POPULARITY
22 episodes with despond
5 episodes with despond
2 episodes with despond
2 episodes with despond
2 episodes with despond
30 episodes with despond
2 episodes with despond
3 episodes with despond
2 episodes with despond
Welcome to our book series. Each week we release a new chapter of an old book. Our first is one that is near and dear to our hearts: The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan. We hope you will enjoy this series as work to bring you edifying books from the past. If you would like to pick up a copy of Pilgrim's Progress, we have included links below to some of our favorite editions, including some rewritten for children. In this captivating part 2 of The Pilgrim's Progress, we delve into the allegorical journey of Christian and Pliable as they traverse the treacherous plains of life. As they embark on their pilgrimage, Christian shares the wonders of an eternal kingdom, a place free from sorrow and filled with divine beings. Pliable, intrigued by the promises of glory and companionship, is eager to proceed, yet their path soon leads them to the Slough of Despond, a mire of doubt and despair. Witness the trials faced by Christian as he struggles with the burden of his past, while Pliable, disillusioned by the challenges, chooses to return to the familiarity of his old life. This part explores themes of perseverance, faith, and the transformative power of divine assistance, as Christian receives aid from Help, a figure sent to guide him back on his path. Join us in this exploration of the human condition and the spiritual journey, and reflect on the obstacles and triumphs faced by those who seek a higher truth. This timeless tale serves as a metaphor for the inner struggles we all encounter and the hope that emerges when we choose to continue forward toward Christ, despite the weight of our burdens. Minor changes have been made to the original text for readability and understanding purposes. This is a book that should be in every home library. Check out our favorites here, and we were sure to include one of our favorites rewritten for children. (affil links) The Pilgrim's Progress Old English: https://amzn.to/4j1j3Xg The Pilgrim's Progress Modern English: https://amzn.to/3W3SNlv Little Pilgrim's Big Journey: https://amzn.to/41YDs9G If you enjoy and value this content, please consider supporting us through these links to help us be able to make more:
SWAMP OF DESPOND | John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress | July 13 2024 by GospelBells
Dan, Micah, Shawn, and Aaron discuss Pilgrim's Progress and the slough of despond.
Have you ever found yourself in a state of despair? King David did. He experienced circumstances that caused him to fall into deep despair. He made a desperate appeal to God while working through the emotional turmoil his despair caused. Looking at what David said about despair can teach you invaluable lessons about both the crippling effects of despair and the comforting effects of devotion to God. This is Wisdom for the Heart. Today, your Bible teacher, Stephen Davey, looks at this issue that plagues so many and offers help and hope from the Word of God.
Have you ever found yourself in a state of despair? King David did. He experienced circumstances that caused him to fall into deep despair. He made a desperate appeal to God while working through the emotional turmoil his despair caused. Looking at what David said about despair can teach you invaluable lessons about both the crippling effects of despair and the comforting effects of devotion to God. This is Wisdom for the Heart. Today, your Bible teacher, Stephen Davey, looks at this issue that plagues so many and offers help and hope from the Word of God.
Tonight, I want to address a general mood of despair that I've felt lately from some of my worldly encounters. I take inspiration and encouragement from a passage from John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress."
Equipping Hour - Caleb
150 Years Ago (December 1873) A monster gun that required 37 tons of molten iron, the weight of which had "burst the [molding] box" in November, was cast on the second try at the West Point Foundry. In an operation that took 12 minutes, two-man teams carried the molten material in hand ladles suspended between them from the cupolas to the reservoir. After a national financial crash, business at the foundry was picking up, with a federal order for 1,000 projectiles for 300-pound Parrott guns made during the Civil War and mortars for stations on the coast to shoot lifelines to vessels stranded near the shore. The Cold Spring Recorder reported that a traveling parlor opera had a rough time of it. During a preview, Miss Cattini, accompanied on the piano by Otto, sang a few pages of operatic music in Italian but the audience dispersed before she could perform two songs in English. Then, at the show, twice delayed by bad weather, the audience included boys who were "a great annoyance," according to the paper. Children in the audience at a banjo minstrel at Town Hall also were a nuisance, the paper said. James Swan, a Philipstown papermaker, lost a judgment of $178.35 [about $4,600] by default when he failed to appear in court. He had not paid two rag dealers. When the plaintiffs took the court order to the mill, Swan settled by giving them a ton of paper. The Charles Spear, traveling south on the river to New York City, was delayed in thick fog, and when the passengers awoke in the morning they found themselves docked at the West Point Foundry. Some came ashore and took the 7:58 train. Marvin Wilson was selling 25 acres of "choice building land" in Philipstown opposite West Point and offered "a circular with full particulars." A federal court held an auction to dispose of the stock and tools of the bankrupt Putnam Paper Mill in Putnam Valley. The Recorder published an advertisement from an Indiana company offering by mail its "painless opium cure." At a meeting of the Putnam Board of Supervisors, a motion to remove $17 [$435] from a bill submitted by the jailer for nursing sick prisoners was approved. However, a motion to strike $18 from his bill for policing services was defeated, as were motions to remove $12, $10, $6, $12 and $18, before it was set aside. In other business, the supervisors approved a bounty of $3 [$76] for every wildcat killed and 50 cents for every fox, to be paid with presentation of the carcass to the supervisor of the town where it was killed, who would cut off the right ear to send to the county. The Recorder described Main Street as "in dry weather an ash bed and on rainy days the Slough of Despond" - a reference from The Pilgrim's Progress - that had been "top-dressed with clay and loam from cellar excavations" and sand and silt from the gutters. During a moment of inattention, Alexander Turner lost the ends of the fingers on his left hand while cutting feed at Breakneck Hollow Farm. The ladies' auxiliary of the Methodist Episcopal Church held a tea party to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the throwing of tea into Boston Harbor to protest British taxes. Train carloads of cut evergreens passed by daily, bound for New York City. Sixty chances were offered at $2 [$50] for the raffle at the Pacific Hotel of a Singer sewing machine with a steam motor. Stephen Davenport was spotted Dec. 13 plowing his field. Between the end of the Christmas Eve service and the early Mass on Christmas Day, burglars stole every valuable from the sanctuary of the Catholic church. On Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, the Watson Brothers gave a gymnastics and pantomimic performance at Town Hall. Leonard Denney transported a load of iron ore on his sled that weighed 5.3 tons. The Recorder noted a pair of pants had been found on Market Street and could be claimed at its office for the cost of the notice. The Ladue stables on Stone Street purchased a machine powered by compressed air to shave its horses, leaving them resembling "smooth mice," a...
