God bless you. May the hand of the Lord be upon you. We're here. This is#Christian straight talk. We are in the podcasting room we are recording. I've got my good friend and my lovely brother, Simon pinch back. And we are across the mics today. And this is straight out of the barrel of truth. You know, the title is very simple, but very, very powerful. It is time to invite God into your battle are my days in the series by I can talk new book coming out,
Simon Pinchbeck:new book coming out, ben
Reverend Ben Cooper:rolling. So I'm a good morning,
Simon Pinchbeck:we're moving forward. It's great to be back with you its great to be back on the mics. And I'm really excited for this message this morning. Because this is big. You know, there's a lot of people out there with a lot going on a lot of battles and yet, you know, we can't do this on our own, can we?
Reverend Ben Cooper:It's all for Jesus. And,
Simon Pinchbeck:you know, straight off the bat, if we scripture, Romans 831 that says if God is for us, and who could be against
Reverend Ben Cooper:us, that's a big daddy of Scripture, that you'll be encouraged by that scripture not being encouraging. Yeah. So the reference is Romans chapter, right? Turn us over guys and gals, wherever you are. Romans chapter eight, verse 31, if God think about it, if God is for us, who can be against us, the battle belongs to the Lord, all these encouraging scriptures out the battle belongs to the Lord. But that doesn't mean does it that we sit back like a cigarette and say over to you, Jesus. Cigarette have a scratch card
Simon Pinchbeck:in a cigar. That's true. You know, because God is faithful and He is the same. Yesterday, today and forever is not changed. And so throughout the Bible on a minute, and
Reverend Ben Cooper:he's mentioned in the bible
Simon Pinchbeck:mentioned in the Bible, crikey,
Reverend Ben Cooper:church, he's talking about Bibles. I thought it was all about me, myself and I.
Simon Pinchbeck:Yeah, no,
Reverend Ben Cooper:Where did you get that from Amazon. Funnily enough. So the word of God is fine.
Simon Pinchbeck:Nothing fine. But throughout the Bible, specially in the Old Testament, we see Ben double where where he's been overwhelming odds,
Reverend Ben Cooper:overwhelmed King, just a fact that man, overwhelming,
Simon Pinchbeck:overwhelming odds. But when God's caught into the battle, Ben
Reverend Ben Cooper:goodness
Simon Pinchbeck:i want to mention just one incident this morning. And really, it goes for all those instance really where there has been overwhelming odds in Venice in one Samuel 13 or 14. Yeah. The Philistines are on top. Saul is the king of Israel. And the Philistine armies come in to really shut down if you like, the Israelites, so And the Bible tells us that there was 30,000 chariots spin is just unreal. 1000 horsemen, and he says, been in that, that bit of Scripture that they had soldiers that were more numerous than sand on the seashore.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Think about that. Imagine that can a bowl you ain't gonna make it. It's impossible. You're gonna make it. But these are facts. These have this is historical. This is historical stuff. And also because of extra biblical knowledge there is so much that the comeback up this history because this is history as well. Yeah, this really happened.
Simon Pinchbeck:And, and the Bible tells us that soul got together 600 Yeah, 600 in Israel, and it also tells us and it also tells us, Ben that that time, there was no blacksmith in Israel.
Reverend Ben Cooper:So there's an issue with weaponry issue.
Simon Pinchbeck:So there's only a couple of swords which you know, I think sold out. So Jonathan maybes I'm about but what ever. This
Reverend Ben Cooper:is, this is so crazy. It doesn't fit. don't fit. There's no that's God's kingdom, isn't it? It is such the opposite. It's so powerful. So you've got 600 men against a animal breeding, fighting generation that are literally dripping and been bred for war because that's what we don't. That's what we forget as well, isn't it? That these words As they were grown they were they were birthed for Warriors, wasn't they? You're not just talking. You're talking about really hard and just know driven by evil
Simon Pinchbeck:driven by evil. You're right there was these were it was somewhat demonic about these forces but they were you know, they were ancestors of the of the sons of man AK they were they were
Reverend Ben Cooper:shoe guard, they was enormous,
Simon Pinchbeck:massive. And so it says the Bible tells us that, obviously, in their own strength, the Israelites in caves deny,
Reverend Ben Cooper:got no way
Simon Pinchbeck:pick on her got older. I mean, I'm in a cave. Yeah. I in the caves. And, Ben, do you think let me ask you this question. Do you think when when tough times come? Right now people are hiding?
