. And he exhorts faithful to confront talkative and witness to him about how the gospel can change his life, right? And what a great application it is for us to witness even to those who may profess to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, we want to still give them the gospel, not shun them away, but give them the gospel. As we move on to section 68, Faithful confronts talkative.

Well after Faithful speaks a Christian who explained the fallacy and shallowness behind talkative thinking and speech, Faithful concludes that talkative is no longer a brave companion. However, as recommended by Christian faith is not giving up on talkative and desires to have a serious conversation about talkative faith, and, and that's, isn't it very gracious when you think about it? When you think about faithful showing patience and not giving up again on talkative. and when you think about it, this is how God treated all of us as sinners, right?

God didn't just give up on us. In fact, Romans chapter 2 verse 4 says, or do you think lightly of the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to what? To repentance. God didn't give up on us.

He kept coming after us, and you think about your testimony, how you came to Christ and how someone kept coming to you and sharing verses with you and giving you the gospel. That was God behind the scenes, not giving up on you. And saving you one day. Well, faithful is ready to speak to talkative, so he asked talkative a question.

He says, how does the saving grace of God discover itself when it is in the heart of man? Well, talkative hints that this is not the question that he would have chosen, but then he gives replies. Now, with each of his replies, faithful corrects talkative. Let's peek into their dialogue, into the dialogue between the two, and, and this is in your class notes.

Number 1, talkative suggests that grace is evident. In the heart where there is great outcry against sin. Well, faithful corrects him and says it's not enough just to speak and cry out against sin, right? And go and be against it, but he says we must hate it and we must flee from sin.

It's like Joseph did, remember? Joseph in Genesis, he fleed from sin. Number 2, talkative second evidence is great knowledge of gospel mysteries. Faithful says this evidence should have been mentioned first, but it is also false.

So he says it is possible to know much about the gospel and the things of God, yet be nothing and so consequently be no child of God. But John chapter 13 verse 17 says, if these things, you are blessed if you do them, speaking about God's commandments. And the psalmist said in Psalm 119:34, calls me, he's, he's asking God, he's praying to God, calls me to understand that I may observe your law and keep it with all my heart. Is that your prayer to God this morning or every day?

Cause me to understand your word, so that I may keep it with all my heart. But what can we learn from faithful's attempts to confront talkative? Well, we must be willing to offer correction and reproof even when it might not go well, right? We think about somebody yelling at us, right, as we, as we confront them.

That might happen. It just might happen. You may be persecuted for it. You might be, right, accursed and be, or you may be accused of, of, of not being loving, right?

We've, we've heard that many, many times. You're not being loving to me. Well, faithful could have walked away from talkative instead of having a hard conversation with him, but faithful knew that talkative soul was in danger and eternity was at stake because talkative held on to his sin and he did not confess or repent of his sin. When faithful confronted talkative, he did not receive the correction well and became defensive and suspicious.

Well, next in section 69, we will see faithful explains saving grace. Well as we heard a talkative resisted faithful's attempt to help and correct him. And talkative said faithful's conversation will not lead to edification. He didn't wanna hear it.

He didn't wanna hear the conversation. Well, Faithful asked talkative to give another evidence of the work of grace, then urges talkative to apply this truth to his life. But when you think about it, what are the evidence of saving faith in a person's heart? How can we, how can we see that?

Well, well, you can see that in Philippians chapter 1 verse 6, which says, Paul says, for I am confident of this very thing that he who began a work in you will what, will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. That's kinda how that you're a believer, right? You see God working in your heart every day, right? Conforming you.

Into the image of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Well, faithful explains the evidence or nature of saving faith for that person, and here's what he says, it's in your class notes. He feels the weight of sin, and we do, don't we? When we sin against someone, we feel the weight of that sin, and we should go ask them for forgiveness immediately, right?

When we feel it, then the Holy Spirit is convicting you. In fact, John chapter 16 verse 8 tells us that, right? That we grieve over our sin because the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin. And we are convinced of impending judgment or for the believer, impending discipline, right?

If we don't confess sin, our prayer to God is cut short and God one day will discipline us. If we don't confess, repent from sin. Next, he turns away from sin and looks to Christ for hope and forgiveness as Romans 15:13 says, he has a hunger and thirst for righteousness. Saving grace changes a person's desire.

A saved person loves what God loves and hates what God hates, says Matthew chapter 5 verse 6 says. As believers, we are no longer slaves of what? Of sin, we are now what? slaves of righteousness, right?

