Good morning everybody . God bless you wherever you are this morning . Thank you so much for joining us . Hashtag Christian Straight Talk wherever you are across the globe . We are live on Twitter at this moment in time . Good morning , elon . We hope you are well . Thank you for allowing us to speak across your beautiful platform , but wherever you are this morning , may God bless you in the mighty name of jesus christ . This is simon and myself , ben , as we just gather around the scripture , as we just see what god is saying through the word of god , bringing and looking at everyday life as a believer in christ , whether you're a man or a woman , just just resting and trusting in god . Hashtag christian straight talk . We've got some literature coming out very soon . There's stuff happening all over the place , but God is with you . Never give up , wherever you are . Simon , we are up and we are running and we are ready to rumble .
Speaker 2Good morning world , Good morning Ben , and yeah , it's so encouraging . It really is so encouraging to see so much stuff . You know them little booklets . We've been banging on about booklets . We've been , um , we've been banging on about , uh , we've gotten through them . We must have got nearly a thousand out there already and it's only been what , just a couple of weeks , I think they've been just a couple of weeks here .
Speaker 1We've got one in our hands at the moment . Look at that the gospel of john sandwiched in between it . For all those that are following us on twitter , that are live with us at the moment , you know we are just wrapped around the gospel and that's what's got me absolutely fascinated . You know that we are wrapped around , we are the cover of this gospel of John , but so much more than that . We are grafted in , and that is so scriptural , isn't it Be wrapped around the word of God .
Speaker 2Well , it's , you know , john , 15 , 5 , isn't it ? You know I'm Levine , yeah , yeah , yeah , yeah , you're graftfting into Levine , you can do nothing apart from me and Ben , you look , you're looking you look like you're behind either in the spaceship or on the decks like you were a DJ or something .
Speaker 1This technology , this technology . We've got the laptop up because we're live on Twitter . We've got the podcasting machine recording here , and then we've got an iPad here that I'm just watching the gambling . Oh sorry , I mean I'm looking at the script , Chuck , so I'll put a turf account . I better flip that one off . I won't turn that towards the camera , you know what I mean . I'll just let that one . Let everyone see the godly stuff . But on the screen I'm really on , Betfred . The question is who are you following ? What horse are you following ?
Speaker 2Because there's a horse coming . Yeah , mate , there's four of them coming , but it is the truth . Who are you following ?
Speaker 1Who are you following ? A serious question , isn't it ? And I ask myself am I following Jesus ? And I will say yes , I am following Jesus and I love Christ with all my heart . But to follow Jesus is enduring is the biggest challenge , as you said not long ago as a believer , to follow Jesus in work . Imagine and try and think of all the believers , now Christians , that are in workplace settings that are so brutal , so harduous , in every industry .
Speaker 2Well , ben , I've got to tell you I think I did tell you a little bit before but I've got a mate who works as a firearms officer up in London . I was out with him for a bit of food this week and there was a couple of us together and he was saying he gets it all the time , ben , you know , they know he's a Christian , but you know , they give it to him large .
Speaker 2You know , have you been talking to your imaginary friend Jesus again , you know , and everyone's laughing , and so it's how he deals with that and you know , bless him . That's a difficult thing to deal with really difficult . Because you could . I mean , when he was talking , I could feel the anger rising up and I thought , mate , you're a better man than me , because you know I'd have probably been , you know over the coals with a couple of them . You know , that's the way . That's the way we roll , ben , isn't it ?
Speaker 1That's the way we All in love . Everything is done in love , every punch is done in love , every gamble , every press on the button on Betfred is done . Lord , if I just win , if I just win , lord , I'm going to tithe better , just for everyone looking . I am not actually on Betfred , just look at the screen . I'm actually on a biblical text . So just let's clear that one up . I don't have a gambling addiction . What's that ? Six , six , yeah . Living for jesus as a man or a woman , a young person , whoever you are , wherever you are , whatever culture you're in . I know we have a little bit of banter here , which is good and very healthy because this is real life . Hashtag christian straight talk . But wherever you are , being a believer now in the end times , is the hardest thing that you will ever do is to walk by faith is the hardest thing .
Speaker 2Ben and um , you know , people are out there . They're looking for a purpose , they're looking for a challenge , they're looking for for something leadership guidance in their life and and ben you know , follow christ , follow christ .
Speaker 2That'll Christ , follow Christ . That'll challenge you . It's a massive challenge to stick . I don't know if you're a churchgoer out there or what , but you might have got a bit of religion , you might have even been baptised , but are you truly following Jesus ? That's the question . Have you truly got a relationship with Jesus , christ , christ ? And if the answer is I'm not too sure , then get into the , into the gospels , and start reading about his life and start following jesus following jesus .
Speaker 1It's , it's got . You've got to follow jesus . And there's that . There's that text . I believe it's in luke chapter . Oh , please , lord , help me luke chapter 2021 . And it speaks about when peter and christ was in the courtyard together and Peter was sitting around a fire bin , and it says that Peter followed him at a distance . We can't follow Jesus anymore at a distance . We've got to get ourselves close . And the question is , isn't it Because many people go well , tell us , fellas , tell us , how do I follow Jesus close ? The only way I can answer that to anybody is literally just read the Word of God .
Speaker 2Get into the Word of God , just get in the Word of God , get to the Word . Yeah , and you know a bit of decent fellowship with some other guys and prayer as well , do you know ? But first and foremost is getting on the floor , getting and giving it to the Lord and just saying , father , you know , thank you for your son and I need him in my life . And then , just , you know , as you said , start off with the Gospels , reading Jesus' life and following Jesus , because he'll lead you , he'll lead you to the Father , he'll lead you to wherever he'll lead you . He'll lead you to the Father . He'll lead you to wherever He'll lead you to love .
