Thank you for joining Reverend Ben Cooper & Simon Pinchbeck for #ChristianStraightTalk - our weekly podcast straight from the barrel of truth.
Our Podcasts have now been published and can be purchased direct from Amazon.
We are on Apple Music, Amazon Music, I Heart Radio, Buzzsprout, Spotify, and multiple other Podcast platforms - you will find us under the title Reverend Ben Cooper's Podcast.
Thank you for joining Reverend Ben Cooper & Simon Pinchbeck for #ChristianStraightTalk - our weekly podcast straight from the barrel of truth.
Our Podcasts have now been published and can be purchased direct from Amazon.
We are on Apple Music, Amazon Music, I Heart Radio, Buzzsprout, Spotify, and multiple other Podcast platforms - you will find us under the title Reverend Ben Cooper's Podcast.
Blessings and good morning we are in we are in we are in # Christian Straight Talk wherever you are across the beautiful earth this morning, or this afternoon or the evening, whenever you may capture this back, you know, just be the person God's called you to be. Just be you because God loves you, Simon and myself on the other side of the mics, and we have a great subject our friend has brought to the table Simon pink back, we have got victory of the cross. The cross is everything. But Simon.
Simon Pinchbeck:Yeah. Good morning. It's great to be back. Great to be back with you across the mics. And you know, having some great discussions off air this morning really is and we're both honestly, wherever you are. Don't let any things ruin your character. Your character is the character that God made you to be definitely. And we're going to talk more about that in future podcasts. But your character is your character. Don't let anything, any religion, any stuff. And family, ruin the character that God's put you on this earth to be? Praise God. And yeah, we're going to talk about the victory of the cross. It's the last in this series on across bend. And we've done some great stuff. Honestly, in our can't stop listen to this stuff. Because we talked about why the cross we talked about the blood. We talked about Jesus story one and two. And we've we've spoken about the Father story in two podcasts. And this one is the last one. So it's seven, the victory lacrosse. And as we move forward, you know this is going to be another one for the book, another book. So we've got the one on fear coming out very shortly. And then we could think this one will be the next one. But, Ben, I want to say, you know off the bat this morning that many, if you listen to many Christian commentators that they'll say, we've moved forward from the cross and the cross is behind this. But all but you know, Ben, I was thinking about that. And that is true. But I think the crosses in front of us, I think is your honest opinion surrounds us. Because with
Reverend Ben Cooper:us, it's in us every facet of our life, isn't it? Yeah, it's the cross.
Simon Pinchbeck:Everything that stems forth, as a Christian, yep, without a doubt comes from Red Cross. Because without that,
Reverend Ben Cooper:I can't move away from the cross. Well, I can't say that about pick up your cross daily, then I can't move. Across the cross is where I'll get peace is where I'll get time for reflection where I get time just to gaze at the cross. And just think you know what I'm redeemed. God saved me and rescued me. And it's the cross of Calvary,
Simon Pinchbeck:we would have nothing as a Christian, none of our faith would be alive, exist and move forward without what Jesus done on the cross for the Father and the Father done for us. None of that would none of where we are now. It'd be pointless even doing this podcast even talking about stuff. No church would exist without across so yeah,
Reverend Ben Cooper:but isn't it interesting, a lot of churches have taken the cross out. But you can't call out the church. So if any ministry or any church or any leaders take the cross out of the academy, right, use the word equation, if they take it out, and they replace it, which a lot of churches aren't they don't talk about the cross. It's no use no gospel of Jesus Christ because the Old Testament when it came all the way up, you know, we understand that the 6000 years ago ran about God said let there be light and there was so from that point on from the fall in the garden. It's always been about the cross. So the Old Testament was ramping up to what the cross it was in so and then the new sprang from the cross The cross. So it has to be the cross the old all then 1000s of years ago, all the prophets all the word in all the history. Everything was leading like an arrow, wasn't it right to when Jesus went to the cross, and a little bit further when he said it is finished the cross and then we had access. So it's, it's about the cross, it's for lacrosse. You can't remove the cross out of your faith.
