Hello, and welcome to Elim church swanley, you're joining myself, Reverend Ben Cooper for today's podcast. Yeah, good morning. Thank you for joining us. Wherever you are today, we just want to say welcome. Good morning world. We thank you so much to everybody online as we just jumped online this morning. Good morning, we can see you're coming on this live stream. Good morning, we'll give you a couple of minutes, just a couple of moments quietness. And as you join us for coffee and prayers. We just welcome everybody that's normally joining us. Everyone that will watch this slightly later on down the timeline of technology, we thank God for the podcasters out there the 1000s that download these podcasts throughout the week, we just say thank you to you wherever you are on planet Earth. And thank you this morning to everyone who's joining us online as we just rest. And as we be still, for this our online church service. Normally we start at 930. But we're 15 minutes, delayed this morning. But all as well as we just come before the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit as we just trust our God, whoever you are today, wherever you are today never give up God is with you. The power of the Holy Spirit is strengthening you. And I'm going to start in the book of Romans, the book of Romans beautiful book, Romans chapter eight, Romans chapter eight, verse 35, verse 35, of Romans, chapter eight, however you feel this morning, however you are this morning God is with you. The power of the Holy Spirit is with you, however, distressed you feel God is with you, you know the power of God's word, whatever your situation is, this morning, God will strengthen you, God will guide you. We've got our lovely brother Donnie and Glen with us and Andy this morning as as we just gather and as we just rest as we be still as we take communion together. And we remember we remember our loved ones and our friends and all those that are gathering around for work today getting ready for school getting ready for, you know, going back after the summer break that many people have had. So wherever you are, whatever your situation is today, I just pray that God will strengthen you. And I do apologize for a bit of a backfeed that comes through we've we've jumped rooms where we got some building work going on. And it's quite echoey in here. So I do apologize for a bit of an echoey sound to these recordings over the next few months. But God is with us. Let's be bowed in prayer, you know for this one hour as we're getting ready to take communion in about 3035 minutes time from now. And as Donnie and Andy will lead us around the communion table, you know, wherever you are on the earth wherever you are on the sea Megan's joining us I believe Megan, you're inspiring. Good morning. Good morning. As we just gather for prayer, you know, you can be anywhere on the often the greatness of technology, we can just link with each other and this is so good. So 35 minutes time roughly we'll, we'll take the cart, we'll take the bread. That is very symbolic. And it's really, really important that we that we do that wherever we are on the earth. We don't need to be in the building. We don't need to be in the Lord's house because we can do this anywhere. So Romans chapter wrote Romans chapter eight, verse 35, who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall travel hardship, persecution, famine, or nakedness or danger or sword as it is written? For your sake, we face death all day long, we are considered the sheep to be slaughtered. Verse 37. This is this is what we want this morning. Verse 37, of Romans chapter eight. No, in all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced neither death nor life, nor angels, nor demons, nor the present or the future, not any powers and neither height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God. That is in Christ Jesus, our Lord, nothing can separate. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. That is in Christ Jesus, wherever you are today. You know whether you're listening to this recording later on a year down the line, if the Lord allows us to live that long on this earth, as we just gathered this morning, as the power of the Holy Spirit, is stirring each and every one of us nothing. Verse 35, of Romans, chapter eight, who shall separate us from the love of Christ, let me tell you, nothing's going to do that. The troubles, your worries, your fears, your doubts, your anxious moments, wherever you are, you may feel that, that your faith has just been driven out maybe there's an incident that's happened around you, maybe you've lost a loved one or a friend or as a tragic situation in life for the envelope of life is open. And it doesn't look very good at the moment where God is with you, in every situation, never give up. We encourage everyone this morning, never give up. You're not alone. You are not alone. The Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit is with each and every one of you. And we we just want to encourage you this morning. We just want to encourage you just to press press into the Word of God. You know, join us for this this month. This moment every Wednesday ran about half past nine as well. As we just gathered for this online church service, and we thank God for all of your lives, we thank God for all of your lives. Everybody online this morning, we thank God for you. And wherever you are today we pray that the power of God will just guide you and strengthen you and the hand of the Lord would just lead you lead you into paths of new beginnings, new beginnings. Are you looking for a new beginning? Are you are you looking for a way forward? Well, he is the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE no one comes to the Father except through him. So whatever your circumstances this morning, you're not on your own. You've got the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, and nothing can separate you from that great love. Nothing. Look what the scripture says. Now in all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us for I am convinced, neither death nor life, nor angels nor demons, neither the present or the future, not any powers, neither height, nor depth, not anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. You are loved. You are loved beyond human understanding. Father, we pray for our brothers, our sisters, our friends on line this morning. Lord, we thank you Father for what's happened through through lockdown, lockdown churches as has been birthed. And we thank you that the power of the Holy Spirit that you are moving Lord, in in every home in every heart today, wherever people are listening today, we pray for such a stirring it in our innermost being but Lord, all our worries we bring to the foot of the cross. All our doubts we bring to the foot of the cross, all day God or thoughts Lord, or or Tao or area Lord of struggles, we lay at the foot of the cross, but Lord, we know that we are truly blessed and nothing can separate us from the love of God. That is in Christ Jesus. So this morning, Lord, we are truly loved. Lord, our listeners are truly loved Lord, those that are working behind the scenes that are truly loved. So Lord, we come to you this morning. And Lord, we asked you, Father, that you're serious, Lord, that we will be more hungry for you. Lord, we pray for