Speaker 1He'll lead you to wherever you want to go Amen . He'll take you to a place that you never thought you could get to and following Christ strips you back and where the church over generations has really been lacking . And we said this earlier . I honestly believe that Billy Graham was the last messenger of heaven . That's the easiest way to put it . I believe that man . Now he has gone and I'm seeing what we're seeing and I look back over preachers and teachers . I know there's been a few dotted around Dr Martin Lloyd-Jones and a few others dotted around the UK . But when you look across the world , I honestly believe when Billy Graham was called home , we have lost , as a world , the last sounding gong of heaven to preach the gospel . So if you look across the UK , where can we really look to and find a strong spiritual leader that is pressing the gospels like never before ? It's very difficult , isn't it ? There's a lot of hype . There's a lot of hype .
Speaker 2There's a lot of hype and showmanship . Amen to that . And you know personally , from a personal point of view , you know I've been looking at quite a lot of the Billy Graham classics . You know , on YouTube it's 27 minutes long , powerful stuff . He hits it hard and he hits the Gospel hard and he hits the gospel hard too , and he preaches the gospel and he gives you the truth .
Speaker 1And what I love about him , he doesn't leave the pulpit , he's not running backwards and forwards , he ain't got lights behind him , he ain't got all the glitz .
Speaker 2He's not hyping it up , is he ? He's in a stadium .
Speaker 1The wind's blowing , it's raining , there's no music to build it up or anything to build it up or anything .
Speaker 2It's the gospel , it's just the gospel , it's the spirit of God speaking for him .
And you know we are today going to go get back into it sounds doesn't sound right . But you know what I'm saying . We're going to go back and visit the subject of adultery . We're not going to get back into adultery , we're going to visit the subject . But here's the deal , ben , you know we've said it many times on this platform you can't be 90% , 95% faithful to your wife , can you ?
Speaker 1You know , it's either 100% faithful or not , it's everything , so it's the same with Jesus .
Speaker 2You've got to be all in . You can't have one foot in the world and one foot in it doesn't work Following Jesus .
Speaker 1And that keeps coming to my thinking and my pattern that Peter was in that courtyard . And what's interesting is , who are we sitting down with ? I know we're talking about adultery , we're going into the spiritual adultery and all the stuff that goes along with that , which is really , really important , but when Peter , you've got to be careful who you sit down with . When Peter sat down at the fire bin , it says the fire bin was in the centre of the courtyard . Christ was over there and it was when the rooster crowed and Peter was asked a question . Peter was asked you was one of him , you was with him . I see you . Yes , you did . I definitely , definitely . So we know the three times . So him denying Christ publicly around the fire bin .
Speaker 2That is what we are looking at now the denial of jesus it's very interesting , ben , because when jesus called anyone to him , he did it publicly , he did it in front of there was nothing .
Speaker 1Yeah , you're right everything . There was an audience . There was always .
Speaker 2There was always people around when he healed the beggar by the pool . When he healed blind by the mass , you know it was always so when . Peter denied him , and don't forget , you know Peter gets a bad rap . But the others were there as well . They ran off as well , didn't they ? Some of the other disciples ? But yeah , he was amongst .
Speaker 1But that's the big thing for today , isn't it ? Because because we don't intentionally want to deny jesus , but when your back is against the wall and I'm going to say it like this in a workplace , oh , and your mortgage and your life is all hanging on , are you a follower of jesus ? And there's policies coming at you as a christian and there and there is a quality act and everything like that and everything else goes . But if you start standing up for the gospel in certain business areas and certain obviously big establishments within the UK the police force , even the NHS and certain big sectors if you stand up as a believer , there's a possibility . There is a possibility that you could .
Speaker 2Well , like my mate in the police force , ben you know , for example , he stands out , they come at him you know , so you can understand Peter , can't you ?
Speaker 1Denial of Peter . His back was against the wall .
Speaker 2As an ex-police officer , I've been involved with the christian police association and when they have meetings , you know they don't have many people go to the meetings , but they tell me that there are a lot of people that go to church in the police service . So that would encompass , yeah , men and women , that police officers , also people that work in the offices or whatever , but for them then to stick their hand up and go . I'm a Christian , put your head above the parapet Very very difficult .
Speaker 2Seriously , I wasn't a Christian as a police officer . But there were guys in the Christian Police Association who were in this workplace . I wouldn't work with them . Really , they were nice guys Don't get me wrong lovely fellas , but I wouldn't go out with them , of course , because if you got into a bit of trouble .
Speaker 1you know they're going to give them one . John Jesus loves you .
Speaker 2They're going to give them the old Corinthians 13 . You know we would rather do an eye for an eye . The Old , Testament person has risen up . That's the fact .
Speaker 1So when you look at this word adultery , it sits in so many brackets . You've got the physical , you've got the mental and what I'm talking about . You've got the physical . You've got the thinking . You've got the mental and what I'm talking about , the . You got the physical , you got the thinking . You got the spiritual . You've got the walking away , walking away from jesus . When you , when you look in the gospel , uh , you see this very clear christ , doesn't he ? I think it's in in james , isn't it where he calls them out and he says you're adulterous people . Why does he ?
Speaker 2do that yeah it's because they was away from him , away from him and just , we're going to get into that in just a second , but just before we do that , ben , something came to me this week and recapping a little bit , and it's you've led into it , really , with the workplace stuff . You know , we are forever hearing people take the Lord's name in vain , aren't we ?
Speaker 1Everywhere you go , so many places the TV , you're out shopping , you're out working , wherever you are , you hear that terminology and I find it fascinating that no one ever goes . Mohammed , no one ever goes brings all these other no one ever brings any other name into disrepute , blasphemous language . So if I hear that , if I hear that , what should I do about that ?