Simon Pinchbeck:You know, you can't you can't put it at the back of you. You got to put it around you. You know
Reverend Ben Cooper:It's a turning your turn in 360 all day long. You got to keep yourself alert. You've got to keep yourself wise but the cross brings the cross is always around you. It's to the northeast of South, the West that you can't leave it behind. It's, it's when you turn around, it's that way, when you turn around, it's that way the cross has to be center. And why? Because Christ went to the cross. So it has to be the cross. It's not the symbol of the cross, but it's what it represents. Yeah, well, it represents sacrifice.
Simon Pinchbeck:We can never, we should never ever and we've spoke about it before marginalize what Jesus and the Father has done for us through the cross The cross the Calvary, you know, it's it's the story, isn't it of a terrible Friday, a gloomy Saturday, but a glorious Sunday, when when, when Christ rose again now without him, going to the cross and rising again. That is the bedrock, we have got no faith with that we have got no Christian faith with that. And that is what everything's built on. So everything, you know, you talking about the Old Testament, there have been and it's very interesting, because a lot of commentators want to forget about the Old Testament,
Reverend Ben Cooper:the Old Testament was the build up to the cross was and is the build up to the build up to the Messiah come in the prophets, the Think of Isaiah, Isaiah 53, quote in, you know, everything. So from the garden, the Garden of Eden was the place, and I I honestly believe but before the garden, God knew that there would have to be a redemption plan. Because the reason I believe this is in Genesis, God said to them, I said to him, if you take of that, that if you take of that tree, you will surely die. So mortality was in the conversation. And he talks about death. And there was that free choice, there was that free will and they chose to lean to the lesser voice. So from the very beginning of humanity, the cross was always in the arena. It was always in God's plan redemption. So if I take the cross out, if I take and remove, and don't even talk about it, I don't talk about Jesus. Because the Scripture is clear. He has come to this world to seek and to save that which was lost. So where was he going to make an also he made a spectacle at the cross, the Scripture says, He disarmed, He disarmed the principalities and He disarmed, the authorities were at the cross. So the cross is so much more the knife than I think that we can imagine or think about because at the cross, everything the Old Testament over these 1000s of years ago, when we first heard Jesus, when God spoke, let there be light over 6000 years ago, from that point to the cross from then, now until Christ comes back, everything is focused around the cross. You can't, you can't be you can't have any you can't have a church without a cross. You can't it's impossible. It's impossible. It's impossible.
Simon Pinchbeck:And so the world, you know, it's maybe foolishness, and that's what it says in one Corinthians bent. It says, Paul says this. He says, in one Corinthians 117, going on to 18 and 19. He says, Well, Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, not with words, less the cross of Christ should be made no effect. So So what he's saying is, I'm not come to give you reason, and we're in summation, I've just come to point to the cross. I'm going to point I'm going to point to the cross and then what happened at
Reverend Ben Cooper:the Cross redemption, salvation, Mercy justification, how its future. And what else does it do? The cross points me somewhere else? To the father to the Father. Yeah, the cross takes me to the father takes me through it says, I am the Way the Truth and the Life No one comes to the Father except through me. So how can I get to the Father, Calvary had to happen. One sacrifice once and for all, the Scripture says that the temple curtain was torn in to that gave access to who access to the Father, and
Simon Pinchbeck:it was the fire was planned that sale he was a father who will bring us all back to him. So everyone was retained, is unbelievable. Everyone was saved. The story of reconciliation, through the to the Father. There was justification through the cross and sanctification every single day. Have we need it and we've just been talking about it off air. We need that grace and mercy and forgiveness of the Lord. But Paul went on to say Ben in one Corinthians one eight He goes, for the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Wow. Yes, what Scripture was at one Corinthians 118, for the chapter one, verse 18,
Simon Pinchbeck:for the messages across his foolishness to those who are perishing, but as who are being saved is the power of God. For it is written, I would destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring nothing and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Wow. So who we are, you know,
Reverend Ben Cooper:so here we are in the UK. And the church doesn't really talk about a cross. But the cross is fundamental, is the bedrock is the rock of our foundation. It is everything. So, Hebrews chapter 12, verse two, keep your eyes on Jesus, the author, the perfecter of your faith, the cross of Calvary has to be preached Sunday after after Sunday, every conversation that we should be having has to talk about the cross of Calvary, everything has to be about the cross, not the symbol of the cross. But who went to the cross the Redeemer, Christ is the Redeemer, the Son of the living God, victory of the cross.
