Good morning and welcome wherever you are today across the earth may God bless you and strengthen you in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Welcome to #Christian, straight talk, and I'm a bit sweaty this morning because of the subject that's come across the table, Simon will introduce this. And I'm just gonna let him speak this morning because I'm too frightened to even speak about the word I can't even mention the word. Backup, my head is hurting.
Simon Pinchbeck:Good morning, Ben. And good morning. Good morning, wash the world is great, great you to join us. And we're going to straight talk today on on temptation. Don't look at me. Straight or down. Temptation is something that affects every single person on this planet and
Reverend Ben Cooper:five, send them falling short of that glory. And I'm done. Done. We're out.
Simon Pinchbeck:We're out of here.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Thats a word that the Church will not talk about. Because it wraps us up in this bubble of you will never be tempted when you walk with Christ. You will never ever be put in a situation that could be a little bit sweaty and sticky.
Simon Pinchbeck:Thats interesting, Ben because, you know, Jesus was tempted in every way. You know,
Reverend Ben Cooper:and no one will say what every way. If the Bible says every way he means it means every way. Yeah. Every way.
Simon Pinchbeck:And you might be you might think to yourself, Well yeah, but Jesus was God and he but he did. You know, he did separate himself at times. He was completely human when he especially when he went out into the desert and we'll get into that a little bit. A little bit later. But you know,
Reverend Ben Cooper:was a subject isn't it? Oh, God,
Simon Pinchbeck:you know, we every single day, every day, every moment and thoughts and words were tempted
Reverend Ben Cooper:as soon as we mentioned the word temptation you go sex or actually not just
Simon Pinchbeck:you do Ben but you know, I was tempted number one money spending money spending
Reverend Ben Cooper:money, lifestyle life shopping. Cannabis, drugs,
Simon Pinchbeck:temptation, temptation is all around us whether or not to make it do that. Shall I buy that? Shall I go for that? Shall I should I do this? Shall
Reverend Ben Cooper:I have a bigger work career? Should we ever get new house and my tempted by materialism stuff?
Simon Pinchbeck:All that stuff is hanging in front of you. It's like
Reverend Ben Cooper:that golden Golden Calf isn't it? It's just right there. And then that opens a door to idolatrous worship. So we're living in a world that there is temptation all around us tempted on every level, every platform, and what is the most worrying thing I think, to me is my mind went elsewhere on everything most which is common to man in the head
Simon Pinchbeck:and in your head. And so I'm gonna ask you this question, Ben, you know, you've been a church leader. Reverend. I'm gonna ask you this question. Is temptation a sin? No, it's not is it
Reverend Ben Cooper:actually is birthed.
Simon Pinchbeck:We have an enemy who really, really wants to destroy us and make no mistake is and the goal is to not just to derail you is to destroy you. But first of all, he he can derail you and he can put a thought in front of you right? Cant he
Reverend Ben Cooper:it can stay in the front of your head. And then you can birth the thought
Simon Pinchbeck:you may be if the sports birthed then he's going to come around. So it's a triple whammy really, you know, puts the thought in the thought leads to action. Action, the action leads to guilt. Yeah.
Reverend Ben Cooper:And then you go by, I'm done. I'm busted.
Simon Pinchbeck:So, so we're going to talk about this morning about about how it all works out, parents out and certain ways that we can look at and know when we're being tempted and now to combat that really, in a way because, you know, if you look at this scripture that you know, straight up, Paul talks about it. Paul's very aware about it. This is something Paul is as locked out and it's very interesting what he says in one Corinthians 1012 and 13. Ben, do you want to read that out?
Reverend Ben Cooper:Let me have a read from the N i v and it says one Corinthians chapter 10 verses 12 to 13. It says so if you think you are standing firm
Simon Pinchbeck:on that sort of look at that for our staff. If so, if you've right, just
Reverend Ben Cooper:correct just the So, right, so you, oh, whoa, whoa, anyone that is a believer? Yeah, Lord, I believe you. I believe from Genesis to Revelation, I believe I'm born again. And I believe I'm saved. So you come into this bracket, whether you're a bishop, you're the greatest preacher on Earth, whether you're the greatest theologian, because this Bible is scripture is speaking not to the world. To anyone that is a believer, so the religious lot, don't, ain't bothered. This is a believer. This is someone that is believing that knows that they are saved. They are blood washed, and their Redeemer lives. So Jesus is using that great writer and he says, So, if you think I think I'm standing firm, that is probably the greatest fall starting to happen. Because if I think I'm making myself all okay, I'm making myself wide open.
Simon Pinchbeck:Yeah, if you think you've got it cracked you and if I've got it cracked, yeah,
Reverend Ben Cooper:I'm at the bottom of the pile already. So if you think you are standing firm, I think I'm standing firm. Now I've got to be careful how I say that. Because when I'm standing firm, I'm standing on a rock to just because he's put me on the rock. Doesn't mean to say that I want full.
Simon Pinchbeck:Well, we spoke about that a couple of weeks, so don't be surprised. So you know,
Reverend Ben Cooper:I've got this right. I ain't gonna fall I'm good. Okay, well, I'm already falling.