Speaker 2Well , that's what I was thinking today . You know because I was at . I was up at the West End over the week , just the beginning of this week , and I was speaking to someone and they was it was a lady and she was getting excited about something and she said Jesus , there's Jesus down , whoa . And for me it's kind of it'd be quite odd .
Speaker 2I mean , she knows she knows that I talk about my faith , but so she didn't stop herself . She didn't put a brake on what she was saying because it's just a natural part of conversation . It's a natural part of people's vocabulary . So what do we do about it ? I wanted to ask you this really Do you think it's as bad if we ignore that behaviour as you saying it ourselves ? Do you know what I ?
Speaker 1think that brings me to Back to that scripture with Peter , because the whole conversation was about Christ . I don't know him . So by Peter walking away and saying denying him , when I'm in a position like that , I should actually not challenge them in an angry way but say just hang on a minute , you're talking about my God . So by me backtracking , could you put me into the bracket of spiritual adultery , of walking away , enmity with God ? I have partnered with the world and sometimes how many people nod their head when someone says that and you're in a crowd , because a crowd is a very dangerous environment .
Speaker 1It's a powerful place , isn't it ? Yeah , because Peter sat down with a crowd .
So when you look at that word adultery and spiritual adultery , that is what it says in the book of James Enmity against God . Completely , if you partner with the world , you are committing a spiritual adultery . That's why he says you adulterous generation .
Speaker 1So if I sit down with a crowd of work colleagues , if I sit down in the university , if I sit down around a table with people , if I sit down and if I just engage with a crowd and I hear that being blasphemously put and I don't do anything about that , maybe because of fear , because that's what happened to peter , what am I going to do ? If I stand up , where does that put me ? Where's that ? Where does that put you ? Where does that leave me ? Yeah , does it ? Does it put me ?
Speaker 1Like what it says in james ? It says in james 4 , verses 4 to 5 , and it says Jesus says you adulterous people . Why do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity to God ? Therefore , whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy to God . My goodness gracious . When you look at that , or whoever does , supposes it is no purpose that that the scripture says he yearns jealousy over the spirit . So you can be born again , you can be filled with the spirit , you can be called and you can be a real , beautiful Christian . But if you are thrown into the arena of the workplace or cultural or life or whatever that is and we're hearing all this stuff , and it doesn't even need to be just Jesus' name taken in vain and all that sort of stuff , just the language and the environment that we're in .
Speaker 2We have to be careful . So the word says to be in the world but not of the world . So if we are suddenly in a conversation where you've got people dropping the F-bomb , and whatever , and all of a sudden we join in with that sort of conversation . We're just joining in with the world . We have to be set apart from the world , don't we ? We have to be , and it's difficult .
Speaker 2It's very difficult because I can be in someone's conversation . It's like mad when they're F be in someone's conversation . It hurts like mad when they're effing and blinding it does . That's how I used to be , but now it hurts . But if someone suddenly exclaims you know Jesus Christ , that really hurts , but do I check them , do I address it ? And how do you address it ?
Speaker 1Because if you're in a workplace… I should address it and I should check them . It's a really interesting thing , isn't it addressing that ? Because Peter didn't address but Jesus said to him Simon , simon , satan has asked that he would sift you as wheat , but I have prayed that your faith will not foul Now . So Christ knew he was going to fail , not in his faith , but literally in his human skin . I think being a Christian in a worldly environment again is the hardest thing that you will ever do .
Speaker 2It's really tough and the thing is , if you you know there's certain topics you go down that you can be accused as a Christian of hate speech .
Speaker 1Radicalisation .
Speaker 2You can , you can , but if someone takes Jesus's name , for me that's hate speech .
Speaker 1But they won't get . It just gets pushed aside , doesn't it ? Oh no , Because it's just part of it's just part of it's everywhere , of normal vocabulary . Yeah , look at that situation in France when they'd done that cartoon drawing . Oh yeah , yeah , lives were taken . Lives were taken . If someone's to do a funny drawing of Jesus Christ , it gets sold for millions . It's such a difference .
Speaker 2And it's a complete hypocrisy really . And we saw this week , didn't we ? I sent you that little thing where a guy , a chaplain , was told not to wear a little cross in a hospice .
Speaker 1So here we have a chaplain Chaplaincy . We know what the word chaplain means , we understand the spiritual lead and you're being told please take your cross off . What in the world have we come to in this nation ? But we are finding that we are having , in the workplace setting , humanist chaplains . You cannot be a chaplain because chaplaincy is about spiritual lead and guidance . A humanist is all for yourself , is all for now and it is no hope whatsoever .
Speaker 1So how I'll tell you what we're getting into a real big subject here . Because when you're in the workplace , if you are a chaplain , if you are a believer , if you are a spiritual , lead in somewhere and you are being challenged . Look at some of the prisons , Look at even some of the prison stuff that's going on about Christianity .
Speaker 2Well , Ben , you know the last prison I spoke in was just before the lockdown , was Chelmsford Prison and I went in with a group of Christian guys there and gave a bit of testimony and the chaplain there was a pagan . You know Sorry , but you know , bless him . He was a lovely fellow and he sat and he listened and I hope you know the Lord sort of sowed a few seeds there probably , but you know when you Days .
Speaker 2What are you going to ? I don't want to disrespect him , but what hope can he give anyone ? You know I had these… Hug a tree maybe . I had these ardent , you know , men who were coming up to me who'd spent a lifetime in prison and they were going oh , get the Jesus thing . You know , I really want to turn my life around . Well… , through Christ , you can turn your life around , that's right yeah . But through the pagan belief where's the hope ?
