Derek Thomas

And again, it's a way of depicting pictorially the fact that the law has this character, this function of raising within us an even greater awareness of our sinfulness, that the law convicts, that the law brings further evidence of our transgressions. Then thirdly, he sees two little children. One is called reason and the other is called patience.

And they represent people of this world who want everything now and people of the world to come who are content to wait. The difference between those of the world and those who are of the kingdom of God. And one is anxious to have everything right now and the other is content to wait for the world to come. Then, fourthly, he's taken to a fireplace.

And they represent people of this world who want everything now and people of the world to come who are content to wait. The difference between those of the world and those who are of the kingdom of God. And one is anxious to have everything right now and the other is content to wait for the world to come. Then, fourthly, he's taken to a fireplace.

The fire is burning, and it's burning higher and hotter, despite the fact that somebody is throwing water on this fire, until he's taken around to the other side of the fire, behind the wall. And on the other side, someone is throwing oil on the fire and causing it to blaze. What is Bunyan trying to say?

The fire is burning, and it's burning higher and hotter, despite the fact that somebody is throwing water on this fire, until he's taken around to the other side of the fire, behind the wall. And on the other side, someone is throwing oil on the fire and causing it to blaze. What is Bunyan trying to say?

He's saying this is what a young Christian needs to understand, that there's going to be opposition. There's going to be water thrown on your zeal. You come to Jesus. You come to the gospel. You come to salvation. And you have this enthusiasm. You have this zeal. But the world will always be trying to put out this zeal. But the Holy Spirit...

He's saying this is what a young Christian needs to understand, that there's going to be opposition. There's going to be water thrown on your zeal. You come to Jesus. You come to the gospel. You come to salvation. And you have this enthusiasm. You have this zeal. But the world will always be trying to put out this zeal. But the Holy Spirit...

will be pouring His oil of grace upon that heart and causing that flame to burn for the Lord and for the gospel. Then, fifthly, he sees a castle. And there's a scene of a man and he's dressed in armor and he comes out and he's got a sword and he's engaging in battle against his opponents and he slays all of his opponents and he's victorious.

will be pouring His oil of grace upon that heart and causing that flame to burn for the Lord and for the gospel. Then, fifthly, he sees a castle. And there's a scene of a man and he's dressed in armor and he comes out and he's got a sword and he's engaging in battle against his opponents and he slays all of his opponents and he's victorious.

But it's a picture of battle and it's one of these, it's a typical 17th century understanding of what the Christian life looks like. That the Christian life from beginning to end is one of battle. It's one of warfare.

But it's a picture of battle and it's one of these, it's a typical 17th century understanding of what the Christian life looks like. That the Christian life from beginning to end is one of battle. It's one of warfare.

Ephesians 6, one thinks of William Gurnall, the Puritan of the 17th century, writing a 900-page volume of exposition of that section in Ephesians chapter 6, put on the whole armor of God so that in the day of battle you might be able to stand. One thinks of a very famous, often cited remark of John Geary in 1646.

Ephesians 6, one thinks of William Gurnall, the Puritan of the 17th century, writing a 900-page volume of exposition of that section in Ephesians chapter 6, put on the whole armor of God so that in the day of battle you might be able to stand. One thinks of a very famous, often cited remark of John Geary in 1646.

Just prior to Bunyan's own conversion, he's describing the character of an old English Puritan. His whole life is accounted a warfare wherein Christ was his captain, his arms, prayers, and tears. The cross, his banner, and his word, his motto, vincit qui patitur, which means he who suffers conquers. Vincit qui patitur, he who suffers conquers.

Just prior to Bunyan's own conversion, he's describing the character of an old English Puritan. His whole life is accounted a warfare wherein Christ was his captain, his arms, prayers, and tears. The cross, his banner, and his word, his motto, vincit qui patitur, which means he who suffers conquers. Vincit qui patitur, he who suffers conquers.

That was the motto of the typical English Puritan in the middle of the 17th century. And Bunyan is in many ways a typical English Puritan. He is describing that the Christian life, you come to Jesus and then you must be prepared to fight. You must be prepared to engage in a battle that will take you all the way to glory.

That was the motto of the typical English Puritan in the middle of the 17th century. And Bunyan is in many ways a typical English Puritan. He is describing that the Christian life, you come to Jesus and then you must be prepared to fight. You must be prepared to engage in a battle that will take you all the way to glory.

It was a lesson I think Paul learned from his first missionary journey when he's recounting the lessons of that first missionary journey in the home church in Antioch. He says in Acts 14, 22, it is through much tribulation that we enter the kingdom of God. Come to Jesus and you can expect warfare. Come to Jesus, you can expect tribulation.

It was a lesson I think Paul learned from his first missionary journey when he's recounting the lessons of that first missionary journey in the home church in Antioch. He says in Acts 14, 22, it is through much tribulation that we enter the kingdom of God. Come to Jesus and you can expect warfare. Come to Jesus, you can expect tribulation.

Come to Jesus, you can expect opposition from the world and the flesh and the devil. The seventh, I'll come back to the sixth because I want to dwell on it, but the seventh thing that he sees is a man rising out of bed, shaking and trembling because he's had this dream of the day of judgment and he was left behind.