Simon Pinchbeck:And you know, anybody tumbleweeds? You know, what you hear so often do you hear so often? Yeah, enemy, bring it on, I can do what you're really you really want to go there. You really want to go there,
Reverend Ben Cooper:because you won't find the devil with two arms. You'll find him dressed very differently. Especially these days, especially this days where whatever he wants are wet again. Yeah. And you might even cross over to a side a Steve joke side that you never thought you'd cross over to.
Simon Pinchbeck:You didn't find Jesus going come on can bring it on did know very quietly.
Reverend Ben Cooper:And very humbly Jesus would say it is
Simon Pinchbeck:ritual Bangor, and will then I think we'll look at it in more detail later on. very combative it.
Reverend Ben Cooper:He didn't get a deliverance team. He didn't he didn't pay another time. He didn't send 50 Pan abroad in and get a prayer cloth. He didn't get a word from anybody else.
Simon Pinchbeck:He didn't ever debate did
Reverend Ben Cooper:talk to the elders. He just said it is written so Wes Ivan says we are at this moment of one Corinthians chapter 10 Verse 12 says so if you think you still you are staying firm. Now I love that text. A reason I love that is it because it brings everybody under the fabric of church onto the dive and bold. It brings everybody into this position. If you from the greatest believer, your mum, your dad that you lift up so much because it's right and it's true. So beautiful. Your Nan, your granddad all that sort of stuff that are believers. Anyone that calls themselves a believer will be on the dive in bold of temptation, whether they talk about it or not.
Simon Pinchbeck:You know, Ben, aren't I go back to I loved I love still about so I love hearing Sandy Miller speak and Sandy Miller was the vicar at returning bumped and Brompton before for Nicky Gumbel. Yeah. And I heard him speak one day and he's such a godly holy man. But he said he said one day he was going up the stairs to preach, he said and the most horrible, the most vile form came into his head as he was going as he was coming to actually I mean, reach. Yeah, I and he said and then and then the devil just whipped around and gone. Did you think that what what a orrible person you are, Joe. So we're talking here that one of the
Reverend Ben Cooper:greatest Christians, you know, is how it comes to mind when it comes to everybody. But we beat ourselves up and the church makes us feel mucky, and makes us feel bad. And then suddenly, if a thought comes in, we are feeling so rotten and so terrible not because of Christ, because the Bible says far as no no condemnation for those that are in him. But religion and certain people in our lives, put such restrictions and snares on us that anything said or any way that we look any way that we move, you feel that the devil is whipping you and it's not the devil it's it's within the congregation. It's within your families within the church
Simon Pinchbeck:as well. Yeah, you said interesting thing that happened because, you know, we know we've got a friend and we use does a bit of a bit of testimony here and there. So we He's on the Christian bandwagon to be light. And he's going through something at the moment where, you know, he just I think he just sort of spoke to a young lady who was nothing more than that.
Reverend Ben Cooper:And it's turned out to be something that he's not
Simon Pinchbeck:turned out to be somebody who's not. And he's been playing it up as though he was having a full blown affair for like, years and years and years. And he's been out under the whip for it. Yeah,
Reverend Ben Cooper:it's just that this is that way that that's where the enemy works. And the issue we have is that we can't be open because of the religious hold on the establishment condemn us. But if you are a really a true Bible believing believer, you will know that this text is hitting you like a church bell ringing without in a deal, you know, you know, because because the Bible says, this is where it brings this into it as well. Don't worry about them over there, because they've got a speck compared to what you got going on in your own eye. So don't look across them. Just look what's going on within you. So no one can judge anyone.
Simon Pinchbeck:I mean, that's another. I mean, that's another podcast altogether. But you're exactly right. Because we want to look at them. I would
Reverend Ben Cooper:make me feel thank God for that. They've done that when actually good job. I don't know what I'm thinking because what I'm thinking is great and what he's done.
Simon Pinchbeck:I always remember a story. Mike Tyson, the old boxer when he was going through, you know, all his problems, pulled up at a lights and a truck driver in an open top car truck driver pulled up against him. And he sat me down. He said, Mike, he said, I love looking at you because it makes me feel a lot better than meslier mu. Do you know?
Reverend Ben Cooper:What a great line, you know, because you know what I love? Feel better? Because you're you've screwed
Simon Pinchbeck:up. Yeah.
Reverend Ben Cooper:So this brings everybody onto the dive in Boulder Christianity. And we're all concerned side by side, from the bishops, to the leaders to the preachers, the teachers, the congregation, Judge Angie granddad's Anyone, anyone that is a believer will have this ringing in their life. Because he says so then if you So Christ through Paul is speaking to everyone that is a believer, if you
Simon Pinchbeck:solely and we've just read one, one line of this, and I
Reverend Ben Cooper:want the 50 Kate around it in this podcast, so don't talk anymore. If you think you are standing firm, don't we love Jesus?
Simon Pinchbeck:Wherever you're pleased, never think you're standing. Because the next thing you'll get right up the backside.