Speaker 1I don't see it . No , because we are into a very dangerous world there , aren't we ? Because when you go into paganism and witchcraft and everything we're going into , what we looked at at the very beginning wasn't we Don't have any other foreign gods . So when you go into all that sort of stuff there , we are clearly talking about what it says at the very beginning . You know you should not have any other foreign gods before me . And the Israelites done that . You know they was paganistic , they had everything going on . They was an adulterous generation . That is a very interesting time . But when you look at paganism , when you look at witchcraft , wizardry , all that , the Druids , everything is opposite to God .
Speaker 2Well , it's coming back to worshipping the planet , it's coming back to putting you in the centre , and this week we saw a man brought to trial by the CPS because he was preaching the gospel on the street Jesus Christ . And the CPS , which is the Crown Prosecution Service , which is what all the big prosecutions go through , whether they say yes or no , but they came out with . We believe there's stuff in the Bible which is not relevant to today .
Speaker 1I wonder why they make you swear on the Bible then in the courtroom . Well , you have a choice , don't you ?
Speaker 2You do have a choice . You can affirm . If you don't , if you're a non-believer , you can . I don't know .
Speaker 1I think you could Harry Potter .
Speaker 2Yeah , all that sort of stuff . But what we're going through now , ben , is a set of commandments from God given in the Old Testament , which are as relevant today as they were then , and they will be as relevant in a thousand years' time . They're commandments that put God first and put others second , that we should love each other second , put him first , put him first , Everything , god , god , god , yeah , god first . And if we just adhered to those commandments , the world would be an amazing place . You wouldn't have to worry about save the planet . You wouldn't have to , because you'd be looking at the creator and everything the creator made you'd respect wouldn't you Exactly ?
Speaker 1So , yeah , so the Ten Commandments . No wonder we got this lawlessness . Obviously , we know we're sitting in the end days . We get where we sit as well , so that's very relevant to all the pressures of living and life and we understand that we're in the fall . Uh , that happened from from the very beginning of time . We get that . So when you look at the calendar of the clock that is ticking regarding end times , the book of revelations , thessalonians , everything like that , but when ? But I I believe this scripture that we're in now , that this when , when , christ says you're adulterous people or you're adulterous generation . If you are friends with the world , goodness gracious , that's quite a frightening text on its own . If you are friends with the world , you are , you are enmity against god , because you put in again world before , so it before .
Speaker 1So you're pointing back to verse 3 , aren't you ?
Speaker 2you should have no other gods before me and yeah , because it all interlocks , interlink , you know it flows every . All these 10 commandments flow between each other you know , like rivers we are , you know , in adultery . So there's lust going on there and you can lust after not just other men and women , you can lust after objects and things of the world .
Speaker 1You're hungry , like if you look at the shopping issue at the moment the Christmas , the commercial Christmas . We've got to get , we've got to get , we've got to get . What is the driver of ? We've got to get , we've got to get , we've got to get , we've got to get . What is the driver of we've got to get , we've got to get this . We've got to have this , we've got to have that . The kids have got to have this . You know , give me , give me . We are in a society that is in it . Bring to my table everything . I want everything . Put it on the credit cards . You get in debt for it .
Speaker 2Sign up sofas and this and that , and suddenly you are serving foreign gods . What's driving that is is , um , a lot of things that drive that are we want to have what they've got , or we want that us to be like that , or we want to have this . And if you sit there in front of the tv screen and it's , it's thrown at you time and time again .
Speaker 1So what does it feed ? It feeds the flesh it feeds the hunger it feeds the flesh .
Speaker 2yeah , totally .
Speaker 1The scripture says each man is drawn away by his own lustful desires . What the flesh craves , the addictive spirit , the very habitual way that we might live , it might be coffee . People will laugh at that , but you can get addicted to coffee . You can get addicted to gambling . You can get addicted to shopping . You can get addicted to trainers . Just a small thing .
Speaker 2Ben , is what do a lot of people say ? I can't start a day without a cup of coffee , Just a small thing . What have we got in here ? Coffee . But they do so Instead of getting out of bed and the first thing you do you get into your .
Speaker 1Bible Please , Lord , help me .
Speaker 2Or get on the floor and into prayer . First thing you do go down , switch on the TV , grab a cup of coffee .
Speaker 1So we live very habitual , don't we ? Yeah , we are habitual people , very robotic , and we have a set pattern and we have a set plan and we have a set way that we do things . So just by living like that and people will go well , that's how our culture lives , that's how we live in the UK . This is how we do that . But when I get in a set pattern and I get in this motion , I'm actually coming away from god without realizing it , because I'm living the way of the world . I'm living to the pattern of the world .
Speaker 2The bible makes it very clear that don't conform to the pattern of the world it makes it very clear , ben , and it also makes it very clear about the condition of the heart .
Speaker 1So Jeremiah's so the inward , yeah , yeah .
Speaker 2So Jeremiah 17 , 9 says the heart is deceitful above all things . Mark , if you go into the Bible , jesus said Mark 7 , 20 , he said and what comes out of a man , that is what defiles him . Far from within , out of the heart of men , proceed evil thoughts , adulteries , fornications , murders , thefts . If you're not putting God first , these things will creep in .
Speaker 1So that makes me very robotic . It makes me live as the world . That will put me in the bracket of where Jesus says you adulterous generation , because I'm putting worldly things and I might not realise that I am putting worldly things before Jesus .
Speaker 2And yet again , ben , it comes to following the crowd doesn't it the crowd ?
