Good morning. Good morning, everybody, wherever you are this morning. It is Thursday morning. It is the ninth of March and it is 1023 here within England and wherever you are this morning we welcome you to # Christian straight talk, we can see people jumping online, across the globe, we thank you for sharing everything that we do out here have #Christian Straight Talk using Elim as just to push these live streams out. And we thank God for your lives and wherever you are this morning. You never give up. You never give up there is always hope. Simon is with us this morning. We're always together on a first day recording podcast and we've got some other stuff that is coming down the tracks. The second book is out. The book on fear is out, isn't it Simon?
Simon Pinchbeck:Yeah. Good morning, Ben. Good morning, everyone or friends around the world. It's great to be back with you across the mics. And yeah, the second book is out there. # Christian straight talk. It's fear talk. And it's you know, I went through this before it went to the final publishers and Mike there's some great stuff in there you know, fear is not an option standstill. Giants will form different spirits. Fear is a lie. Fear of God keep your eyes on Jesus. Amen. It's it's 899 on on Amazon. And it'll be order it today and it will be on your doorstep through your letterbox in a couple of days. Ben didn't we set up a few satellite a few and I came in yesterday. So it's like three or four days. And it's the price of a cup of cappuccino is that's all it is.
Reverend Ben Cooper:It is there solely as a cappuccino and a Kebab. Maybe that's not a good combination is it? But good morning world. Good morning, we just want to say thank you so much to also to everybody on Buzzsprout and Spotify that listen to these podcasts, we're having a Traimit a terrific amount of downloads, and we are really blessed because we just just talk about Jesus because that's all we can talk about as all our lives can be has to be just about Jesus Christ, isn't it? So
Simon Pinchbeck:we want to encourage you out there whatever sort of week you've added, because you know yet again, may have been haven't had the, you know, you're gonna go you can't really call it a Goldstar week because it's been a tough week. And life's tough and every corner is this stuff coming out here. But you know, when you start talking about Jesus, and when you start looking at him and his life and talking about him, then it really lifts you up and encouraged you and we encourage you to stay with us and be part of our community, this talk community, family, however you want to put it, but we'll be with you and today's title then what a title. What's the dose time?
Reverend Ben Cooper:What's the title of today? It is what does Jesus mean to you? We've been in the Jesus button for a few weeks, purposely on the name of Jesus. And all this stuff that we talked about is always Christ centered cross and that. But today is what does Jesus mean to you? It's a really interesting rhetorical question. And what does Jesus mean to you, maybe you might want to put ping it up on the socials, or send a message and what Christ means to you and what God has done for you for the power of the Holy Spirit. And we've come up with a scripture through the presence of God this morning, and we're in one Colossians if anyone wants to follow this, whether you're on the podcast, or whether you're on this live stream broadcast, and I can see there is a few others, you can turn to one Colossians and verse 15. It's about the supremacy of God. This text is so big and powerful. It is so theologically deep, it is relevant for today is about creation. It's about the fundamental teachings of Christ. It's about the birth, the death, the resurrection, it's about the church. It's about God, it's about the cross, just in five verses Simon just the five verses alone from 15 to 21 Colossians I'll tell you why it's food
Simon Pinchbeck:is filled in. Ben it just sets the stall out for what we're going to what we're going to discuss and and today we're just going to throw a few things out there what Jesus means to us and what he means to people in general but you know, you you obviously will have your own thoughts out there what he means because he's, he can you can mean different things to different people but he's just One thing he means to everybody is our all sufficient Savior Ben, that's what he is. He's the Savior of the world to save it all. So, so that's encouraging. And this is, this guy is just an amazing, amazing we still were talking about in 2000 odd years later, you never went more than 100 miles on his own we wondered about but he's, he's out there and he's changed the world forever. And he has
Reverend Ben Cooper:he's changed the world forever. And you said, we're talking about him after the event of Christ. But also, isn't it amazing that the prophets were prophesying before us, even I, but then he came through, and the Word became flesh. So the whole Bible, isn't it from Genesis to Revelation, Revelation to Genesis, the old to the new all the way through, you will find this thread this, this Jesus theme, I don't like to use the word theme. But you know what we're talking about? Jesus, Jesus all the way through, it's
Simon Pinchbeck:a great point. You know, he's, he's Jesus is on every page. He's on every page. So when you hear people out there want to dismiss the Old Testament. That's nonsense, because the Old Testament is the precursor to the New Testament. Yeah. And everything in the Old Testament is all fulfilled by Jesus. Amen. Yeah, in the New Testament, and then we move on from there. So. So the Old Testament is powerful to Psalms, beautiful Proverbs, that everything is, when you read it with that, with that revelation of the Holy Spirit, this is just bring comes alive to you, then it becomes alive. Yeah, I'm so encouraged by it, by reading the Bible and get up, you know, if you're not into it, I would say, I would encourage you to get into it, you know, to gaze to the Bible. And
Reverend Ben Cooper:it's a must like, yesterday I was I was in the Scripture yesterday. And it was about Christ. It was about the Holy Spirit and in the Gospel of John. And I've read it 1000 times, but like what you were saying about Revelation, or the revelation of His Word becomes revealed and becomes really real, is where I read that part in the Gospel of John so clear, and it says, The Holy Spirit is your teacher, the Holy Spirit will teach you all things. So we are born again, spirit filled believers in Christ, Jesus blood was sanctified. He is our rock, and our Redeemer He is everything are all sufficient one, as we've been saying, but also, through the power of the Holy Spirit with Christ. They teach us His Word. So it's not about an academic stretch of being clever and being very well oiled in words and, and being fluent in languages, because that is irrelevant when it comes to reading. Because, you know, Knowledge puffs up. Yeah, Revelation really fills you a fresh revelation gives you the word and in the Gospel, in the book of John, I think it was in one John one, John, I was in, gosh, where was I think I was in chapter two. And it just says that you don't need men to teach you because it is the Holy Spirit that teaches you.