Reverend Ben Cooper:There it comes. Be careful that you don't fall. But Lord, I'm standing firm. Lord, I'm standing on a rock. That's irrelevant. That that is irrelevant. The more oh gosh, the thing is, this is this is the bat. That really it's harder. The more you're hungry for Jesus, the more the temptation comes down a track. Oh, the more you because what happens is you go, I'm a rich, I'm a sinful man. The devil goes, Yeah, I'm gonna give you some more juice. And that goes to keep yet you know, to make you realize who you really are. And you're battling the thoughts. You're battling your attitudes. And then unforgiveness drops in and in pride drops in. Suddenly you find that you're like you're crucified. But that's where you should be. That's really shouldn't be so. So in around
Simon Pinchbeck:in a bad place to be. Is it
Reverend Ben Cooper:when you recognize when you're dirty? Yeah, I'm a failure. So I've got lots of friends that are counselors and they listen and they go you just off he's not he just because the counselors don't like you speaking like that, do they?
Simon Pinchbeck:So no, they don't because it's all about you. And it's all about, you need to you need to do everything for yourself
Reverend Ben Cooper:because you're great and wonderful. But the Bible, the Bible tells me this
Simon Pinchbeck:so what we're saying here have been really
Reverend Ben Cooper:his freedom. When we admit it, it's freedom
Simon Pinchbeck:here is freedom. But what we're saying is is it's really is never think you're standing firm. You can't never think you're standing never think you've got anything crack because believe you can't you want you because you haven't
Reverend Ben Cooper:any if because that is that is the idolatrous position. That is the position where I am, that I am. I am the best surprised is in the line or is Friday. If you look at the text in there, you'll see the word pride written underneath that. If you think that you you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall. I get a phone call. I'm on blast 95 I'm gonna fall. I'm great and wonderful. I've got
Simon Pinchbeck:a terrible amount of times I've heard people say that and then the next week or the next month or whatever
Reverend Ben Cooper:miles would you say I'm falling and I've fallen, but I'm saved by grace. I'm washed in the blood of Jesus you need to pick me out for God is bringing me back from this sinful nature, this scent look at the government. Look at actually, I don't need to look at the map. It's up there. I just got, I just have to look at the denominations that denominations are coming away from the Word of God. So we have
Simon Pinchbeck:one line there, but there's so much in it and
Reverend Ben Cooper:unforgiveness. If you think you are God, I can feel I can feel the pain, nothing but I can feel the freedom. So if you think that you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall, the amount of people that I look across the the social platforms of Christianity that are lifting themselves up for their own profile. You've already fallen. You've fallen, and you don't realize your followers. And it's not through sex, drugs and rock and roll it's through pride is through pride and arrogance. And, and I Am that I Am. Unwanted on approach and circuit. Unwanted for this unwanted for that. Unwanted. It's me, it's what I've got to deliver. If you look at someone's social feed Ay ay ay, ay, ay. Ay.
Simon Pinchbeck:I wouldn't say. Yeah, definitely. I wouldn't spoke to a very dear friend of mine who had a particular ministry of one to one ministry of people within on the other side of that tracks. And yeah, that's a tough, big name. I don't want to use the word gangster but being sort of criminal types, may be stepped away a little bit. And he was ministering to one particular fellow and I said to me, I said, Why are you doing this? Why are you doing this? Because you're putting your eggs right in a lion's mouth here. Because, yeah, if the old biller watching, they're gonna see you or whatever's happened, so what are you doing it for you? Are you doing it for Jesus? Why? What is the purpose? And he couldn't answer me straight away, because I, and then a couple of weeks later, the block gets shot, killed. There you go. And he had all these funds taken and anxiety and he was pulled right into it. He was pulled right into it. What are you donate for? What's your motive? That's the thing.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Why am I doing what I do?
Simon Pinchbeck:What is the motive?
Reverend Ben Cooper:Yeah. Okay, this text, this text is so enormous. This is line by line preset by precept. This is literally expository sermonizing, which we do not even have the time for it's just a more you look at even verse 12. I got underneath that text still pride beaten me with a stick so hard. Yeah, the pride stick
Simon Pinchbeck:up. Because if you absolutely think you have got any, if you
Reverend Ben Cooper:think in a way Jesus presents that through the writer. So if you think so when you when you really if you verbalize that and you make a new speak that loud that is Christ is going so you if you think you have made it, you ain't gonna fall and you think you're standing firm. Be careful, son,
Simon Pinchbeck:be careful. There is there are the word Be Careful, careful.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Why God but I'm standing firm. I've put my feet on a rock. You haven't put your feet on a rock. I saved you and yours are rich. I died for you.
Simon Pinchbeck:Well, there we go. I mean, I was going to come back to that scripture. You know, John 15, five Yeah, I am divine. You are grafted into
Reverend Ben Cooper:your grafted in even in your muck. I grew up that you in with the muck, and you can do nothing. You can do nothing. So
Simon Pinchbeck:if you were but apart from Jesus, so that's what we're saying that we've been your
Reverend Ben Cooper:nothing. And even with Jesus, you still got that flesh soap or even with him, and with Him. Christ will take the scows off and you will realize even how much of a wreck
Simon Pinchbeck:I was listened to. We literally had enough. Ben's doing the old cross slonaker Chi, Tony electric of listen, I was listening to you know, the late great Billy Graham. I was listening to him the other day on and he was doing he was doing a talk called Just Say No, really? And he said, he said, he said he said, I cannot live this life in the flesh. I cannot live this life
Reverend Ben Cooper:and it's great to hear that. Yeah. Great to hear that of a man of that. Calling.