Speaker 1So it comes back to the Peter the fire bin situation and it says that Peter sat down with the crowd and he engaged in their conversation . If I engage in a conversation of the world , the world is driven by Satan . The world is is the matrix , the system . It is very satanic . The world is very satanic . The world is very satanic . It is very dark . Now , if I partner around a fire bin in a conversation and it's an ungodly , godly conversation there becomes enmity . Without faith . The Bible says it is impossible to please God .
Speaker 2So there's Ben , you've hit a real vein there , because you know the world system is a system , Antichrist is an evil system under the enemy .
Speaker 1Under Satan . Let's not mess around , let's not mess about with this .
Speaker 2We are living in end days . Well , listen to what Paul says in Ephesians 2 . He says and you he made alive , who were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked . According to the course of this world , according to the prince of the power of the air , the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience , among whom also , we all once conducted ourselves in the lust of our flesh , fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind , and were by nature children of wrath .
Speaker 1There you go there , you are Right , so we can be born again spirit-filled . We can love Jesus beyond our human understanding . We can do the best we possibly can , but if I get caught around a fire bin with a conversation with people that are not believers , I can be in this , this , these scriptures that we're looking at , where christ could be talking to me now , and go , you adulterous . You disown me at the fire bin , ben Ben , you disowned me in your workspace . You disowned me , so that puts enmity but doesn't affect my salvation . That's what's really important .
Speaker 2This is huge . Let me ask you this thing Go on , then we know that when we give our lives to Christ , we are born again , we confess our sins and repent . When we give our lives to Christ , we are born again , we confess our sins and repent .
Speaker 1And God forgets all about them .
Speaker 2So we won't be judged by that , but do you think there'll be a time when we're called to account for the things that we didn't do ?
Speaker 1The times I sat around a fire bin . It'll come on the screen of heaven and Jesus I go . Ben , you remember when you was in your workplace and you was dressed in your clergy kit and you heard someone in the background blasphemous speaking against me , and you walked away . You'd done exactly what Peter done you disowned me .
When the rooster crowed , it's got nothing to do with the rooster .
Speaker 1The rooster simply was the identifier to say Peter . When you hear that , you know what I said was true . So it's not the rooster . A lot of people look at it . What was the trigger point is that he sat down with the work crowd . He sat down with the work crowd , he sat down with the world and he , he , he . Now this is really important because we got to be careful here , because the people could worry about their salvation . You can't lose your salvation and I'll tell you why . Because it says in the gospel that we are looking at , that we haven't even flicked the text open to do with Peter . Jesus said and when you come back , this is important to remember world , this is really important to remember brothers and sisters . We can deny Christ in our lifestyle . We can deny Christ in our workplace , we can deny Christ around the fire bin of life . But Jesus prayed and he said when you come back , feed my brothers and sisters .
Speaker 2Well , that's , he came back to Peter .
Speaker 1He said so when you've walked away and you've disowned me , feed my sheep when you come back . So Christ knows , even though Peter was this great character and he said before that I will go to prison and I will die for you , but when your back is up against the wall in the workplace , I would say we have a different understanding .
Speaker 2So how do we deal with it ? So you know it's all easy for us to say across these microphones . But I know people that you know struggle to tell people they go to church in the workplace .
Speaker 1So when I say I don't know , how do we do ?
Speaker 2I also know people that when someone might be ranting on using Jesus , because there's a generation out there that really doesn't know Jesus , apart from being a curse word . So you know , I know people that say can I stop you there , because Jesus saved you ? You know he's your saviour as well . So how do we ? You have to deal with it in a way that we don't come down as this judgmental , because there's a way of dealing with it . There's a way of dealing with it because here's the deal , ben . You know Jesus tells us . You know , take the plank out of your own eye before you look at the speck in someone else's eye so what we've got here is a person that probably doesn't know Jesus at all .
Speaker 2And if we come out being judged , no , they're around the fire bin . They're around the fire bin , yeah . So if we come out being this judgmental , it's going to drive them further away . So , if we come out being this judgmental , it's going to drive them further away . So we have to do it in love . We have to do it in love .
Speaker 1It has to be done in love all the time You're 100% right I wouldn't even we don't need to argue for Jesus . No no , that's a great point .
Speaker 2The Bible says come , let us reason together what might be a good way of doing that , because , listen , we're up against this all the time is when that person has finished talking , quietly , have a word with them when there's no one else around , and go . You know , listen , I'm a Christian and I believe in Jesus , so what you said you know , and they won't even know , they won't even remember even saying no , because it is , it's so much in the vocabulary .
Speaker 2It's in the dictionary If we have a quiet word with them and say you know , listen , this is who I believe Jesus is , and it's really offensive to me . You know , if you wouldn't mind , you know , not using you will get . You'll be surprised , you'll get . Oh , I'm sorry and I don't realise and whatever .
Speaker 1And why are people like that ? Is because , coming back to Exodus 20 , the system is anti and the system has tried and trying to take out the Ten Commandments . If the system embraced the Ten Commandments , people will be educated in what it says do not have any other foreign goods .
Speaker 2They're trying to bring in other . Yeah , they are .
Speaker 1So it's not so much the people , it's the way that the people and we have been brought up in a godless society . So when the Bible says , don't partner with the world . We've got to go to work , we've got to pay the bills , we've got to do everything you've got to do . We've got to bring the children up . You've got to live your life for Jesus . And living your life for Jesus means going and being the light . Don't let your light don't , don't .
Speaker 1That fantastic scripture says let your light shine . Yeah , let your light shine , let your light shine . But how do I let my light shine ? Do I got to get in the end of the staff room and preach the gospel ? No , I just be the character that God wants me to be . Now , that's a difficult thing on its own . That's another subject . But when you realize who you are in Christ , you will have the faith , not the confidence , because if I'm confident I'm in my flesh , so I have the faith to say to that person at work or somewhere do you know what ? I'm a believer , and that's triggered me a little bit funny . Do you mind just refraining from ?