Simon Pinchbeck:Well, that's a great point. It is the Holy Spirit that teaches us Yeah, and I'll put something out a little bit on Facebook, like I do a scripture each day. And what I put out today, I said that you don't need scientific reasoning. You don't need a man's knowledge. You don't need man's strength. Do you know not at all, because one Corinthians 127 Ben says this, it says, But God has chosen the foolish things over the world to put shame to the wise and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put shame to the things which are mighty, so. So God, not want you trust in in science or trust in your own strength or power. What he wants is what we what we what we straight talked about a few weeks ago, which was his total surrender, total surrender, when you total surrender to the Lord, then then he goes, whoa, we can use him. And then the Holy Spirit will rise up and then and then it all comes together. It's it's simple, but so hard for as human beings to terrestre grasp
Reverend Ben Cooper:because as you said, it's that the world and even if you look at it in the context of war, surrender is the last thing that anyone ever wants to so through war, through workplace issues, through even like bullying and all that sort of stuff. When surrender in the world is looked at as in a weak thing, but actually surrendering in the kingdom of God is the most powerful thing anyone will ever do. Because you're not using your flesh. You're not using your skill set. You are walking purely in faith and to come to a place of surrender is the biggest and the most powerful it's area of Christianity, I think that anyone will ever do to surrender your life to Jesus, because then your life begins.
Simon Pinchbeck:You I couldn't have put it better myself. But that's that's exactly it. And we spoke a few podcasts a few straight talks ago about how we carry this rucksack of life around with us, don't we? But when we surrendered to Jesus, as you quite rightly said, You know, Jesus just cuts, the straps cuts, the
Reverend Ben Cooper:straps off,
Simon Pinchbeck:everything just falls off, we fall down at his feet, not my will, Your will be down forever. And then we start to live an exciting Christian life, which I'll say again, there are two words that don't normally go together. Exciting and Christian Dude,
Reverend Ben Cooper:I don't know, far beyond, isn't it? You know, following Jesus is the most powerful, the most edifying, the most strengthening, the most challenging, the most enduring to be a disciple, a follower of Jesus Christ in England, within the UK, we've got a government that is just completely all over the place. So to follow Jesus Christ straight down through the Word. And um, I know that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory, but to make the decision to say, I am a Jesus follower, that is the most powerful it's words your heart will ever say.
Simon Pinchbeck:And that's where we are, I think, in the in the UK church and the church and in the Western world, just because you go to church, it doesn't make you a Krishna. And that's the big deal. And we've said that many times, and we will keep pushing that, because we want you to see that if you listen to I want you to see that giving your life to Jesus is the start of life. Life is you know, I am a new creation project in the Yeah, so that's where it starts, because you give him everything, and an he gives you everything,
Reverend Ben Cooper:Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and everything else will be added unto thee. But it's that coming down at that word, doesn't it? You know, what does Jesus mean to you is, He is our Savior, He is our rock, our Redeemer, Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah Nissi, there are so many reference points. But the most important point that we could ever reference it, he's our Savior, and He's our father, and he's our God. And, and I just want to read out that scripture for anyone that's with us this morning, from it from one John chapter two. And it's from verse 26. And it's a quick little text, and it says, I'm writing these things to you about that. Because there are many trying to lead you astray. Now we have this within the church, because a big area of church, big movements of church in England at this moment in time have come away from the gospel. So they're trying to take congregations and leading them astray. But this is the interesting thing. So if anyone is really struggling in their denomination and wondering what is going on, if you are hungry for Jesus, this is what's going to happen. Verse 27, of one John chapter two. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone teach you. But as the anointing teaches you about all things, and the anointing is real, not counterfeit, just as it is taught, you remain in Him. So the Scripture talks about a counterfeit, and we are living for the last hour. And we got to be careful as followers of Jesus that we don't get caught in that. So what does Jesus mean to us, He is my all he is my everything. And if I'm in a church, or a denomination that is really sliding to the left or the right, and coming off the Scripture, I've got to say, Lord, bring me out of that. Because I want to be a Jesus follower. And some people get worried that if I don't go to church, I'm not going to get the teaching. Well, actually, it's quite good that a lot of people don't go to certain churches, because coming out of the fold, yeah, you'll get refreshed. But that Scripture is really clear, the anointing teaches us. The anointing teaches us though, because we are filled.