Simon Pinchbeck:He was standing in the middle of a football stadium a punk place was absolutely around,
Reverend Ben Cooper:not frightened of a sign. I am not I cannot I cannot
Simon Pinchbeck:do this life without without Jesus. I love to hurt the Holy Spirit cannot beat it without,
Reverend Ben Cooper:you know what, Simon, the more that we are truthful. And the more that we tell the world, I'm dirty and I'm a rich, no one can pin nothing on, you
Simon Pinchbeck:know, because you bring it all out
Reverend Ben Cooper:because you're great. You're you're you're able to talk about yourself. And you're not worried about what the world says you're not worried about what church says you're not worried about the congregation telling you because you know who you are. Because you know you are, and I am nothing.
Simon Pinchbeck:And that's the thing, so I can't get lower. People go. Yet when they talk about identity, and they talk about, you need to know who you are in Christ. Well, you know, goodness, gracious, we're nothing except for Christ, are we? And so you, we need to know that. And we need to know that at all times,
Reverend Ben Cooper:I think, to know who you are in Christ. I think we can answer that. But we can't answer that. Because the more we go into Christ, the more we realize that what we thought we was in Christ a week ago, an hour ago, we're not because we're, we're worse than what we think. So when we talk in the kingdom of the language of a wretched man, am I that's not because we are in a breakdown position. It's because we are realizing that we are in a fallen world, living in a fallen government living in a fallen position. And Sodom and Gomorrah is all around us. But with Christ, He gives us the strength to keep pushing endurance.
Simon Pinchbeck:Yeah, and will. And that's part of what we're going to speak about Ben if we get a chance, later on. But but But it's interesting, you know, because Paul again said in Galatians, 220. People gloss over this, and they they don't gloss over it. I have been crucified with Christ. And what does that mean? That that I have been crucified with Christ. It's not how I live, but Christ who lives in me.
Reverend Ben Cooper:So what goes along with the crucifixion, the whipping, the beating, the everything that goes along with the crucifixion, what Christ had done to him, is and should be done to us.
Simon Pinchbeck:So when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, then and Christ is in us, then this body is then a temple in it for the Holy Spirit. It's not either live not the flesh that lays with Christ lives in me. But we still have a daily choice whether to Simon your flesh, or follow Jesus don't you
Reverend Ben Cooper:can't get away from the fact what Simon has just said. The deity is living in this skin. Right? So when I live in temptation he sees and then you might even journey to the process of the sin that I'm in the this frightens the living daylights out of me. When I think that Christ is living in us. He sees our thinking, he sees our actions. He knows we're going to act before we've even acted it. And you think this Holy God is in me walking with me.
Simon Pinchbeck:And when we go down certain routes certain avenues certain for sheep's is sitting in the corner, JC can't get involved in that. Then I can't get involved in them thoughts that you're thinking, then I can't get involved in them. What you what you're going to do next. I can't get involved in elections. If you want me to bring me in. If you want Holy Spirit, if you want me
Reverend Ben Cooper:to bring bringing you out, and I'll bring
Simon Pinchbeck:you out. But a lot of time then a lot of time we're sitting we're talking about it's a lot of time.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Jesus in Marcona in more ways than one. Don't say that. As I'm, as I'm in as I'm in the ring. As I'm in the battle ring as I'm in the boxing ring. We put him in the corner more times about
Simon Pinchbeck:some problem that that's the problem problem with that phrase is in the corner. Jesus is not in my phone in the battle. I don't want him in my corner.
Reverend Ben Cooper:I want him in the battle. I want him with my gloves on you wanting I want to be in a corner and I want him punching.
Simon Pinchbeck:We're enjoying them thoughts. They're competent thoughts. They're good. I scratches the itch. You know, as I come back to it again, you know, the fella that we was talking about secret sin and uncompassionate and I fell I said, he said I want to say lust. He said I want to confess loss, but he said I enjoy lust. I'm not going to add on to it. He's only an on laspo force because he enjoys it.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Can I Can I mention the Scripture? I don't have to church. The Bible says the Bible says each man is drawn away by his own loss. It does. The Bible says each man each human being that is a believer that stands on the rock that goes to church that shouts Kumbaya. The Lord has saved me I am blood washed. Each believer that takes the bread and wine falls into these categories. They're on the diving board a temptation, and the bold is springing. And then the Bible says, each man is drawn away. So there will come a time. Then when you're aware the product also time and time again,
Simon Pinchbeck:but I can't. I'm just getting my head around. Just getting me around what you said. And that fits in so lovely. Today, we don't want Jesus in our corner. We want him in a battle don't we
Reverend Ben Cooper:have many times but Jesus has got my corner, Holy Spirit, our nature, our nature to take need you to serve. So I'll need you in the middle of the ring. I need you to take right I mean, boxing shorts on and beat the living daylights out what's in front of me because I am going to kiss it and cuddle it and embrace it. If you're in the sofa. I am gonna watch it, dance with it. Lick it, kick it, poke it, scratch it, because it's in front of me. That's the reality of life, isn't it?