Speaker 2using that yeah lovely .
Speaker 1Is it possible that we could just like ? Because what I've got to be careful of is this spiritual adultery where Christ said you're adulterous generation . If I partner with the matrix and the system it puts enmity , it doesn't affect my salvation , but what it does , it brings not even a barrier it creates . Without faith it is impossible to please God . So I can't be in the devil's schemes , I'm not of the world , but I've got to go into the world .
Speaker 2You've got to be in the world , and do you know what I've got to tell you ? I believe that more there's a lot of what you'd call Christian people out there . Yeah , and a big survey came out this week , didn't it ? Yeah , for the first time .
Speaker 1But people who believe they've got a relationship .
Speaker 2A big survey came out this week , didn't it ? Yeah , for the first time , you know everything . But people who believe they've got a relationship with Jesus Christ I don't think , because we're in a generation that really don't get into the Bible as much as what it should do they don't realise that they are separated from the world . We have to realise that we are , that when we accept Jesus , he came , he died for our sin , and if you were the only person in the world , you would have died for your sin .
Speaker 2That's right yeah , he rose again to save us and accept us as one of his , but he also separated us from the world .
Speaker 2At that point we become a citizen of the kingdom and not of the world .
Speaker 2So when we kind of realise that , and that puts everything into perspective , then we start to read stuff like Paul wrote in Romans 8 , and he said he condemned sin in the flesh and that the righteous requirements of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh .
Speaker 2So when you accept Jesus , you're not walking according to the flesh but according to the Spirit . That's what we're in now , for those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh . So when you're talking about the fire bin again , so around the fire bin , again you've got people that don't know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour . So if you equate the fire bin to the coffee machine at work or wherever , but those who live according to the Spirit , the things of the Spirit , for to be carnally minded is death , but to be spiritually minded is life and peace . Wow , because , as you said , because the carnal mind is enmity against God , for it is not subject to the law of God , nor indeed can be . So then those who are in the flesh cannot please God .
So what the world wants to do ? It wants to lure you away , even though you're born again . Satan wants to lure you away through workplace , through sitting around a fire bin of people and all that , and lure you away from the teachings of Jesus Christ . That's what Satan's goal is is to try and pull you away . The fire bin is a powerful place to be Life . Life itself is so powerful .
Speaker 2The thing is we have to . We do have to be the light . Let your light shine yeah and it doesn't mean we have to walk around with the Bible smashing people over the head .
Speaker 1No , because the biggest Bible anyone will read is you , is your life . Yeah , is your life , your speech , your attitude , your ways , your kindness , the way you walk into a room . You should walk in like Jesus walked in .
Speaker 2We have to be different in the workplace , don't we ? Which means not being part of all the WhatsApp stuff . I know several people that have had to pull out of WhatsApp groups because of the imagery that's going around , the pornographic imagery that people send around these WhatsApp groups .
Speaker 1And they're sent around as in fun and just light-hearted and just all that sort of stuff .
Speaker 2Listen , I was part of all that in the world , but not as a Christian . It's like women in mums' groups , you know , have to come out because there's so much gossip going on about different people . We have to be different . Yeah , that's the fire bin . Yeah , that's the fire bin . So , wherever you are , that can equate to the fire bin . So , wherever you are , that can equate to the fire bin . And my mate was saying the other day , someone in his youth group which was really refreshing a young boy in his youth group because someone said , well , why does God allow all this to go on ? And he said , well , there is a scripture where the wheat and the tares grow together . Yeah , yeah .
Speaker 2And at some point .
Speaker 1You'll see the wheat and you'll see the chaff .
Speaker 2They'll get thrown into the burning lake . So we have to try and advance the kingdom and save as many people .
Speaker 1But take it easy .
Speaker 2Don't get all anxious , because god said it will lead you to places . Your people will see you . Just you don't have to be the alpha and the amiga , you just have to be part of , yeah , god's plan for that particular person or that particular group of people . And if they see the light shining out of you constantly , they're going to say there's something different about you and they'll come to you , yeah , and they will ask you the question and then you can tell them about jesus but to be the light .
Speaker 1Be that in every place of your life . You know , it isn't interesting that last week was in that really powerful word adultery . We're in it again today , but it's got so many faces . It's got so many faces . How could you ever bring Peter into that alignment , the denial of Christ , the separation , the vocabulary separation , but he went out . He went out the , he went out the courtyard . The scripture says , and he wept bitterly yeah , because he knew what he'd done . And your heart knows the right thing , but your lips are making you do something different .
Speaker 2How many times do we come away from conversations thinking , oh , I feel dirty , I feel bad .
Speaker 1Why did I react that way ? Why did I say that ? Why did I do what I know that ? Why ? Why did I do what I know ? It ? Come to that scripture again , didn't it ? Where that great evangelist , bigger than any evangelist on this earth , and he said so clearly why do I do the things I hate and I can't do the things I know I should do ? Roman seven so there comes a point in all of our lives where we have fire bin experiences . But there is many of us that have been brought up sitting at the fire bin and not realizing my . My whole life is round a fire bin and it's challenging .
Speaker 2It's challenging and you know I don't see that many ex-police officers , but when I do and they're not out of faith , it's very easy to get drawn into conversations of how things were back then and go down that route , you know , and I come away thinking why did I regurgitate ?
Speaker 1why did ?
Speaker 2I go back there now what's really interesting there .
Speaker 1I know we're running out of time , are we ? Do you know what ? We're 45 minutes in no .