Reverend Ben Cooper:Yeah, it's the most natural thing to do is to hide. Now in the Bible again, can I reference the Bible, in Genesis in Genesis, very interesting that Adam and Eve they hid themselves from God, I think when certain aspects of life is revealed to you, you have a natural way of going to hide yourself from the enemy. And from God, you try to, to hide yourself in a cave, you try and hide yourself in work, you hide yourself away from your set, you hide yourself,
Simon Pinchbeck:you said that didn't use hide yourself in work. So you, you disappear. And when you
Reverend Ben Cooper:sink into sports, you sink, you sink into lots of things, you know, we I think fear and the reality of sometimes of looking at yourself and looking at the battles that are around you. Make you hide yourself in a in a world that isn't really real.
Simon Pinchbeck:And so you become completely ineffective for the kingdom of God. You weren't advancing the kingdom in any way, shape, or form. You're ducking out the way on? Yeah,
Reverend Ben Cooper:yeah. And you become a character that you're not meant to be. Look at Gideon. What Gideon was doing. He was called Your mighty warrior. But me. I'm just keeping out away there trouble over there. I'm just doing I'm out of the way. But you're a mighty warrior. I'm the least how many people? Now there's a fine line here, isn't there? Because we've had many discussions have begun yourself, elevating yourself lifting yourself. But Gideon is a good character look to look at because everything that's breaking out around his life, he said, I am the least in my clan. So So why. But what's really interesting is that fear and doubt and battles push us to a place where we hide ourselves in work in sport, not looking not being a complete realistic view and approach on life. Not because we we can make it on our own, but by understanding who we are in Christ and in God. All things are possible to those who believe. Because it's my belief.
Simon Pinchbeck:And what people forget, is that it don't matter if it's just you. Because if it's just you and God, you in the majority, you are, you are a winner eight by mighty eight by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord. So we had one guy in that in that 600 You could say a different spirit. But
Reverend Ben Cooper:yeah, which was Jonathan. Jonathan. Yeah, so son, Soul son,
Simon Pinchbeck:and his armor bearer. And Jonathan goes, hold on a minute. Hold on a minute. We got God on our side and we have a minute. I'm gonna have a go. And any he got up he had a sword thing. God Yes. But he got up and weave his armor. Barry said these are Brett Come on, we're gonna have a goal is this like? It was like a garrison of Philistines was probably about 20 people, because we're gonna have a go. And he said, some it didn't. He said, If we have if we we have to climb up. He said, But if the Philistines say come up to us, yeah, we know that God has delivered them into our hands. Amen. Yeah. And so they showed themselves Yeah. And the Philistines went, Oh, no, come in their caves to come down arrows come up to us. And he knew then they know he knew that
Reverend Ben Cooper:was a that wasn't a word from the enemy. That was a word from God given them confirmation. This battle belongs
Simon Pinchbeck:to the Lord. Because if God is moving with you, then nothing can stop you
Reverend Ben Cooper:but nothing can stop you. Nothing can still nothing can stop it.
Simon Pinchbeck:And they'll try and put this in the way they're trying to do that in a way. But God will just find a way through it for you. And as he said, he said he's not by my mind. It's not by by spirit that is not born by power, but it's Snowball is spirit and it will just take them out. They just wipe them out. We remember that time who was it been? I always forget this one where they start on the, on the battle ramparts, and it wasn't, you know, and the servants said, was surrounded. And the Prophet said open his eyes. Yeah, right, open his eyes. Who was that?