Apostate Church Witchcraft (3) (audio) David Eells – 12/10/23 The Harlot and the Beast Babylon in the largest sense is the whole world. In the beginning "the waters were gathered together in one place"; the earth was one also (Gen 1:9,10). Man and his language was one upon the earth (Gen 11:1). God saw that their unity was causing them to be a god unto themselves (Gen 11:4-6). This was the first Babel (V-9). God humbled them by confounding their language and spreading them out on the earth which was then one land mass (Gen 11:7,8). In Ps 104:8, God caused the mountains to rise and the valleys to sink. Before this time the flood only had to cover short mountains (verse 6), and separating into continents and islands the land mass and even further separating mankind (Gen 10:5,25). All nations are thus from Babel and have the sins of Babel in their blood. Now a spiritual Babel is being built, a United Nations of the world. The results will be the same (Rev 16:18,19). Babylon was and is both secular and religious. There are larger and smaller types of each. For instance, the larger type of secular Babylon is the whole world; and a smaller type is the U.S. as ruled by the DS. Let me prove this to you by looking for a moment at religious Babylon. In Rev 17:5 she is called "Mystery Babylon the Great, the Mother of the Harlots and of the Abominations of the Earth". We are told by many Protestant churches that the Mother is the Catholic Church because the other churches came out of her. This is very uncomplimentary of the Protestant churches because in this title the daughters are being called the "harlots". The mother is the great harlot in Verse 1. The Catholic Church is only a smaller type of a much larger type. This mother is much larger and older than the Catholic Church. Let me prove this. In Rev 18:24, she is guilty of the blood of the prophets and of the saints (To be guilty of blood, you must either physically kill or spiritually kill because you do not warn them of sin and instead teach them to sin (Eze 3:18,19) (24)and of all that have been slain upon the earth. You cannot blame the Catholic Church for the death of the prophets; that was Israel's apostasy, and it was before Catholicism existed. The all mentioned here is beyond their scope too. Jesus said that Israel was guilty of "all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of Abel the righteous unto the blood of Zechariah" (Mt 23:35). According to that verse, members of the mother harlot existed from Israel all the way back and beyond to Cain. The mother is the corporate body of apostate religion, and the daughters are the members of that body; just as the church is a corporate body, and the individual churches are members of it. The harlot rode the beast with the seven heads identified in Rev 13:1,2 and Dan 7:4-7 by the beasts which were symbols of world ruling kingdoms (Examples: The Lion with eagles wings was the symbol of Babylon, also the leopard of Greece, and the bear of Medo-Persia). In Rev 17:9-11 the seven heads are seven mountains [not the hills of Rome but seven kingdoms] on which the woman sitteth: and they are seven kings; the five are fallen [Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece], the one is [Rome, the head that was smitten unto death but revived in Rev.13:3], the other is not yet come [corporate worldwide Revived Roman Empire the Dragon of Rev12]; when he cometh, he must continue a little while [3 1/2 years]. And the beast that was and is not is himself also an eighth [beast of Rev 13] and is of the seven". The eighth kingdom is made up of all of the seven world empires because the woman sitteth (present tense) on all seven. These kingdoms have lost their individual dominion, but their lives were prolonged according to Dan 7:12, and they are still with us exercising dominion corporately in the end time one world beast. The coming of Christ will destroy all these kingdoms together (Dan 2:35,44). Note: The aftermath of WWI brought the world together in fear of a worse holocaust. They decided they needed a "man of peace" and the League of Nations was born. They gave no teeth to that beast and the aftermath of WWII brought renewed fear and unity which brought a revision to that beast, then called the U.N. Now the world is coming together again crying for “peace and safety”. The approaching war could be the one that brings forth the next revision in the beast, which will be called the Dragon. It will be Satan's body. In Daniel's revelation, he deals with the beasts from his time and forward and not with Egypt and Assyria which were before him. Daniel 7:23 says, "The fourth beast [counting Egypt and Assyria, this is the sixth beast] shall be a fourth [sixth] kingdom upon earth [meaning all four (six) are still on earth] which shall be different from all the kingdoms [corporate in nature, because it is the first to become a United States of the world] and shall devour the whole earth". Inside the fourth beast are all the other beasts which are also the whole earth. The whole earth is made up of the seed of these kingdoms. There is only one Corporate kingdom that has the seven heads and the ten horns (all nations), and it is the U.N., which is now being preempted by an Alliance of Nations. The end time beast of Rev 13 will has within it every tribe, people, tongue, and nation whose name is not written in the Lamb's book of life (Rev 13:7). The sixth verse of the sixth chapter of the sixth book of the New Testament identifies the beast, the corporate old man (Rom 6:6). The Mother Harlot has exercised religious authority over the beasts throughout history. The Catholic church is only a smaller type of a larger, Babylonish religious system as the U.S. is a smaller type of secular worldwide Babylon. As a small type it will incur the same judgment as the larger type as an example to the world. Many say that they do not see the U.S. in scriptures. Does it sound reasonable that what is arguably the greatest nation on earth would not be mentioned in scriptures? I do not think so. The U.S. is now at the pinnacle of influence over the world through the U.N., NATO, foreign aid, military strength, trade, and many other avenues. And now they are leading the world into NESARA/GESARA. Every other world-ruling power is mentioned along with their destruction, so the U.S. is not left out. In Tremble Ye Women I explained how the Lord identified the U.S. as Babylon to me. Many proven prophets and teachers have identified the U.S. as Babylon. After being told by the angel of the Lord that America would be destroyed, Dumitru Duduman asked for biblical proof to show the Americans. The angel said, "Tell them to read Jeremiah 51:8-15... also Rev 18", clearly identifying America as Babylon. Leaven, Truth and the Bride In the Church of my youth, I always felt the Spirit and joy in worship and fellowship, which was good and God did not condemn us for that. All denominations have a piece of the Lord; they just reject one another's piece. That is what makes them a denomination or sect or division; all of which Galatians calls a work of the flesh. But the doctrine of my Church was leavened just as in all Churches that don't teach and act on the pure Word. As it was with me then, you will need to outgrow all that to be birthed to the next level. This is the way to the Bride. She sits on the highest level of heavenly Jerusalem and includes the Man-child leadership in her body. Those who don't outgrow sects to be "one" with the holy elect, as the Shulamite (Hebrew: perfect) Bride was called in Song of Solomon, will never be in the Bride and instead will be relegated to the queens, concubines and virgins. {SoS.6:8} There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, And virgins without number. {9} My dove, my undefiled, is [but] one; She is the only one of her mother; She is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and called her blessed; [Yea], the queens and the concubines, and they praised her. The Bride will be taken into the house of the King on spiritual Mt. Zion. The queens, concubines and virgins will cry to look again at that which was pleasing to the Lord, which before they had not fully desired to be. {13} Return, return, O Shulammite; Return, return, that we may look upon thee. Why will ye look upon the Shulammite, As upon the dance of Mahanaim? The thing that causes us to outgrow the immature churches is a respect for the Word above all else, including the idolatry that Christians have with these false institutions. The Word has to be respected above all of these. Our protection from this deception is always a love for truth and hatred for the leaven of lies. {2Th.2:9} [even he], whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, {10} and with all deceit of unrighteousness for them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. {11} And for this cause God sendeth them a working of error, that they should believe a lie: {12} that they all might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. The constant feeding on lies and false spirits must be departed from before the seven years or one will miss the Bride who is chosen before the seven day/year marriage feast. {Exo.12:15} Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. When there is idolatry with the institutions of men, which holds fellowship and submission to them higher than fellowship and submission to the Word and the more righteous, we open ourselves up to deception that comes from the Lord Himself. The denominations of Israel were deceived in this way and didn't recognize the Lord and the Church has followed the pattern. {Eze.14:1} Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me. {2} And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, {3} Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be inquired of at all by them? {4} Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Every man of the house of Israel that taketh his idols into his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I Jehovah will answer him therein according to the multitude of his idols; {5} that I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols. {6} Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Return ye, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations. {7} For every one of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that separateth himself from me, and taketh his idols into his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet to inquire for himself of me; I Jehovah will answer him by myself: {8} and I will set my face against that man, and will make him an astonishment, for a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am Jehovah. {9} And if the prophet be deceived and speak a word, I, Jehovah, have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel. With the scriptures above I only scratch the surface of the problem but I have great hopes for you to outgrow religion and "follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth". God bless you dear friend. I will leave you to your decision and pray for you. I hope you will be in the Bride. False Prophet and Religious Harlot Experience and the Word have taught me concerning prophecy that if the majority of God's people believe something, it must be wrong. God hides his truths in dreams or visions that are parables so that the false prophets and carnal Christians cannot see them (Mat.13:10-13) but privately He explains them to His disciples. He hides truths from the wise and understanding of this apostate religious system and reveals them to babes (Lk.10:21). He reveals His hidden truths to those who are faithful. (Rev.2:17)…To him that overcometh, to him will I give of the hidden manna…. John's Revelation was given to him as a parable from Jesus. If it were literal the false prophets would know what is going to happen and that is contrary to Jesus' own words. When the disciples were young and under the Law they did not recognize the false prophets. As a matter of fact, they respected them! And so it is today! I want to show those of you who have eyes and ears who the false prophet is and what is his work. Let me show you that the false prophet in Revelation is a corporate body of religious leaders that to the trained eye resemble those of Jesus' day. Since Jesus' day is a type of the coming Man-child's day, we know there are going to be false prophets, plural. In all of the New Testament writings, outside of the book of Revelation, we are warned that false prophets, plural, would come. In Revelation, false prophet, singular, is used, but in an allegory or parable. Since