Speaker 1I ain't do you know what I mean . What's interesting in ? I'm joking , no , I ain't . Do you know what I mean ? No , what's interesting , and what Simon's just brought to the mics there , is that it's easy to get engaged in old conversation when that conversation and that sinful way was nailed to the cross of Calvary . God never remembers that . It's only our carnal mind and we get engaged in banter carnal mind and we get engaged in banter . We get engaged in conversation because the bible tells us that we are humans and we have failings . But that's where redemption comes in , that's where the power of forgiveness comes in . So we might sit around a fire bin and we might deny christ by literally not standing up for what we believe in , and we walk away . Even walking away , we might think , well , actually , if I'll get out of , I've got a way of it . No , actually , because Jesus actually says that there are certain things that we need to confront as believers . You can't run , he says , as they persecuted me , so they will persecute you .
Speaker 2Yeah , he said in this world , you will have trouble , oh Lord , he said . But take heart will have trouble , oh Lord , he said . But take heart , I have overcome . I have overcome and you're right what we were talking about before we sat down on the mic , so we were talking about every day there's struggles .
Speaker 1Every day there's a struggle at work at home in the family .
Speaker 2And the prayer is always prayers . Not take this away from me , Lord , but the prayer is give me the strength to get through it , because when we get through these trials and tribulations , when we get through these struggles , we become stronger in our faith , ben , because when you said he won't take it away , that great writer again writes three times I pleaded with the Lord that you would remove it from me and God come back .
Speaker 1and he said my grace is sufficient for you .
Speaker 2And an example of that , a visual example of that , ben , is if you imagine that you're in a canoe , I don't know , and you go , it's a lovely sunny day and all of a sudden you're going down . It's beautiful and then all of a sudden , you see these rocks ahead of you and you know that you're going to crash into the rocks , don't you ? And you call out God , take the rocks away , take the rocks away . But he doesn't . He doesn't take the rocks away Right at the last minute . What does he do ? He raises the lever of the river Amen , which is grace , isn't ?
Speaker 2it , it's grace , it's grace , and then we float over the top of them .
Speaker 1Yeah , there is always a way with Jesus . And he will not take the thorn . He will not . I actually think this . Sometimes I might get in a bit of trouble about this , but I believe sometimes Christ presses the thorn a little bit more , that we cry more , god , please take it . No , I'm not going to remove it , because this is here for endurance . This is character building . Character is hope . Hope becomes faith . Faith suddenly takes us to a place of complete trust in him . Because that's what it's about . If we kept praying Christ remove everything , we would be floating in the middle of nowhere because everything will be taken . But Jesus says I will strengthen you through your valley . I will be with you at the fire bin .
Speaker 2See , jesus was at the fire bin with him , and all of a sudden we'd start to believe in our own press cones and say I'm so special because Jesus , yeah , no , you're not my special at all . You need Jesus , and and if we ? If he takes everything away from us ?
Speaker 1what are you left with ?
Speaker 2We're not going to need him , are you ?
Speaker 1You'll have nothing around you . You'd literally had never . You just floating in midair , you'd have nothing , believing in your own nonsense . But the trials of life , the fire bin experiences are character building Character is . Christ builds our characters through trials and fires . Like Meshach , shamrach and Abednego , they did not . Their speech , their language are very clear to King Nebuchadnezzar we will not , we will not bow down to your foreign God . They did not come away from what they believed in .
Speaker 2No , and the Lord looked . God looked after him , didn't he All the way through Big time , and Daniel as well . When you're in the group , around the five in the group , wherever and you're hearing stuff going on and it's not sitting comfortable with you as a Christian , then you're in a good place .
Speaker 1Be encouraged .
Speaker 2Be encouraged that you feel that , that you feel that . Yeah , please be encouraged . And we know , listen , it's easy for us to sit here . We're in that , every single day .
Speaker 1I work in two worldly environments . So I'm not in a church office , you know , just reading the Bible all day long . I'm in the front line . I'm in the front line of hard-duest things . You are as a believer yeah , as a believer . So I actually know what it's like to be in a workplace and understand what it's like to have to go to work and put . I don't get what I get from what everybody sees around here . This is my calling , but God always provides . So that's really important . I am not just sitting in a church office as a vicar waiting for Sunday to roll up . I have two jobs and what I do in Elam Church in Swanley .
Speaker 2You're in it . You're around the five bin . I've actually lit the match a few days , and it's true , because sometimes we let things slide , don't we ? We do , because I think the more dangerous place is if you're , if you say you're a Christian and you're actually loving the things of the world , I think that's a dangerous thing , you know ? 1 Timothy 6.10 tells us .
Speaker 2You know , the root of all evil is the love of money so yeah , if you actually call yourself a christian , but you , but money is driving you , things are driving you . If you're partnered with things of the world , then that , then , what I'd ask anyone to do out there is is really just appeal to the Holy Spirit . You know , holy Spirit , is there anything in me that is covetousness ?
Speaker 1Is there anything in me that… Very interesting what you said , because there's so many scriptures we haven't even flipped open talking about spiritual adultery . The Old Testament is literally laced with that . The Israelites were really good at that . They were really good at that coming away from God . But what is so beautiful now is that Jesus sees all , he knows all . He sees our hearts . So wherever you are , you know there's such a massive conversation that just keeps coming on and it just keeps talking about We've got to land it .
Speaker 2We've got to land . Yeah , but before we do , just finish off on this , if this helps you out there , you know , john Wimber said this , ben . He said John Wimber who founded the vineyard , yes , denomination . He said this . He said show me where you put your time , your energy and your money and I will show you what you worship , right ? So and I would also add to that screen time on your phone , the phones and the gadgets .