Simon Pinchbeck:The thing is, there is an onus on each and every single one of us to do our own due diligence, which is which is reading, reading the wage and reading the Word. And if you've not started really reading the Bible in and I would suggest that you do start reading the Bible and you get into the Gospels and read the rest of rewatched. Jesus says, because if you read what Jesus said, totally, as Ben says, you know, the revelation will come, you'll learn more about yourself as well. It will challenge your challenge. You'll learn about yourself, and you you'll be you'll, you'll follow God, open doors, it will move mountains for you. But you've got a totally surrender to implement,
Reverend Ben Cooper:surrender to the living Word of God and just given then we say, well, how do we give our life to this Jesus? What does this Jesus mean to us? It means that we are born again that we are spirit filled. Now that we are a junk free, free Christian, you know, not on the Nicodemus side, but on the Jesus side, you must be born again. So what does Jesus mean to us? Would it be great if if the leaders of the heads of the denominations suddenly got online and from pulpits across this nation across England this weekend, church leaders and said What does Jesus mean to us?
Simon Pinchbeck:You've hit on something you've hit on something down and I think we're gonna we're gonna use that because we've got some exciting news coming down the pipes and we can Yeah, we can use that we can use that term John three three Christian I honestly believe that and if you if you're a bit confused as to what we're saying, then John free free says, Jesus said you must be born again. And now we've done so much on that and we'll be doing so much more in the future but you know, Paul says I'm a I'm so we can be a Roman seventh Christian, which is, you know, you keep doing the same things you know, really it's a definition of madness. But above all that we got to be brief. I love it. I love that but yeah, yeah, we got to be a John free free Christian,
Reverend Ben Cooper:there's nothing else for isn't enough, you know, because when you read that the Gospel of John and John three and onwards, why he talks to Nicodemus than educated men and Christ is saying, there's nothing else Nicodemus net Nicodemus, it doesn't matter about your academic, it doesn't matter about that nice house, you live over there. It doesn't matter about that your children are well schooled and your well oiled, it doesn't matter about your bank, it doesn't matter what you know, through the Torah, because that will not get you into heaven. I'm telling you, the only way you will go to heaven is if you're born again. born of water and of spirit, you must
Simon Pinchbeck:be born again. He says the only so as so we're gonna we're later open, open to you. And the thing is, if if we start following Jesus, if we start getting him in, yeah, we live Christ in as Paul says, you know, Christ in me I in Christ, and that's a lot of what is teachers were about. Then Paul says something very interesting in one Corinthians 11. One, he said, Imitate me as I imitate Christ.
Reverend Ben Cooper:It Yeah. You think about that. And as you look at an ambassador, as well, an ambassador, an ambassador, is someone that represents the king, and we are His ambassadors, and we've got to represent and we've got to what that is the biggest challenge anyone will ever have in their lives, is to be an ambassador for Christ, to follow Christ to endure the hardship the ship wreck of this nation that this nation at the moment in the UK, England is broken on every level, every platform within government departments we are broken and we are lost spiritually. But do you know what just because it's a shipwreck doesn't mean to say we will drown look at porn when when they was on on the on the sow on the Adriatic when there was out for 14 days 14 Nights. Do you know what I love about that? Simon? Not digressing. But if you are in a storm we're at this moment in your time you never give up because this is so powerful. Paul was at sea for 14 Nights 14 days and they could not see land but God sent an angel and what did the angel do the angel didn't take him off the ship the angel strength for him on the ship in the middle of the storm and he said you will make it
Simon Pinchbeck:well just using what you said there and as the you know, the ship didn't make a call it got smashed and II flooded to the shore on a bit of a bit of driftwood driftwood Yeah, yeah so where's our driftwood we can we can you know us that can't wait as a clever little Yes, link up but our our driftwood is the word of God. That's where we cling to him. Now he may don't know the word of God and profess to be a Christian. Well, he trouble because yeah, we'll be reaching out when we're in trouble. We're reaching out for old stuff, the thing that has arrived yet but if we're if we're a junk free, free Christian will be reaching out for the word.
Reverend Ben Cooper:I need the word hate the word.