Reverend Ben Cooper:Just coming? You got me now he said, he opened his eyes and he looked around and he see this, this, this power, there's glory, everything around him. God's with us. He got all his own. Imagine, imagine seeing the multitude of angels. And that I have to reference I can't go out of this conversation without referencing a lot when Locke was at Sodom and Gomorrah, them angels that were sent to deal with Sodom and Gomorrah, imagine what they look like. You know, you're totally talking about angelic heavenly hosts that are that are ready to come and do business them to angels that were sent to flatten to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. When God is for you, He will send angels into the battlefield into the arena. And he opened the eyes of the Prophet. And when, look, imagine if God done that to us when we see these heavenly hosts, uncountable, like the sand on the shoreline. And that is Psalm 91, for God will command his angels concerning you, to lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot. So there are angels that have been assigned to us to take care of these other satanic agents that are out, but we do not give them any time or we don't give them any airplay. Because I think that this line from Exodus 23, Chapter 23, verse 22, says, if you listen carefully to what I say, and do all that I am saying, I will be an enemy to your enemies, and I will oppose those who oppose you. So obedience, flattens the enemies. Do that again. But let's have it Yeah, Exodus 23, verse 22, God says, if you listen carefully to what he says, and do what I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies, and will oppose those who oppose you. So obedience is the sword. Obedience is the weaponry. You don't need to pick anything up to hit anybody or to draw sword. Exodus 23, verse 32, I will be an enemy to your enemies. Imagine what that would be like
Simon Pinchbeck:so. So that was just that.
Reverend Ben Cooper:It just does you because you can't think that actually, the heavenly host can't do what God can do. The heavenly hosts are only doing what God is commanded and instructing them to do. But if you are obedient, if you listen, it's the Scripture says, listen to what he tells you. Once you've listened, and you act on what he has told you, you can go into the battlefield with five stones and a sling.
Simon Pinchbeck:Or you can just be like these two, Jonathan and his armor bearer. And he turned to his own pair and said, Come on, go for it. And, and here's the thing in our lives, we need people around us don't go to the people who have no faith when you want to do doing something. Because
Reverend Ben Cooper:find your armor bearer,
Simon Pinchbeck:find your armor bearer. That's the truth
Reverend Ben Cooper:Joshua or
Simon Pinchbeck:your your fellowship friend who's going to who's going to support you because as soon as you step out, what then Philistines I've no doubt they were calling down. Oh, look at that coming out. Look at these two
Reverend Ben Cooper:scrawny little things.
Simon Pinchbeck:And as soon as you step out in faith, there'll be the mockers, they'll come at you and the naysayers the mockers the backstabbers, and you can do one or two things you can carry on or you can go oh, I don't fancy this and this, I didn't sign up for this. And duck your head back down in the foxhole. But God's saying with me, son with me, my daughter. You can do all of this. Yeah, I've got I've got you. I've got you completely. And what happens was Jonathan defeated these 20
Reverend Ben Cooper:I can't I can't get the grip to that because
Simon Pinchbeck:ben and what happened then was the word got back word went out because of the demons spread the word. Hold on. I find back
Reverend Ben Cooper:that these scrawny little fellows that have got no real weaponry are doing it
Simon Pinchbeck:and God used that because he, he says, he turned them on themselves. And also it turns them into confusion,
Reverend Ben Cooper:the enemy turns in on itself. And that that is what happened in in Josephat. That's a really interesting text. Josephat was given a message, he said, and the message was the enemy is coming over the hill, there are three enormous agents that are coming over the hill, and they're going to wipe you out. But But King Josephat, he looked at that, he analyzed that, and he actually said, we are not strong enough to defeat this. So what we're going to do, we're going to go into fasting, we're going to go into prayer, and we are going to seek the Lord, he seek the Lord so that his key is seeking God not going in a 24 hour shouting and hollering screaming session, but just saying, God, what are we going to do? He laid on the floor, he called on God, God came down. And what did God do? God gave him instruction, if you follow the instruction, and then little bit further on down in that text, we understand that God said, right, King Josephat, you're ready, what I want you to do is go and send out the praises, what? Go and send out the praises, just sing praises to my name. There is power, in praise in Jesus in adversity.
