Season 5 Podcast 73 John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Episode 20 Chapter 4 D, “All Prayer.”

In last week’s episode, Christian entered into The Valley of the Shadow of Death. Two men warned him to turn back and not enter the dark valley for it is filled with hobgoblins, satyrs, and dragons of the pit. However, to get to the Celestial City, Christian must walk through the Dark Valley. As he continues, he meets a company of Fiends or devils where his sword was insufficient.

About the midst of this valley I perceived the mouth of hell to be, and it stood also hard by the wayside. Now, thought Christian, what shall I do? And ever and anon the flame and smoke would come out in such abundance, with sparks and hideous noises (things that cared not for Christian's sword, as did Apollyon before), that he was forced to put up his sword, and betake himself to another weapon, called "All-Prayer." So he cried in my hearing, "O Lord, I beseech Thee, deliver my soul."

Again Bunyan is referring to the full armor of God as he is about to enter into ‘The Mouth of Hell.” Here the sword, which is the word is God, is not sufficient. He must use another weapon called “All-Prayer.” It also is in reference to the words of Paul.

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”

Prayer is one of the most powerful tools we have in our battle against Satan. In Joel 2 we read that “whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered.” Regular prayer can keep us from entering into temptation.

Matthew 26:41

41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

For me the Revelator John gives the best description of how God receives our prayers.

Revelation 5:8

8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

Christian is at the very mouth of hell.

“Thus he went on a great while, yet still the flames would be reaching towards him; also he heard doleful voices, and rushings to and fro, so that sometimes he thought he should be torn in pieces, or trodden down like mire in the streets. This frightful sight was seen, and those dreadful noises were heard by him, for several miles together, and, coming to a place where he thought he heard a company of fiends coming forward to meet him, he stopped, and began to muse what he had best to do.”

Doubt began to enter the mind of Christian. Perhaps the warning of the two men who begged him to turn back began to haunt him. Unlike the other two men who urged him to quit, Christian remembers what he has already faced.

Sometimes he had half a thought to go back; then again he thought he might be half-way through the valley. He remembered, also, how he had already vanquished many a danger, and that the danger of going back might be much more than going forward.

Whereas the overwhelmed men ignored their past experiences and entirely gave in to fear, Christian, even in the face of eminent danger, becomes very rational. The difference between Christian and the two men who turned back is simply this: Christian turned to prayer. Because of prayer he was able to overcome the temptation to turn back. Christian had the full armor of God. The two other men, though they had progressed this far, did not. When the sword failed them, they had nowhere to turn but to give in to their fears.

So he resolved to go on; yet the fiends seemed to come nearer and nearer.

Still the weapon “All-Prayer saved him.