We are back. #Christian Straight Talk wherever you are. We had a quick fag break, we had a quick, cheeky scratch card we didn't get nowhere. On the scratch cards, we bet, come back to scriptures. This is the second part of this little series we're doing. You know Simon through the power of the Holy Spirit has brought a great, a great text to the table. And it's about Nicodemus is about being born again. But if you have listened to the first one, here at#Christian straight talk, and they will follow back to back. The second one is just coming out with the Gospel of John Still John chapter three. But there is so much in the Gospel of John. It is literally rammed to the doors to the barn doors of so I don't even know how to word it. You know, it is packed full of the power of the Holy Spirit packed with the living Word of God is packed with Jesus it is Christ, a Nicodemus this dialogue, this conversation. And then like you said, is John 316 in it? For God so loved the world?
Simon Pinchbeck:Well, we'll call be honest, I didn't realize I did talking to Nicodemus, when we can be honest, when he mentioned that and because that's just pulled out. And it's an it's a beautiful scripture, and it explains so much. But when you put it in the context, yeah, who was talking to, and we're talking, he's talking to this religious leader, Ben, this is important is vastly important for people out there, because people, wherever you're at, you know, you got to understand that, you know, what you're searching for is not religion. Now, there's hope. It's a relationship with Jesus Christ,
Reverend Ben Cooper:and that the silence, that's really important to understand it, and it is a relationship with Jesus, with the Holy Spirit with the Father. And anarchy, I can almost get myself a little bit frustrated sometimes because I want I want Jesus so much. But you got to be enduring. You've got to live life, you've got to go to work, you've got to do this. You got to do that. And everything's in his timing. And he knows how hungry we are and how thirsty we are, and how much we want him. And he knows that there are many men and women in church in religion, that have sat on the ministers for so long, that are still firstly and undone the prodigal son experience, because religion isn't delivered. The Nicodemus is at the front haven't delivered because their heart is not for Jesus also.
Simon Pinchbeck:Well, you, you know, we know that we can't do this in our of suit, can we do this in the flesh, it needs to be the power of the Holy Spirit, which which was, which does give us a new heart. And, you know,
Reverend Ben Cooper:this is really comforting to know that it's not about if I got a Bible, Scott, skull, it's not about if I join the next bill Johnson's ministry. It's not about if I follow this book, and that book, it's about following Jesus. It's not if I get caught up in Hillsong worship, it's not if I get caught up in a local church. It's none of that. That all has a part to play in certain areas of life. But the simple thing with Jesus is just this, just believe it. It's wrapped up in them words that he says to the fisherman, and as he's talking to Nicodemus, and as we're going to pick this up in John three, verse 10, it says, You are Israel's teacher, Jesus said, and you do not understand these things. Now, how many people are teachers? But don't understand when when you unpack when you think about that for a minute ministry, you take ministers? They can teach it and they can read the textbook. But do they really understand who Jesus is? Because this is Nicodemus, the front line teacher, Jesus says to him, you're Israel's teacher, you are sharing this across Israel, you are their teacher, they are looking at you, but you don't understand what you're saying.
Simon Pinchbeck:So the deal is and this Your heart has changed, right? Your heart you're you're not living it out. Or you know, you can't live it out because you're is is still
Reverend Ben Cooper:is still worldly. You still cold is still religious. And then if you were to look at Joshua, you know, in the in the powerful book of Joshua, when I was about to go across the Jordan and everything that went across without crossing, I believe that there are many people in the middle getting ready to cross over. But what I'm Same is sitting on the banks sit in on the banks. Don't sit at Gilgal get ready consecrate yourself, they had to get themselves ready to receive what God had for them. There comes a point in an individual walk, where you've got to sit on the riverbank of life and go right now Lord, I've got to surrender myself. I've got to consecrate myself
Simon Pinchbeck:Well, that's an interesting point you've brought out there and you know, just takes me away from where I was going. But it it's a great point because only you what the Bible calls it righteousness and it Yeah, you know. So no one can come into the Father's presence without being holy, right, goodness. And if we cannot do that in our own Earth suit, we cannot be holy. Cause so we need the robes of what the Bible calls it the robes of righteousness and where did we get that from?