Jesus, Peter and John said that in the end time many false prophets shall arise, then the false prophet in Revelation is a symbol of a corporate body, like the rest of the characters there are corporate bodies. It's the only way that all verses concerning false prophets can be right. (Mat.7:15) Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. (Mat.24:11) And many false prophets shall arise, and shall lead many astray. (24) For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets… so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. False prophets fit the type and shadow of history, according to Jesus. (Lk.6:26) Woe [unto you], when all men shall speak well of you! for in the same manner did their fathers to the false prophets. Peter also said there would be false prophets among us. (2Pet.2:1) But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers …. John also said that many false prophets would speak for antichrist. (1Jn.4:1) Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (3) And every spirit that confesseth not Jesus is not of God: and this is the [spirit] of the antichrist …. Notice that every false spirit is the spirit of antichrist. That's a corporate body. Part of the “strong delusion” (KJV) taught by the false prophets is that we are to be looking for the coming of a man called the false prophet, while the Biblical corporate false prophet is here and in the pulpits already. (2Cor.11:14) And no marvel; for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light. (15) It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works. You might say “David, aren't you sharing God's secrets with the false prophets?” Have no fear, they are too proud and blind to admit they have passed on the traditions of men. The traditional church government today breeds false prophets by disobeying God's written order of Church government. Jesus raised up the apostolic fathers to found the Church on a five-fold ministry of men who are spiritual specialists in their field. (Pr.11:14) Where no wise guidance is, the people falleth; But in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. Jesus Christ is the Spirit (1Cor.15:45) and head of His body, the Church (Eph.5:23). His headship is manifested physically through the five-fold ministry. (Eph.4:11) And he gave some [to be] apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers. Note that pastors and teachers are grouped together in this verse leading some to believe that there is only a four-fold ministry. However, in 1 Corinthians 12:28 only “teachers” is used for teachers, pastors and evangelists, making only a three-fold ministry. I would like to point out that pastors are teachers who give guidance and evangelists are teachers of the lost to bring them to Christ. So, grouping two together, or three together, does not mean they are the same ministry but that they are all teachers in some form. The different name identifies what they teach making them different ministries. The members of the head represent these different five-fold ministers. Apostle is Greek for “one sent forth,” and they are sent to raise up churches and set them in order. The apostles are a jack-of-all-trades with a little of the gift of the rest of the five-fold ministry so they can discern the elders that they only are called to ordain. (Act.14:14) But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul… (23) And when they had appointed for them elders in every church…. Paul's brethren were called apostles. (2Cor.8:23) Whether [any inquire] about Titus, [he is] my partner and [my] fellow-worker to you-ward, or our brethren, [they are] the messengers (Greek: apostolos) of the churches…. Titus appointed elders in every city of Crete. (Tit.1:5) For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that were wanting, and appoint elders in every city…. Elders are ordained five-fold ministers, not assistants to the pastor. In Acts 20:17, when Paul called together the elders at Ephesus, he named them the bishops or overseers who fed the church there. (Act.20:28) Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood. Even apostles are elders (1Pet.5:1; 2Jn.1:1; 3Jn.1:1). When the legalists were trying to bring the Gentiles under the Law, the apostles and the other elders were gathered to consider this problem (Act.15:6). Together the elders made a decision (22) and sent their findings to the rest of the Church (15:23; 16:4). Let's consider the other elders who are members of the head. The prophets are the spiritual eyes of the head and see what others do not. (Isa.29:10) For the Lord… hath closed your eyes, the prophets…. (11) And all vision is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed…. The pastors or shepherds are the nose of the head because they lead the local body of sheep to pastures with a discernment that is neither from eyes nor ears. There is no such thing as an assistant pastor in the Scripture. You either are a pastor or you are not. Teachers are the ears of the head. Solomon asked for “an understanding heart” in 1 Kings 3:9 and in verse 12 God granted him “an understanding heart.” The Hebrew word for “understanding” in both verses is “hearing.” I was first ordained through an apostle to be a teacher. Later, a prophet, who knew nothing of this, saw a vision of me with ears as big as an elephant's. Later, the Lord appeared to me twice and re-ordained me to another office, which was confirmed by other ministers. God does re-ordain some to other offices sometimes. Paul was an example of this. He was a “teacher” who was then “sent forth” meaning, apostle (Act.13:1-4). From here on Paul was called, and called himself, apostle. Some ambitious folks today just claim both offices, using Paul's words in 2Tim.1:11, “whereunto I was appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher” but “preacher” is not an office and teaching is what he did, not his office. The evangelist is the mouth of the head because he speaks to those outside the body. It takes all of these ministers to perfect the saints and to raise up others into the head. (Eph.4:11) And he gave some [to be] apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (12) for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ… (15) but speaking truth in love, may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, [even] Christ. Through this method, individuals in the body have a portion of these gifts so that they may be guided and used personally by their head, Who is then their Lord. This is why Satan wanted to replace the five-fold ministry with a man-made one-fold ministry called the nicolaitan error and destroyed the Scriptural government of the church. False government is easy to corrupt and the saints are not perfected by it. God never wanted a king over Israel, men did. They said, “make us a king to judge us like all the nations” (1Sam.8:5). Does pastor, assistant pastor, and elders sound like, president, vice-president, and cabinet? The Church has copied “all the nations” as Israel did. God gave Israel the king they wanted, saying, “they have rejected me, that I should not be king over them” (7). God has given the Church her kings, too. God also warned Israel that their king would take their children to serve him and would charge them a tithe of everything for his service (1Sam.8:10-18). Sound familiar? Pastors, without any Scriptural foundation, tell us that the Lord did away with the five-fold ministry after the apostles died. Actually it was false prophets who did away with the five-fold ministry. In our worldly system the pastor usurps the authority of the rest of the five-fold ministry. I have heard pastors, who are not even filled with the Spirit, claim that today they are the prophets when they expound the Word under the anointing. As far as the five-fold ministry is concerned, where in the Scripture does the pastor take authority over an apostle, prophet or teacher, or vice versa? In the world, do doctors take authority in a lawyer's field, or vice versa? Does it make sense to be given authority over another's gift that you have no expertise in? If a prophet, speaking in the Spirit, is told to shut up by a pastor, then God is told to shut up. (Many can exercise the gift to prophesy but the office of a prophet is that of an overseer who has authority in the body.) Remember that the five-fold ministers are overseers (bishops) who are specialists in their field with authority only in their gift. Each is a portion of the head of the body of Christ and necessary for the guidance of the body. However, when one of the five-fold ministers falls into sin or gets deceived, the rest have authority to correct, discipline, or throw them out (1Cor.5:9-13). This insures the safety of the sheep. The false system of shepherd-ship is the Nicolaitan error, which Jesus said He hates (Rev.2:6,15). Nicolaitan comes from two words, nikao, meaning “to conquer,” and laity, meaning “the people.” This was and is a privileged order who consider themselves above the common people as mediators between them and God. Ministers are to make disciples of Jesus and His Word, not themselves and their traditions. The Protestants falsely copied the Nicolaitan error from the Catholic Church, which partially took it from the Old Testament priesthood. Jesus constantly denounced this worldly relationship between the ministry and the people. (Mat.20:25) But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. (26) Not so shall it be among you: but whosoever would become great among you shall be your minister (Greek: “servant”); (27) and whosoever would be first among you shall be your servant (Greek: “bondservant”): (28) even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto (Greek: “served”), but to minister (Greek: “serve”), and to give his life a ransom for many. (23:10) Neither be ye called masters: for one is your master, [even] the Christ. (11) But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. (12) And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled; and whosoever shall humble himself shall be exalted. Just as the Spirit of Christ is manifest through men (the true prophet) to lead his female body, the Church, the spirit of antichrist (1Jn.4:1-3) is manifest through men (the false prophet) to lead his female body, the harlot. Both bodies are female because they receive a seed, one from Christ, which is the Word, and the other from antichrist, which is the apostate word. Let me show you that the false prophet beast in revelation is a member of the harlot. Most agree that the second beast in Revelation 13 is the false prophet. He is given authority by the first beast for the second stage of the last 3½ years of the Tribulation (Rev.13:5). He is identified as a beast because he is a corporate body as is every other prophetic beast in the Scripture.