Simon Pinchbeck:And if we look at another scripture, Ben is a bit of a long one I'm going to read out it's kind of sums up everything we've been talking about when is Ephesians two, and it starts one two, verse 10. And and goes on. But it says this, he says, and you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins. So that's as we were dead. Living walking. We're walking dead really, weren't we? Are we done? In which you once walked according to the course of this world, right. And according to the prints of the power of the air, which is the enemy and yeah, so we've been walking, we were walking with him, you know? Yeah. The spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience. Wow. I know. You know, we were the sons of disobedience. Ben and and we're talking to people out there as well. Yeah. Among whom also we once conducted ourselves in the loss of our flesh, or low tech,
Reverend Ben Cooper:take the Bible away from
Simon Pinchbeck:fulfilling the desires of the flesh, and of the mind, the mind is coming at us. And we're by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But here's the deal. But God who is so rich in his mercy because of His great love, with which He loved us, even when we were dead, in our trespasses made us alive again, live together with Christ. Boys by grace, you have been saved and raised up now grace is unreserved
Reverend Ben Cooper:beautiful word. Beautiful, isn't it? The word grace
Simon Pinchbeck:is undeserved favor and undeserved favor, yeah, and raises up together and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. You know, when you think about what the father has done, and where we are, that in the ages to come, he might show his exceeding riches of His grace and His kindness towards as in Christ Jesus. So without Jesus, we're nowhere. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus, for good works, which God prepared beforehand, we should walk in what a powerful
Reverend Ben Cooper:text what an enormous text to which you got everything wrapped up in them 10 verses, even at the bottom line, when you think of that which got prepared in advance for us to do
Simon Pinchbeck:so. He's taken us out of being sons of disobedience. We believe in in, in Jesus is is administered grace and mercy honors for His purpose and His work and His work and His plans. But that was not for our works, not for our plans. Isn't that
Reverend Ben Cooper:interesting, that's been prepared. And that has been for spoken. Even while I was a sinner, even God prepared it made a way for it. Got it ready. While I was living in darkness, living in the flesh. God was preparing us for future work that goes beyond human understanding. That while I was singing and indulging and dancing with the devil, God was preparing us See, you may for his work, and good works in advance while we were still sinning, you can't work this one out,
Simon Pinchbeck:work it out, can you? beside us, we just got to get on a phone that say we're thankful.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Not only are we saved by grace, but by have been saved by grace while we was living, deprived, and by being and being disobedient, he is preparing the way for us. While I was disobedient, it's just like beyond logic.
Simon Pinchbeck:And even now, Ben, when we slip and fall, which we do every single day and the date, yeah, all the time. The father will use that to his own benefit. Yeah, what was what the enemy meant for bad he will turn around and use it but good because because we have gone through experiences which we can now relate to other men that women Yeah. And when they, you know, people say to us this, that and the other we can say, yeah,
Reverend Ben Cooper:yeah, I know.
Simon Pinchbeck:I know. We've walked we've been, we've been in your slippers, we walked a mile in your shoes. We know what we've
Reverend Ben Cooper:been in your bed? Well, we know what you are talking about what
Simon Pinchbeck:you're talking about when it's okay. We know the pain you're going through. We know Yeah. And it's okay.
Reverend Ben Cooper:It's okay. Because God has set me free. God has given me a hope. God has given me a church a future. And he done that. And he prepared that while I was still a long way off. It is beautiful, isn't it? Salvation was coming down the track to me, I wasn't going down the track. to it, the train of salvation was making its way to my station. I was just living life not thinking about Jesus, not thinking rebellion, running, all that sort of stuff. And the Jesus train was on its way.
Simon Pinchbeck:That's a great analogy, really. So the Jesus train was coming.
Reverend Ben Cooper:It was loaded with Grace loaded with Mercy loaded with redemption. And then it set up on boats.
Simon Pinchbeck:As you've got a choice, you've got a choice. So you either jump on a Jesus train, and get and forgiveness and embraced what's on that train. Or you go now and wait for the next one.