Reverend Ben Cooper:From him? It's all from the cross is all from Him, Jesus, it's all from the blood. So
Simon Pinchbeck:really, so it's nothing that that that we can work towards. It's nothing that that you can sit there and you can go, but Barbara, I know the Bible inside out. That's Nicodemus. Anyway, you're saying it could aimless and, and if we look at Matthew 722, around that, around that period, he said, Jesus says people will come on on that day, or they'll go, I did this in your name. I did that in your name. And he said that not my work. It will say, go away because I never knew you. Because you never had a heart for me. Yeah, it's not a feast on a cross. One. Yep, turn away, and but one and the last minute, turn to him. And he knew his heart. And the Bible makes it very clear. Look, Paul makes it so clear. In another great scripture in two Corinthians 517. He says, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, come on, he is a new creation, old things are passed away behold, all things have become new. So if we have accepted Christ, we are a new creation. Yeah, the heart has to change.
Reverend Ben Cooper:The old is gone, and the new has come. Then we come back to our teacher, friend, Nicodemus, Nicodemus, you know the law. You are Israel's teacher, but you don't understand it. So in Ephesians, chapter two verses eight through to nine, it says, yeah, for it is by grace you have been saved. I honestly believe that. I don't fully understand what grace is. I understand hyper grace, because that's, that's in the Evangelical, the Pentecostal, and certain areas of teaching hyper grace, which we have been flooded in, and we've almost been saturated with hyper grace. But that's not what this Bible is talking about. It says four, it is by grace, you have been saved through faith. This is not of yourselves. So the human being has no impact, no impact, no authority. No way can someone make up salvation and say, I have decided to be born again today. Because I am in full charge. It says, And this is not from yourself. It is a gift of God. Not by works. So I can be in the pulpit. I can be doing everything by works. I can call it a job, but I'm not saved.
Simon Pinchbeck:I was I made it clear that all our works is like filthy rags. It's like rags
Reverend Ben Cooper:just in silent, it's gone. Fill God in nothing you do is good enough is good. It's gone, not by works. Ephesian. Now this is talking very clearly, on a Nicodemus level, is not by your intelligence. It's not by your works. It's not by your great teaching. He says, Nicodemus in John 310. Israel, Israel, you are teaching Israel. But just because you teach, doesn't mean to say you understand. So there are a lot of people that are teach our teachers sorry, or trying to teach but they don't understand and what are they lacking? They're lacking the power of the Holy Spirit. So they're empty vessels. They are religious, empty vessels, and it says not by work so that no one can boast. Religion is on boasting all day long. Religion is swinging the incense religion is talking about how big our ministry is. And look, we have built our church but grace makes you realize that you're not the church builder.
Simon Pinchbeck:Yes, crisis. For anyone out there for why I understand that is undeserved favor from God so we don't deserve what he's got favor.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Favor, Andy. The unconditional love
Simon Pinchbeck:Yeah, we don't deserve anything but fruit Jesus, he looks at us. Because if it wasn't for Jesus, he couldn't really look at us because it was so covered in sin in sin, but because Jesus has taken that sin, and then we've done a whole thing on the cross and what it means for the father and what it means for Jesus. Because he's taking us in, you know, we have access to the Father.
Reverend Ben Cooper:It's just mind blowing, that the more we unpack all this stuff, well, not that we actually unpack it. That's a lie. It's just as we just read over the scriptures, and the more you look in it, holy, holy, is the Lord most worthy of all praise, you know, it holiness, does the church within the UK reflect the holiness of God, or it makes you want to crawl under the table?
Simon Pinchbeck:We have to keep coming back to this hot situation. And that's where the key is. Yeah, and right, and Romans 10, nine and 10. To say that if you confess with your mouth, the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart, that God has raised Him from the dead you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. So so there's it's just a mouthing? Is it?
Reverend Ben Cooper:It's just the Pharisees and the Sadducees standing on the street corners and look at them barking. That's what he's saying. Yeah. And then it's very interesting what you're what you're what you're bringing there. Because Jesus says very clearly as he is, he's talking to the audience around him. Look, look at the Pharisees and the Sadducees. They stand on street corners, they're religious, they're making a noise. Then he gives us the Lord's Prayer. They're making a noise what ripples
Simon Pinchbeck:saying in Corinthians 13 Oh, you said it is he said, you know, if you can if you do all this stuff, you just like a clanging a clanging cymbal without laugh without laughter
Reverend Ben Cooper:without one Corinthians 13. Yeah. So you can be a Pharisee and a statue. So you can be a Nicodemus you can know the law, you can speak it, you can teach it, that is mind blowing. You can teach it, you can deliver it, but you you don't understand it.