Desiring to live righteous for God. And then number 4, he finds joy and peace and knowing Christ and living for Him as Romans chapter 14 verses 17 to 18 says. Well, Ken Paul says his saving grace is evident to the person who has it. Though he may not always be able to discern these evidences because of the ongoing struggle with remaining sin, right?

As Romans 7 talks about, this is one reason why we need others to walk with us in our Christian life, to make sure somebody is there holding you accountable. Have an accountability partner. Make sure someone who's a believer, who's a mature, right? And even who can handle you coming to them with their sin, right?

There are some believers who may not be able to handle. Maybe they're a new believer, they may not be able to handle you. Telling them about your sin, right? Pray to God and ask God to give you an accountability partner to help you in your life.

When next, sadly we see section 70, the departure of talkative. Faithful kept on pressing talkative to evaluate his own life and asking him questions like this. Do you have a love for God in His word? Does your life and conversations testify that you have been regenerated by Christ?

Do you repent from sin and keep yourself from things of the world? Do you obey God's commandments? in the back of the MacArthur study Bible, there is an appendix with a checklist there on the character of genuine saving faith. You can even check your, check yourself, see if I'm a believer, right?

You can do it and also if you're looking to see if another person's a believer, be careful again, right? Don't be judgmental, but you look and see, well, that person's life doesn't match these, this on the checklist, maybe they're not, and it'll give you an opportunity to share the gospel, pray for them, and then share the gospel of Jesus Christ with them. What was talkative's response as faithful confronted him? Well, right, talkative is embarrassed.

He's caught off guard, put on the spot, he's convicted because faithful told him that his life, his way of life was not consistent with his words. If talkative doesn't want this type of examination, then he should have done what? He should examine his own life, right? To see if he truly is of the faith.

That's what Apostle Paul told the believers in 2 Corinthians, remember? In 2 Corinthians chapter 12 verse 13, he said, examine yourself because the believers were siding with the false teachers who said the apostle Paul wasn't an apostle, right? They said that. Paul says, examine yourself and see if you truly are of the faith.

While talkative accuses faithful that his words to him are unkind and rash. He feels that he is judging him. He should be more loving, understanding, and sympathetic. And again, we, you may get that, right?

That backlash from people, right? And again, we hear it all the time, but if you truly love someone, when you think about it, if you truly love someone, you're gonna point out what their sin is in our life, right? Especially with our children, if you truly love them. You don't let that sin go.

You confront them of their sin and show them from the scriptures how you, how they are offending God, right? We want to do that. We love our children and we love our grandchildren, I should say grandchild because I have a grandchild, and we will protect them from danger at all costs. But how much so in the spiritual realm?

How much so? If we love the sinner, we must graciously give them the truth as Galatians, Galatians 6:1 tells us. And again, when you really think about the purpose of confronting another person's sin, whether the person is a believer or an unbeliever, is really the desire to restore their relationship with who? With Jesus Christ, with God Almighty.

That's the goal of confronting someone who is sinning. For a nonbeliever, we don't wanna see them go we can't stand face to face with God and God judging them and for them to spend all of eternity in hell, in hell, right? We don't want that. We don't want to see that happen.

And by the way, hell was Jesus said hell was reserved for who? It wasn't reserved for creation, for his creation, reserved for who? For Satan and his demons. That's what hell was created for, not for humans, not for us, but we don't wanna see people go there.

Well, faithful was hoping that maybe his conversation with talkative has planted a seed and maybe one day talkative will rethink about their conversation and one day he may come to Jesus Christ, which is a great application for us. Continue to give the gospel out, even if for 1015 seconds, just give him the quick gospel, right? 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, the gospel in a nutshell, just give it to him real quick. Maybe one day the unbeliever may become a believer in Jesus Christ, and that's the goal, right?

That's what we really want. talkative are like many today who claim to know the gospel, but they choose to live in ways that are offensive and contrary to the gospel and they what they sadly walk away. In fact, First John chapter 2 verse 19 says, and they went out from us, but they were never really of us, for if they were of us, they would have remained with us, but they went out so that it would be manifested that they are not of us, and that's sad when you really think about that.

And what does God's word command us to do about those who claim Christ yet cling to ongoing sin?

And this is, this is important. Well, like Christian said, from such, withdraw thyself. Move away from those who claim to be a Christian, a Christian, but are not living, maybe they're living in habitual sin, move away from them. In fact, 2 Timothy chapter 3 verses 2 to 5 tells us that.