Simon Pinchbeck:So what you're doing with that pain, once you you're worshiping God, and you're calling him into the battle, you're calling him, invite them into battle worship is calling him in. And, and you know what, I don't know where you're listening to this out there, if you're listening to it, maybe listen to it, in your bed, on the city or wherever on a park bench or whatever. But there is, there's battles in your life that need to be won. And this battles in your life that you can't win physically, physically, in the flesh by yourself. Yeah. And these battles? Well, we're not talking about the massive battles when we're talking about little battles we're talking about sometimes just getting out of bed in the morning just yet. So we're talking about inches, thoughts and inches that you need for the kingdom are all around you. They are all around you. And so and we can win that we can win them inches, because the inches turn into feet, feet turn into yards, your yards turn into miles, but we start start in front only ever, but with inviting God in a battle. And when we invite God into battle, like you just said, with Joseph with you just said with Jonathan in his own bed, that he stretched hard to shake, they start to shake out how it starts to shake and go whoa, hold on a minute. Each called in,
Reverend Ben Cooper:hang on a minute, believe it. You know, he's
Simon Pinchbeck:six gone Jesus into the battle. He's called.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Bear with us in the herd of pigs.
Simon Pinchbeck:We was wondering, we were winning against him
Reverend Ben Cooper:because they was coming in their own strength. Yeah, see, when I go in my own strength, but the battle belongs to the Lord. The battle belongs to God. It's not now, in the book of Ephesians. It clearly says that there is warfare in the heavenly realms, but it's coming down to obedience, you know, putting on the full armor putting on the helmet of salvation. The breastplate of righteousness, your feet are filled with the gospel of peace. You got the sash around you, you've got the sword of the Spirit. You've got the shield of faith, you are dressed, you got the belt of truth, because the Scripture makes it very clear. Our battle isn't against flesh and blood. No. It's in the spiritual realms, but the spiritual realms cannot be defeated by the physical being.
Simon Pinchbeck:They can't and bend the Bible clearly tells us in James, that, you know you. Even the devils know the word or devil know the Word of God. No, they know the Word of God, I love
Reverend Ben Cooper:in the New Testament where the disciples have been asked to pray for a young young guy, a dad comes up to him and he goes, You got to pray for my child. He's got a spirit, an unclean spirit, and he's converting and he's being sick. And he's, he's drowning him. It's like, it's taken his life and, and then suddenly, Christ comes into the conversation in the arena and the dad goes, actually, I've been your disciples, and they can't do anything, that the spirits are not even listening, but at the name of Jesus, because there is power in the name of Jesus. There are things that the religious order and the church can't do, because it's not calling on Jesus Calling on Jesus. No, no. The name of Jesus, every knee shall bow. See, there is power in the name of Jesus. The Scripture says, You're Psalm 119 105, Your word is a lamp unto my feet, a light for my path. It's the word will make a way in a dark place. It's the word that will flatten the enemy. It's the word that will be the enemy to your enemies.
Simon Pinchbeck:I said, when we call it in armor with a five year flight, the Centurion Yes, you know, Lord, I'm not worthy.
Reverend Ben Cooper:I'm not Wait a word, just say the word and I'll and he will be able to just say the word. Just say the word. Just say the word.
Simon Pinchbeck:And Jesus said, Yep, it's already done. Pfeiffer's Just say the word with faith and belief. That's where we that's where we're at. So there's power in speech. This power in speaking out the word Yeah, with faith. We have to believe that the Bible says, you know, with if you believe and do not doubt, yeah, you can throw that mountain into the sea. Yeah, if you believe and do not doubt
Reverend Ben Cooper:what did Jesus say to the disciples drop your nets just come and believe, just believe just believe so for every believer and everyone dipping their toe into what we call Christianity, but we understand that God calls for salvation is given. So I believe from Genesis to Revelations, I just believe it, I trust him in his word, I walked with him, because his word is a lamp unto my feet a light for my path. And you know what I think I need to reference coming off off a bit off the gauge of this Romans eight, Romans, chapter eight, verse one, there is now no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus, you are free, who the sunsets free, you are free indeed. So your history is now to the cross. Your present now is now to the cross. Your future is now to the cross. So you are a new creation in Christ Jesus, and I can do all things through Him. That gives me strength. And someone said thing earlier that I didn't reference but I will. Now out of your belly shall flow rivers of living water, the word, it is the word that is the arrow. It is the word that is the sword, it is the word. And what is the word? In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, speak the word,
Simon Pinchbeck:speak the word. It's It's not complicated, but we make it complicated. Ben and when we give our lives to Jesus Christ, when we confess and repent, and we give our old lives to Jesus Christ, imams is that new line, then we are separated from this world. We are in a new kingdom, we are in we are citizens of a new kingdom. And our orders, if you like, our, our, our destiny, often a new kingdom is to events, that new kingdom and we can't do that. Sitting on our backsides. We have to step up to five and actions, faith and action. There's battles to be won. And we said it last week. Bendon we we we said it. Do you remember in the preamble, we said, it's like standing in front allows supermarket doors, you know that open
Reverend Ben Cooper:you can see through the doors. The promise is on the shelves. But I've got a walk. I've got to take a step. If I stay two metres away from that door, that door is never going to open open. Is it? So if I go, I'm going to walk in faith. The door opens. I'm in I'm in the kingdom. Yeah. Because the Lord opens the door. Lord, Can you feel my trolley up? No. The promises are on the shelf. You come to me. You come to me. You take it's very interesting that there is there is so much action involved in Christianity. It's not lazy boy stuff. It isn't sitting back and doing all this. This stuff where God is just gonna pile it in front of me and fill my lap up with it. I've got a walk by faith.