Simon Pinchbeck:Well, you can be a religious teacher, currently, you can be a religious teacher, you you can no all religions,
Reverend Ben Cooper:so then then then comes into the the arena of it's a job rather than a colon, then then we're on really sticky ground there, because how many people are called but they, and they are they are in that area of ministry. And they're very quiet about it. And they're, they're doing everything under the radar. But then there's this big amount of people in ministry, that have put themselves in ministry that are the Pharisees and the Sadducees. It sounds like you know it, but you don't understand it. And you are building an empire.
Simon Pinchbeck:It used to be a vocation than it used to be a vocation where you became a vicar. Yeah. But now, it's more of a job. And
Reverend Ben Cooper:yeah, you're getting good wages, you're getting paid, you're getting. There's a lot of benefits. So be a minister of the gospel. But then comes the question, Am I Why am I in it? Am I a Nicodemus in that Mr. Pharisee? And a sad you see in that, am I really cold? Or have I just got myself a job?
Simon Pinchbeck:And the worst thing is Benny, obviously, you know, people put their own interpretation on what is the word of God, and they will miss out bits.
Reverend Ben Cooper:And we say that across this out, but you know,
Simon Pinchbeck:me and you, we haven't got the book a job in our Bible.
Reverend Ben Cooper:We don't sleep at night,
Simon Pinchbeck:but you're not gonna say certain things to fit into today's society. Oh,
Reverend Ben Cooper:no, we won't have that we want to how many times do you hear is the Bible is not up to date with what really happening? The church needs to come up to date. And many times do we hear that?
Simon Pinchbeck:There's some very famous preachers in the states and whatever that more or less have contempt for the Bible. Yeah, yeah. Because they're running along with the world. Yeah.
Reverend Ben Cooper:So it comes down to that. Little tiny bumbum bumbum your heart in your body? Is my heart for Jesus, or am I here because of it's a job. Am I a Nicodemus? Am I a Pharisee? I, I know the Bible, as in it speaking it, teaching it Jesus makes that loud and clear. You are Israel's teacher, but you do not understand what you are saying. And how do I understand that? Through the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit,
Simon Pinchbeck:and God clearly says all the way through the Bible, that is a hard thing. Jeremiah 24/7, he says, Then I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord and they shall be my people. I will be like God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart. This is what he's what he's after. And so you go into Psalm. A psalm 5110, says this Bennett says, create me a clean heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me. In the psalmist, is calling out Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew as why
Reverend Ben Cooper:do I need a clean heart? Because it's murky, because it's worldly, because it's corrupted? Exactly. But the scripture the Scripture is so, so powerful, Psalm 47, verse four, delight yourself in the Lord says, not in myself, I delight myself in my God am I can delight yourself in the Lord. And He will give you the desires of your heart. See, when I come into Christ, when I walk with Christ, when I follow Christ, when I say to him, Lord, help me, please help me Lord, in my life, when I, when I delight myself in walk in and try and look into be a believer, then suddenly, my life starts to to be more fulfilled with what God wants for me,
Simon Pinchbeck:and the greatest Bible, but I, actually,
Reverend Ben Cooper:I can talk for England. But sometimes we do have these conversations. And I actually get lost for words, because you read the scriptures, and you look at this, these these scriptures that we read, they are just brimming over with power. They're loaded with authority, and they're like making your eyes go wide, and you're trying to speak and you're trying to read it is
Simon Pinchbeck:that I lost her night and there's a, there's a faction out there that will tell you that the Old Testament ain't really nothing to do with today. That's what I will tell you, but, but look what you know, look what is equal 3626 I will give you a new heart, I will put a new spirit within you, I would take that heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. God is saying all the way through. And it go back to Jeremiah 1779. You know, the highs deceitful above all things.