Simon Pinchbeck:The word say about this. What is the word say about about depression? What's the word cyber anxiety? What's it what's my, I've got, I've got a I got a book on arm and I got it on Amazon just a crazy book. It's got over 3000 scriptures related to different Yeah, different different things that you go through in life struggles, different struggles. And, and you could just go into the Bible and pick get a scripture and it will turn your life around just like that,
Reverend Ben Cooper:just like that the word is. So the Scripture is so onpoint greater is He that is in me. Then he that is in the world. Perfect love, drives out fear. So God is love. So if we are in God, and we are in His Word God is in us, Christ is in us. And when you look, we are woven together and nothing we want to encourage you this morning, nothing can separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus, you know, and now I just want to quickly read, I don't want to say quickly, I don't mean that in the wrong terms. I just want to read the Scripture that Simon has brought to the table this morning, one Colossians, one Colossians. And it is by that great New Testament, right to the apostle Paul, that was on that ship wreck, and on that that boat, and the angel came and strengthened him in the middle of the storm. So God will strengthen you in the middle of the storm, a word from God, you know, the angels visiting him and he got a word from God. But this is, this is what he says, verse 15, and it's only five verses long. If you follow this through it is a powerful, real deep theological, Scripture. It frees up it's about everything. The sun is the image of the invisible God, that in itself, that is a mind blowing. Yeah, it's a mind blower. The sun is the image of invisible God. So straightaway that links us to one to John, the Gospel of John Chapter One, in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. So it links it links, it links Christ with God, the Spirit of God, it links everything. And this text Simon is so enormous. And let's, let's see what it says verse 15, the sun is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created, that tells us that he was at the beginning of time. In Him all things were created things in heaven are things on earth, visible, invisible, whether thrones or powers, rulers or authorities or things that have been created through Him and for Him, and by Him, He is before all things and in Him, all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, which is the church hallelujah. He is the beginning of the firstborn among the dead, so that in everything he might have supremacy, verse 19, nearly there, for God was so pleased to have the fullness dwell in him and through him reconciled to himself all things were the things on earth or things in heaven by marking peace, through His blood shed on across
Simon Pinchbeck:you see that just at a banquet to a point then so it's a showstopper. It's a takes your breath away, it takes your speech away, it takes your thoughts away, because it's it's all there so. So don't let anyone ever tell you that. You know, Jesus came into existence when he was born because that's not true. He was made man he was incarnate which you know, he was made man he was made flesh when he was born, but he existed right from time.
Reverend Ben Cooper:In the beginning in the beginning, in the beginning was the world
Simon Pinchbeck:he's he's the he's become like the visible face of the invisible God any and when you
Reverend Ben Cooper:think about that, and that just that text alone to the title of today's podcast, this podcast is so relevant. What does Jesus mean to you? Such a personal question and rhetorical, a personal stretch across the socials. And as people are jumping online? Yeah, God bless you. Thank you for those comments. We, we do appreciate that. And May God strengthen you. So the sun is the image of the invisible God. What a lion on its own. That's right. It is so powerful, isn't it? So, and also where it says in the middle of that text Simon, it says Andy is the head of the body. Now this gives me freedom to know that our Christ, our King, is outside of religion. And we are not religious and anyone that's with us at this moment in time, we are not religious, you are not religious, you are a born again. And we want to encourage you Your Spirit fill believer, and he is the head of the body. The church, Jesus is the head of the church. Totally. He's our king. He's our Shepherd
Simon Pinchbeck:is He's everything. And you know, I've done a lot of this is a Christian course out there called Alpha some some of you may have heard of it. And I've done a lot of this alpha stuff in the past and and there was a guy there that fronted it up at a place called Oh, trinet prompt, and his name was Nicky Gumbel money people is very, is quite a famous Christian celebrity if you like now, but he's he wouldn't class himself. Was he just the vicar of the church? I think he's retired now. But when people used to give their testimony at the end of the Alpha course, it used to say to them right at the end, and what does Jesus mean to you,
Reverend Ben Cooper:and what does Jesus mean to you?
Simon Pinchbeck:you know, invariably, they just look and they take a big breath and a big smile, Come on a face and they just go, what is everything
Reverend Ben Cooper:is everything. Now what what does that mean? Yeah, what does that mean spiritually when
Simon Pinchbeck:you say is everything now? We are Jesus is not something or someone that you can just
Reverend Ben Cooper:tap into for materialism.
Simon Pinchbeck:Bring in and bring out as your flesh as you as your flesh wants and Oh, Jesus, our needs are down. Oh, I saw right jesus oh, no, he's got to be everything has to be total surrender, amen. And if you, you total surrender, then you come to John 14 Six, which says, when he says this, he says this himself. He says, I am the way the LIFE and the TRUTH come unload. And he says, No one comes to the Father except through me. So when you're when you surrender to Jesus, it will lead you to the Father. Amen. And then that's where the love really starts in it. But yeah,
Reverend Ben Cooper:that's where it really is. You will know the truth, the truth will set you free. There is freedom in Christ Jesus, you know,
Simon Pinchbeck:what was that was that little script you put in there? That's John.