Simon Pinchbeck:Praise God.
Reverend Ben Cooper:How many times do we hear these great lines? Jesus is in my corner.
Simon Pinchbeck:Well now in case you're in trouble and move I don't know can add a corner.
Reverend Ben Cooper:I want him with my shops on how I want him with my my gum shielding. I want him with my gloves on.
Simon Pinchbeck:I can't do it without him. Ben,
Reverend Ben Cooper:I ain't gonna make it. I'm not gonna make it. You know what? I can't make it. We can't
Simon Pinchbeck:make it. We can't as Billy Graham said what he Billy Graham said he said I can't do it in the flesh. I need the Holy Spirit.
Reverend Ben Cooper:And you know what it brings peace. It brings peace to know that I can't work in process. Let's go to the Old Testament. Jeremiah chapter 12. Is it the potters, the master the clay, it's marred before it even gets in the Masters hands. I went down to the pot I went down to the pot, the potter's house. The word of the Lord came to me I went down to the potter's house. And I watched the master working. So there's a work on work in progress. But before but as I as I'm in the Masters hands as I'm in his hands. The clay that is in his hands, which is me is marred before even starts some damaged goods, before shapes or shapes, but I'm still in his hands. Yeah. Nothing can separate from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. I would put it like this. If you are in a ministry or a church or relationship or wherever you are, and you are being condemned by those around you. Walk because we do not need to be condemned because the Bible says there is now no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus. So if people in your life are not Barnabas is not encouraging, not encouraging you in the right way. We have many issues that this tax has brought to the table
Simon Pinchbeck:I've been we've only just read the first line. We've got to come and read a bit more
Reverend Ben Cooper:now. Because the next two words, verse 13, no temptation. It's got a really quiet, it. No temptation has overtaken you, except what is common to Okay, so what's common sex drugs, rock and roll socializing, arrogance,
Simon Pinchbeck:of whole nine yards, the whole nine yards of
Reverend Ben Cooper:life of life. How does this God present this so quick and so powerful? You know, if a human was writing this, I know, Paul, but what you know, I'm saying if there was a an author, writing this outside of the spiritual foundation of Christianity, it would take 15 chapters to get to what has just been said, oh, yeah, Your Honor. percent says No temptation has overtaken you, except,
Simon Pinchbeck:which is common to man on
Reverend Ben Cooper:taking glasses off. Because everything has overtaken us. It's in front of us. It's not behind us. So everything is looking at you and you are looking at it.
Simon Pinchbeck:And Ecclesiastes says there's nothing new under the sun. So it's been the same yesterday today. And it'll be the same in the future sometimes maybe a little bit more intense in certain areas where maybe access maybe a little bit easier to get, but it's still the same rotation.
Reverend Ben Cooper:It's still the same. So in first aid where it says no temptation, we could go or I'm alright, I'm safe. No temptation, But read the next part has overtaken you. Thank you, Jesus. Nothing has overtaken me. No, it's not quite right. Except, okay, what could that be? What is common to mankind? So every temptation under the current been under this earth over this earth, every temptation that is common to mankind has an interest in it says mankind and not Christian Christians. Yeah, so it brings the world darkest temptations into your
Simon Pinchbeck:arena, but he recognizes you in that instant that you're still flesh, you'll still flesh and you'll always be flesh. And you'll always be flattened till and you can't beat the flesh in the flesh. As Billy Graham says, keep going back to Billy use. Please praise the Lord.
Reverend Ben Cooper:So when you take that whole line, No temptation has overtaken you, except what is common to man and God is faithful, He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.
Simon Pinchbeck:Now, that's, you know, that's different for each person, do you think
Reverend Ben Cooper:that's completely different, some people will not get nowhere, and some people will get to the door right at the access point and it is eyeball to eyeball, you can smell it, you can touch it you can taste and see and no more can be said there are different layers different levels. So this takes away the robotic action. And this makes it an individual action that our DMA
Simon Pinchbeck:so that definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.
Reverend Ben Cooper:So I've got a few answers in that one. If we
Simon Pinchbeck:do the same thing over and over and expecting a different result and the only result will only result we're gonna get is the same so we have to bring Jesus into the into the arena we have to be the Holy Spirit because we just can't beat this without him. You know, you will be tempted beyond not you will not be tend to beyond what you are able but with the temptation you'll also make a way of escape that you will be able to bear it now it's up to you wherever you choose to
Reverend Ben Cooper:so where does the escape start in your mind? So where does where does it where does it where does all this begin? It's different layers for different is that is all this text is like what
Simon Pinchbeck:Jesus says the escape routes in the Holy Spirit is the escape route that that has to be
Reverend Ben Cooper:that's number one. That's it. That's it.
Simon Pinchbeck:But but you know, you, you those thoughts are so wrong but in a nice and sometimes if maybe sexual or see what I what I remember notoriety, what I've what i've what I've seen, but what I've seen before I was a Christian, and since that as well when I've fallen on certain occasions is that the enemy will wrap something up in a blanket so absolutely wonderful. I've got to do it. I've got to edit you in the sweet shop. And there's a route there. Jesus is standing there at the door and he's going this way this way. This way. We're going, No, I want the Whoa, bow. And when you when you do, you don't follow the Jesus route. You've ordered the flesh the route. As soon as you get that,
Reverend Ben Cooper:bang. It's empty.