Reverend Ben Cooper:And Jeremiah 24, verse seven, it says that I will give them a heart to know that I see he gives us the heart to know that I am the Lord. That's what the scripture says. And then he says, And they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole
Simon Pinchbeck:heart. So
Unknown:your heart
Simon Pinchbeck:is all the time it's a it's a heart thing in and that's, that's the whole thing. See? What did what did what did God say about David he has a is a heart of God is the heart for me. So it does you know whatever you've done, and whatever you're doing, but if your heart is for the Lord,
Reverend Ben Cooper:God will turn God will turn God will draw God will make a way where there seems to be no way. If he can do it for Nicodemus, someone that was steeped in religion, steeped in tradition, steeped in all that stuff, and and there's hope for every one of us. We can never give up hope God is working in you and through you. And Jeremiah 17, verse 10, you've mentioned this, either Lord searched the heart and test the mind's eye the Lord i There's no law there's nothing to hide. It says
Simon Pinchbeck:in Hebrews it nothing can be hidden, knew can't
Reverend Ben Cooper:hide your life, your thoughts, your thinking, your your anything, you know, it just come to Jesus come to Jesus. It's not about the church, you can turn you could always grab yourself a quick Bible if you're with us and turn to one Colossians and see what one Colossians chapter 50 Sorry, chapter one through to the end of 20. It talks about Christ being the creator of heaven and earth being the the image of the invisible God. But then also he tells us a lot more in verse 18, it says, And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the head of the body the church it's Jesus it's not me it's not Simon it's not the price. It's not Men's Ministry. It's not women's ministry. Is not the Church of England it's not Catholicism is not any Pentecostal movement is the the it is Christ, Christ is the head. He is the cornerstone. He is your Savior. He is the gift giver. He is your salvation and your Redeemer. And when you look at Nicodemus, you know, Nicodemus, he was a bold man was when you think about it, because that whole chapter three, is him on Christ talking.
Simon Pinchbeck:Yeah, I mean, and, and is the most probably one of the most learned men in all of Israel. And Jesus reduces him down to stumbling, real Bill child, really. And so, so whatever you think of Jesus, it is, and he's got this most powerful man in, in, in Israel In Israel and all the religion in Israel, and we've reduced him to a little child because he could imagine him sitting there nicknames, his eyes open wide. Anything lies before
Reverend Ben Cooper:my mind knows everything. I've been taught everything. I teach it, I walk it, I'm moving it. But I don't understand it. And Paul Eva writes, he write as he writes one of the epistles, he says very clearly, he is saying something so profound, so prophetic, he is saying, this is a mystery to me. But as I write it, it has been revealed. No human mind, no human capability, no one through their thinking, their understanding, their working out their processing their cognitive thinking, No way can anyone work out the mind and the and the way of Christ, the Word of the Lord, no one can it's just come to him that we can't work him out. We can't get all this stuff. It's impossible. It's just, it's, you know, what my mind is, my mind has just popped tonight. I've got to be honest with you. Because looking at Nicodemus and thinking how clever he was, how rich he was, how he had authority, and for Jesus to address him as Israel's teacher, one, he you are the teacher, you are the head of the tree, you are the head of the denomination, but you do not understand me.
Simon Pinchbeck:What? So? So what that says about Nicodemus is that easier to reason everything out. Yeah. And for us, who accept Jesus with our hearts, through just belief, belief and faith. And that's the encouragement that is encouraged, because it's a great encouragement. That's a scripture. First of all, we accept Jesus Christ, as our Lord and Savior, through faith through faith we, and then we can start to
Reverend Ben Cooper:because someone might say, Simon, how do I grow in my faith? The Scripture is clear. faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of God. So the greatest advice any one of us can give anyone is get yourself the Bible, through voice, get it on your phone, get it on your tablet, get it on YouTube, and just listen to the Word of God. And as you listen to the Word of God, so it doesn't matter if I can't read if I struggle, reading, because technology is so great now that you can listen to every scripture, the Bible says faith comes from hearing. And hearing is through the message through the word of God. So my faith will grow. My mind is nothing, my thinking is nothing but my faith will accelerate my thinking and my understanding.
Simon Pinchbeck:And so don't accept what some of these leaders and teachers say, only because it's to be examined and compared with what the Scriptures say so, so we stand for something. So if we're out there, being encouraged, be encouraged. It doesn't matter where you're at, where you come from, what your education is, what your background is where you were, where you may have had the most horrendous upbringing or on you may have been in a family where you're you've got your parents were committed Christians, but that doesn't make you a Christian. So indeed, it's an individual thing, where an individually you have to come to the Lord and say, and say, Yeah, I'm a sinner.