Reverend Ben Cooper:I'm on the next one. I'm going to Sodom and Gomorrah,
Simon Pinchbeck:I'm going to Sodom and Gomorrah, the train to nowhere, the train to emptiness, the train,
Reverend Ben Cooper:going nowhere, literally going nowhere, going round and round and round. And
Simon Pinchbeck:you've just hit that man on the head. Because whatever. And is a big thing for me is, you know, whatever character you die with is the character that you're left with. Exactly. So if you think nothing but yourself, then you're gonna go round and round and round on that light. Like the first train set we ever had when we were little kids circular. It just had a circular track around. Maybe it was at a clockwork things where we wound them up and just went round and round and round.
Reverend Ben Cooper:It's interesting what God said to the Israelites, you've been wandering in this desert, you've been going round and round and round the same pathway for 40 odd years. But now I'm going to exit you, cause we don't know how to exit without God's word. No, God makes an exit. He made an exit from the wilderness into the promise. But they'd walk round and round to us and round so they was familiar with the circle of their life. But God went Get ready because you've never been this way before
Simon Pinchbeck:four years for 11 day trip
Reverend Ben Cooper:says that an EasyJet flight. It sounds like the COVID stuff that the old government put on us You can't travel. You can't travel you know you can't travel now at the moment. It's it's really interesting in the Old Testament, how the Old Testament is as live and as sharp as it's ever been. Because we're seeing the prophecies we're seeing the word we're seeing everything come together. The scriptures have been fulfilled. But when you when you think about the circle of life as not the Elton John song, please don't think about that for a second. But when you think the circle of life we're just going round and round the monotony sometimes have gone round and round and round and round and round. And it was the same for them for 40 years round. But God said now now is the time you're going to exit
Simon Pinchbeck:so follow me for as the exit is the cross in
Reverend Ben Cooper:it that is that and that's that that was their exit, because all them years of the Old Testament was leading all the generations and every one in the old testament to the cross.
Simon Pinchbeck:And so Galatians five one says this it says it is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Amen. So jump on a Jesus train
Reverend Ben Cooper:and get to the cross
Simon Pinchbeck:and be free. And based on that Jesus, don't go around. Because here's the deal, Ben, you know the definition, what's the definition of madness? Oh, yeah, definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. And
Reverend Ben Cooper:she's mad and going in it round and round and round around. It's the same thing expecting
Simon Pinchbeck:a different result. Yeah, and why is my life not changing? Why is my life not this because you haven't fully embraced Jesus and got on the Jesus trial.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Or you haven't, you're just you just go round and round around, we've come out of COVID was a miracle time for the church to be free, but it's going round again, he's going back to the same stuff round and round and round. When there had been a lot of leaders have suddenly realized this is bright for this has broken the chain of slavery, we have a choice.
Simon Pinchbeck:You know, you make a really great point there, you know, coming out of the couple of years that we've come out of many denominations and many individual churches just want to go back to the same old stuff that
Reverend Ben Cooper:and they've gone back to
Simon Pinchbeck:the old stuff and there's a lot less people there's less people doing the same old stuff and people are realizing now that that
Reverend Ben Cooper:circle of same old stuff religious is just he's wearing on each site more than this on a site more than this I've got to get on a different
Simon Pinchbeck:journey minute Can you realize the way the world's going? It's, it's,
Reverend Ben Cooper:it's hell band.
Simon Pinchbeck:It's got it's not you know, people during the during the pandemic, you know, when people were going, oh, people are going to turn to God is going to be great reverb. I kept saying No way No, no, just return to the same rubbish. And in greater numbers on we've seen
Reverend Ben Cooper:actually a decline in church across the platform of all layers of church falling away.
Simon Pinchbeck:I'm certainly about to go to a big major shopping center on a Sunday one on day and honestly, you know, you would think that it was rammed out absolutely rammed out packed. Yeah. You know, when they talk about not a lot of money going about but it was rammed This was their church church. Yeah, but down the road. They're patting each other on the back because they get 100 People walk through the doors. No, this is the this is where this is where the world's is of people have gone socialized, molded style breakfast, it has to be something they have to realize that you know, you put it right and I love that, Ben that the Jesus train is coming down a track. Jump on it for freedom, for mercy for forgiveness.