Simon Pinchbeck:Then. Let me ask you this question How many people do you come to you and go I've been given this prophetic word and I'm just waiting for God to move
Reverend Ben Cooper:up there. Do Langer like this the atman so much so much. God has spoken and I've just so we so there's that scripture that says Be still know that I'm God. But also the Scripture is that God has spoken. So jump out the boat, walk on water. He's calling. He's chosen. Just do it that great advert for Nike. What an advert just do it. That's like what God sign is nice. Simon, do it.
Simon Pinchbeck:My friends. There's so many people out there that just sit in sitting and waiting for God to terrific. Yeah, mate. Um, let me tell you this. God puts it all out there. It's all there for you to do but there's action for you to take faith and action. There's stuff on the supermarket shelves, but until you call God or invite God into your battle, you can you'll never get through that door, that door stays shut.
Reverend Ben Cooper:I've got to go door shut. And when I'm in, I've got to take. I've got to lift my hands. I have to physically use my hands. And that is the same with worshiping God. I've got to lift my hands and say thank you, God, I'm handing this over. And Lord, I bring I'm just speaking to you now. Lord, Father, I thank You that You shall supply all my needs according to your riches in glory. Isn't it interesting that there are Many, many ministries that are building treasures on earth. Treasures, because there's a fine line isn't there between being in a supermarket and manipulating it for your own gain?
Simon Pinchbeck:Well, you see what you call a Supermarket Sweep? Benefit? Yeah, you burst in there with your trolley and so on to fill it with all the stuff for you. Yeah, but God, so no, this is you're doing this in my strength. Yeah. And you're abelian to me in my stream. And then when that happens, that the land opens up, the Crown opens up, you take back those inches, you take him back, take him back. And we've said many times on this podcast that the battle is in the mind, the battle is in the mind. And and there's, the enemy will want to hold you back. And it will give you all sorts of negative reports all sorts of negative reports that you know, similar to the ones that they had when, when they came back from the spies when, when the spies got Yeah, it'll give you all sorts of negativity, there'll be so many reasons not to do what God wants you to do.
Reverend Ben Cooper:I think, I think there are a lot of people within religion and under the banner of Christianity that look at the size of the giants and look at the size of the land, even knowing it is the promised land. Now, what's interesting is when they went out spy the land, they were spying out the promised land, it was God's given gift, but who was living in the land the Sons of Anarchy. So there was giants, that the enemy is living in the Promised Land, but the land belongs to you. So the enemy is in the Promised Land. God said go and spy that out. Now what happened? We know very clearly that they came back and they bought a report. They said, We are like grasshoppers in their sight. As soon as I start acquainting myself to the size of the problem, I am looking more at the problem than I am looking at the God.
Simon Pinchbeck:And what is that their God? That is unbelief, faith, unbelief. And the Bible tells us clearly that God hates some belief.
Reverend Ben Cooper:I'm like a grasshopper, we can't. We went into the land, we see the same as what you see. We carried the grapes back, we carried the pomegranates we see, the land is flowing with milk and honey, the promises are real. But we valued more weight on to the Goliath in the Promised Land, rather than the size of the blessing, faith and fear run very close together. I love that Joshua and Caleb, but when hang on a minute, we was walking with you, we was on the same mission as you. We see it, but our God is able,
Simon Pinchbeck:our God is able. And the Bible tells us there were men of a different spirit. And yeah, and this is where where we're at today, you know? I'm telling you, I'm inviting you, wherever you are. I'm inviting you to bring Amen. God back. Amen. Yeah, into your battle.
