Reverend Ben Cooper: 0:15

Good evening, God bless you. Good evening and welcome wherever you are across the earth tonight. And we are in Psalm 62 of the Canary. Good evening on this week as we stretch up to Friday, Saturday and Sunday, not because it's a bank holiday, but because of what we recognize and where we sit. Christianity is about salvation. It's about the blood of Christ. Good evening, God bless you. Yeah, I can see you jumping online. God's strength for you and bless you. Wherever you are across the globe. The time is 731 here in the UK, wherever you are, May God strengthen you and guide you in every area of your life. My name is Reverend Ben Cooper come on, you can say this with me. I gotta say it for the world of the podcast, as my name is Reverend Ben Cooper, you can find us on so many social platforms. You can find us on Apple Music, Amazon music, I Heart Radio, Buzzsprout, Spotify, and all over the place. Hopefully we may reach Crimewatch one day that would be publicity, right went straight in to Psalm 62. Wherever you all tonight, we thank you so much for joining us, as we just be still, as we know, God is with us. And I've got a look up over a campfire there just over look at the time is whatever your timezone is across the world this evening, by the hand of God be upon you were a psalm 62 verses one through to two. And then we'll jump into verse five through to eight. And then we may just gently ramble on down to Psalm 63, we're going to break bread together, we're going to take a cut together, we're just going to be still and we're going to know that he's God, because this week, very interested in the world of religion and in the world of the church, the calendar, but what is the purpose of this weekend that we're rolling up to? Is it just for another weekend for the church just to put the label on it? Or do we really understand what it's about? Well, in Psalm 62, there is one word that is really resonating with my spirit, one word that is really sitting upon my heart tonight, and that is a word salvation, because that's what all this is about, about salvation. It is about redemption. You are redeemed, you are washed in the blood of Jesus, there is so much going on in the world of the church in the world of religion in Holy Week, but we can get caught up in the razzmatazz of religion and almost Christianity and churchianity. And everything that goes along with that win lose, we can quite easily lose the full and full understanding of what we are about. And let's read Psalm 62. For everyone that's just joining us. I can see everybody hopping online. God bless you. Yeah. Thank you so much. May God strengthen you in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Psalm 62. It says, Truly my soul finds rest in God, my salvation comes from Him. Truly, He is my rock and my salvation. My fortress, he is my fortress. I shall never be shaken jumped to verse five of Psalm 62. Yes, my soul. It says it again. Yes, my soul. We read that quite simply, in verse one, verse five of Psalm 62. Yes, my soul finds rest in God, my hope comes from Him. Truly, He is my rock of my salvation. He is my fortress, I shall not be shaken my salvation, and honor depend on God. He is my rock on my mighty rock, my refuge, trust in him at all times you people pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge. I believe that's twice in such a short concession of scriptures that we've just read within three or four texts very simply, that we have found very clearly that salvation is what oh, this is about salvation. Is everything salvation, redemption, justification, hope everything is wrapped up in this scripture that we are looking at at this moment in time. Yes, I'm very mindful. Yes, I'm very conscious. Yes. I'm sure where we are. And I'm very respectful tonight, for those that want to follow everything that's happening in the church and amongst religion and but are we are we really following scripture? That is the key. That is the question that I asked myself. It's really, really important. It's really, really, really important that I understand that this is biblical times. I cannot follow the calendar I cannot follow what the world is doing. It's really important for me to understand that this is about salvation, salvation and redemption, redemption. You know, we are redeemed and we are children of the living God verse one of Psalm 62 Truly says, My soul finds rest in God. Are you finding yourself that you're restless? Are you finding that you're unsure? Are you wrestling with your salvation? Are you questioning yourself? Am I saved? You know, the Scripture makes it so clear. It says, work out your salvation, with fear and trembling, work out your salvation. Am I safe? God am I washed in the blood of Jesus? Truly verse one, Psalm 62, truly, my soul finds rest in God, my salvation comes from Him. So everything comes from Him, He created us, he chose us. He created every area of your life. He knows everything about your being. So when I look at this scripture, it says truly the psalmist puts it really, really beautifully. The way that he writes, he says, Truly my soul finds rest in God, your inner most being my innermost being, I've got to find that rest, I got to find that stability, I've got to find that hope. I've got to find that assurance, I've got to find that rest. I've got to find that place of complete peace and God, Psalm 62, verse one, now, the world and everyone around us in the world of church in the world of religion, in in the church press in in, in Christianity at this moment, is looking at what the calendar is happening. And then what is happening through the calendar and what is going on through the word but is it scriptural? Is everything that the church is doing at this moment this week? Scripture? Yes, we're saying Holy Week. Yes, we understand Palm Sunday. Yes, we get that. But are we really focusing on what it's really about? Because it is about salvation. It is about the Messiah, it is about Christ going into the cross of Calvary. It is about Christ going through Monday, Thursday, Thursday evening, you know, when you're taking in the bread and the breaking