That if there's someone who claims to be a Christian, but they're not living that way, withdraw yourself from them. You don't want to be pulled down by an unbeliever, right? Be very, very careful there. Well, faithful is commended by Christian for making the effort and doing the right thing by dialoguing plainly with talkative.

And while after talkative departs, he receives counsel from Christian to, to let him go. Well, in section 71, Christian faith will continue their journey to the celestial city where they have in verse 70, and, and section 71, a meeting with advantage. But before we do that, let me just read to you what Ken Pulse says before we go to, to, section 71. Listen to what he says.

He says, departure, the departure of talkative is one of the saddest portions of the Pilgrim's Progress. It describes one who claims to follow Christ, yet turned from truth, ensnared by his own pride and deception. Sadder still, it describes a response that is all too common. It is a response that has hindered, that has hindered many from finding the peace, joy, and forgiveness found in the true repentance from sin and faith in Jesus Christ.

Sad, right? When you think about that, what talkative did he walked away, he walked away. On section 71. we see that Christian and faithful, they have a meeting with evangelists.

After talkative left, Christian and faithful travel together as their journey takes them through a wilderness. And what does the wilderness represent? Well, the wilderness speaks about the world in which we are tempted by that rejects God and rejects his word. Well, Christian and faith will continue to encourage each other as they journey in the wilderness in Christian fellowship, and I think it's very important that as we're living our Christian journey again to have someone alongside of us.

Don't be alone on an island. Make sure there's another believer that's with you, that can help you, that you encourage each other. proverb says, iron sharpens what? Iron sharpens iron.

So you wanna have someone who is with you as you go through these very difficult times, right, as we live in. Well, as they come to the end of the wilderness, they see a very familiar friend coming after them, and it's who it's evangelist. As they met evangelist, evangelist dressed him as dearly beloved, as Christian evangelists are happy to see him who led them to Christ, again as they share with him their experiences on the journey. Well, like a faithful believer in Jesus Christ, evangelist checked upon them to see how their journey to the celestial city was going.

And if you are currently discipling someone, continue to check on them, right? I'm sure you're checking on them and seeing how they're doing in their Christian life and, and that's again an advantage of having someone who is an accountability partner so they can check on you to see how you are doing in your Christian life. And again, isn't it great, great to have somebody there who is there to, to help you in your life. Well, evangelists provided a shot in the arm for them of encouragement as they continue on their journey by providing encouraging notes.

You'll see that in. In your, your notes, encouraging words, excuse me, as you see there are notes. He spoke of them persevering. 3 John 4, he spoke of them, to them on an incorruptible crown.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27. You see some of the other verses there in Revelation 3:11, right? And also you see Matthew chapter 20, verses 18 to 20 that all power and authority are on their side because they, they have Jesus Christ as their Lord and as their Savior. Well, as we come to our last section, the promise of suffering, just very quickly, we see that Christian and faithful both thanked evangelists for their wise, for his wise counsel and and exhortation.

But if you remember, unlike Christian's encounter and hasty exit with the house of the interpreter, Christian being more mature in his faith, wanted more instruction in order to be prepared to know how to overcome more difficult trials as they lay ahead. I. Very important for all of us, right, to continue to read the word of God so that we could be strengthened as we go through trials in our lives. An evangelist shares with them that they're gonna go through pain and suffering, and he also mentioned to them that one of them will become a martyr.

That one of them will die, which might happen to us, right? As we live our Christian life, especially in the future. Times are getting tougher for believers. We may die as a martyr, martyr of Jesus Christ.

But remember what 1 Peter chapter 4 verse 1 says is, therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin. So, there's a guarantee we're going to suffer. We're going to go through trials and as I mentioned, Some of us may die for Christ one day, right? Are you ready?

Remember, we have a great savior, right? Who is there to strengthen us. And if that should happen to us, if we should die for Christ, we are absent from the body, we are what? Present with the Lord, right?

So we thank God for that. Let's pray. Our Heavenly Father, we thank you so much for your time this morning. Thank you, Lord, again for reminding us that as believers, that as we talk about Christ, Lord, we must live a life that truly glorifies Him.

We pray for those, Father, in our lives who profess Christ, but they may not be living that way, Lord, we pray that we would be a tremendous instrument, Father, for you to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, that this, that the person that we are, that we have questions about may come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, that and believe that He died on the cross for their sins, was buried, and that he rose again. I pray for every believer here that you encourage them and strengthen them, especially, Father, as we will be facing difficult times in the future.

We love you and thank you and praise you. In Jesus' name we pray.

Amen.