Reverend Ben Cooper:That's correct.
Simon Pinchbeck:Your battle. I don't know where it was. It could be your battle could be last. It could be pornography, it could be. Could be alcohol addiction. It could be anything. It could be every frustration. It could be anything on out. But we start with a small step, you ain't gonna be there all overnight. That's not the way God works. He wants to see action from you. Trust in Him and faith in Him faith. And so we start off with small steps, take him back the inches, take him back each day, and maybe you know, one day you'll fall back and slip but you get back up as you get back into the fight because you got God. You've invited God into the battle into your battle. And you invite him, my friends, not by standing tall and looking like a body building warrior. You invite him by getting on your knees, but getting on your face. The battle is one that is always ever won on your knees. The battle has always ever been one on your knees on your face, and coming and going farther. I'm nothing without you, man, and my friends. God is looking for His endtime army and he's looking for people like you like me like Ben, who just kind of stand up and go have at it. You're not going to take any away from me. You the enemy is not going to take anything else away from me. He's gone. I've just had enough of you the lies you're forcing me to take. I'm going to reject them. I'm going to invite God into the battle and we're gonna move forward. Oh man, I'm gonna advance the Kingdom In Jesus mighty name. And I don't care anymore. I've had enough. I'm not having it. I'm gonna put Jesus out there because like Like you said, Ben is the most powerful name in the universe. And at that name, every knee shall bow if you use it in the right context. Yeah, the demons flee, flee. A common enemy flees,
Reverend Ben Cooper:is an interest in the battle is won by what by words? Because God is the living word. So when Christ was in the wilderness, he just said to Lucifer, it is written, it is written. So when we say how do we invite How do I invite God into my situation? I'm saved on blood worship in a church, I've been listening to that, what do I do God, I get hold of God's word. I remove everything else away. And I read and I say, God, speak to me through Your word, because Lord, I want your word to be live in water. I want your word father to be flowing through me. The Bible says, Put this put the word of God on the tablet of your heart, whatever comes in through my air gate, or my gate is the way I'm going to live. If I'm living in Coronation Street, in EastEnders, if I'm living in the bookies office, if I'm living, by the way in the world, that that is going to be me. But if I'm in the world, if I'm getting the word in, now, there's many ways we can do. We can listen through audible, we can read it, it's get the word into your innermost being, because God's word is sharper than a double edged sword. And I need that in the battlefield. So the battle belongs to the Lord. But what happens is, is when I'm in the word, I'm just in Jesus, and then suddenly, everything else melts away around me, Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. battles are won, and lost through the power of the word
Simon Pinchbeck:for the Para word better and you know what I don't think I really don't think that's taught too much out there. You know, your, your, your individual time in the Bible, your individual time alone with the Lord, I don't think there's too much out there you know, you can go to the church doing on it. You can go to collective Bible study, and you can drill down and this, that and the other. But the words there every single day, we should be referring to the word is what I'm doing scripture is what I'm being told in the scriptures is what is being preached, where I am scripture, this is this is the word this is, we know that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but there is in the world, the weapons of our warfare are in the we know, you know, getting up in the morning and speaking scriptures into your life, not because of who you are, but because of what Jesus Christ has done for you.
Reverend Ben Cooper:It's we've lived a very, very dangerous line within the context of the church where the church has lifted up the the prophetic teaching more the evangelistic teaching, and the not having sound doctrine, the issue that we got with prophetic schools of ministry at the moment, they are teaching of how you can become a little God and it's all about you. If the if the if the doctrines of grace were tall from pulpits Sunday after Sunday, the blood, the Messiah, his return, foundational text, if they was as expository preaching and teaching over and over, rather than doing all this supernatural, you know, we're all that old bag that's out there, you know, we are missing missing, sound doctrine.