Reverend Ben Cooper:John. John 832. The truth? Yeah, just dropped it in there. The other night, I said, I said, the circle of life. Right. And I like to quickly quickly say, and I'm not quoting from The Lion King. This is not a quote coming out the Lion. Lion queen.
Simon Pinchbeck:Line person.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Yeah. So what does Jesus mean? What does Jesus mean to me? very personal, very interesting, very deep, because it can stop you in your tracks, can it? Because you have to think what what does Jesus mean? What, okay, let me think for a moment. Let's just really think about this. Jesus, what do you mean to me? Lord, you're my savior. You're my God. I can use that terminology because they're interwoven. So he's my father, he's my savior. He's my rock. He's my redeemer. He's my, he's my everything. So I've got to be careful. Because for me, if I use everything that can be a cop out, for me not really thinking about what he is, because that could be a lazy answer.
Simon Pinchbeck:Well, I think it's this is a great time to really look inside yourself and see, you know what relationship you've got with Jesus? Because I've said that many times in Christian forums, you know, what's the most important thing for a Christian and a lot of people just don't get it. But the most important thing for someone who, who's caused themselves at Christiana or churchgoer is their relationship with Jesus Christ. And if you remember, a few, a few years ago, there used to be long bands, and stuff that said, What would Jesus do
Reverend Ben Cooper:Jesus day? Yeah.
Simon Pinchbeck:But if you turn that around, and go, Well, what has Jesus done?
Reverend Ben Cooper:What has he done?
Simon Pinchbeck:What has he done for you?
Reverend Ben Cooper:What has Jesus done for us?
Simon Pinchbeck:Well, you know, he is having a great time. He's with the Father in heaven, and the father is gone. And he used to go down. And he said, that place is a mess,
Reverend Ben Cooper:that little Malteser that we spoke in the beam, the chocolates getting really sticky. We got to sort that out.
Simon Pinchbeck:Because I want these people to come back to me, and the only way we're going to do it, is by you going down there.
Reverend Ben Cooper:And what we always are, what I what I could say is, what can easily be forgotten here, as we've said before, is the father sacrifice. So we look at Jesus's sacrifice. But so we're so if you take if you look at the cross, so we're on the side of the cross, God is Christ centered, and then and Jesus is above and, and and beyond that. So God is above and beyond that, sorry. So when you when you look at that, the father has experience what we need to experience total surrender, handing over everything you've got for someone else. And just it's the Father sacrus. What I
Simon Pinchbeck:said, at the start, you know, you can't reason this thing out. You can't scientifically put out a spreadsheet, you can always no longer say the questions. It's just trust and believed in it. That's all just believe Jesus says, Trust me.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Trust me, we've just had a comment go up. And sister was put up there. You we just put the call out what does Jesus mean? She said, the Alpha and the Omega. Yeah, that is so true. And that is so important to remember. So thank you so much for that. We really welcome comments, and we try to read them as quick as we can and answer them so God bless you. So what does Jesus mean Jesus means to me, he is my Savior. And then I just look at this scripture, and I recognize that he is the son of the invisible God. He is my God and my king, he is my Savior. But would you be prepared to say Jesus is the master? Because if I say Jesus is the master, the one locker up the clay. What does that mean? I've got to be in his hands to be in his hands. Yeah. We prayed a prayer, didn't we? Lord strippers back strip three years ago. And I'll tell you what it makes us laugh with fear
Simon Pinchbeck:when we've been through it, but
Reverend Ben Cooper:I tell you, we prayed that prayer Lord stripped me back to the bone.
Simon Pinchbeck:I've had so much exposed to Lou I really Yeah. And it's not nice.
Reverend Ben Cooper:And that's what happened. And that's what under the cross of Calvary, everything was exposed and transparent, but we got to become transparent. What you got what you got what you're feeding on,
Simon Pinchbeck:John? John, our little gospels are John John 15. Five Ben. Yeah, no, it goes exactly in line with what you were saying. He says it Jesus says I am the vine, your branches. If you remain in me and I knew you will bear much fruit. Well, apart from me, you can do
Reverend Ben Cooper:nothing. Apart from me, you can do nothing. We I guess we can't do anything about Jesus. That is why we have such a struggle.
Simon Pinchbeck:If you could with a bike, if you've if you've had a good idea in your life, and it's not a good idea. If you're gonna come to slide it's not going up to like I went up this morning to the supermarket doors, and they were shut it didn't open.