Reverend Ben Cooper:It's like a snow train isn't it? It will make a wind and Avalanche snow is on the track. snow has fallen you can't see the track. But when when God is fueling the engine, the avalanche is not going to get the avalanche of life there are many people that their track is covered with snow, they cannot see the track anymore. But if you hold on to Jesus, He will drive away. He's a winemaker. He will make away because of his ways. I just
Simon Pinchbeck:been proposed that famous proverb, Proverbs three, five and six. Now trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean, not on your own understanding in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path. So Trey will Lord
Reverend Ben Cooper:for faith comes by hearing the message and
Simon Pinchbeck:bond of Jesus trying and we're off. And what happens then, Ben is that you're on a journey, Ben. Cross Yeah, all these glorious scriptures. Yeah, come to life and come to life. Yeah. And all these glorious promises that our Lord makes that comes alive that come to life, it comes to life. You know, you are more than a conqueror for Christ. Because God is with you. You can do off jump on a Jesus train. You can do all things.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Amen. You can you can but for God's purpose or God's purpose, there's a difference isn't there is a massive I can do all things through Christ. That gives me strength. There is a difference between that text and the way that text is preached. And the way that text is received. It means I can do all things through Christ. When I'm on his journey. He will strength for me when I'm in the will of the Father. That's what that means. I can do all things the challenges For the Garden of Gethsemane the lot, the lot, I can do the garden because it's will,
Simon Pinchbeck:and it jumps out at you. And it sums it all up. But in in Romans 821, it says, good works. God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. So they don't matter where you are, God is working for you. Yeah, at all times in things in advance before you are created, according to His purpose.
Reverend Ben Cooper:So when you think about it, the cross the Old Testament, started 6000 years ago, because we have to say that because that's when God said, Let there be. So God's word is the same yesterday, today and forever more. So when God spoke, and we understand that God spoke creation, that is the start of the Word of God coming into being so when God spoke, he was speaking what he was speaking right up to the cross. It had a pause for a second. And Jesus said, It is finished, the Old Testament was all about the cross.
Simon Pinchbeck:And we've added across spin it wipe out the old well, it wipe out the old it all, wipe out the notes, the point of it, and then we'd have blank pages. Well, you know, none of this would none of this stuff without lacrosse, none of this stuff, they just be word, spin it, look at this spend, you know, Philippians, four, six, and seven. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Now without a cross, they will just be words, but with the cross
Reverend Ben Cooper:is everything. Bang, it's there requires power, the cross is the center point, it will always be the center point, it can't be. It can't be to the left, it can't be to the right, it is the center. It is at every position of your life, but it is the center whatever way you turn, whatever way you face, it is in front of you. It's to the left of you, but more than anything is inside of you. What do you mean it's inside of me? How can you come up with that? Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. Everything was created for Christ, with with Christ, and with God and for God. So when I look at the cross, not talking about the wooden cross, I'm talking about the Redemption at the cross because that's what it is. Redemption, justification, sanctification, and revelation was all at the cross. So we carry an element of that within as in the cross, because every salvation is to be saved and sanctified because of the cross of Calvary, not because of the wooden structure. But because of the Messiah.
Simon Pinchbeck:It was, the fall was complete plan, the will
Reverend Ben Cooper:tell the church complete plan, tell that to the church in the West
Simon Pinchbeck:for the redemption of his sons and doors.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Take him, my son to the cross. What a story, what a story of sacrifice, the father story, the story of the Old Testament, all pointing to the crust 1000s of years of history of poetry of Joshua's of Caleb's of Kings of judges 1000s of years of historical stuff, generation after generation came and pointed to the cross.
Simon Pinchbeck:It's the victory at across so we've got we're victorious and across, you know, the enemy has been defeated once and for all. And he's still trying to operate in a position of being defeated. And it's only us by our own minds, that slipped back because the victory has been done and everything we've we've read in the New Testament, everything that Paul wrote about there'd been no condemnation for those in Christ. Jesus knows no guilt rather than hate. If you listen to Paul's letters, or they're all about being in Christ and Christ in you, you know, Galatians 220 It's not either live but Christ lives in me because I've been crucified by Christ.