(Rev.13:11) And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like unto a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. (12) And he exerciseth all the authority of the first beast in his sight. And he maketh the earth and them that dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose death-stroke was healed. Here we see that the false prophet masquerades as the lamb: “two horns like unto a lamb” but he speaks as the world and Satan: “and he spake as a dragon” (beast). This second beast in chapter 13 is also identified after the world beast in Revelation 16:13 as the false prophet. This impostor leadership for the harlot has “a form of godliness” (2Tim.3:5) but is carnal and can only teach a worldly corruption of the Word. They are actually a mouthpiece for the world beast in the apostate church. It was said of the world beast, (Rev.13:5) and there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies…. These apostates speak against (Greek: blasphemeo) God with their hypnotizing, ear-tickling doctrines of all-fly-away, unconditional eternal security, worldly prosperity, greasy grace, and anything but the self-crucifying truth. The false prophet is a corporate body within the corporate body of the harlot, which is female because they receive the seed of antichrist. In verse 15 we see the female body of the false prophet. “And it was given to her (Greek) to give spirit (Greek) to the image of the beast.” Bible numerics show a perfect pattern for “her” and “spirit” in the original Greek and in the most accurate New Testament, the Numeric English New Testament by Ivan Panin. There is no pattern in “he” or “it.” In Greek, breath and spirit are the same. Numerics show beyond a shadow of a doubt which words are correct here. In the rest of the text this false prophet is identified as male by the same numeric pattern. A translator would have had to respect the Word enough to ignore his own reasoning to simply translate what was there. Most are not willing to go out on a limb and look foolish when they do not see the reason. A male, who is also seen as female, is clear proof that God is not speaking of an individual here but a corporate body of people. In parallel, we are the male body of Christ, made in His image (2Cor.3:18), but we are female in another type (Eph.5:22-25), being married and submitted to Him to receive His seed, His Word. Let's see this corporate false prophet and his relationship to the harlot in another parable. We know Ahab represents the ten-horned beast who was being ridden by Jezebel (1Ki.18), exactly as the harlot rode the beast in Revelation 17:1-3. They ruled over the apostate ten tribes or horns who were also those who worshiped the image of the beast, the golden calf. As the corporate mother of the harlot sects of Christianity, she leads them into the Great Tribulation and death unless they repent. (Rev.2:20)…Jezebel…teacheth and seduceth my servants to commit fornication (with the world beast)… (21) And I gave her time that she should repent; and she willeth not to repent of her fornication. (22) Behold, I cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of her works. (23) And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he that searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto each one of you according to your works. Like the harlot, Jezebel was guilty of the blood of the prophets and of the saints (1Ki.18:4; 2Ki.9:7; Rev.18:24). In Revelation 17:16 when the beast is through using the harlot he devours her, and so it was with Jezebel who was devoured by the dogs (1Ki.21:23), symbolizing the unbelievers (Mk.7:27) or the beast. The true ministers of God are fed at the Church's table (1Cor.9:13-14) and the false prophets are fed from the harlot's table. (1Ki.18:19)…The prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the Asherah four hundred, that eat at Jezebel's table. The two categories of false prophets represent the two horns of the false prophet in Revelation 13:11. Find out who Baal and Asherah represent in modern times and you will know who the corporate false prophet is. These two have their roots at the tower of Babel and were originally Nimrod and his wife Semiramis (Gen.10:8-10). They created the original harlot religion that spawned all the rest. They are a type of the great corporate mother of harlots of all of history. (Rev.17:5) And upon her forehead a name written, MYSTERY, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of The Harlots And Of The Abominations Of The Earth. When Nimrod died and Semiramis (later called Asherah) became pregnant, she claimed that Nimrod had become the Sun God (later called Baal) who then by virgin birth was reborn as her son, Tammuz (Son of God). These original Babylonians worshiped the false father, son, and virgin about 2,300 years before the true virgin birth. Semiramis probably knew of the prophecy in Genesis 3:15 concerning the virgin birth seed of the woman and if she didn't, the devil did. With the confusion of languages and dispersion at Babel, this legend went throughout the world and these three were given different names in different cultures, many of which are in the Bible. The golden calf in Egypt was a symbol of the Father (Baal) in the Son. Remember Pharaoh's title meant “Great Temple of the Sun God.” Sun images all over the world and in Catholic and Eastern churches symbolize the false Son. As we saw in the previous chapter, the Israelites with their golden calf thought they were worshiping “YHWH” or “Elohim,” the true God, but it was Baal, “another Jesus.” One horn, the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, represent those who teach “another Jesus.” This is the apostate Protestant ministers. The other horn, the four hundred prophets of the Asherah, represent those who worship the virgin. These are the Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox, and many others that are into “Maryolotry.” Mary is my sister and I love her but she is not the mother of God. (Rom.1:3) Concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, (Jesus' “flesh” was the “seed of David” through Mary, which was the promised seed of the woman in Genesis 3:15. Mary is the mother of Jesus' flesh which is “Son of Man.”) (4) who was declared [to be] the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead; [even] Jesus Christ our Lord. Jesus' “spirit” man was the “Son of God.” Jesus agreed with this saying, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (Joh.3:6). Some would say that the two horns are the apostate leaders of the Christian religion and the leaders of false religions. To this I agree. The same verses usually address both greater and lesser types. The greater type is the most complete fulfillment and all the Babylonish religions will be gathered together in the end time harlot. Overcoming Babylonish Distractions Missy Pollock 11/12/23 (David's notes in red) There are 2 types of Christians in the World. Those who put their own worldly pleasures first which are Babylonians. And those who are truly born of God and put Him first in everything. Below is the warning of Babylonian Distractions. I dreamt that there was what looked like a stereo system playing a radio with a man speaking and the volume was turned up too loud. It was black and was about 18" x 18" in size. (18 is the number for bondage and black is darkness) I couldn't understand what the man was saying; his words sounded all jumbled up. It didn't seem to be a foreign language though. (Babylon means confusion. Whether it be Babylonian apostate Christianity or secular Babylon I don't want to receive their leaven or propaganda news. There are many distracting voices of spirits that I need to cast down.) I asked David to turn it down and he did but it was still loud. (I have done this by teaching against Babylonish distractions. But this means more needs to be done.) It seems that the loud speech represents the distractions of Babylon that everyone individually has to overcome to concentrate on God like the women trying to read the word below.. These distractions were pointed out by Jesus in His parables; Luk 14:15-24 ASV And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. (The bread we eat is the scriptures. Jesus was the Word and the bread that came down out of heaven that gives life to the world.) 16 But he said unto him, A certain man made a great supper; and he bade many: 17 and he sent forth his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. 18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. (To not partake of the Words of life that Jesus served) The first said unto him, I have bought a field, and I must needs go out and see it; I pray thee have me excused. 19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them; I pray thee have me excused. 20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. 21 And the servant came, and told his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor and maimed and blind and lame. 22 And the servant said, Lord, what thou didst command is done, and yet there is room. 23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and constrain them to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I say unto you, that none of those men that were bidden shall taste of my supper. (So the Babylonish distractions, with no eternal value, kept these people from partaking of the Words of Eternal Life. When I was young in the Lord I was captured by the Word and the grace of God and His anointing and began to read it day and night. I soon realized all of the hobbies I had loved so much were just laying around gathering dust. I didn't have time for them any longer and started to sell off or give away what was once a very loved distraction. Like my TV, gun collection, race car, my brand new Z-1 street bike I converted to a chopper, my buss camper, dirt bikes, ski boat, Cadillac, trailer, torch, welder, expensive reel to reel stereo, flushed my marijuana, alcohol, tools of all sorts, some I took back to Exxon where I got them. etc. etc. That was close to 54 years ago and I have never regretted it. I settled into many years of study of the Word, which was not my nature before believing the Bible was the Word of God. So getting rid of distractions came to me because God worked it in my heart to will and to do for His good pleasure.. Mat 22:1-14 ASV And Jesus answered and spake again in parables unto them, saying, 2 The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a certain king, who made a marriage feast for his son, (The marriage feast for the Son, Jesus was what He was feeding spiritually in His words that the people were feeding on. He is the Word Himself. Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He said, except you eat my body (He was the Word made flesh) and drink my blood (i.e. partake of His nature and DNA through the Word) you will have no life in you.) 3 and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the marriage feast: and they would not come. (They wouldn't partake of the Word; be born of the Word.) 4 Again he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them that are bidden, Behold, I have made ready my dinner; my oxen and my fatlings are killed, (He said, My meat is to do the will of my Father, which will was revealed in His Words.) and all things are ready: come to the marriage feast. 5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise; 6 and the rest laid hold on his servants, and treated them shamefully, and killed them. 7 But the king was wroth; and he sent his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. (In 70AD and today) 8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they that were bidden were not worthy. 9 Go ye therefore unto the partings of the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage feast. 10 And those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was filled with guests. 11 But when the king came in to behold the guests, he saw there a man who had not on a wedding-garment: (Putting on the wedding garment represents putting on the works of Jesus as in Rom 13:13-14 ASV Let us walk becomingly, as in the day; not in revelling and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. And Rev 19:7-8 ASV Let us rejoice and be exceeding glad, and let us give the glory unto him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And it was given unto her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright and pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. ) 12 and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding-garment? And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and cast him out into the outer darkness; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. 