Reverend Ben Cooper:I'm a sinner,
Simon Pinchbeck:I'm wrecked. But I need Jesus,
Reverend Ben Cooper:I need Jesus. John 14, one says, Do not let your hearts be troubled. Lord, I love that scripture. Do not let your hearts be troubled. See, it comes back to your heart again, believing God and believe also in me. So what is belief? Belief is a very interesting word. A very difficult word to define and try and work it out. Belief is faith, what is faith? It's believing in this eternal God. And Jesus says to His disciples, Simon touched the drummer this a moment ago. Jesus said to His disciples, it's alright for you lot. You're struggling to believe and I'm in front of you, but bless it are the ones that have not seen, but yet, believe
Simon Pinchbeck:it And while Jesus was with, yeah, the disciples day was a mess, they was all over the playa all over the place. It's only when he lived and promise them what the Holy Spirit are is. So when, when we believe the Holy Spirit comes to live in us, yeah. And so that gives us the strength in our daily life. And so whatever we were going through the prayer, the prayer, whatever we're going through, and whatever you're going through, the prayer is not take this away from it all the praise, give me the strength to get through this helped me get through the valley get through this day, you helped me come on, and believe me there and we know that there's people out there, who's struggling to put one foot in front of the other right now call him get out of bed, can't even get out of bed. So stressed just those little things. Just put your you just asked for Jesus put your faith in Jesus. And just one step at a time because the Holy Spirit clock is through it.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Now. The Holy Spirit in the book of Acts, Acts chapter two, Jesus says in Acts chapter one, wait for the gift. So again, we are told that you have to wait for the gift, the gift of what the gift of the Holy Spirit very clear the birth of the church, that the church the only church was birthed through the power of the Holy Spirit. No church of Jesus Christ can come forward without the power of the Holy Spirit. We know many people, you've heard people say, I've built this church, I can do this flick of a coin aka build a church, no problem. But you're building your church, you're building your establishment, you're building your your ministry. But no one can build the church of the living Christ because the Bible makes it clear. They was all together in one place. And the Holy Spirit came like a violent when wind and came and rested on every one of them. And it separated and it looked like tongues of fire. But then it says something very interesting where it says, And the Spirit enabled them.
Simon Pinchbeck:And that's really important. It's only the Holy Spirit's only that because Peter was just like,
Reverend Ben Cooper:exactly Simon,
Simon Pinchbeck:what he was just like a rough mad sort of guy. Ready sort of guy want it. But here we are. We're only in x two, right? So we only have access to a Peter said to them.
Reverend Ben Cooper:So they said it's only nine in the morning? Is that what you said?
Simon Pinchbeck:Is it for all hours of Israel Now surely that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ? Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart? Yeah. And said to Peter, and the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? What shall we do? And Peter, this is Peter the night I ran a fire Ben, he's he's turned to him and gone, repent, and every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit
Reverend Ben Cooper:again, so it's a gift. And then still, in Acts, chapter two, Peter addresses the crowd back further up from where Simon Says, and he says, You have heard the prophet of old, in the last days, God will pour out His Spirit on all people. So you can't escape the fact that you can't build a church. That is a biblical church with that out the Holy Spirit. If you are filled with the Holy Spirit, you will not build a church that is not biblical. If you are spirit filled, and you are led, and you are brought under conviction, and you are a real minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, you'll be like, Peter, you'll be you'll be you'll be transformed. And you won't actually be interested in building a church because all you'll want to do is talk about Jesus.