Reverend Ben Cooper:So what lives in you redemption remercie love, power, authority. Everything is within because Christ represents everything.
Simon Pinchbeck:Beyond that Jesus training. It's all there. It's there. It's loaded. It's loaded,
Reverend Ben Cooper:loaded wearing Simon was quoting from Romans chapter right there is now no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus because through Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit who gives life set you free for the law of sin and death. And it says in verse three of Romans chapter eight For what the law was powerless to do, because it was weakened by the flesh, God did send God did by sending His Son, His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering. So the cross The cross is the center of the Scripture. Christ is the one on the cross, the cross has brought freedom. So if the Church takes out the cross and swaps it for a tele, you got Telly tubs, we got Telly tabbies in pulpits,
Simon Pinchbeck:listen, I'm going to you're going to I'm going to continue a drive that analogy, Ben, because I love it and and you walk onto that station, you don't need, you don't need to pay for a ticket and what you do, when you step onto that Jesus train, you leave your old self on the station, leave your luggage behind, leave all your luggage behind that seat, you leave all your luggage behind. And two Corinthians 517 says we are a new creation the new has come the old is gone. And that's what we do so and and, and the thing is, Jesus and the Father don't want you looking behind that that old luggage II don't want you calling now I want to go and pick my luggage. No, you. He's given you a new life.
Reverend Ben Cooper:It's like an airport in it. We always want to pick up our old luggage. Go Go Go and wait for me luggage to come now. The cross canceled your luggage out
Simon Pinchbeck:canceled all your baggage baggage gone up. It's gone in luggage. I don't know where you are, where you're at when you're listening to this today. But please believe what Ben saying, you know, this is the truth in you know, you got a chance as a new life. Yeah, it's a new life. Leave the old baggage at the station, leave it, leave it on the baggage return.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Let it just spin around with the rest. Let it let someone else picked up. Freedom. Freedom.
Simon Pinchbeck:How free would you think you know, we take that backpack off?
Reverend Ben Cooper:Yeah, we bought it all off the old us.
Simon Pinchbeck:And you jump on it Jesus trying you're free, and you're cheering and following. And next thing you know, you're gonna be delivered. And the next station is you're going to be working for the Kingdom. You're You're the character that God has given you will be used to advance the kingdom for the Lord. Because of God. It was an exciting time when
Reverend Ben Cooper:God doesn't change your character. He didn't now your character to the cross to Calvary, what did he now in now the sin of the world. So, whoever, and however you are, just be you. Because the character of you. You have been created by God, not the flesh on the bone. And when you look at that, but the inner you, God knows the inner you. And this is really important. Romans 837 No in all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us for I'm convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither present nor the future, nor any powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. You're in. You're on the train. Wow, look at the look of either a stopped at your destination and he's picking you up. You know, he's picking you up. He's the driver he is. He's the king. He's the King of kings and the Lord of lords. But the cross has to be in the church in the UK. The Cross has to be preached from the pulpit. The Cross has to be knelt down, we have to kneel down at a cross.
Simon Pinchbeck:I don't understand it. But I don't understand why you'd want to take a cross out a church, you know, you really don't and it's the cross is the sign of victory. And it's a sign of victory.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Hope, redemption. Now freedom
Simon Pinchbeck:is certain. There's certain religions that that have a cross with Jesus still on he was not on a cross he is raised again and we got Victorian. And Paul says Danny Paul says in Galatians six he says, But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world as being crucified to me and either world. So I want to boast in the cross I'm gonna tell people about the cross because this As the crosses says free and when you look around the world Bennett and some of some people who are held back and held down in various countries, but they're finding freedom. Freedom, yeah, in the cross is finding freedom. But
Reverend Ben Cooper:the center of Christianity is the cross. And you will find what at the cross, it's empty. It was borrowed for a few hours. It was used for a short while. And he lives. He said, I once was dead. But behold, I am alive. So Christ died. The cross is empty. The grave is empty. He's alive. He conquered sickness, he could be conquered death. The Devils couldn't hold him. They had no chance over him. And he even said to the religious order on the church that the few hours before the cross, you've got one hour. You've got one hour to do what you're gonna do? Yes, yeah, he said that you've got one hour, but religion and the church thinks they're still in the hour. But God is freedom.