Speaker 1Look , I'm surrounded by electronics .
Speaker 2You know if I took your phone right , which is glued to your hand . If I took that phone and went through your search history , what would come up top ?
Speaker 1To be honest , I'll show you now . Actually you'll find scripture , so I'm pretty good like that , but we know what you're saying .
Speaker 2We know what you're saying , we know what you're saying . Is it football ?
Speaker 1Yeah , sport , is it sport ? I tell you , mine is Is it gambling .
Speaker 2My top three on my phone is Arsenal , yeah , bbc Sport , yeah , and Scripture of the Day . Exactly In that order . In that order .
Speaker 1So we're .
But the internet is a great powerful thing , the information we can get , but it's what ? Am I giving more air time to ? Yeah , personally . Personally is my heart .
Speaker 2Look at that so if we get ourselves right personally , if we get our hearts right personally , if we identify what's going on and we take steps to put that right , then when we're around the fire bin , everything will fall into place . And the Bible tells us this . It says don't worry about what you've got to say , don't struggle about it , because I'll give you the words . Just you know , even if the conversation is going the wrong way , step away , step away , simple Step away . I'll give you an example very quickly as we come into lambin , a real good mate of mine I won't mention his name , um , he was out in uh on a works trip .
Speaker 2He was out in I'm doing the air quotes on a works trip out in in uh in thailand and um obviously there's a time difference . And he rings me about half seven in the morning he says he said I need some prayer . I said what's going on ? He said well , he said there's six of us and we've just ended up in this club and he's going to seal a deal for a big , a big contract , a big contract , he said . And all of a sudden he said there's six of the most beautiful .
Speaker 1Thai women coming . Oh , no , no , no .
Speaker 2And they've paired off with each other . He said I've just broken away , he said I've got a honey prayer . I need prayer right now . Now the thing is in the natural . For him to break away he would have seen rude and they would have lost that contract . So I prayed very quickly , just a prayer . Lord , help me Please .
Speaker 1God Please .
Speaker 2Lord help him . And there and then the Lord opened the door for him to leave without losing face . Wow , so , what I'm saying , what we're saying , you know .
Speaker 1There's a fire bin roaring away there .
Speaker 2Yeah , and he had married beautiful wife , lovely kids . In a way there , yeah , and he was married , beautiful wife , lovely kids , and the door was open for him . So what we're saying , you know , god makes a way . God makes a way . God makes a way .
Speaker 1God makes a way , but every area and issue of life you go to the wire Takes us to the wire Every time . Everything is at the wire , everything is wire at the wire , takes us to the wire Every time . Everything is at the wire , everything is wire at the wire . And the world is tired at the moment . The world , humanity , is really tired .
Speaker 2We haven't even come on Ben , we haven't even scratched it , I know we're coming to land , but we haven't even come on to the trust thing here because it's a massive trust and I related to just a little story this might .
Speaker 2this week . You know , I had to get out the house very early in the morning , about half past six . I was leaving and just before I left the lock on the front door didn't jamming , jamming , jammed . It wouldn't work . So , uh , I've got my wife , got the wd-40 out . I did everything I could , still wasn't , but I had to go and she had to go out . So what are we going to do with the door , do you know ? So you know how it is . I'm gone , dogs go berserk , wives all over the place , but I'm off .
Speaker 2I'm off on the road . On the road I go , lord , just that little prayer , lord , please help . And I suddenly got a . You know , my prayer was Lord , please release that lock . But I suddenly got a feeling of peace . And then she calls me about 2 o'clock when I'm on my way back . She says oh , she said I just had a thought to phone a locksmith and the first one I phoned was he came and he's replaced the barrel . He said the lock was dead . I thought , thank you , lord , thank you for that , you know , because he didn't release the lock but he put in place someone to come and mend it .
Speaker 1You know you got a new key .
Speaker 2Yeah , very significant , didn't cost much , you know Praise God .
Speaker 1God always makes a way there is always a way .
Speaker 2There's a way . Be encouraged . That's what we're saying , ben .
Speaker 1And it is encouraging . You know , don't keep praying over the lock . God's got a new key for you .
Speaker 2That's a normal number podcast .
Speaker 1It is , isn't it ? It's completely there . We are going to touch down and God bless you , wherever you are today . So the question is or the answer is , or the question is what do I do ? I've just got to follow Jesus . You've got to follow Jesus . It's the Bible , the Bible , the Bible the Bible .
Speaker 2The Bible .
If you're around a fire bin , you know .
Speaker 1We actually salute you and you know what we mean for that , if you are really up against it , you know we shake your hand because we know what it's like and we pray for you because we're all there .
Speaker 2That shake your hand , because we know what it's like and we'll pray for you because we're all there . You know God needs people around the fire bin . He needs Christians in the workplace , and it's my reaction around the fire bin .
Speaker 1It's your reaction , yeah , people are watching you . God will never remove the fire bin , because God orchestrated the fire bin for Peter . It was there , it was in the scripture .
Speaker 2Man , but what a change character .
Speaker 1That's one of the biggest changes of character . We're there . You can find us on Spotify , iheartradio , amazon Music . You can see us and capture these podcasts all over the place . They are really picking up a lot of pace . So we thank God for everybody that's listening . Any comments ? We really would appreciate your comments , but wherever you are today never up , there's always hope . Hashtag christian straight talk . Simon and myself this morning , it's just being honest . It's just . We just want to be honest , to let you know that all is okay , whatever situation you're in , wherever you are this morning , it's okay because god has you and you won't lose your salvation . God bless every one of you until we see you again in Jesus' name .
Speaker 2Yeah , be encouraged because we love you and never think you're under the armour , because Jesus will make a way . That is the truth . You