of the bread, what we're going to do tonight, do I really grasp what this is about? This is not a threat, a theatrical sorry, performance by the church, and by religion and a great show of what's happening, you know, you look around the world, and you've got the Passion of the Christ happening in certain nations. You've got so much happening around this week. But is it all theater? Or is it all scripture? Is it scripture? Or is it all just play acting? Are we just following what the church and religion are saying? Or are we actually drawing a cross reference to what the Bible is saying? Are we following the biblical standpoint and the biblical foundation? Because what is this about what is this week about? What really is is happening? What is happening is Christ is going in and Christ is being prepared for crucifixion. That's what it's about what was on why was Christ crucified, he was crucified, because of redemption because of forgiveness, because of justification, because of hope, because of future. This is not about church performing all over the world, because it's Holy Week, we can quite easily lose because the church is very theatrical, it is it is it is putting on a great performance, it loves to act, it loves to roll out it loves to perform, we got to be very careful of what is the true meaning. Why am I following this week? What is the purpose? It we got to understand that when you talk about Easter, we are really talking about the passing over the passing over of the Angel of Death, who is the angel of death, it was God. It was it was God. When you look at that, in the book of Exodus, it's very clear to see that the devil is not on the on the fabric of the page. In the text. It is clearly God. He gives clear instruction to Moses and he gives that clear instruction to take the Lamb The unblemished lamb, the year Lamb, the young lamb, take that young lamb, sacrifice that lamb do it with Hastert with speed, do everything you know, put your cloak around your do your belt up quick and tie and do everything quick. But the key here is the blood the blood is the whole purpose of what we are doing. This is very clear. It's not because the church is performing is not because there's a great show somewhere and the great mega churches are putting on this great Passion of the Christ paying for paying for the seats going to see in the theatrical performance. But this is about Christ giving his life because he said across a Calvary. It is finished. It is about Christ and it's for Christ. But the church and religion are so great at putting on performances. You know, you've only got to look at Christmas. You only got to look at Easter. You've only got to look at certain calendar events. But what is my heart saying to me tonight, because this week is about salvation this week is about Christ saving a renegade like me this week is about Christ saving and going to the cross for a tattoo vicar that is washed in the blood of Jesus this week is about redemption this week is about hope. This week is about the blood of Jesus this week is a very powerful week. So gotta be careful that this week hasn't been snatched away, drawn away from me, because religion is deciding to put on a show, and to do what goes along with it because I have to come back, I have to withdraw from all the shows and all the showmanship because it is about salvation Christ came, we understand that he came through the dressing room of Mary and he chose 14 generations. And in three concessions through the book of Matthew, you can find the chronology of Christ Jesus, you'd have to forgive me, but my voice is tired. My speech is slurred. And and I'm just thinking so much right now. So my brain is trying to keep up my lips. My brain is trying to keep up in my heart, what God is revealing, and bringing to us. So I just pray that wherever you are tonight that we realize that this is not about a church performance this week. This is about this is about Christ. This is about the Messiah, this is about the rock, this is about our God, this is about our King. It's not about the the churches, putting on beautiful, theatrical, beautiful performances running along with classical music, where we've got actresses and actors across the stage performing through through plays, and and through the world of acting. It is not about acting, this is real Christ came to this earth. Why did he come to this earth, he was created, he was brought into existence into physical existence, clearly, for redemption this week is about redemption. This week is about forgiveness. This week is about the blood of Jesus. And as Moses gave clear instruction, when you take the lamb and what you have to do with the lamb, A, B, C, and D, without any shadow of a doubt, this is about one thing. This is about not about performance. Rather, this is about salvation. This is about hope. This is about being redeemed, we are redeemed. Yes, it is Holy Week. Yes, I understand everything that's going on. Yes, there is a bit of Scripture laced amongst the religious order that is performing this week. But above and beyond all that Christ came, and he chose to choose and he chooses, and he chose sorry, my words are all over the place. He chose the dressing room of Mary to to present himself to the to this physical world. And as he came as a child, and the Scripture says, and Christ, and the Word became flesh, and made his dwelling among us see, we have a text tonight about salvation. It is about salvation. It is about hope. It is about it is about Christ, coming to the cross, not about performance, it is not about performing. It is about saving. It is about setting free. It is about giving a hope and a future. It is about bringing redemption to the earth, because we understand about the birth of Christ. And we understand following Christ, you know, Christ ology and everything that goes along with studying Christ. But right now, as where we sit in this 21st century, as we sit where we sit in the world, and we see everything happening, it is about the Savior of the world. Yes, he came, yes, he was given birth to by Mary. Yes, Christ chose God chose Mary. But right now we are in