Simon Pinchbeck:This is this is the our victory, the victory of Jesus, dying and rising again. It's just who else
Reverend Ben Cooper:in all creation, has sent His Son to the cross to die for humanity. Whatever religion where else will you find where you will not find, you will not find you will find a man started a religion, you will find you will find even in the Old Testament, you can go back in the Old Testament and you can find where all the other religion and other foreign gods were birthed, you will find the place of their birth point out of breakout of this of a breakout of that, of move of this of a move of that out of the two sons, you will find a certain religion being birthed you will find so much in the Old Testament. So there is nothing new under the sun, but you will not find a redeemer other than Jesus.
Simon Pinchbeck:But all these people have got grave spin, because they all died. And that's why they stayed
Reverend Ben Cooper:yet. Because they're dead. And they're humans. We have That's why Jesus in the book of Revelation said, Behold, I was dead. So if you take any, if you take them religious leaders that started these their movements, you will know you know where their bodies are. Do you know where they are? Yeah, you know where they are, they are marked, they are protected. And they know that that person is in that grave. But the grave that Jesus borrowed is empty. It was a borrowed term. It was a carved out term in the rock. He didn't own it. Now that's important to understand. He don't he did not own a grave. He borrowed it for a few hours. It was on it was borrowed, and
Simon Pinchbeck:yet the greatest victory the world needed and ever seen is completed in that few hours
Reverend Ben Cooper:in them few hours and fewer the free days. The three days
Simon Pinchbeck:to freedom that is given the whole world, you have freedom to get on the Jesus trying to freedom. And where's the Jesus train lead
Reverend Ben Cooper:been all the way to the Father.
Simon Pinchbeck:Amen. Amen to that it leads all the way to the Father. It's that's and we said it before. And if you haven't caught some of these podcasts, we go into a little bit deeper, but it is a deal. If you have accepted Jesus praise God for you. But if you if you haven't followed Jesus to the Father, then you're missing out a huge chunk. Because the father wants you to come back to him through his son Jesus Christ through the victory at across a wants to put his arms around you and say, Come home. Yeah, come home, son, Condor. You're home. You're with me. Now. We're going to use you. We're going to use you in the kingdom because you're not in this world anymore. You're not a citizen. You're a mere citizen of My
Reverend Ben Cooper:Kingdom. You belong. You belong to the kings domain. And the Church of Jesus Christ is so different to the secular church in the UK, the Church of England, Catholicism, Pentecostal movements. Are you really the Church of Jesus Christ? Come on?
Simon Pinchbeck:I think I think you raise a big a big camera. I have a massive question. You know, because
Reverend Ben Cooper:I, you're the face of God, are you really representing this Holy, Holy God,
Simon Pinchbeck:to be part of the Father's Kingdom
Reverend Ben Cooper:diet yourself,
Simon Pinchbeck:man, it's an exciting time,
Reverend Ben Cooper:give up your gold. Give up your jewelry.
Simon Pinchbeck:You're not just sitting there on a Sunday morning. You know, getting free songs three or four songs from from the worship leader, getting a little bit of stuff from from the leader, and then and then ticking the box and going and watching Sky Sports. No, no,
Reverend Ben Cooper:get back foot is on.
Simon Pinchbeck:You part of the kingdom. It's an everyday thing. It's all part of you. You know, every single day,
Reverend Ben Cooper:it's your heart. It's your heartbeat. It's every foot
Simon Pinchbeck:walking, we're battling, we're walking for the Lord. It's an exciting time. And we need to surround ourselves with other like minded people.
Reverend Ben Cooper:And I would say it's less people, less people. And the reason I say that is because there's a interesting and a beautiful text. In the New Testament, where there's four friends that carry their friend couldn't get off their bed off his bed. So four friends are important for friends on each corner, it's very important to understand four pillars. We're all crowded with a lot of people. And a lot of people want to cause us trouble. But surround yourself with four people that will carry you when you're in need that will take you to the top of the roof, tear the roof off and lower you into the presence of Jesus, not themselves. But you in your time of need. And we're in a church, great point, we got a lot of ministers that are all for self. Oh, they're telling their roof off for themselves. And they're lower themselves in and they'll push Jesus to the side and they'll sit on the front.