Simon Pinchbeck:It's empty. It's empty. It's like nothing. It's
Reverend Ben Cooper:no honey in the jar isn't on the tin. You open it up and it's
Simon Pinchbeck:where we follow the route. The doorway of Jesus is his own. Judea already Spirit fills you and it goes well done.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Well done. That's correct. And I think also you can look at the lady at the well. You know, she kept drawing from the same place very traditional. We were very traditional. We were very westernized. We're so used to the robotic action of doing the same thing the same thing and Jesus is saying now you know you need to live in water we live in water will refresh you and take away all this stuff. I will refresh you I will sustain you I will carry you I will help you I will guard you I will protect you. I will forgive you. I went over Ben
Simon Pinchbeck:This is a real revelation to me this morning to be honest with us we're talking in our because we get them we get them times when it looks whatever looks amazing. It's honey, it might be something you want to buy
Reverend Ben Cooper:everything holidays Houses Jobs Now Korea, Korea Korea, the ivory tower Oh can't wait it out there love here when we get up that high when we've got This one we've got that that honeypot the top will keep our lips sweet forever. Get to the top man screw. There's nothing there.
Simon Pinchbeck:And he says nothing. There's nothing next thing or the next thing I hear that so often. But there's a door over there with Jesus thought of that route.
Reverend Ben Cooper:But don't we find this interesting? Go right back to the Garden of Eden? Oh,
Simon Pinchbeck:yeah, it's that's where the first temptation start with
Reverend Ben Cooper:God's voice was before the enemies voice. I find this fascinating to study that God's voice was so powerful and so loud and so confident and so beyond human understanding, and what he said, and he gave them and he told them clearly. But then the second voice comes along in the slippery formation. As that as the serpent and humanity always, I won't say always, most of the time listens to the lesser voice, the lesser voice
Simon Pinchbeck:because the lesser voice is the flesh, and the lesser voice, flesh wants what the flesh wants. Exactly. And as Billy Graham's
Reverend Ben Cooper:there's power in forgiveness.
Simon Pinchbeck:But But Jesus said in the Lord's Prayer, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. So, I mean, Jesus is well aware of the flesh of the flesh of the temptation, because
Reverend Ben Cooper:it says the Word became I love the fact that when, when it talks about the birth of Christ, it says, The Word became, it became flesh. So when you become you was already in existence before so he was already in existence. So it doesn't say the word was birthed. The Word became so he he became what we are, but he didn't fall to the temptation.
Simon Pinchbeck:Now he didn't fall to the tempt he didn't fall. But he was tempted in every single whatever
Reverend Ben Cooper:he survived Reese dive in bold, was being bounced upon.
Simon Pinchbeck:And as you said before, he never debated with the devil.
Reverend Ben Cooper:He never He never Radcliffe.
Simon Pinchbeck:He's been in the desert 40 days and 40 Nights. Is it the week of May I can't even fast forward
Reverend Ben Cooper:I can't even go by eight hours.
Simon Pinchbeck:I'm traveling McDonald's,
Reverend Ben Cooper:McDonald's. Sorry, Lord, I've seen them fallen short of the glory.
Simon Pinchbeck:bevel. Big my Big Mac, no, no, but it's the truth. It's the truth. The stomach is a real
Reverend Ben Cooper:matter of time. I've found him in fasting.
Simon Pinchbeck:But Jesus didn't 40 days and 14 hours he is completely weakest. And the enemy comes in, tempted in every single way. And choose didn't debate and have an argument. He didn't
Reverend Ben Cooper:hold a prayer time. No, a pastor is written is written so what does that teach us? It teaches us to use the word teaches us scripture, not the church. Scripture scripture. Scripture
Simon Pinchbeck:is your first port of call because by the time you've reached for your phone to call them the phone and frankly you're
Reverend Ben Cooper:fine on the sites you've been on the shot and the shopping channels and Amazon look at look at the temptation of shopping well that's interesting because credit Buy now pay later six months
Simon Pinchbeck:either I'd a mate who's whose wife was obsessed with shopping. And she was sneaking out the door one day and he says don't go into the shop. She said no, no, I just look at the windows. So she sneaks back in and when he's ready for and she's got a big bag. He said what you bought she said Well, it was a dress he said it was it was a dress I seen in my favorite shop it was better than half price. He says you should have said Get thee behind me satan I said well I did and Satan said it looks better but you're but you're right Ben is is it's everywhere everywhere
Reverend Ben Cooper:is all that you know that the temptation is shopping sitting indoors I'll order a new pair of trainers or get a new pair I'll get this I can return it I can do this the nation is obsessed with this delivery person walderslade
Simon Pinchbeck:It's so easy and yeah and
Reverend Ben Cooper:and you know the ring doorbell and all that the old people watching the cloud again caught eight and a half hours from shopping delivered their ass boxes pilot boxes are part of the cardboard recycling
Simon Pinchbeck:took a load of boxes didn't make you laugh
Reverend Ben Cooper:save the planet save the planet cardboard everywhere plastic everywhere. But it's biodegradable so
Simon Pinchbeck:easy. You got PayPal work? I was in prime your door next day. What? They made it so easy. Don't know, you know, there's contactless Yeah, it's now 200 quid on your card.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Yeah. And even if you took out one of the large coffee houses, you know it's 10 Antonin it all the time. Are we at one over there? I'll, I'll go to the pain. You know, I mean, it's and then we live a certain pattern, don't we we live a certain life, we live a certain mode. And then we've got these, these interesting traits that we follow branding. And, you know, temptation is is on every level of life and that's what the scripture says. No temptation has overtaken you what is common to man.