Simon Pinchbeck:We're missing sound doctrine, and it's, it's vital to the walk of any Christian because if your faith is not based on sound doctrine, then you're in trouble now, because when you you when when tough times come, you won't know where to go. Now you won't know where to go. And, you know, you've been you've delivered, you know, several really substantial scriptures today. And, you know, you didn't get to know those scriptures. By listening to some motivational speaker, you got to know those scriptures by getting into the word again and again and again, and the Lord will reveal stuff to you. And these are our these are our weapons when we take to take back our oranges, that was the Word of God get into the Bible, instead of sitting in watching a box set or, or watching so buying a game or something. We're Avaya, you know I would invite you to get into the Bible and start to to read it and get some proper scripture in. It has to be screw in. And so, so that it starts
Reverend Ben Cooper:off small. Start off in Psalm Yeah, please. Psalm 91, Psalm 91, and Psalm 23. Read them, read them, read them, print them off on a bit of paper, put them on the fridge. Get that in your heart, even though walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Get Psalm 91 Very powerful Psalms, use them as a prayer, speak them out over your life you got, you got to be really careful when you say things, speak them out of your life because that is that's another drum skin that's been beaten. But we we are in a serious position within the UK we are spiritually thin, not because we've, because God has left us but because the church is elevating itself rather than elevating the king. The key scripture to the UK at the moment, I really believe is Hebrews chapter 12, verse two, keep your eyes on Jesus, the author and the perfecter of your faith.
Simon Pinchbeck:I don't know that. I'm gonna listen to that, please, because I was just about to say that. Jesus Christ is our shield of faith. We stand behind the shield of faith, and we move forward. Yes, slowly, that Jesus pace Yeah. And we move forward. And if he wants to, if he wants to open stuff up to us, yeah, he will if if he wants us to stay in a holding pattern, will stay in a holding pattern, but we don't run before him. And we don't look to the back. We stay beyond that shield of faith. Not because of who we are. But because of everything that Jesus has done for my friends. Please realize this, that if you're born again, spirit, full believer, you know, you owe every single thing to Jesus Christ every inch, because he is the God that came to Earth in human form. And we have some great accounts and great words from him. He showed us out to deal with everything. But ultimately, he died on a crown for your sin. He died for your sin is innocent, he was no sin on him. But he took your sin, He died on a cross for your security's. He rose again, to accept you and to save you into the kingdom. If you believe in him. He led you to the Father, if you let him, wow, he separated you from the world so that you could be in His kingdom. And believe me, he's coming again in glory to judge the living and the dead. And his name. As Ben said, every knee will bow. This is the power that you've got with you. And when you invite God in to your battle, as we said with that scripture, Romans 831 If God is for you, who can be against you, and when you if God was to open your eyes when you step forward, as Ben said, there'd be angels the size of Yeah, well, mountains,
Reverend Ben Cooper:if you could see if you could see the heavenly host imagine what they look like, shine in brilliant. The sword you know there are angels that are being created for war. Who who to come against not to come against me, but against what is coming against me. So what is the key to trigger all this off? Obedience, obedience, obedience. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Seek ye don't get don't come to me. I ain't going out yet. That kind of assignment don't go to pastors and leaders. Don't go to the spiritual director anymore. Don't go anywhere. But Jesus, the Word, I am the way, your Truth and the Life and no one.
Simon Pinchbeck:To some people. This will be radical.
Reverend Ben Cooper:It'd be radical in some people have spent now this radical I dare you. I'm a spiritual director. And I get money from it. From it and I get that and I have this and I have that and and I have a light nice lifestyle. Well, actually, I don't need a spiritual director. I don't need another pastor. I don't need another evangelists. And I don't need another prophet telling me this and that because I realize who I am in Christ. And I thank you so much for your service. But I just need Jesus.