Reverend Ben Cooper:You're not gonna you're not gonna get in. You're not You're not allowed in. So what gets us in what gets us into the kingdom? What what what gets us in? Christ has got us in because he is the shepherd. He's the gatekeeper. He's the King above all kings. And he is the one that gives us what the salvation as a gift. We can't earn it. We can't work it we can't pay for it. It is it when you look at that. So Jesus is our salvation. God is our Savior, He is our rock. He is our Redeemer. He is our king. He is our El Shaddai he is absolutely everything. And Christ's blood was shed on the cross at Calvary and that blood was taken as
Simon Pinchbeck:well he died he died for dinner you know died of Paul says it I think fingers Romans five eighths and while we were sinners,
Reverend Ben Cooper:while we were sinners died for us. Christ died for us while we were sinners, and we have no sin. Yet he had no sin, who had no sin became likeness of sin, to carry the burdens of the world even I don't think there's any human mind there is any great thinker there is any great philosopher or theologian can actually ever understand what that was like to take the weight of the world, no human being can understand to take his transgression,
Simon Pinchbeck:that's he's done it for us and and the deal was bent. It's Yes, a physical, the physical pain was enough. But the spiritual pain, the separation from the Father, because the Father's gonna come look at my son. Yeah, imagine you imagine you if you got a son or daughter out, imagine just gonna come, I can look at you
Reverend Ben Cooper:imagine that we're
Simon Pinchbeck:using nothing wrong. But it's done nothing wrong.
Reverend Ben Cooper:That's right. And if you look at the cross of Calvary, that the spiritual event on that side of things, I honestly believe through scripture, where if you go to the garden, and you look at because that's where the garden of redemption, God, Christ is our Redeemer. So if we was to go to Genesis and look at the redemption plan, straight from the point when they took from the tree, the redemption plan was put into place. And when they took that tree, it changed the atmosphere, it changed environment. And it tore the spiritual tear went right through the universe for the cosmos. And I also believe that through Scripture, the second time we see this, and there will be a third time when he comes is when he was at the cross of Calvary. And you mentioned that about the spiritual side of Calvary. So the first implication that shook the universe was when they took and they went against God's word. And everything changed because the Bible says that God created everything and everything that he created was perfect. But we know through astrology and start studying the stars and rock formation, that there is damage in the heavens, and I believe that was done through the spiritual tear of the fall in the garden. Then the second one is at the cross of Calvary, the darkness, the funder, the lightning, the moon, the sun, everything the planet shook the earth shook another spiritual tear through the earth. And then the third one is when he's coming back, very interesting. Not three now's kept him on the cross. Three spiritual tears through the universe, and when he comes back, and what's he coming back for? Coming back to judge to judge the world? Yeah, he's gonna be he's our judge.
Simon Pinchbeck:And he's, he's done everything and everything for us. Ben, if he was the only person on this world he would have done it for you. Try and get your head around that I just can't
Reverend Ben Cooper:get your head around that. Billions of people walking the earth. He knows was intimately and he created every embryo he created every DNA system he created the fish that we don't even know that's under the ocean
Simon Pinchbeck:and no matter where you are in your life at any time if if you know if you keep going no sir I don't I don't I don't want you to do so I don't want you to but at any time while you're still breathing if you go yesterday so I want you is there isn't Is there is there with his arms open open wide and and for those of us who have got a relationship with Jesus Christ is our friend as well. Isn't he bent? Yeah, yeah, yeah. In John is great. It's gotta love it. And if you want one of these, we've we've got loads of these. So it says in John 15 starting at 12 It says my command is this love each other as I have love you. He says Greater love has no one than this to lay down one's life for one's friends. Wow. He says you are my friends for what you do what I command. So there again, you know total surrender are no longer call you servants because a servant does not know his masters business. Instead, I've called you friends for everything that I've learned from my father, I have made known to you.
Reverend Ben Cooper:It's absolutely. When the scripture really speaks. It stops you doesn't it? And our sister had put another comment on there. And she said that he's such love and he's her refuge and our strength. You know, he's, he's everything is interesting that as we put this out there, what does Jesus mean to you? And how has he changed your life? And when you really look deep within that it's so easy to bring that that hashtag in it. He's my everything and just wander off. But when you really think about what does Jesus mean to you, then what does he mean? Like imagine if Christ was in this room there? And he sat there? And he said, What do I mean to you? And what about Peter? You know, I'll die for you, Jesus.
Simon Pinchbeck:Well, the thing is, it's, it's very, it'd be very concerning if it was sitting here now because then red eyes go straight in there and
Reverend Ben Cooper:it burned to pieces.
Simon Pinchbeck:Don't get me none of that rubbish you normally give Ben just
Reverend Ben Cooper:a crowd lips. I know your voice box. I know your heart. Just give it to me, Jesus. So I'm off.
