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TEXT: 1 Corinthians 10:12-13: "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
As we continue our series on Pilgrim's Progress According to the Bible, allow me to read from the story of Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan as a prelude to our topic for today.
Then Christian began to go forward, but Discretion, Piety, Charity, and Prudence would accompany him down to the foot of the hill. So they went on together, reiterating their former discourses, till they came to go down the hill. Then said Christian: "As it was difficult coming up, so far as I can see, it is dangerous going down." "Yes," said Prudence, "so it is, for it is a hard matter for a man to go down into the Valley of Humiliation, as you are doing now, and to catch no slip by the way." Therefore, said they, "are we come out to accompany you down the hill." So he began to go down, but very warily; yet he caught a slip or two.
Christian had just had a wonderful time at the Palace Beautiful. He had come up the Hill of Difficulty, was well rested, and had received a new suit of armor and provisions for his journey. However, as he sets out once again to go to the Celestial City, he learns that he must travel through the Valley of Humiliation. Think about the word "humiliation" for a moment. What kind of thoughts or feelings come to mind when you hear that word? No doubt, you have a negative reaction to the word "humiliation." When we think of humiliation, we think of being embarrassed or put to shame. We think of failing in a very public and noticeable way...