the week that is about redemption. I am redeemed, you are redeemed, why are we redeemed not because of the performance of the Passion of the Christ. But because of the words that are in the Scripture. We are saved by grace, not by work so that no one can boast. Yes, it's great. And it's beautiful. And it's wonderful. And it's right. And it's fitting that I understand where we sit in the calendar of church and everything that goes along with that. But what's really important that this week labor that was Holy Week, it's really important to understand that what is happening at the end of the week, not about giving out hot cross buns and chocolate, and what am I giving up for Lent? And what am I doing this for Lent, and that for Lent, and this and A, B, C, and D but is what Christ done for me? What Christ done for me whether I give anything up for Lent, whether I take lent seriously or disregard that whatever way and however, I think about this, one thing is given that will never be taken out of your grip is salvation, because that's what we are looking at tonight. And that's what we are looking at right now. We are you are and I am saved because of the blood of the Lamb. We can trace all this way back all the way back to the Old Testament we can find that the Scripture makes such a clear read Since the blood will be a sign, the blood will be a sign. It's interesting, isn't it? The over Holy Week? How often will the church within the Holy Week how much within this Holy Order? Will the church actually talk about salvation and redemption and the forgiveness and the remission of sin? Because it's not about Yes, Christ comes into Jerusalem. On the donkey, they're waving the palm branches. But isn't it interesting, the same audience that called out here he is the Messiah. And all that within the next breath, they're shouting out, Give us Barabbas Give us Barabbas. We want Barabbas. It's, it's very interesting to me that there are lots of performances, there is a lot of showmanship within the world of church, within the context of church within the context of religion. But what really is this week about strip the word holy, holy week away? Because where does that come from? Strip away Easter, because where does that come from? Strip away religion, strip away the hot cross bun, strip away chocolate. I'm sorry, we got to strip away chocolate for a moment. And we got to look at what is all this about. Let's read Psalm 62. Again, and let's see if we will find what it really is about. Truly my soul finds rest in God, my salvation comes from Him. Truly, He is my rock and my salvation. He is my fortress. I will never be shaken. Let's go to verse five. Yes, my soul finds rest in God, my hope comes from Him. Truly, He is my rock and my salvation. He is my fortress, I shall never be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God. He is my rock, mighty rock. He is my fortress. Trust in him at all times you people and pour out your heart same for God is our refuge we find very clearly that there is three four references to what to salvation, it reference also he he is it says God is so that the book of Colossians makes this very clear. Christ is the image of the invisible God. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only begotten son, John 316. We understand that through the New Testament teaching and through the New Testament writing that Christ was given to us for what he was given to us for salvation. The price has been paid the ransom so this week is a very powerful week whether I look at it in the context of religion, whether I look at in the context of the church, however, I look at it this week. This is a very powerful week. Because what's really clear here it is about salvation. There are churches putting on performances, there is courses going on this week. There is alpha courses going on. There are discipleship courses going on, there is fasting, there is lent going on it is Holy Week. It is this it is that but do I really know what it is about? It is about the Messiah coming to this earth, choose in the dressing room of Mary that he chose before the world was formed. And before the world came into being Redemption was in the Garden of Eden, simply because God made a very clear statement. If you take off that tree, you will surely die. We wasn't created to die. There was an option there was an agreement that if you take you will die. So Christ knew God knew the Holy Spirit knew the deity because of time we don't have the time to press the envelope of deep theological depths tonight. So when I go to the Garden of Eden, I clearly hear God speaking and I clearly hear him saying that if you take from you will die. God sent His one and only Son to redeem to bring back so we understand that the fall of man was right at the very beginning of time because man decided to human humans decided to listen to the lesser voice. Yes, we understand Eve. Yes, we understand what happened in the Garden of Eden But what's very clear that this week is about salvation. I am saved and you are saved. The church is putting on a great performance this week. But by the time Easter Sunday comes and Easter Sunday is gone. It will wrap up the bag of performance and it will be just going back to what it done. But this week is about salvation. This week is about the blood of Jesus this week is about the crowd Colin full Barabbas Give us Barabbas we would rather have someone that was coated in insurrection. We would rather have someone that was a robot and a murderer. We do not want the King of the Jews now into the cross of Calvary. I find this fascinating that this week can get lost in in the humdrum and the performance and just the washing machine cycle of church and Holy Week when actually we're concentrating on such a performance. When we got to remember what is this week about three or four times correct me let's see if we can read this again very, very quickly. It says there truly my soul finds rest in God, my salvation comes from him. One, truly he is my my rock and my salvation to he is my fortress. And it says I shall never be shaken. So we have it twice already. Salvation this is what we are