Simon Pinchbeck:And it's an it's very interesting point, Ben, because you know, you will have people out there who just know that word, right, Nicodemus is that know it? And you love people out there that have accepted Jesus, and have been touched by the Holy Spirit? But don't get into the Word. Yeah. So when those two come together, when the Word and the Spirit come together,
Reverend Ben Cooper:that's right. That's the power that that is the power, the Word and the Spirit when that lines up when a person recognizes I've got to be born again. So being born again, spirit filled, takes that away, and I repent, and I lay not on my own understanding, but in all my ways, I acknowledge him, and I allow the inward working of the Holy Spirit to work through me. I'm actually not interested in building the church, because I actually can't do it. No, but no, there are very many people out there that are Nicodemus is that are teachers that can teach and build because they might have a few people in their back pocket with An open checkbook, you can do anything with money. But go in the desert and build a church, go go somewhere with no money. Take note, what does Jesus say? Take no purse with you. I'm gonna do my work. He addresses the money issue. Take no money with you. How many people we heard and we know that God, we're planting a church. Are you going to do that? Well, we're going to take the band, we're going to take the band from the mother church, we take the chairs from that church, we take everything. You're not actually plant in a church, you're taking the business, you're taking your coffee house, and you're putting the same brand in an in a model. It's a model, it's a business,
Simon Pinchbeck:come up with a business model on that step. And, and you'll also get people in the church that that believe they have in touch they are Jesus. Yeah. Yeah, no doubt. I mean, I'm a little guy. And that is a cultish and that vary. And that's wrong as as more New Age rather than than then biblical. So that'd be, that'd be going off the gods. This is a favorite phrase of these people. They'll be saying, God told me, God told me God told me this. God told me to do that God's No, he didn't know I didn't know he didn't know. But that's what they'll say. And they'll, you'll see him in churches, they'll rush up there might be grabbed a microphone, God told me this. And they'll be tears running. Now. It's all all, all pointing towards you. It's nothing pointing towards the Lord. We stay in the Bible, we stay in the Bible with the revelation of the Holy Spirit. Because when that happens, you get stuff like we've just come out with on these two podcasts. And when I go on tonight, I want to remember a word that I said, Now you won't, has just spoken through you. And if you allow yourself to be a vessel, for the Holy Spirit, or come through
Reverend Ben Cooper:an ambassador, the Scripture says, We're ambassadors, we're vessels. And what's really important, I think, for the time in which we live is if I'm fixated on building the church, I've got the business. I'm building but the Bible says very clearly, Jesus says, I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail. So what does he expect from a minister? A preacher, a teacher, a pastor, whatever? Just like these apostles, what did they do? They wasn't church building. They was going out sharing the gospel, they was going out, praying, they was going out, they wasn't building a kingdom, because the kingdom was already there.
Simon Pinchbeck:They weren't going out Ben, they weren't going out and going, you need Jesus. Now, they weren't going out doing that. That what they were doing, they were there were there were, as you said, there were there were given the Word of God
Reverend Ben Cooper:given the Word of God out without, without looking to build anything for themselves.
Simon Pinchbeck:And it says in another part, an accident that these learned teachers and preachers looked on our finger. It was Peter and another one of the disciples and and they discern, these guys must have been with Jesus, because they are authority that they spoke from. Yeah. So when you got a mitosis, huge, we just drive up to the venue, and we let the Holy Spirit out the back door of the car. So we're just chauffeuring the Holy Spirit. When the Spirit comes, yeah. And he won't be pointing to you. And he don't point to, to, to a church. They don't point to a church. He points to Jesus, the Holy Spirit points to Jesus. Jesus shows us where the crosses Yeah, and fruit across we come to the Father. It's, it's a
Reverend Ben Cooper:no brainer is not complicated, is it? But Jesus gave Peter a three fold command, Feed my sheep, how do you feed? You give them Word. The Bible says man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes and proceeds out of the mouth, I've gone the preacher and the teacher is not responsible. The minister is not responsible for building the church. That we are you are whoever if if we are brave enough to say yeah, I'm a teacher of the gospel. I'm a preacher of the gospel. There is one thing I need to know clear is I just feed I don't build I feed and that's the responsibility that just sits at a door just give the word
Simon Pinchbeck:just give the word be be nameless and faceless and and just feed the flock Yeah, that's your responsibility
Reverend Ben Cooper:to feed my and then he says also is that another price is 10 my shake that's very important to attend them to to pass up but you know, we've got so much going on it it's really important it's spiritual food, but how many women's ministries men's the church are talking about their ministry over Jesus Christ, a powerful preacher will only talk about the birth or death, the resurrection, sanctification will just preach the gospel,
Simon Pinchbeck:preach the gospel and walk away. And you put the emphasis on the heart. Because yeah, heart has to be changed. Yeah, heart has to be changed. And I think when when he said, you know, people will come with this problem, that problem and as a, as a leader, or as a ministry, someone in ministry, you've got to discern whether or not this person's heart has actually been changed whether or not we see we live in a society at the moment where the church needs evangelizing this. There's so many people, we've we've in Christianity, that haven't not walking in a relationship, which is and they're in danger, Ben, to be honest with you,
Reverend Ben Cooper:it's that you've said so danger. This this is this is the flag razor. It's the danger because when are going self when I go in, in my own capabilities, and everybody's got their own skill sets, everybody's capable of doing certain things. You can you can build a church, you can build a ministry. But is that what God wants for you? Where does God want you to be? What is the purpose for you walking the earth? Why is he Why is he brought you into existence,
Simon Pinchbeck:your destiny is to follow Jesus, that's the that's number one. That's number one. And seek first the kingdom. That's number one. If you're seeking as your own kingdom, you're in traveling, you are in charge, you are in trouble. And the thing is, then it becomes as we've said before, and seriously it becomes if someone is at the head of something, it becomes a cultish down it.