14 For many are called, but few chosen. Luk 10:41-42 ASV But the Lord answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art anxious and troubled about many things: 42 but one thing is needful: for Mary hath chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her. (Mary was sitting at the Masters feet listening to His eternal Word.) I asked him to turn it down again. David seemed a little annoyed that I asked him again. (Possibly because it is the individual's responsibility to tune out Babylon and its pleasures to follow after God and feed on His Word that we may grow in 30, 60,100 fold fruit of himself.) I told him I couldn't concentrate with it being so loud. Then he turned it down again but it was still too loud. (Maybe taking the warning in these parables of the Lord will help us tune out the world.) So hesitating, not wanting to take authority, I turned it down. (I shouldn't hesitate to take authority because I've been given authority by the Lord over all the power of the enemy and authority to lay my life down.) But it only got louder. I tried again to turn it down but it didn't lower the volume. I told David I wanted to read the word but but I can't concentrate. I asked him if we could turn it off? (Of course you can turn it off. Get alone with the Lord and speak to Him and listen to Him and His Word, which recreates Him in you. Self-works cannot save us. God will help us to do it through our faith. Mar 11:23-24 ASV Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he saith cometh to pass; he shall have it. 24 Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye received them, and ye shall have them. There is your Quantum Mechanics Faith. ) There were other sisters sitting at a table with their bibles. I said to them that I can't concentrate when I read my Bible if there is something playing. One sister spoke up and said she couldn't either and others seemed to agree. (I don't recall if anyone turned it off. (But what comes to me about this is that I have to take authority and put to death the deeds of my body. Not listen, watch or read anything that would diminish my faith. I need to walk by faith and not by sight. I can't do that if I'm feeding my flesh with things that get me to look at the things that are instead of seeing or imagining things according to God's promises in his word.) I asked the Lord for a verse by faith at random for this part of the dream. Isa. 50:1, in context 1-3. Isa 50:1-3 Thus saith Jehovah, Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement, wherewith I have put her away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities were ye sold, and for your transgressions was your mother put away. [2] Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? Behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stink, because there is no water (Word), and die for thirst. [3] I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering. Then the scene changed and David was walking outside as several people and I were following him. (disciples, learners and followers of Jesus in the Man-child) There were some men that came up to David and he stopped to talk to them. The men joined the rest of us and I knew we were all going to do Kingdom work together. We all continued to follow David. As I looked at David I noticed his hair and thought, His hair is still gray; it hasn't turned darker yet." (Once when thinking about my choice of a new body I didn't believe people would recognize me without this gray hair so I have left that up to Father.) I was thinking about DNA restoration the Man-child will receive at his anointing; youth renewed as the eagle. However Gray hair represents wisdom too; Jesus in David is the wisdom of God.) The End. I asked the Lord for a verse by faith at random for this part of the dream. 1 Chr. 17:19, in context 1Ch 17:19-27 [19] O Jehovah, for thy servant's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou wrought all this greatness, to make known all these great things. [20] O Jehovah, there is none like thee, neither is there any God besides thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. [21] And what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel (As a type of the Church), whom God went to redeem unto himself for a people, to make thee a name by great and terrible things, in driving out nations from before thy people, whom thou redeemedst out of Egypt? [22] For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever; and thou, Jehovah, becamest their God. [23] And now, O Jehovah, let the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, be established forever, and do as thou hast spoken. [24] And let thy name be established and magnified forever, saying, Jehovah of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel: and the house of David thy servant is established before thee. [25] For thou, O my God, hast revealed to thy servant that thou wilt build him a house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray before thee. [26] And now, O Jehovah, thou art God, and hast promised this good thing unto thy servant: [27] and now it hath pleased thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue forever before thee: for thou, O Jehovah, hast blessed, and it is blessed forever. President Trump's Seduction Attempt Missy Pollock 10/5/23 (David's notes in red) I dreamt that I was standing in front of President Trump as he was sitting at a desk. He was telling me something but I don't remember what it was. I do know though that I had a sense that I didn't disagree with him, nor did I have any negative feelings about what he said. Then I was in the house I grew up in and I was in my bed in my bedroom. (The house represents the harlot church denomination she grew up in the Lord in and the bed/bedroom represents being asleep.) President Trump was there and he gave me a hug. I was ok with the hug at first but then he started trying to seduce me and he even somehow managed to kiss me right on the lips
The Drive Hour 3 "The Slough of Despond" 11.8.23 by Fanrun Radio
In November of 1660, Puritan lay preacher John Bunyan was arrested and subsequently spent the next 12 years in prison. Under the restored monarchy of Charles II, dissent from the Church of England was once again illegal. Initially sentenced to three months, under the condition that he would stop preaching, Bunyan famously replied that he was willing to suffer “till the moss shall grow on mine eyebrows, rather than thus to violate my faith and principles.” In prison, Bunyan completed one of the all-time, best-selling works of Christian literature, The Pilgrim's Progress. Chuck Colson was deeply impacted by this book. Here's Chuck, in his own words: It has often been described as the most popular and most influential book ever published—after the Bible, that is. Yet many literary critics of its time treated it with scorn. Its author was simply a humble Puritan minister who wrote it while imprisoned for his faith. He was not even sure if he should publish it. If you have not guessed it yet, I am talking about The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan…. Pilgrim's Progress is a powerful story of one Christian's journey through life. The people, encounters, and struggles he faces have become part of the English language: Mr. Worldly Wiseman, Vanity Fair, the Slough of Despond, and so many more. Yet Bunyan was not even trying to be particularly clever or original. As Boa reminds us, Bunyan's thinking was so steeped in the Scriptures that his book is filled with “literally hundreds and hundreds of allusions” to biblical references and concepts, and this is what makes its imagery so striking and memorable. As Charles Spurgeon, who used to read The Pilgrim's Progress twice a year, said of Bunyan, “If you cut him, he would bleed Bible.” The book's theological depth makes it almost suitable for a “catechesis” of the Christian faith. And something that has always amazed me about Pilgrim's Progress is just how real Bunyan's characters are. The pilgrims at the center of the story are no Christian supermen, no perfect moral heroes. Boa points out, “There are many weaknesses in [the characters] Christian and Faithful … and we see that faith co-exists with failings.” Just like any biblical hero, the Christian characters here must ask for God's help in fighting their own flaws and failures. Their intentions are good, but they are too easily lured away from their path or cast down by their troubles. As Boa says, “It is Christian's actual frailty, his fallibility that arouses our sympathy for him and makes us wonder what is going to happen next.” Unlike much Christian fiction of our own time, Bunyan's allegory does not try to tiptoe around the fact of sin. The wise Puritan preacher knew he would have been remiss not to deal with it. In many ways, his heroes, despite the seventeenth century setting, are just like us, which is why Pilgrim's Progress still fascinates us. Fascinates us and encourages us, as well—for as Boa goes on to say, Bunyan's book teaches us that “any man, any woman, through grace, can become a Christian hero.” It is a lesson that has carried down through the centuries and is just as powerful today as ever—not bad for a simple Puritan preacher. Chuck Colson knew, of course, what it was like to not only be in prison but to experience the presence of the Lord in the midst of prison. In the epilogue of his autobiography Born Again, Chuck wrote, “I found myself increasingly drawn to the idea that God had put me in prison for a purpose and that I should do something for those I had left behind.” Among the lessons to be learned from the stories of John Bunyan and Chuck Colson is that suffering can produce the Christian's most powerful witness, and that God is faithful to His people everywhere, even behind bars. This Breakpoint was co-authored by Kasey Leander. For more resources to live like a Christian in this cultural moment, go to breakpoint.org.
On Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded Podcast. Full Assurance, by H A Ironside Introduction In penning the following pages, I have had but one outstanding object before me: to make as plain as I possibly can just how any troubled soul may find settled peace with God. I am thinking particularly of those people who believe the Holy Scriptures to be divinely inspired, and who recognize that salvation is only to be found in Christ, but someway have missed the “peace of a perfect trust,” and though earnestly desiring to know the Lord, are floundering in perplexity of mind, like Bunyan's Pilgrim, in the Slough of Despond, or like the same anxious inquirer in his earlier experience, trembling beneath the frowning cliffs of Sinai. Consequently, no attempt is here made to prove that the Bible is true, as both the writer and the readers he has specially in view take that for granted. People who are bothered by doubts along that line may find abundant help elsewhere, as there are not wanting plenty of good books, written by sound Christian scholars, that present unanswerable arguments for the inerrancy and the divine authority of the Bible. The trouble is that so many people who profess to want help along these lines are too indifferent to investigate, even when the opportunity is put before them. It is of really earnest seekers after the truth that I am thinking. For many months I was myself in much doubt and confusion of thought until God by His Holy Spirit showed me through His Word the true ground of peace. That was many years ago, and as I write I find myself living over again the conflict of those days, and recalling, as though it were but yesterday, the gladness that filled my soul when I rested in Christ alone, and entered into a lasting peace with God that has known no disturbance throughout the years. The clouds may at times veil my sky. Sorrows and difficulties may try my soul. New discoveries of the corruption of my own heart may bring humiliation and repentance. But this peace with God remains unchanged, for it rests not on me, not on my frames of mind or experiences, but on the finished work of Christ and the testimony of the Word of God, of which it is written: “For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.” Links https://www.hiawathabible.org/youtube-playlist-index-page https://www.hiawathabible.org/matthew-henrys-main-page https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZlTAw2GgUjM1z7wNGicqpxfBLJc3FJxS You will find the text on my blog at https://wordpress.com/home/downtoearthbutheavenlyminded.wordpress.com
On Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded Podcast. Full Assurance, by H A Ironside Introduction In penning the following pages, I have had but one outstanding object before me: to make as plain as I possibly can just how any troubled soul may find settled peace with God. I am thinking particularly of those people who believe the Holy Scriptures to be divinely inspired, and who recognize that salvation is only to be found in Christ, but someway have missed the “peace of a perfect trust,” and though earnestly desiring to know the Lord, are floundering in perplexity of mind, like Bunyan's Pilgrim, in the Slough of Despond, or like the same anxious inquirer in his earlier experience, trembling beneath the frowning cliffs of Sinai. Consequently, no attempt is here made to prove that the Bible is true, as both the writer and the readers he has specially in view take that for granted. People who are bothered by doubts along that line may find abundant help elsewhere, as there are not wanting plenty of good books, written by sound Christian scholars, that present unanswerable arguments for the inerrancy and the divine authority of the Bible. The trouble is that so many people who profess to want help along these lines are too indifferent to investigate, even when the opportunity is put before them. It is of really earnest seekers after the truth that I am thinking. For many months I was myself in much doubt and confusion of thought until God by His Holy Spirit showed me through His Word the true ground of peace. That was many years ago, and as I write I find myself living over again the conflict of those days, and recalling, as though it were but yesterday, the gladness that filled my soul when I rested in Christ alone, and entered into a lasting peace with God that has known no disturbance throughout the years. The clouds may at times veil my sky. Sorrows and difficulties may try my soul. New discoveries of the corruption of my own heart may bring humiliation and repentance. But this peace with God remains unchanged, for it rests not on me, not on my frames of mind or experiences, but on the finished work of Christ and the testimony of the Word of God, of which it is written: “For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.” Links https://www.hiawathabible.org/youtube-playlist-index-page https://www.hiawathabible.org/matthew-henrys-main-page https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZlTAw2GgUjM1z7wNGicqpxfBLJc3FJxS You will find the text on my blog at https://wordpress.com/home/downtoearthbutheavenlyminded.wordpress.com
On Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded Podcast. Full Assurance, by H A Ironside Introduction In penning the following pages, I have had but one outstanding object before me: to make as plain as I possibly can just how any troubled soul may find settled peace with God. I am thinking particularly of those people who believe the Holy Scriptures to be divinely inspired, and who recognize that salvation is only to be found in Christ, but someway have missed the “peace of a perfect trust,” and though earnestly desiring to know the Lord, are floundering in perplexity of mind, like Bunyan's Pilgrim, in the Slough of Despond, or like the same anxious inquirer in his earlier experience, trembling beneath the frowning cliffs of Sinai. Consequently, no attempt is here made to prove that the Bible is true, as both the writer and the readers he has specially in view take that for granted. People who are bothered by doubts along that line may find abundant help elsewhere, as there are not wanting plenty of good books, written by sound Christian scholars, that present unanswerable arguments for the inerrancy and the divine authority of the Bible. The trouble is that so many people who profess to want help along these lines are too indifferent to investigate, even when the opportunity is put before them. It is of really earnest seekers after the truth that I am thinking. For many months I was myself in much doubt and confusion of thought until God by His Holy Spirit showed me through His Word the true ground of peace. That was many years ago, and as I write I find myself living over again the conflict of those days, and recalling, as though it were but yesterday, the gladness that filled my soul when I rested in Christ alone, and entered into a lasting peace with God that has known no disturbance throughout the years. The clouds may at times veil my sky. Sorrows and difficulties may try my soul. New discoveries of the corruption of my own heart may bring humiliation and repentance. But this peace with God remains unchanged, for it rests not on me, not on my frames of mind or experiences, but on the finished work of Christ and the testimony of the Word of God, of which it is written: “For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.” Links https://www.hiawathabible.org/youtube-playlist-index-page https://www.hiawathabible.org/matthew-henrys-main-page https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZlTAw2GgUjM1z7wNGicqpxfBLJc3FJxS You will find the text on my blog at https://wordpress.com/home/downtoearthbutheavenlyminded.wordpress.com
On Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded Podcast. Full Assurance, by H A Ironside Introduction In penning the following pages, I have had but one outstanding object before me: to make as plain as I possibly can just how any troubled soul may find settled peace with God. I am thinking particularly of those people who believe the Holy Scriptures to be divinely inspired, and who recognize that salvation is only to be found in Christ, but someway have missed the “peace of a perfect trust,” and though earnestly desiring to know the Lord, are floundering in perplexity of mind, like Bunyan's Pilgrim, in the Slough of Despond, or like the same anxious inquirer in his earlier experience, trembling beneath the frowning cliffs of Sinai. Consequently, no attempt is here made to prove that the Bible is true, as both the writer and the readers he has specially in view take that for granted. People who are bothered by doubts along that line may find abundant help elsewhere, as there are not wanting plenty of good books, written by sound Christian scholars, that present unanswerable arguments for the inerrancy and the divine authority of the Bible. The trouble is that so many people who profess to want help along these lines are too indifferent to investigate, even when the opportunity is put before them. It is of really earnest seekers after the truth that I am thinking. For many months I was myself in much doubt and confusion of thought until God by His Holy Spirit showed me through His Word the true ground of peace. That was many years ago, and as I write I find myself living over again the conflict of those days, and recalling, as though it were but yesterday, the gladness that filled my soul when I rested in Christ alone, and entered into a lasting peace with God that has known no disturbance throughout the years. The clouds may at times veil my sky. Sorrows and difficulties may try my soul. New discoveries of the corruption of my own heart may bring humiliation and repentance. But this peace with God remains unchanged, for it rests not on me, not on my frames of mind or experiences, but on the finished work of Christ and the testimony of the Word of God, of which it is written: “For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.” Links https://www.hiawathabible.org/youtube-playlist-index-page https://www.hiawathabible.org/matthew-henrys-main-page https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZlTAw2GgUjM1z7wNGicqpxfBLJc3FJxS You will find the text on my blog at https://wordpress.com/home/downtoearthbutheavenlyminded.wordpress.com
On Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded Podcast. Full Assurance, by H A Ironside Introduction In penning the following pages, I have had but one outstanding object before me: to make as plain as I possibly can just how any troubled soul may find settled peace with God. I am thinking particularly of those people who believe the Holy Scriptures to be divinely inspired, and who recognize that salvation is only to be found in Christ, but someway have missed the “peace of a perfect trust,” and though earnestly desiring to know the Lord, are floundering in perplexity of mind, like Bunyan's Pilgrim, in the Slough of Despond, or like the same anxious inquirer in his earlier experience, trembling beneath the frowning cliffs of Sinai. Consequently, no attempt is here made to prove that the Bible is true, as both the writer and the readers he has specially in view take that for granted. People who are bothered by doubts along that line may find abundant help elsewhere, as there are not wanting plenty of good books, written by sound Christian scholars, that present unanswerable arguments for the inerrancy and the divine authority of the Bible. The trouble is that so many people who profess to want help along these lines are too indifferent to investigate, even when the opportunity is put before them. It is of really earnest seekers after the truth that I am thinking. For many months I was myself in much doubt and confusion of thought until God by His Holy Spirit showed me through His Word the true ground of peace. That was many years ago, and as I write I find myself living over again the conflict of those days, and recalling, as though it were but yesterday, the gladness that filled my soul when I rested in Christ alone, and entered into a lasting peace with God that has known no disturbance throughout the years. The clouds may at times veil my sky. Sorrows and difficulties may try my soul. New discoveries of the corruption of my own heart may bring humiliation and repentance. But this peace with God remains unchanged, for it rests not on me, not on my frames of mind or experiences, but on the finished work of Christ and the testimony of the Word of God, of which it is written: “For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.” Links https://www.hiawathabible.org/youtube-playlist-index-page https://www.hiawathabible.org/matthew-henrys-main-page https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZlTAw2GgUjM1z7wNGicqpxfBLJc3FJxS You will find the text on my blog at https://wordpress.com/home/downtoearthbutheavenlyminded.wordpress.com
On Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded Podcast. Full Assurance, by H A Ironside Introduction In penning the following pages, I have had but one outstanding object before me: to make as plain as I possibly can just how any troubled soul may find settled peace with God. I am thinking particularly of those people who believe the Holy Scriptures to be divinely inspired, and who recognize that salvation is only to be found in Christ, but someway have missed the “peace of a perfect trust,” and though earnestly desiring to know the Lord, are floundering in perplexity of mind, like Bunyan's Pilgrim, in the Slough of Despond, or like the same anxious inquirer in his earlier experience, trembling beneath the frowning cliffs of Sinai. Consequently, no attempt is here made to prove that the Bible is true, as both the writer and the readers he has specially in view take that for granted. People who are bothered by doubts along that line may find abundant help elsewhere, as there are not wanting plenty of good books, written by sound Christian scholars, that present unanswerable arguments for the inerrancy and the divine authority of the Bible. The trouble is that so many people who profess to want help along these lines are too indifferent to investigate, even when the opportunity is put before them. It is of really earnest seekers after the truth that I am thinking. For many months I was myself in much doubt and confusion of thought until God by His Holy Spirit showed me through His Word the true ground of peace. That was many years ago, and as I write I find myself living over again the conflict of those days, and recalling, as though it were but yesterday, the gladness that filled my soul when I rested in Christ alone, and entered into a lasting peace with God that has known no disturbance throughout the years. The clouds may at times veil my sky. Sorrows and difficulties may try my soul. New discoveries of the corruption of my own heart may bring humiliation and repentance. But this peace with God remains unchanged, for it rests not on me, not on my frames of mind or experiences, but on the finished work of Christ and the testimony of the Word of God, of which it is written: “For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.” Links https://www.hiawathabible.org/youtube-playlist-index-page https://www.hiawathabible.org/matthew-henrys-main-page https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZlTAw2GgUjM1z7wNGicqpxfBLJc3FJxS You will find the text on my blog at https://wordpress.com/home/downtoearthbutheavenlyminded.wordpress.com
On Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded Podcast. Full Assurance, by H A Ironside Introduction In penning the following pages, I have had but one outstanding object before me: to make as plain as I possibly can just how any troubled soul may find settled peace with God. I am thinking particularly of those people who believe the Holy Scriptures to be divinely inspired, and who recognize that salvation is only to be found in Christ, but someway have missed the “peace of a perfect trust,” and though earnestly desiring to know the Lord, are floundering in perplexity of mind, like Bunyan's Pilgrim, in the Slough of Despond, or like the same anxious inquirer in his earlier experience, trembling beneath the frowning cliffs of Sinai. Consequently, no attempt is here made to prove that the Bible is true, as both the writer and the readers he has specially in view take that for granted. People who are bothered by doubts along that line may find abundant help elsewhere, as there are not wanting plenty of good books, written by sound Christian scholars, that present unanswerable arguments for the inerrancy and the divine authority of the Bible. The trouble is that so many people who profess to want help along these lines are too indifferent to investigate, even when the opportunity is put before them. It is of really earnest seekers after the truth that I am thinking. For many months I was myself in much doubt and confusion of thought until God by His Holy Spirit showed me through His Word the true ground of peace. That was many years ago, and as I write I find myself living over again the conflict of those days, and recalling, as though it were but yesterday, the gladness that filled my soul when I rested in Christ alone, and entered into a lasting peace with God that has known no disturbance throughout the years. The clouds may at times veil my sky. Sorrows and difficulties may try my soul. New discoveries of the corruption of my own heart may bring humiliation and repentance. But this peace with God remains unchanged, for it rests not on me, not on my frames of mind or experiences, but on the finished work of Christ and the testimony of the Word of God, of which it is written: “For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.” Links https://www.hiawathabible.org/youtube-playlist-index-page https://www.hiawathabible.org/matthew-henrys-main-page https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZlTAw2GgUjM1z7wNGicqpxfBLJc3FJxS You will find the text on my blog at https://wordpress.com/home/downtoearthbutheavenlyminded.wordpress.com
On Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded Podcast. Full Assurance, by H A Ironside Introduction In penning the following pages, I have had but one outstanding object before me: to make as plain as I possibly can just how any troubled soul may find settled peace with God. I am thinking particularly of those people who believe the Holy Scriptures to be divinely inspired, and who recognize that salvation is only to be found in Christ, but someway have missed the “peace of a perfect trust,” and though earnestly desiring to know the Lord, are floundering in perplexity of mind, like Bunyan's Pilgrim, in the Slough of Despond, or like the same anxious inquirer in his earlier experience, trembling beneath the frowning cliffs of Sinai. Consequently, no attempt is here made to prove that the Bible is true, as both the writer and the readers he has specially in view take that for granted. People who are bothered by doubts along that line may find abundant help elsewhere, as there are not wanting plenty of good books, written by sound Christian scholars, that present unanswerable arguments for the inerrancy and the divine authority of the Bible. The trouble is that so many people who profess to want help along these lines are too indifferent to investigate, even when the opportunity is put before them. It is of really earnest seekers after the truth that I am thinking. For many months I was myself in much doubt and confusion of thought until God by His Holy Spirit showed me through His Word the true ground of peace. That was many years ago, and as I write I find myself living over again the conflict of those days, and recalling, as though it were but yesterday, the gladness that filled my soul when I rested in Christ alone, and entered into a lasting peace with God that has known no disturbance throughout the years. The clouds may at times veil my sky. Sorrows and difficulties may try my soul. New discoveries of the corruption of my own heart may bring humiliation and repentance. But this peace with God remains unchanged, for it rests not on me, not on my frames of mind or experiences, but on the finished work of Christ and the testimony of the Word of God, of which it is written: “For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.” Links https://www.hiawathabible.org/youtube-playlist-index-page https://www.hiawathabible.org/matthew-henrys-main-page https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZlTAw2GgUjM1z7wNGicqpxfBLJc3FJxS You will find the text on my blog at https://wordpress.com/home/downtoearthbutheavenlyminded.wordpress.com
On Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded Podcast. Full Assurance, by H A Ironside Introduction In penning the following pages, I have had but one outstanding object before me: to make as plain as I possibly can just how any troubled soul may find settled peace with God. I am thinking particularly of those people who believe the Holy Scriptures to be divinely inspired, and who recognize that salvation is only to be found in Christ, but someway have missed the “peace of a perfect trust,” and though earnestly desiring to know the Lord, are floundering in perplexity of mind, like Bunyan's Pilgrim, in the Slough of Despond, or like the same anxious inquirer in his earlier experience, trembling beneath the frowning cliffs of Sinai. Consequently, no attempt is here made to prove that the Bible is true, as both the writer and the readers he has specially in view take that for granted. People who are bothered by doubts along that line may find abundant help elsewhere, as there are not wanting plenty of good books, written by sound Christian scholars, that present unanswerable arguments for the inerrancy and the divine authority of the Bible. The trouble is that so many people who profess to want help along these lines are too indifferent to investigate, even when the opportunity is put before them. It is of really earnest seekers after the truth that I am thinking. For many months I was myself in much doubt and confusion of thought until God by His Holy Spirit showed me through His Word the true ground of peace. That was many years ago, and as I write I find myself living over again the conflict of those days, and recalling, as though it were but yesterday, the gladness that filled my soul when I rested in Christ alone, and entered into a lasting peace with God that has known no disturbance throughout the years. The clouds may at times veil my sky. Sorrows and difficulties may try my soul. New discoveries of the corruption of my own heart may bring humiliation and repentance. But this peace with God remains unchanged, for it rests not on me, not on my frames of mind or experiences, but on the finished work of Christ and the testimony of the Word of God, of which it is written: “For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.” Links https://www.hiawathabible.org/youtube-playlist-index-page https://www.hiawathabible.org/matthew-henrys-main-page https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZlTAw2GgUjM1z7wNGicqpxfBLJc3FJxS You will find the text on my blog at https://wordpress.com/home/downtoearthbutheavenlyminded.wordpress.com
On Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded Podcast. Full Assurance, by H A Ironside Introduction In penning the following pages, I have had but one outstanding object before me: to make as plain as I possibly can just how any troubled soul may find settled peace with God. I am thinking particularly of those people who believe the Holy Scriptures to be divinely inspired, and who recognize that salvation is only to be found in Christ, but someway have missed the “peace of a perfect trust,” and though earnestly desiring to know the Lord, are floundering in perplexity of mind, like Bunyan's Pilgrim, in the Slough of Despond, or like the same anxious inquirer in his earlier experience, trembling beneath the frowning cliffs of Sinai. Consequently, no attempt is here made to prove that the Bible is true, as both the writer and the readers he has specially in view take that for granted. People who are bothered by doubts along that line may find abundant help elsewhere, as there are not wanting plenty of good books, written by sound Christian scholars, that present unanswerable arguments for the inerrancy and the divine authority of the Bible. The trouble is that so many people who profess to want help along these lines are too indifferent to investigate, even when the opportunity is put before them. It is of really earnest seekers after the truth that I am thinking. For many months I was myself in much doubt and confusion of thought until God by His Holy Spirit showed me through His Word the true ground of peace. That was many years ago, and as I write I find myself living over again the conflict of those days, and recalling, as though it were but yesterday, the gladness that filled my soul when I rested in Christ alone, and entered into a lasting peace with God that has known no disturbance throughout the years. The clouds may at times veil my sky. Sorrows and difficulties may try my soul. New discoveries of the corruption of my own heart may bring humiliation and repentance. But this peace with God remains unchanged, for it rests not on me, not on my frames of mind or experiences, but on the finished work of Christ and the testimony of the Word of God, of which it is written: “For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.” Links https://www.hiawathabible.org/youtube-playlist-index-page https://www.hiawathabible.org/matthew-henrys-main-page https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZlTAw2GgUjM1z7wNGicqpxfBLJc3FJxS You will find the text on my blog at https://wordpress.com/home/downtoearthbutheavenlyminded.wordpress.com
This is the 3rd class on Pilgrim's Progress on Thursday nights at the church. We discussed more on The Slough of Despond, The Arrows of Beelzebub shot at Christian at Wicket Gate. Who is Good Will- And an examination of why so many professing Christian's spiritual journey could be called a -regress- and not a -progress.-
"The Swamp Of Despond" - Pilgrim's Progress - July 9 2023 by GospelBells
In this study we further examined the extent of the alarm and awakening of Christian, the counsel of Evangelist, and began to talk through the details of the Slough of Despond and the assistance of Help.
Pliable. This experience in the Slough of Despond was the first trial he had met with since he had started on pilgrimage. It was, comparatively, a slight one. The Slough was not likely to swallow them up. It was not nearly so bad as lying in Giant Despair's dungeon, or fighting with Apollyon in the Valley of Humiliation. It was not much for anyone to endure, but it was more than Pliable could stand.
On Good Friday, Ps Graham continues in his series on Pilgrims Progress, as Christian heads out from the 'City of Destruction', encouraging us to be aware of the doubts, fears, and things that try to divert us from our journey and drag us into the 'Slough of Despond'.Pilgrim's Progress Part 2 - Notes
In this first lesson by Pastor Jon English, John Bunyan's classic work "The Pilgrim's Progress" is introduced. This lesson goes from the City of Destruction to the Slough of Despond.
Beginning with Eden and all the way through Judah's exile, God's story shows us that humanity's greatest need is for God to “create…a clean heart” within them (Ps 51:10). The prophet Isaiah spoke of how God would accomplish that feat. He would send a humble, innocent servant who would willingly offer his own life and pour out his own blood in order to make many sinners righteous (Is 53:10-12). That servant had the full human experience, suffering under the weight of the curse, enduring the attacks of enemies, and feeling as if all his work had been in vain, and yet after he had “poured out his soul to death” (53:12), God made him a king above all kings (Is 49:7) and gave him many offspring (53:10-11). That suffering servant is the King-priest from Psalm 110. It is he who sits enthroned in Heaven and waits for God to make all his enemies a footstool. (110:1). And while he waits, his kingdom of light continues to spread into every dark corner of the earth. While he waits, “the will of the LORD shall prosper” in the “hand[s]” of his “offspring,” who like their King-priest make their lives a living sacrifice and by bearing the fruits of righteousness bring God's salvation “to the end of the earth” (Is 53:10, Rom 12:1, Is 49:6). As we go about the normal business of our lives this week, I am praying that God impresses a new awareness on our spirits that he now works through us to accomplish his original creative purposes of bringing blessing to every family of the earth. Praise God for the work of his servant, who has made us righteous and has blessed us with fruitfulness in all the good works God has prepared for us to do. (Eph 2:10)
A new MP3 sermon from The Narrated Puritan is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: The Slough of Despond - Pictures in Pilgrim's Progress Subtitle: Pilgrim's Progress Speaker: C. H. Spurgeon Broadcaster: The Narrated Puritan Event: Audio Book Date: 9/7/2022 Length: 17 min.
A new MP3 sermon from The Narrated Puritan is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: The Slough of Despond - Pictures in Pilgrim's Progress Subtitle: Pilgrim's Progress Speaker: C. H. Spurgeon Broadcaster: The Narrated Puritan Event: Audio Book Date: 9/7/2022 Length: 17 min.