looking at very clearly. This is about salvation. It is not about putting on a performance because lens is upon us lent Holy Week, and we're all walking around somber I've give up chocolate. I've given up this I've given up that Oh wonderful, how righteous how, how beautiful I am. Look at what I'm doing. Look weld what we are doing, when actually it is about Christ. It is about the forgiveness of sin. It is about repentance, is it it is about the church, not worrying about the calendar dates, but worrying. Am I living for Christ? Am I living the gospel? Are we doing what the Word says? The church religion the world of Christianity puts on great performances at Christmas and Easter. But does it really understand what it's about? We might hear the drum being beaten tonight? Of course it does Rev. Well, does it really? Does it really, really understand that this is about a Savior, the Savior of the world, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords verse one again, truly my soul finds rest in God the Father, my salvation comes from Him. The scripture says that God is the giver of salvation, that salvation is a gift. And we have been given the gift of salvation. Now, as we go through a little bit further, it says, Truly He is my rock, and my salvation, Christ God, the deity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. Then we jump into verse five, it says, yes, my soul finds rest in God, my hope comes from Him. Truly, He is my rock and my salvation. Three times, I believe three times now we are entering onto the fourth press of the word of salvation. My salvation and honor depend on God four times in Psalm 62. We we read very, very clearly about salvation. So church religion, what is this week about? It is about performance, or is it about justification. Now, as we go further through the week, and as we approach Thursday, and as we look and the church will be looking really somber, and it'll be marking its face with ash, you know, and it'd be doing this and it'd be doing this and Abu pronounce into the world, sackcloth and ashes, ripping its clothes, doing all the performance, but the church is not living according to the word. This is how I see. And when I say the church, I'm putting a brush, I'm not living according to what this word should say. God has his hands full with someone like me, just because I'm a pastor or a vicar or whatever. I am not living completely right for Jesus Christ. I am not living right. But I say, Dear God helped me to live according to your word. Because Lord, it is not about the performance. It is not about the Sunday morning, it is not about that. It is about salvation. At the end of the day, I am a son of the living God, and He is my heavenly Father. And He came to set me free, he came to give me a hope and a future in the skip of the life that I can live in at some points of my life, because it can be quite rubbish here around me and certain environments that I find myself in because of lifestyle choices. Yes, my lifestyle choices are not always holy, are not always godly, that are not always in line with God, what God's word but guess what, I am a human being. And I am saved by grace and I am washed in the blood of Jesus. So for many years in ministry and church, I've been watching church and religion putting on all these performances. I've been helping and conducting and doing the performances. But what is the point of that? Without the true understanding of what we are about? This week is about Christ going to the cross of Calvary? It is not about how the church is performing and what we are giving up on what we are abstaining from that has no forbearance, or my salvation. I cannot resist salvation. I cannot resist this No, no God, my salvation was already placed into position. My life is in His hands. So it doesn't matter if I give up a bit of chocolate or not. It doesn't matter if I don't fall on the follow the church calendar because it is not about my performance. It is not about what I can do for Christ, but it is about what Christ has done for me. My salvation don't hang on me, going all the way through lens crawling around on my hands and face with ash on my face tearing my clergy close and saying, Oh, what a rich Amaya. Look at me. Well, I am of the church. Thanks be to God that it is not about me. It is about him. Yes, I'm being a bit flippant. Yes, I may say a few things that may touch a few chords tonight. But it is not about the performance of the church. It is about the Messiah. It is about me coming to a realization that he came to set the captives free. He came to give me a hope and a future he came that I would have life and have life in abundance. I'm tired of watching performances. I'm tired, indulging myself and sitting back and watching The Passion of the Christ being performed by these great actresses and actors across the world. I just need to know that my Redeemer lives and because he lives I can face tomorrow. And I thank God for the blood of Jesus because this is what it's about. It's about the blood of the Lamb, the Lamb of God, Christ, it is about the King of kings. And it is about the Lord of lords. It is not about me, it is not how I perform, because salvation isn't given. According to performance, salvation was given before the physical came into existence. So my living has no forbearance on my salvation. That is a very difficult drum skin to be and to understand. I was saved you were saved before we even lived our lives. And before we shall we say almost act in our lives. Christ knew everything. You could almost say that. It's been predestined, it has been four chosen, it has been four spoken, what we do what we say what we act, how we live, there is nothing under the sun. There is nothing within the world there is nothing within the universe that has taken God by surprise, however, on whatever and whoever I may speak to, and whatever that may be, and what however, that may look like one thing I can never get away from is that I am saved and you are saved. You are a child of the living God. I am a child of the living God. There may be people dipping their toe into this at this moment thinking