Reverend Ben Cooper:It does. And the key the key to this as well as, as Christ said, to Simon Peter, do you love me? Do you love me? Yes, Lord, I'll die for you. Well, it's the day you love me.
Simon Pinchbeck:It's the most important commandment. Do you know you love me love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul with all your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself. And on these two, everything else will hang so all the other commandments hang on them? Well, we just done the 10 commandments, but Oh, no one can keep the 10 commandments, and you can't keep them certainly in the earth. So you got to have the Holy Spirit. He
Reverend Ben Cooper:can't use an outpouring of the Holy Spirit and an inward awakening of the Holy Spirit. You know, Peter, Simon Peter, he couldn't he couldn't address the crowd. There was that there was the power of the Holy Spirit that came down the book of Acts, the Spirit enables you, the word of God encourage you, it can only be done with Jesus. And then So Nicodemus is is the one that's kicked all this off today. When you look at that scripture in it, he was a teacher. He was a head of a denomination, but he didn't understand the word.
Simon Pinchbeck:This this Joffrey is in there for real important reason. Yeah. It's, it's, and I think, I honestly think it's over that. Obviously not overlooked when you know, you have to Jesus says, You need to be born again. Jesus said, you know, the God so loved the world, but it's overlooked that the fact that this is a guy who was a just
Reverend Ben Cooper:a cute, skilled look to highly esteemed, very respected, probably a lovely home. Family. Yeah, Labradors. You know, I'm a nice car and drive, all that sort of stuff, teach our good job, right up the food chain of living of life, but actually had nothing. You can have all that you can have the big ministry, you can be up in a good job in denomination. You can be paid by the church, but you don't know Jesus. You don't know, Jesus, you can know about him, but you don't understand. Do you really understand him? And it comes back to this gospel of John. This is just just like, opening up so much the Gospel of John where Jesus talks in John 2115. John chapter 21, verses 15 through seven where he's addressing this character that we're looking at in the book of Acts. And the simple thing is, do you love me? Do you love me? They love me, they love me. See, it has nothing to do with where I've been birthed that if I'm living in a palace or a shopping trolley, it doesn't matter where I live, or what my life looks like. It is assignment of says is my heart for Jesus.
Simon Pinchbeck:Yes. That's there's nothing more to be said. But the issue is, are you in a relationship with Jesus Christ, which means is your heart been changed or you live in For Jesus is the inside of you
Reverend Ben Cooper:like, like, that's when the journey begins. Like
Simon Pinchbeck:they're in Galatians 220, Paul says, you know, it's not either live, but Christ lives in me.
Reverend Ben Cooper:So Christ gives life I die to self,
Simon Pinchbeck:you all your old life should be exchanged at the cross for a new life. And, and it's a difficult thing, because it's a daily thing. This is why Jesus said, pick up your cross and walk with me. So it means that we come to the cross daily, and daily, daily, hourly, moment by moment. And I've got to be honest, and we both said this, Ben, you know, we're doing these podcasts. Yeah. And especially what we just come out of the 10 commandments, is an examination of ourselves. And the more we look at ourselves and realize what wrong they will we are, you know, what, how much we need Jesus.
