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The Devil's Under the Bed

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16 November, 2025Pastor John Strelan

Sermon - The Devil's Under the Bed - Pastor John Strelan - 20251116.pdf
54 Proper 28 C

I don’t know about you, but if I am going into a new situation, particularly if it means performing publicly, I like to put on my armour. That might mean wearing particular clothes, or preparing mentally by doing some prior research, or giving myself a little pep talk, like, “What’s the worst that could happen?” Sometimes I even pray!

I suspect I’m not alone in this. What’s your armour? Is it the make-up you put on? Perhaps it’s humour? Or perhaps you avoid new situations altogether?

It’s natural for us to want to protect ourselves. Which is why Jesus’ advice to the twelve disciples is particularly challenging. “When you have opportunity to testify about me”, he says (and notice it’s ‘when’ not ‘if’), “leave your armour at home”.

Jesus knows that if his disciples are thinking about their armour then they’re thinking about themselves: protecting themselves, defending themselves, getting out alive. But, that’s not Jesus’ way. Jesus’ way is to think about others. And, Jesus wasn’t asking them to do anything he wasn’t prepared to do himself. So, he stood before the governor of Judea and refused to defend himself. And, he trusted that he too would be given the words to say at the right time. Those words came as he hung on the cross. He cried out, “Father, forgive them.”

And they mocked him for it, but the world hasn’t been the same since.

~ Pastor John

Luke 21:5-19

5 Some of his [Jesus'] disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, 6 ‘As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.’

7 ‘Teacher,’ they asked, ‘when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?’

8 He replied: ‘Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, “I am he,” and, “The time is near.” Do not follow them. 9 When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.’

10 Then he said to them: ‘Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.

12 ‘But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13 And so you will bear testimony to me. 14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 Everyone will hate you because of me. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 Stand firm, and you will win life.

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