Simon Pinchbeck:So so here's the deal, he came to this earth as man and he died for sin, yet for for every sin in the world. And you just there on Babel, every horrible, depraved the people have done
Reverend Ben Cooper:the darkest, the darkest
Simon Pinchbeck:diaper, but then he rose again in the Yeah. He rose again to save us and accept us.
Reverend Ben Cooper:And how did he raise again, was it within his own capabilities. The Bible says that God breathed, his father brought him back. So he was in complete submission to death itself.
Simon Pinchbeck:And if we go back, complete submission to death,
Reverend Ben Cooper:complete koi dead. Scripture says it was his destiny gone to Shola Yeah, to the death for the earth.
Simon Pinchbeck:And so if we go back to that wonderful passage of Scripture, which is John free, is still told and Nicodemus at 316, he comes in and goes, For God so loved the world, amen, that he gave his only Son the only one gone across then obviously, they gave his only Son that anyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. So he's saying that out loud to this list religious leader, isn't it? Yeah. So he's right. You believe in you believe with your heart. And and this is where it can. This is where the Christian world catches a lot of people out because you know, you've been many of you out there would have been to a meeting where there's an article and seeing people raise their hand, say a little prayer. Well, you don't see that little prayer in the Bible. Now your prayers not in a bob because it has to be from the heart. So it has to be a heart thing. And so a whole new set Jesus in your heart. And God the Father says, You won't perish because you've accepted my
Reverend Ben Cooper:it's such a fast I'll use the word transaction. God comes through predestination. So God reveals Himself to you and to AI. And to all of us God revealed God opens our heart so that we are able to accept him so God opens the envelope of the heart of a person. We're coming to the table of of the Passover in a few minutes, four minutes And we're going to break bread together at the end of this podcast. So if you want to do that with us, please do so. And if you're if you're on broadcast with us, thank you so much for staying with us and doing this with us today. And especially in the podcast, you can do this at your workspace. So what we've got to remember is that Christ is the head of the church head of the he's the head of the body, which is the church. He is the image of the invisible God, He is your Redeemer, he is my Redeemer, he is our El Shaddai, he is our Jehovah Jireh, he is everything that we need, He is everything. He is the King of kings and the Lord of Lords. He is worthy of all praise. And I pray that whoever you are this morning, that God will draw you into him. So whoever calls on the name of the Lord, the heart has to be opened by God. And as and because we are dead in our transgressions. So we was like Jesus in the tomb. Just bear with me a minute everyone on this. We was dead. And we need life. And the only one that can give us life is God. God breathed in the lungs of Jesus brought him back. God breathed in the lungs of us and brings us back we are physically alive. But we are dead spiritually. We are in an atheist state.
Simon Pinchbeck:That is powerful imagery you bring to the table there. And it just reminds me of where personally I was when I was drowning. I was absolutely drowning. And
Reverend Ben Cooper:you're physically, economy, but you're dead.
Simon Pinchbeck:You know, often say I was on the edge of that pit I was in.
Reverend Ben Cooper:He was digging deep in the pit. And we dig deeper and
Simon Pinchbeck:calling out the Jesus What did he do? He reaches down Danny, the David story, he reaches down and any it gives you that that handout strongest hand you ever felt because he pulls you out of that pit at the man in the mire, as he stays in some form. It puts it puts you on solid ground and he put a
Reverend Ben Cooper:new song in my mouth, the power of the living Word of God. So if you look at that what Simon is talking about that is like walking dead. And we're not talking about the TV series when we're, if if we are an atheist, we are walking dead. Yeah, if we are a non believer, we are walking dead. And this will cause hype and all types of things saying things like this. But Jesus, the Scripture says, well, in Revelation, He says this very clearly says, Behold, I was dead. Dead means that dead means gone completely gone, Christ died. He wasn't in a a floating spiritual position where his eyes were closed, Christ died, the human Christ died. And he was brought back to life by the breath of God. So that is a very clear understanding of how I am or how we were before. We were given the gift of salvation. And it's like having an electric shock. Suddenly, you've been in the operating theatre you've you've had your heart opened wide up. And then suddenly life has just been, you felt the shock. It's bad.
Simon Pinchbeck:It's like you see on the on all the medical programs that are the T-phibs
Reverend Ben Cooper:put the defib on bang and your backup. But you're different. But you're different. Different. You've been given what a second chance, second chance. And it's just even if you make a mistake in the second chance. It's okay. Because you've been redeemed. And Jesus says how many times we've forgiven him 777 77 ongoing?
Simon Pinchbeck:Can you imagine that by? You know, this is what Jesus means to you. Now you you've accepted Him as your Lord and Savior. And all of a sudden, your name is written in alarm? Yeah. Yeah. So there's no judgment for you.