well, I've got a choice to choose him. You don't have a choice to choose him. Because then he comes in a predestined everything is predestined, predestination Sorry, I'm just my mind is just a race in a way you how powerful this week is. When really it's not about the performance of the church. It's about my God, it's about my my Christ. And I say my because that's what the Scripture says, He is my rock. He is my God. He is your God. He is your rock. He's your king, He is your Lord, He is your Jehovah Jireh he is your Jehovah Nissi he is your God. Jehovah Jireh. Joe, there is so much so much my mind is absolutely racing with just the enormity of how big this God is. He is so big, he is so vast, he is so wired. You know, His ways are higher than our ways his thoughts are far above our thoughts when you really think about this, Jehovah Jehovah, Jehovah, Jehovah shalom, Jehovah Nissi My God shall supply he is my healer. He is my God. He is my rock. He is my Redeemer. He is my king. Here's my everlasting. Here's my bright morning star. He is my salvation. So this week is about salvation. It's not about the performance of religion. It is about remembering and I'm not taking anything away. Please forgive me if I'm offending anybody this evening. But this is the fact of the matter. This week is about redemption. It's about forgiveness. It's about the giving of the Son of the living God. It is about Jesus, it is about the Messiah. It is not about Barabbas It is not about Herod, it is not about Pilate is not about the performance of the Passion of the Christ. It is not about showmanship, it is not about religion. It is not about pastors performing and giving great sermons and and doing some expository preaching. It is not about any human being. It is about Jesus it is not about what is happening through this week. Is the church performing well. Is it doing a great show for the world? Is it tearing it it's close? Is it wearing the ashes? Painting the cross? Is it is it doing everything correct? Is it following this? Is it following the liturgy? Is it following the prayers? Is it following this ABC? But is it following Jesus? We can follow all denominations, we can follow all the activities in religion, but becomes down to the fundamental point on Christianity. Am I following Jesus? Am I following the King of kings and the Lord of lords? It is about Christ. It is about the Messiah. It is about the giving of life. It says very clearly in the New Testament, He died on the cross of Calvary. And so interestingly, where we talk about when we look out very clearly about the resurrection, Resurrection Sunday, when we when we think about Resurrection Sunday, you've got the two angels one at the head and one at his foot where, where he used to lay, they said, Why are you looking for the living among the dead, and that's what religion does. It stays in the tomb, it stays in the cathedrals, it stays in the architecture. It stays in all that stuff. It doesn't break out. It doesn't realize that he's not here. He has risen this week is about redemption. This week is about me being forgiven. This week is about me being washed in the blood of Jesus. This is about us, coming to the table, and remembering it is about the passing over. It is not about the chocolate, it is not about the length. It is not about the strength of religion, performing for the world to see. It is about the strength of God, given his one and only Son, that whosoever shall believe in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. Someone won't go Oh yeah, well riff. It says that whosoever shall believe in Him shall not perish the key word there, my friend is believed I cannot believe until he has been presented, he has been presented to me. See, Christ comes to me. I don't go to him. But he comes to me and before he actually comes to me, it was already given to me the gift of salvation. It is so big, it is so vast, it is so wide. It is so deep it is so beyond the human intelligence. It is beyond the theatrical performance of the church this week. It is beyond the understanding of religion this week. Please forgive me if you are following everything by by the letter in the world of Lent in the world of religion and the church, but brother and sister child, young adult, whoever you are atheists, it is not about what the church is performing. It is about the Redeemer, my Redeemer lives, and because he lives I can face tomorrow, not because church has been following lent correctly, not because religion has been performing, right? Because he lives I can face tomorrow, he is my salvation, He is my rock, He is my God, He is my king. Yes, I understand about falling following the calendar, but following also the Jewish calendar, not following the westernized calendar, and not performing for a westernized church. But not it's not about performance. It's not about works, so that no one can boast. It is by grace, we have been saved. So let me put it like this. Would Jesus still save us? If we just said, You know what, I'm just going to sit and be still this week, I am not going to perform this week, I am not going to jump that and jump up and down on the trampoline of religion and put on a show for the world. This week. I'm not going to engage in any activity of religion. But in my own way, I'm going to recognize that my Redeemer lives, and I'm just going to sit and be still. And I'm just going to say today, I'm going to say this week, Lord, I recognize what's happening through the Bible. I recognize what's happening through the Biblical calendar. I recognize the Scripture is on time and is on point. So this week, Lord, I'm not going to indulge in religious activities. I'm not going to indulge in what the church expects me to do. I'm not going to engage, engage in what the church is are doing. But what I'm going to do this week, Lord is recognize what the scripture says. I'm going to recognize what the Word of God says. Christ came. He's here to set the captives free. He has come for salvation. He has come because of redemption. He has come not because Judas will took 30 pieces of silver. We are redeemed we are redeemed not because Judas