A new MP3 sermon from The Narrated Puritan is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: The Slough of Despond - Pictures in Pilgrim's Progress Subtitle: Pilgrim's Progress Speaker: C. H. Spurgeon Broadcaster: The Narrated Puritan Event: Audio Book Date: 9/7/2022 Length: 17 min.
in which Stephen and noted referee-skeptic - guest host John Ferris - discuss the frustrating and controversial end to the Rd.22 loss against the Sticky-less Raiders. With the Dragons displaying moments of brilliance amongst another display replete with defensive lapses, missed tackles, brain fades, signs of internal dissent and Zac Lomax's uncertain Spatial Dynamics, the Dragon' season, like the chaos at the end of the game, seems to have descended into a Black Hole, a slough of Despond. They also discuss the toilet sharing habits of Ponga and Mann from the Knights, the entertainment package at Newtown Oval, the banning of Shoey-man, the Fun Police, and preview the forthcoming game at WIN stadium against the Titans. And as always, much, much more… ‘Please rate, review, like, discuss and share!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Here is a cry for help that I received from one of our coaching students recently: “I'm feeling discouraged because I don't feel that I'm making the progress I want. No fault of my coach, she's excellent! I feel like I'll have really effective practice days then go backwards.” We had a check-in call scheduled, so we were able to talk through some of her concerns, but I think what made the most difference to her was simply knowing that she is not alone, that we all feel this way sometimes, and that the backwards slide is actually a necessary part of the learning process. Progress on the harp or any instrument is a very forwards and backwards kind of thing. Often when we feel that nothing is going right, we are on the verge of a big step forward. It's not unlike a teenager's physical growth spurt where the joints hurt and everything seems out of whack and and then all of a sudden, they're several inches taller. It takes some experience to realize that the most powerful moments in our practice are those moments when the piece we've been practicing hard seems to regress. It's usually the signal that we've reached a new level with it. It's frustrating in the moment, and unfortunately it's the moment when a lot of harpists give up. They put the piece away or even worse, they put the harp away and feel like they've failed. None of that is necessary. What is necessary is to know how to survive the slump, to help a backward slide turn into forward momentum. Today I want to equip you with understanding, reassurance and practical steps so you can avoid being mired in the practice Slough of Despond. Links to things I think you might be interested in that were mentioned in the podcast episode: Take our quiz and find your Practice Blindspot! Related resource Stuck in Practice Quicksand? Get Free with the Sight Reading Mindset blog post Harpmastery.com Get involved in the show! Send your questions for future podcast episodes to me at podcast@harpmastery.com LINKS NOT WORKING FOR YOU? FInd all the show resources here: https://www.harpmastery.com/blog/Episode-063
7 - 3-22 The Slough Of Despond - Andrew Fulton.MP3 by Oneida Gospel Church
In the Story Pilgrim's Progress, Christian and his companion Pliable, while fleeing from the city of Destruction, fall into a bog called The Slough of Despond. Pliable climbs out by himself and heads back the way he came. Christian is pulled out by a person called Help who asked Christian, "Why did you not look for the steps?" Christians can fall into despondency where they lose sight of the hope and sink into inactivity. In Psalm 13 we discover the steps out of despondency. Listen to find out the steps will help lift us out.Time:MorningMinister:Pastor Taylor KernTexts:Psalm 13Series:Summer in the Psalms
Aaron Menikoff preaches a sermon series titled "When Faithfulness Seems Futile: Eleven Sermons from Jeremiah."
Obstinate and Pliable- The Slough of Despond
In our Season 5 wrap-up, we try to stir up a little controversy amongst Yr Worships's favorite book commies by rerunning Pilgrim's Progress as a series of debates about the Greatest Hits (™) from past pods. A fierce argument breaks out over whether we have to lose Tristram Shandy or Ulysses from our boat to make it through the Slough of Despond – until we remember some jackass put a crate of Lady Chatterley's Lover in the hold. Which Season 5 failchild will we use as a life raft? (Pierre, obv., he's pretty and buoyant what with entirely lacking a brain.) But never fear, we come together and make it to the Celestial City. Of communism. We're off for a couple months, comrades, but will see you in the spring for Season 6! Find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @betterreadpod, and email us nice things at betterreadpodcast@gmail.com. Find Tristan on Twitter @tjschweiger, Katie @katiekrywo, and Megan @tuslersaurus.
Wholehearted living is the perfect theme for February!Join us book club style in a review of Brené Brown's The Gifts of Imperfection!In this ep. we trudge through the Slough of Despond to take a deep look at the three C's:Courage, Compassion & Connection, keys to unlocking the power of Love, Belonging & Being Enough. We discuss what gets in the way of wholehearted living while sharing stories, referencing The Land Before Time and four other movies while digesting these first topics in her book.Brené's work is poignant and helpful for anyone wanting to live a full life, a whole life, and in our opinion, a rich life. If you haven't yet, be sure to pick up your copy of her book, and take the wholehearted inventory quiz on her website. (links below)Don't forget to leave a review!You are enough, and we're glad you're here. Thanks for listening!Buy us a CoffeeQuiz Here: wholeheartedinventoryBook Here: Amazon or B&N
Christian leaves the City of Destruction and is joined by Pliable and Obstinate and fall into the Slough of Despond.
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." 5 And I said, "Let them put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD was standing by. No crying or sorrow there: Isaiah 25:8 8 He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken. Revelation 21:4 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." What company will we keep?: Revelation 5:11-12 11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" Elders w/ golden crowns: Revelation 4:4 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. Virgins with Golden Harps: Revelation 14:1-5 Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, 3 and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, 5 and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless. Martyrs Alive and Rejoicing: John 12:25 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. "How can we be partakers?" Isaiah 55:1-7 "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. 3Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. 4 Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. 5 Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, because of the LORD your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you. 6 "Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; 7 let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. "Help": Psalm 20:1-2 May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you! 2 May he send you help from the sanctuary and give you support from Zion! The Steps: 2 Peter 1:3-4 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. Help pulling him out Psalm 40:2 2 He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. "It is not the pleasure of the king:" Isaiah 35:3-4 Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. 4 Say to those who have an anxious heart, "Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you." "As if I had no family" (another iffy ref): 1 Corinthians 7:29 29 This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, All the dangers confirmed by testimony of many pilgrims (WW): 2 Corinthians 11:23-33 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one--I am talking like a madman--with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant? 30 ¶ If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. 32At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus in order to seize me, 33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands. 1 Corinthians 15:30-32 Why are we in danger every hour? 31 I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! 32 What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."
Christian meets a new companion, an enormous setback, and a strong temptation.
Show Notes:- Hal Moore on Leadership: Winning when Outgunned and Outmanned - https://amzn.to/2UaRX8l- Good – Jocko Willink - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdTMDpizis8- Slough of Despond - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slough_of_Despond- Beowulf – Sheamus Heaney - https://amzn.to/2WCIl36- God's Gonna Cut You Down – Johnny Cash - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJlN9jdQFSc—Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran. Support the work of Higher Things.
“And the angel of the Lord came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.” So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God”.1 Kings 19:7The angel came to the prophet Elijah and said: “You must eat and you must drink because you have a long journey ahead of you.” The Lord Jesus is calling you and me this morning to strengthen ourselves for the journey ahead. Don't carry too much or it will tire you out. Don't carry too little otherwise, you will not make it - Just take enough for the journey. I am speaking mostly here about our way home to Heaven. I don't know if you have heard of that very famous book, they say only second to the Bible itself, The Pilgrim's Progress? It was written by John Bunyan hundreds of years ago and is still popular today. I remember when we lived in that little wattle and daub house with my children, all still small, Jill and I used to take that book out every night and I would read one chapter to the children - they couldn't wait for it. They would say, “Dad, read us one chapter.” And I would say, “No, tomorrow night we will read the next one.” The most interesting story of Christian, a young man who was making his way on a journey to the Celestial City which is, of course, Heaven. It is an all-time favourite - If you haven't read that to your family, I would encourage you to get that book and to read it, it is a paradox of our journey home. There are many characters in that story and it is beautifully written. I remember the character of Faithful. He strengthened Christian on his journey but there were other characters like, Despond who just said, “Give up and just don't go any further.” There was the Hill of Difficulty where Christian thought, “I am just not going to make it!”. There was the Valley of Humiliation. Have you ever been humiliated? Hey, ask me about it...Some good friends went with him right to the end of the journey, like Faith, Hope and Charity.I want to encourage you to take enough for the journey. Fortify yourself because this journey is the final journey home and you'll have probably noticed, it is getting more and more difficult. There is more and more difficulty as we carry on but The Lord has promised that He will never allow you and I to be tempted above that which we can handle.Have a wonderful week as you continue with your journey - Remember, we are walking this journey together.God bless you and goodbye.
The Master Breakers return refreshed and alert from their summer travels with fresh crisp-packet metaphors and an unhealthy Madonna fixation. Jon's been gate-crashing perfume adverts at The Royal Opera House with his close personal friend Salvador Dali, as well as pioneering the concept of whistlestop touring without the whistles or stops. Mike's been blurring the line between computers and footballs, but still has the pleasure of introducing the Cathedral Of Binaural Toast Foley, Scaramanga's axe, Working Class Audio, and two goblins. And if that's not enough to rescue you from the Milton Keynes of Despond (or a debilitating attack of Trap, Dogcart, and Brougham), try our masterclasses in faint praise and unrappabilityto! Fancy more of this nonsense? Then please support the podcast at https://www.patreon.com/projectstudioteabreak For more episodes and links relating to each episode (via our zero-spam but 100-percent-idiocy mailing list), check out https://www.projectstudioteabreak.com
© 2020-2025 Ivy Podcast Discovery LLC