Reverend Ben Cooper:And when you look at yourself, you get John 832. When you look for the truth, the truth will set you free. There is nothing on this earth that God has created, that is too big for him to deal with. And it just means come into the cross of Calvary and say, Jesus, I really need
Simon Pinchbeck:you on a daily basis. I'm so hungry, we will never be fully the bar because it's sanctify so we will never be fully sanctified. We will never, never be fully right with God, will we? It? Because there's always something else. Because the moment you sit back and go, I've corrected Jesus, I've got pride.
Reverend Ben Cooper:You're full of pride. About that. What about that? Yeah. And what about when you're on a motorway or you're driving or you're a bit irritated, you're a bit overtired, and you're, or you're commuting, and someone walks in front of you, and you go, you've got attitude issue, it's still there. It's still there. So no one, no one on this earth will be completely 100%. Right. But what happens is, from faith to faith, from moment to moment, we become more Christ like we will never get, you know what we're saying.
Simon Pinchbeck:And the big thing is been if your heart is Chase, if the Holy Spirit is living within you, you very quickly be convicted of that. of that stuff. Yeah. And you always say, watch what you're watching, watch, watch. You're here in the company. Someone come on your phone, a YouTube clip yet? Should you be the pleasure one? Yes, that's that's the hard part about it. And the thing is, the more that you give into the flesh, the more said and hardened, you'll become to that. Yeah, so it is a daily thing. It's all this. All this stuff about following Jesus is, it's not easy, but it's not easy insurance is Insurance is perseverance. But I couldn't live with it. Because you got to be honest.
Reverend Ben Cooper:You can't No, no. I fully understand that I fully understand that. That is complete repentance, it is complete coming to him. It is complete surrendering, but the journey of life, we are always surrendering, because you said we never reached the end of the string of that. Because once we if we think we've made it, we're back to the end of the string. Again, I think this is a very relevant this scripture that I'm going to read out and it's Isaiah 55. God is speaking to you. And this is what he is saying, Come, all of you who are thirsty, come to the waters. And you have no money, come and buy and eat, come buy wine and milk Without money and without cost because he has paid the price.
Simon Pinchbeck:He's paid a price. So great scripture. And if you listen to that out there, just take this on board today. It doesn't matter who you are. No don't matter who you are, doesn't matter. Whether you were you are one of these billionaires who was in Davos over the last few days or, or you're just struggling. You're struggling like that man to pay the energy bills are what Jesus, you come to him
Reverend Ben Cooper:that that is that that is the message of Christianity. Come to Jesus come to the cross, come to the cross, you have come to the building. Don't come to the Nicodemus establishment. Come to the cross. We can only encourage everybody out there. Find a church that has a cross in it. Find a church that has a Bible in it, find a church that the preachers and teachers are preaching at the top of their voice on repentance, and the love of Christ and the love of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is calling. Come to me all of you that are weary, you know, this nation is tired. This nation is grown in for an answer. And Jesus is the answer. Simon, will you just bring us out? You know,
Simon Pinchbeck:we just want to finish off by saying you know that your heart be changed. Let your heart be changed by the power of have the Holy Spirit by coming to Jerusalem now must be encouraged out there no matter where you are, what circumstances you're going through. Jesus got Yeah, it's it's just a matter of turning to him and saying, Lord, I'm a sinner. I don't want that anymore but I want you I want you thank you and he's there you don't have to do that in a church you don't have to you can do it you know even do it sit on a toilet it don't matter where you are. Just but please I would embrace you just to do it because it's a lifetime learner walking with with this oh gosh, you know, I'll give I'll give her my story. And many people sometimes come to me and and go, I wish I had a storyline. I go, no doubt. I said, Have you been? Have you been walking with Jesus most of your life that go yet? I'll go I wish I would have storyline.
Reverend Ben Cooper:I wish I had started young. I always wished I wished God to call me when I was young. But there is a reason for your season. There's a reason Exactly. There's a razor point
Simon Pinchbeck:and my guess is just get involved with Jesus Christ them change your heart, bring all your rubbish to the fold across. And you will you lead a victorious life more friend
Reverend Ben Cooper:God Jesus loves you. Man, God bless you. You can find us on Buzzsprout, Spotify. I Heart Radio, Amazon music, just do the search.#Christian straight talk. We thank you so much from the bottom of our heart. And as the scripture is teaching us, and the Scripture is telling us love one another, love one another and we pray for you and pray for us. And let's all get to the cross of Calvary because that's where it's at at the cross. God bless you. In Jesus name, Amen.