gave the money back. But religion rejected the money and it become a field of blood. It is not because of what Judas done. It is not because Judas took the 30 pieces of silver. It is not because religion doesn't want it done what it done. It is because of redemption the church has no power to redeem. Religion has no power of redemption. No human being has the Power of redemption. Yes, I understand what the scripture says that Christ is fully fully God fully Godhead and fully man. But you know what I'm saying without breaking it down into coming down to apologetics and batting it around across the theological table. You know exactly what I'm saying. I know exactly what I'm saying. We are absolutely within without any shadow of any doubt. This week is about Christ going to the cross of Calvary, not about performance, not about what the church has done, not about what religion has done and how good it looked this week to the world and shouting out yes, this is Holy Week. Yes, this is the lead up to the cross. Yes, this is 40 days, 40 Nights. This is about Lent. No, this is this is not about me performing for the church or religion. This is about me clearly understanding that salvation is here, that I am redeemed because he chose to set me free. He chose to give me a hope and a future. The scripture says He is my rock. He is my fortress. He is my God. He is my king. He is my salvation. My God is my salvation. Isn't that interesting? As we look very clearly, in Psalm 62, first one, truly my soul finds rest in God, my salvation comes from him. I love the way that that presents itself. Salvation has come from God. But we understand that Christ is the image of the invisible God. So Christ is the image of the invisible God. And God comes to this earth to save to set the captives free. And God has given him the name, Emmanuel, God with us, God is with you. God is with me. God is for us. God is not against us. Romans, chapter eight, verse one, there is now no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus, it doesn't talk about religion. It doesn't talk about the church and I hear theologians I hear those that are into the world of apologetics. Talking about well, you could be pulled up a bit there, Rick, because very clearly, the Scripture makes it very clear that Christ is the head of the church. Yes, he's that he's the head of the body, the body, the body is very different to the church in the western Western world. The body of Christ is very different to religion, the body of Christ is completely different to what we see across the broad brushstroke of the church within the UK. What we have here is Christ is the head of the church. If Christ is and he is the head of the church, I will be coming under the authority of who I will be coming under the authority of Christ, I come under the authority of Christ. Yes, I understand the biblical structure. Yes, I understand the denomination structure of leadership, the apostles, I understand of the fivefold ministry, I understand very clearly of the structure and the system that we have to follow. But that is the biblical system. There is such a vast difference between the biblical system and the worldly church system and the religious order. I follow the Bible, I follow God's word, I follow what God says, I follow what Christ says. So I don't need to sit around a table. And I don't need to have a week long conference on deciding on shall we? Or shall we? What should we do I know my redeemer lives, and because he lives I can face tomorrow. So whatever God says, God says, Whatever Christ says, Christ says, whatever the Spirit of God says to me, he says, so whatever the teachings are, in the Word of God, it is a given the Word of God it is without error. It has no error whatsoever. So whatever the teachings are, the teachings are, whatever the word of God says, The Word of God says, very simply, very clearly, and very powerfully, the Scripture says, Do not add and do not take away. So what is this week about this week? To button this to bring this to some sort of position? This week is about repentance. This week is about redemption. This week is about justification. This week is about salvation. This week is about the sovereignty of God, the mercy of God, this is about the blood of Jesus, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords. Now, as we come to the table of remembrance, what am I remembering? What is the purpose of breaking bread and take another cup the purpose of breaking of bread and taken of the cup is very simply and very clear. It is about remembering that Christ is the Redeemer, Christ is redemption. Christ is the Savior. God gives salvation. This Salvation gift has been given, it has been given, it cannot be given back. So the Scripture says, work out your safe salvation with fear and trembling. So as we come clearly to the breaking of bread tonight, am I going to do it in a religious way? Am I going to do it in a churchianity? Way? Am I going to do it in a religious order? How am I going to do this tonight? Because the Bible makes it clear as often as you come together. In my name, what name are you talking about? He is referring to the name that he carries. And his name is Jesus. So I break bread in the power of the name of Jesus, who gave him the name Jesus, God gave him the name, the name above all names, and at the name of say, Wimi, at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow on the earth, under the authority of every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. He is Lord, He is sovereign, He is God. His ways are just so this week, am I going to indulge in in church performance? Am I going to indulge in Holy Week? Or am I going to step back very reverently, and very quietly and say, God, this week is about salvation. This week is about repentance. This week is about your word, becoming flesh and dwelling among us, John chapter one. And in the beginning, in the beginning, was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Same chapter, John, chapter one ran about verse 14, if my memory serves me, correct, please find it for yourself. And the Word became flesh, and made his dwelling