Simon Pinchbeck:It's there all the time. And
Reverend Ben Cooper:it's through the TV. It's for adverts. It's for food. It's through coffee, it's through it through shopping it through sitting in your in your front room, looking at the screen, older and it is every area of humanity.
Simon Pinchbeck:Look at his scripture, but it's not enough. We can't come to
Reverend Ben Cooper:a place to talk about Amazon.
Simon Pinchbeck:But look, James 12 and it goes on it says, Blessed it is a man who endures under temptation. Oh, come on. For when he has been approved as one he's chosen Jesus and conquer the Holy Spirit, He will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised those who love Him. And this is interesting. I wonder what unlikely to get your comments on this one. I'll go on. It says in James 130 says, Let no one say when he is tempted, that I am tempted by God, for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each is one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires. Exactly what you said earlier. Simple. Simple, simple. God damn.
Reverend Ben Cooper:So the devil is not even in the arena really? No, because it says each man is drawn away. So blaming don't keep giving it to him. The devil made me do it. The devil made me do it. The devil made me do it. The devil
Simon Pinchbeck:and the devil is going I did a lot of things but
Reverend Ben Cooper:it's alright. When you think about it, when you really think about that text that is a heart puncher each man each man so it brings us into the same text it talks about mankind you know what was in a moment ago each man which is common to mankind so when you talk about man you're talking about a human a human being whatever side of the man or woman whatever side of the fence you're on with that one. Each man is drawn away. Does that mean to say I'm going to foul then I've been set up before to foul Well, when you well, because it says you're drawn away
Simon Pinchbeck:you are drawn away interesting point with that Scripture is says that God does not tempt you. But so if it's not the devil it allows your God allows you It allows you that freedom then he elf free will choice. So so he's not accepting you. But he's going the doors open the doors, open
Reverend Ben Cooper:the doors, doors open. But then I've walked through the door. And then I find that I'm fallen drastically, protocol suddenly. But what does the father day? Does he reject me? This God is too big to understand, isn't it?
Simon Pinchbeck:Jen, I was thinking the other day Ben the scales, right? The scale of what God has done for us and individually. And what we do for God, this guy was just charged the charts. So what he's done for us is just and what it comes tenus seeing us to do.
Reverend Ben Cooper:The Power of I have to mention this word if you don't mind listeners and Simon redemption. I want to cry, I literally want to cry. Because the power of redemption, the power of I'm realizing that salvation is once because the Scripture talks about it. But when you look at the word redemption, I'm always been redeemed because I'm always being brought back. I'm always been washed in the blood of Jesus. Redemption is so powerful. So if you're out there and you say to yourself, I have fallen drastically. I just want to encourage you this morning, that redemption. Redemption is on you. Nothing can separate you. You might be a prodigal son or daughter you might be sitting in a position now. Somewhere in an office you might be somewhere absolutely petrified of the consequence of the Fallen area of life. We're all fallen. We there's no one there's no one righteous no one But Ron one, and his name is Jesus. There is only one high priest, there is no Pastor greater than any other pastor. There is no Bishop, there is no one in any congregation that is greater than anyone. We are all equal in the eyes of Christ, we are all equal in the eyes of Christ, and Christ
Simon Pinchbeck:died for everyone. So Luke, Christ died for everyone that redemption is for everyone
Reverend Ben Cooper:that redemption is for everyone. So whether you're a pastor, a business leader, wherever, whoever you are, we will never get this life, right? Because the Scripture tells us, but what is refreshing is to say, Jesus, I've fallen, I've made a such a mistake. It has changed. Everything in my life helped me. And you only got to turn to the prodigal son. And the father see the sun coming back before the sun said, I'm on my way back. God knows you're on your way back.
Simon Pinchbeck:He knows what it isn't. He knows you think God didn't. He doesn't is nothing we do surprises him. We knows we are weak, you know, it was his say. And it says in Matthew 2641, he said, The spirit is willing but the flesh is weakened. And that's that's when his own disciples were Yeah, we're falling asleep. You know, the spirit is willing.