Simon Pinchbeck:And believe me, you and Jesus are in the majority. And nothing can stand against you should you decide to pick up the shield of faith and step beyond it and walk forward with with Jesus and my friends. What we've been saying this morning in this podcast is is rise up. Rise Allah Jesus, follow Jesus. Take your place in the kingdom and start clawing back those inches. Don't look at the big stuff. Look at the small stuff that's right in front of you start taking it back with Yeah, with a nice
Reverend Ben Cooper:look what God said to David that fantastic scripture that you bring a lot Simon the enemy What do I do? Do I pursue him? pursue him and overtake him? Take back everything that the devil have stolen Take it back. Take it back. Yeah, you got to be careful with that one because that that is used in the prosperity line in the moment and climate, but simply by how do I take it back? I say thank you, Lord, my God shall supply all my needs. I thank you God, that no weapon formed against me shall prosper. I thank you, God, that you are restoring all the years that the locusts have eaten, you are you are the restorer. So it comes down to obedience. Brothers and sisters, there's only one place we can go. And that's to the Garden of Gethsemane
Simon Pinchbeck:listeners and lot of people out there this morning, and I know that they'll be there'll be that'll be sitting there thinking, I need I need this, I need something to get me out, to get me up to make me win these battles to this small battles. Yeah. And Ben is right, back in the garden, not my will. But your will be down farther, and it's on your face on your knees. That's where we start. That's where we kick it off. Not my will. But your will be done. You don't use great people around you to encourage you, but
Reverend Ben Cooper:can they save you can Where is where a salvation come from? Where itself if I know where salvation has come from, that's my only go to where did it come from? It's Jesus is my go to I understand church structure. And I'm very respectful to all those spiritual directors. But you all know what we are saying. A human can't really help a human to a certain place.
Simon Pinchbeck:Because what will what will happen then, is unless that person points you to Jaysus, to Jesus, you will be they'll be tempted to point the point the answer to themselves, and you'll be very tempted to go to them all the time. I remember when I remember when, you know, before I gave my life to Jesus, and invited into into to be my Lord and Savior. For a time I used to go to seek a direction from a fortune teller. Yeah. And, you know, a medium, yeah. And I used to go there to get some thought was was direction I used to go there to, to get some food to listen to what she said, and to run my life by what she said, Yeah, rather than running my life, you know, as I know, now for what Jesus said. And so we've got to be very careful. So even in that context, if we start running towards, you know, you had people that kept saying, what is Pastor Ben say, what is Reverend Ben say? You would then be pointing them to Jesus Christ. Yeah, rather than what you saying. So you'll be saying, the Bible says, This is what the Bible says. But we can be very filled with self importance when people start coming towards us, and our ego can start growing. And you can be embracing that and, and giving people advice.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Yeah, yeah. Yeah. That's right. So very, very careful. I know that there are godly men and women out there and God has blessed us with great teachers and all those that are within within the church structure and I'm talking within the biblical church structure thank God for them. But also there are others on the on the outside that are just looking at glory hunters.
Simon Pinchbeck:Yeah, and, and will manipulate you. And we've seen it today we watch something so something today we're out there a guide, we're not going to mention his name, but he'd started off in real good circumstances, built a real powerful church up but now he's gone off of that tag. He's now become a motivational speaker or whatever, and he's charging
Reverend Ben Cooper:for the privilege 500 pounds an hour up for
Simon Pinchbeck:a one to one session with this guy. You know,
Reverend Ben Cooper:I do it for a quid. Unbelievable. It's crazy and it is crazy. See, our clothes are fine. This liners are fine. You got to be careful. You surround yourself with
Simon Pinchbeck:my friends. The Bible is the best is if you've got the Holy Spirit is the best motivational teachers speaker. Yeah, it's got everything you need in there. And I would say, wherever you are today, get out and take sort of take back those inches. Start to move forward in the word get to know to move it into Word invite God into your battle. That's right. invite God into your battle because human God our majority, you move forward, you start to see Things change in your life. You'll start Yes, you'll get opposition. But stay close to Jesus Christ, stay close to Him. And all that opposition will fall away and you'll move forward. Outside Ben, you know, as we come into land now just say, father help was not to stay in the foxholes not to stay with our heads beneath the parapet. That's right. But to get out in Jesus name and take back the ground for the Kingdom. Because this this, this is a time when people are looking people are searching people are hurting. Yes, they need the Good News of the Kingdom of God.
Reverend Ben Cooper:That's right, Simon said it. We there we landed. And the title of today's podcast is very simple, but very, very powerful. And that is it is time to invite God into your battle. Under the series of fighting talk, my God bless you and strengthen you. You've been listening to simon pinchbeck and myself Reverend Ben Cooper, #Christian Straight Talk. Keep in the word. It's only the way God bless Have a great day in Jesus name, Amen.