Reverend Ben Cooper:You're not, it's no judgement. So grafted in,
Simon Pinchbeck:I've often said, I don't know if anyone out there recognizes this example. But I've often said it's like being at somewhere like Disneyland or whatever. And there's a fast track, yeah, to the fast track to the ride. And the rest of them have to queue up. So it's like getting into revenue by accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior following him. You're in bank, you've got that fast track ticket you're in, the rest of everyone else has to line up and get the judgment done. Exactly. And then we're gonna go through that book. Oh, yeah. You know,
Reverend Ben Cooper:if your name in the Lamb's book of vision is written in the blood of Jesus,
Simon Pinchbeck:I think, Ben, are you. You know, as we're coming to? Communion? I think you asked yourself this question, and we'll be asking it week after week. Are you and Joan free, free Christian?
Reverend Ben Cooper:Are you there?
Simon Pinchbeck:Are you born again?
Reverend Ben Cooper:Are you born again? Simple. We're going to break bread. We're going to take a cup and there's a message going up there. Jeremiah two Only nine from someone that you know some Shalom is accurate. Yeah. She says, Tell Simon it's Shalom. So we've just passing that message over. We've only got one screen at the moment. So I'm just trying to capture these messages that are flying for. So God bless everybody that's out there. If it's your birthday today, may God bless you too. And if you're struggling today, may God bless you. Whatever your situation is, today, God is with you and never give up. We're going to quickly I will say quickly, we're going to just bring this to a close and we're going to break bread. And let's just bow our heads. And we'll say, I'm gonna pray for a cup and just a couple of moments. But never give up. Never give up.
Simon Pinchbeck:And just just, you know, finally finished in, listen, you know, Jesus accepted, is destiny. He came to earth in the flesh, He died on the cross for our sins, He rose again the sabers and acts as he led us to the Father, which separates us from the world now is a citizen of the kingdom. Yes. And, and he's our example, for everything we even got into that. And is coming again in glory. Amen. He chose to live in an age named Ben, every knee will bow that don't matter who you are. It doesn't matter if you're the president of United States, it doesn't matter if you're a kingdom, England, when he comes back,
Reverend Ben Cooper:every night, every night will bow you won't get stand up. Stand up, he won't be.
Simon Pinchbeck:Do you want to say that then? Yeah.
Reverend Ben Cooper:So what I want to I want to say that I want to say, let's pray, come on, come on world, wherever you are. Let's just pray for your drive and your walk in or something. You don't have the privilege of being able to do this at the moment. Or if you're in the world of podcasting with us. Maybe you can hold fire and put a pause on that that button this morning and just just take a moment just to say, Jesus, I love you. I just worship You, Father and I lift you up. Because you are the exalted one you are the great I Am and we
Simon Pinchbeck:lift him up to the Father and we lift him up we lift him out of the Father because we think the Father for him and we lift him up to the Father and the Father for your son's
Reverend Ben Cooper:thank you for John 316 and Florida's I break bread with Simon and anyone else that's with us. Father, we thank you for this opportunity just to break bread and to take time out of life. And I recognize we recognize that this this bread symbolizes the body of Christ that was broken at the cross of Calvary through Scripture. And Lord we thank you as we just take a moment out as we break this bread in Jesus name, Amen
Simon Pinchbeck:We take the cup and we say thank you, Father, for your son Jesus and we lift him up to you a dime and whether it's blood to just to cleanse us as we come to the cross and just Just bear lay everything out everything bear whatever's on your mind just lay it out bare net this the blood of Jesus just cleanse you and we do it to symbolize that and we thank You Father and lift you up in Jesus name.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Amen Oh, thank you Jesus. Thank You Father. There we go. You know we have stretched it we have gone 48 minutes we're about to just disappear. And wherever you are today may God bless you and strengthen you in the mighty name of Jesus Christ we thank you for staying with us here at# Christian straight talk we're streaming on platform for the the means that we have through eliminare studio and we thank you to everybody that's downloading all these podcasts whether three limb whether through #Christian straight talk, if you need that book, just you know you can find that on Amazon Simon if you could just hold that up a second to so people can see you know, it's all second book. They're all inspired through the podcast. So it's not about us. It's about Jesus. Yeah, it's about not talking about us. It's talking about Jesus Christ. This is
Simon Pinchbeck:taken from our podcast and the stuff in there. I'll come at you like a machine gun to be honest. Right? Yeah. And it's, you know, I'd take it from me I'll read it. It's like kryptonite to the enemy. This stuff and it really helped on your children.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Amen flesh. Amen. May God bless you and strengthen you in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Thank you so much for linking in and sharing with our # family on the socials and all the other platforms that were on. There's other stuff popping out the next month or two. Never give up wherever you are. Never give up brother or sister. God is with you in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen.
Close:You can find this on Buzzsprout, Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play, Facebook and YouTube.