Reverend Ben Cooper:They was with Christ, and they were snoring. They were snoring when Christ needed them most. And but Jesus don't snore when when we need him most. It's the opposite. He carries us
Simon Pinchbeck:by now. Now we're coming to the end, because I just looked at the time and it's just been incredible. But let me throw another couple of scriptures out there. And before we wrap it all up. And Jesus, when he was with Peter, he said to Peter, he said, The the devil as desired is asked me for you virtually said he's desired you to sift you, he said,
Reverend Ben Cooper:are now not this text. Yeah,
Simon Pinchbeck:he said, but I prayed for you. So when pray for you
Reverend Ben Cooper:at Simon gone a bit further, and he says, When you come back to me, when I look at that whole text that Simon is talking about? It says Simon Simon. That's it. Love Simon, Simon. The devil is asked that he can sift you lightweight, but I have prayed for you. But then he says, but when you come back, feed, build through your experiences of falling. Yes, you throw your at you, you royally. Jesus said, Oh, well, Jesus didn't say to him. You're not going to fall son? Because I've prayed for you. That text is massive. What he just brought to the table. Simon Simon. Yes, Lord, what is it? The devil as asked that I can that he can sift you. That is a dirty rotten thing to do. Like, wait. But I've prayed for you. Thank you, Jesus. Hallelujah. Thank you, God. So no, Simon, you're not listening. Now. They're not listening
Simon Pinchbeck:son. At that time there was that for all the apostles. They were all a bit prideful, whatnot. It was all a bit weird. But they were taken down.
Reverend Ben Cooper:And when. And when you come back? What do you mean? I go nowhere. When you come back, Feed my sheep. What you sign Lord, I'm telling you, Simon, Simon, you're going to fall. But you've prayed for me. That's irrelevant. Because you're going to fall. Isn't that interesting? What would that prayer have been like if we could have heard that prayer? Or father strengthen my disciple? When he false?
Simon Pinchbeck:Yes. Yeah. Strength, strength. And
Reverend Ben Cooper:when he realizes he has fallen, I thank you that you have not rejected him.
Simon Pinchbeck:And the words come back. Really very strong. They've been because we all fall every day and thought
Reverend Ben Cooper:every second of every moment has a, it's like, let's put it in picture formation. If we was to run to a cliff and keep running, that's what Christianity is like, because we're always falling, but we won't hit the base. You know, because he's always picking us up. He's always pregnant. He's always clean this up, because that's the power of redemption. So now people, as a lot of people will say that that is wrong for me to say that we are always falling. We are always falling in a way of the flesh
Simon Pinchbeck:in the flesh. Yeah, because if you don't think you're falling then Your, your ad already applied already. So, so Ben will be, you know, there's so much more to say, you know, one John 216 Is that is that the lust of the eyes less than the flesh, the pride of life that is just that's that's a whole thing. We'll maybe do another podcast and Proverbs 628 says you can't walk on old hot coals without getting your feet burnt
Reverend Ben Cooper:so much test.
Simon Pinchbeck:Quickly before we end, how do we combat this? We stay close to Jesus, don't we, we are close to Jesus. And we've got to have the Holy Spirit in us. And, and if you think that bend has brought a great visual to the table a day, when you are tempted, look to the doorway of Jesus's and see him standing at the door. And just follow that route. Because when you are tempted and you're approved, you'll receive the crown of LifeLock. He says in James will tell you what you're saying no, just PhotoFrame
Reverend Ben Cooper:as Billy said, As Billy said, got out. The cries god, oh, from all of us, God, help me. Simon, Simon, when you come back. That's very comforting, though, isn't it? Because Christ didn't reject him and he didn't even know what Christ was talking about. And Christ, or Christ knows where the foal is, but he doesn't reject us.
Simon Pinchbeck:The big thing for me as well as our scriptures that I have prayed for you, Jesus says, I have prayed for right for you. Jesus is praying for each one of us. Because he
Reverend Ben Cooper:said at the right hand of the father, he's the greatest intercessor and brothers and sisters very respectfully. Don't go to your spiritual director. Go to your pastors don't come to us. Don't go to your bishop. Don't go there. Anyone. Jesus G Bruce 12 Verse two, Simon, we're done.
Simon Pinchbeck:We're done.
Reverend Ben Cooper:We're literally undone. But God is bringing us Rondon the greatest places to be is to be undone. On the potter's wheel. I'm a sinner, im off to the bookies, then Bluewater and then I've got to clear an account up, in a pole dancing club. Praise the Lord hallelujah, Jesus. Where we're out of here, oh. I won't say no more. God bless you all. We, you know, we, we go, we go beyond beyond. We go beyond them. We go beyond,
Simon Pinchbeck:we've been straight talking to their temptation. And we praise God for what He's given us. And we just hope that he's touched one or two of you out there. But yeah, remember Jesus adore he's, he's standing there. He's wanting to say Come this way. Don't go with the fleshly way. We can't do it now in a very cloudy spirit. And so
Reverend Ben Cooper:it's great in it. When you really think about it. We're wrapped up and we're covered on every level, on every level. Just Just breathe a minute. Well just breathe. Just just just take a moment just to breathe because God is with you. Seriously, God is with you. And as Simon has said, There's no way awareness but we're just going to press the button. Never give up. Come on world. Come on brothers and sisters. We never give up. We never ever give up. I'll see you in heaven. In the wonderful name of Jesus. Amen, amen.
Close:You have been listening to Reverend Ben Cooper and Simon Pinchbeck with this week's podcast. Our podcasts are being published and can be purchased in hardback or as an E-book direct from Amazon. You can listen to our podcasts on multiple platforms, including Amazon, Buzzsprout and Spotify.