Simon Pinchbeck:I was gonna say to you who's missing? And is Jesus, you know, and Ecclesiastes, again, Ecclesiastes four tells us that to a bet on one. Yeah. And a free Brady chord with Jesus. It's very hard to break. So. So I think Ben is right. I think Ben has made a great observation and I think is something that if you're out there we should take on board is that less is more,
Reverend Ben Cooper:less is more, look at the 12 disciples, diverse disciples and Jesus through Jerusalem upside down inside out. We got mega churches can't even punch themselves out of a paper bag. We got denominations that are sliding all over the place a mass amount of people. Less is more powerful.
Simon Pinchbeck:Yeah, but a real strong bond, you know,
Reverend Ben Cooper:greater bond with less. Yeah,
Simon Pinchbeck:I've got to say that. You know, the stuff that when we're doing Ben the stuff that we talk about the stuff that we talk about off Mike and I'm like, you know, we were creating that, that bond between Yeah, the bond, and everything is blast. Everything is pulled together and glued together. For both through Jesus by the Father
Reverend Ben Cooper:and for life experiences of going through. We got scars on our back, coming close to the wire more times than ever, never. Life is interesting, isn't it? Life is interesting. Every journey, every decision, every attitude, every good lifestyle choice, every bad lifestyle choice. It always focuses back and always to Jesus.
Simon Pinchbeck:It can use that for His own purpose. It's it's so powerful. You know, I listened I've listened to a boxer I don't know if you people know Matt Lee's name was Nigel Benny's. He came to faith. And Nigel when you were in Torquay don't want to talk about his previous life. He just wants to talk about his time with the Lord's you know, which is which is great. But people want to come and hear about his old life. They want to hear about his boxing stories and, and the Lord will use that because that's a gateway into it is yeah, and it happens to be that is his wife story is probably more powerful than Nigel's because she tells you very blatantly about how we used to be in with Urban Affairs and women money or that sort of things. And now she's stuck with him for the failure and all that so so he's her stories is really powerful, but it what it says to me is that we can use everything that we've been for All around experiences to fruit across and evicted across Jesus turn that round, easily turn that around. And the father says, right? I mean, look at that guy there. Let me look at them that lady there, let me look at my daughter day. Let me look at her heart. Now, I can use you, now I can use you. So when we come to the Lord, with humility when we come to the Lord, knowing that, that what Christ has done for us and what a father has done for us, he looks at me as he gets, we get his attention because faith gets his attention. And he goes, Whoa, now we can use that person
Reverend Ben Cooper:might and it just loss for words, literally, the cross and the stories and what Simon has brought, you know, it's the cross. It's the cross victory of the cross. And the scripture says, you know, Christ made a spectacle of the principalities, He disarmed the powers that be all the dark side, everything at the cross of Calvary, everything, the old, finished at the cross, the new style that the cross, everything was broke at the Cross freedom was at the Cross bondage was blasted into eternity. You know, everything. Simon, thank you for bringing so much to us today.
Simon Pinchbeck:It's again, Ben is 40 odd minutes have gone like it was just a few minutes and we just embrace people don't forget about our Bogra Soundset out there the hashtag Christina straight talk. We got congratulated this week, because we have 50 podcasts on hashtag Christian strike, don't mind and there's some great stuff out there. But be honest, we want to listen to it back. It can't come from me and it can't come from you has to come from the Spirit of the Lord. Amen. Because Because in I've only got a one brain cell and then it was working with this stuff, you know?
Reverend Ben Cooper:Yeah. It's so true is so true. All things are possible to those who believe. Sometimes I just got a dare to believe. Just believe believe. Just believing God just believing
Simon Pinchbeck:that benefits to When don't you? Yeah,
Reverend Ben Cooper:we'll see yet this time next week. Keep in the Word of God, never give up. But be the warrior that God called you to be.
Simon Pinchbeck:You're victorious because of the cross because of the cross.
Reverend Ben Cooper:That's it. That's it. We're done. Let's go. Bless you. God bless