among us Psalm, my God, became flesh, and he made his dwelling among us. God said in the beginning of Genesis, let's make man in our image. So we understand now I bring a parallel, I bring a biblical line, and understand that in the book of Colossians, it says, God, Christ story is the image of the invisible God. So why am I doing this? Tonight? I'm doing this tonight. Why am I breaking bread, not because it's Holy Week, not because it's Monday evening, and we do it Monday evening, there is two folds, there is a bigger understanding to this, I am doing this because it is about redemption. It is about salvation. It is about justification. It is about hope. It is about future, it is about the power of God. It is about his word. It is not about the performance that's happening. It's not about giving up chocolate, it's not about giving up. This is not about giving up that because the question I asked myself, What is the purpose of giving up a, b, c? And D? Am I only given up a, b and c? Because the calendar of religion is telling me or is it because church is telling me or is it more than that? The Bible is telling me what out of the free? Is it because the church is telling me? Is it because religious, religious understanding is telling me or is it because the Bible tells me so? Three areas I need to look at this week is about salvation. Christ redeemed me by his blood, the Scripture makes it clear that there was a price there was a ransom, what was the ransom the ransom was the the Messiah? What was the understanding? Now we go back to the book of Exodus, and we see something very clear. The Sacrifice is important. The Shed, the shedding of blood is important. But what arches over on what stands higher than that? God says, the blood will be the sign, not the sign of the sacrifice, not the sign of the action of man, following the action of what God has. But what is the sign and God says the sign, the blood will be assigned. So the blood of the land is a sign. So this week is about the blood of Christ. We have entered into Oh, that was over 2000 years ago, the SEC the Covenant, the second covenant, the New Covenant covenant with Christ, we have entered into a new covenant because there was sacrifice at the cross of Calvary. And was that because man, crucified Christ, man did not crucify the church did not crucify. It wasn't the physical strength. It was the Bible, the Word of God without going into this we don't have it was prophesied. It was spoken about. It was for told in the Old Testament, now the physical church, it had to do what It had to do. So really it it Christ was not crucified because of the soldiers and because of church, and because of the physical strength of the physicality of putting him on the cross, the church religion and the order and the soldiers were only doing what was for told what they was going to do, because the Scripture says, the Scripture already told us what was going to happen before the physical action actually came into being. So what we find it is not the chief priests, it is not the law givers. It is not the Jewish leaders. It it is not the soldiers that actually took him to the cross. It is the word of God that took him to the cross. Because the Scripture tells us so the humanity, the human being, the chief priests, Pilate, Herod, all that was just doing what the scripture foretold, and prophesied they would do. So they had no physical and forbearance they had, they didn't have no power, of stopping the crucifixion, because redemption had to come. And the only way redemption could come, it couldn't be fulfilled through the law, because the law was unable to be fulfilled, because we had to find a redeemer, and the Christ that we understand he is the Redeemer, Allah, I'm throwing such a blanket out over this tonight. So it wasn't the strength of the soldiers. It wasn't the power of the authorities. It wasn't the strength of Pilate. It wasn't the strength of Herod because very interestingly, Christ makes a very clear statement, he says to Pilate, he brings it to Herod. And they said to him, Look at Jesus, I have the power to either keep you or release you. And Jesus says this, you have no power over me. You only have the power over me, because heaven, God has given you authority to do so. So when your lips are moving Herod, when your lips are moving pilot it, you did not have the strength, you do not actually hold the authority, the authority has already been spoken about through the voice of God, I am just, I am just here, because of the physical existence of me, I am here so that humanity would see that I am the Christ, I am the Redeemer. God already saved God already for told God already for gave salvation, before humanity came into existence. So we have. So when I look at Holy Week, just very quickly, very, very quickly as we come to the table. So when I look at Holy Week in the world of the church, Holy Week has no power within itself. Just because the church is is doing what, what it seems to be doing this week. It was already forecast and I will change that word, it was already prophesied. So we need to be very careful. What we look at this week is about something that religion can't grasp. It is about the Redeemer. It is about Christ. It is about the King of kings. It is about the Lord of lords. It is about the blood of the Lamb. And we understand as John said, that Christ is the Lamb of God. So the word of God is so powerful. It is redemption. It is healing, Jehovah, Jehovah Nissi, Jehovah shalom, it is everything. Jehovah, he is my provider. He is your salvation. He is your comforter, He is your King. He is your Redeemer. Because that's what this week is about. It's about redemption is about the power of God. It's about salvation. So let's break bread together. Father as we break bread together now, Lord, we're not breaking bread together. Because it's holy week because we do this every Monday we are doing this not because the church has told us we are doing it because the Bible tells me as often as we come together in remembrance of me do this in remembrance of the thank you Jesus. Lord, I understand that this bread, this grain, this tiny piece of bread, symbolizes it the body of Christ. As I take this right now, Lord, Father, I thank you that your body was broken, in Jesus name, amen. Very powerful. We are in a very powerful week. Not because the church is performing. But because the word was given. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We are not saved because Because of what religion and what the order has done, not because it's Holy Week, yes, I recognize where we are. And it's very and I'm being very respectful to, but I am saved and you are safe, not because the church is performing, but because Christ is the Redeemer. So Lord, as I take up this cup, I understand, Father that the historical events that have taken place over the 1000s of years from Exodus, actually, Lord, I go back to Genesis, for the shedding of blood, there is life in the blood. So all the way through Lord, there is redemption. And the plan of redemption came into being before the church, acted out Holy Week, before religion acted out sackcloth and ashes. Holy Week was only in existence, because God allowed it to be, we are here because of the blood of Jesus. Father, cleanse me from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet, wash me, in the blood of the Lamb, in Jesus name, amen. It is about forgiveness. It is about redeemed. Christ did not go to the cross. Because it was all hanging on 30 pieces of silver. Christ did not go to the cross. Because it was in the hands of Judas Iscariot, Christ did not go to the cross, because the the religious order the Jewish leaders, and the higher priests gave Judas 30 pieces of silver, it is it is not it is not in the hands of, of the religious order. Salvation has been given, because of God decided to save, and religion and Judas and Barabbas and the church, and humanity is only doing what has been prophesied through the word of God. So we are not doing and we are not in charge of salvation. We are not in charge of anyone's salvation. The church as we know it across the platform of the Earth doesn't have the power and the authority to say, you are saved because I am telling you, you are saved because God decided to save you. And God decided to give you a hope and a future. It doesn't matter what our lives look like. It doesn't matter what our lives reflect, God has redeemed. And redemption comes from what God is the God that is it is in the business and is in the understanding of what rescuing people that are lost. He hasn't come for the holy and religious order. He hasn't come for the self righteous ones he has come for the ones that are caught in addictions, caught in, in in trouble. He has come that the come to me all of you that are weary and heavy laden, I will give you rest he has come so the loss will be saved. He's calm, that the ones that have got broken hearts will be redeemed. He's come to set. Those that have been caught in captivity will be free when the sun sets free, is free. Indeed you will find in religion you will find in many ministries and many churches and many denominations. It is a prison. Yes, it is a prison of tightness. I can't move because but in the kingdom of God there is freedom. Why is there freedom because the price has been paid on the cross of Calvary, because of the Crimson Tide because of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Redeemer you are redeemed. Not because the church is performing Holy Week, not because the churches together are coming together, not because denominations and because the big press of religion is putting on a show. You are saved because of the Savior decided to come to this earth. And he set me and you free. I pray that you'll have a wonderful evening what's left of it at 827 across the world tonight. And as I bid your gun, I pray that this week will not be a religious week. But this week will be a free and up week that this will be a week of freedom that this will be a week of understanding the power of redemption, the power of being redeemed. Yes, I thank God for everything that's happening in the world of church, the world of religion, it has its part to play and I get that to a certain degree. But there is such a higher press and his name is Jesus. This is the week that I realized that the Messiah came to this earth to be the ransom for many That blood will be shed at the cross of Calvary that his side would be pierced. And we would hear the sound through the voice of the soldiers and through the Scripture, blood and water flowed, not one of his bones was broken. So salvation, so salvation is not in the hands and the grip of what we are seeing now. Because the Scripture says, You cannot work your way to salvation. It is clear not by a work so that no one can boast. It is by grace you have been saved through the redemption and through the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Thank you, God, I pray that you will have a wonderful evening, what's left of it, whatever your timezone is across the world. It is 830 I believe may God bless you and strengthen you. We thank you to all those in the world of podcasting, that shares all this stuff out. You've been listening to me, Reverend Ben Cooper, you can find us in so many areas. You will find us on Apple Music, Amazon music, I Heart Radio, Buzzsprout, Spotify, and so many other platforms, please, please, please. You are saved. Because of Christ, you are free because of Christ. You are redeemed because of Christ. You are free because of the blood. You are washed in the blood. You are saved, not doesn't matter how you're thinking, how your capabilities, how your logic works, how your great reasoning may try and work and reason this out. It is a mystery. Salvation is a mystery to every one of us. And God reveals that you are saved, you are watched, you are chosen. You may call yourself an atheist at this moment in time, but God has a plan for you. And God loves you. God bless. We'll catch you soon. In the mighty latitudes. We'll see you Wednesday evening, bright eyed and bushy tailed and half past seven, Wednesday evening, as we study God's Word together, have a wonderful day, in Jesus name wherever you are across this world. God bless you