healings. We pray for miracles. We ask for peace this morning. We pray for all those that are going back to school, University College, they're going up a grade going up a level Lord, those that are moving out of the UK, those that are coming into the UK, those that feel just really lonely this morning, those that are looking farther for a relationship those Lord they're looking for marriages to be strengthened those that are looking farther for healing. Those they're looking for the miracle Father, we thank you that every heartbeat is a miracle. Lord, every heartbeat is a miracle father can you hold the case? God you hold the case to death into life and Father we come before the sisters and brothers this morning and law we lay everything at the foot of the cross and Lord we just want to we want to be still and recognizes as the scripture says Be still know that I'm God. We know that your god we recognize that you are God. And this morning with We're sorry, Lord, when we when we rush around that the humdrum of life the stuff that is really meaningless Lord, I ask you though, that you strip back everything from me that just is meaningless that I'm just going around in a circle, like a crazy Fox just chase in my tell Spirit of the Living God I pray, Lord, that you will just strip back as the gardener says, You are the scripture says that you are the garden on the vine dresser. And this morning Lord I ask you that you strip everything back from me that is meaningless. Lord that is I'm just running around father chasing the towel or just going from one thing to another that has no real purpose no has has no eternal value. So this morning, Lord we call on the greatest name in heaven on earth. And we're looking for a stirring today we're looking for a stirring Lord in the mighty name of Jesus Christ we're looking Lord for a mighty staring Lord in our hearts Lord we lay everything at the foot of the cross. We welcome Donnie into the house of the Lord we welcome Andy into the house of the Lord we welcome Glenn into the house of Allah we welcome everyone father that's listening to this online live stream service will welcome them into this space a little we welcome everybody that's listening to this podcast. later on down the timeline of technology we welcome Lord everyone that's listening wherever they are, Father, we thank You Lord, as the scripture says, we can't be together Lord, all of us with the physicality side of ourselves, but Lord, we were connected through the power of the Word of God. So wherever people are today on this online service around the world, Father, we thank you that the power of the Holy Spirit Lord is uniting us together, uniting us together. Father, we thank you there is no division. Lord, there are no worries, there are no fears. We thank You, Lord, that this is a church without walls law. This is a church without walls. And Father, every wall law, number of hostility has been broken. Every barrier of religion has been broken and we are all free in the name of Jesus Father, thank you. That locked down as freed us from real Religion freed us from denominational ties. And Lord we thank you who the sun sets free is free indeed. And Lord this morning all those that are listening as we're gathering around the mic for coffee and prayers, we just do this in a restful way, as we be still on know that you are God we believe that you are healing on the other side of this lens today. We believe on the other side of these mics there are miracles happening in their homes. We believe peace is abound in in their in our apartments in their flats in their homes farther in in wherever they live today. Whatever their situation is whatever they call their home. We thank you that peace is abound in in their homes today. We thank you dear God that you are driving, you are driving this nation forward. Lord we pray for this government Lord we thank You that You are Lord, the head of the church and the Lord we thank you for the government but this morning we pray for homes we pray for governments we pray for physicality that we will be held in the mighty name of Jesus that we will see a healing that we are healing that there is alien father backs cancers heart disease Lord worries stresses father all those they're going through suicidal thoughts Lord all those Father God that feel really depressed Father we pray that you will break depression now. at the name of Jesus Lord also social media Lord the the draw that social media as we pray that you will break Father God, the temptation, the relentlessness, Father, the attraction father that is there in there on the social platform Father, we are sure that we will not waste any more time fathers scrolling, farther meaning less time Lord just looking for the social media as Lord, we pray for that gaming generation that we've got as well or that that will be broken in the name of Jesus, the the the young father that are called father right now in gaming law where they sit up all night they're gaming all day and all night Father, we pray that you will break that culture now. And the power of the Holy Spirit will come in. We pray for all the children we pray for the young adults, Lord that are locked in their room, because fear they can't go out they are fearful of socializing. They're fearful of getting out into society. We pray Lord for any any human this morning father that has been locked down Lord for so long that they are worried about going into back into the world stepping outside their front door, they're worried about the shops, they're worried about undergoing the school run. They're worried about mixing with other human beings we pray that fear will go at the name of Jesus. We pray right now for depression will be broken at the name of Jesus, or doubt will go at the name of Jesus and father. I just remind myself that nothing as the scripture says Romans chapter eight, there will be nothing that can separate from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus the Lord. As we press deeper into this coffee and prayer as we press deeper into your word as Glen as leads us, as Donnie reads from the word and Zandi leaders in prayer, as we gather for communion, we thank you that the online church rather, is with us this morning. They are with us and we are with them. Spirit of the Living God move in your fullness we ask you in your grace, your mercy and your power. strengthen us, Lord, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, Amen. Thank you, Holy Spirit. Thank you, Lord, we bless you this morning, Lord, You are a good and a powerful God. We just pray, Lord, that you will just Lord just sweep for our hearts Lord, just gently this morning. fathers are hand over to dawn this morning is going to read something out Lord, sweep for our hearts. So they will sweep us through. Thank you, Holy Spirit. And thank you, Father, we bless you long. Amen. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Jesus, Holy Spirit. Lord, you're worthy of all price sweet for our hearts, Lord. Sweet for our hearts. God bless you done. God bless. Thank you, Lord, hallelujah. Wonderful Jesus.
Donny Stockburn:Father, sometimes I come to you feeling like I've failed in everything I do in this life in order as a father and a brother and a son, and as a husband and as a worker in your church, Lord. I feel like I've blown in every single way I feel off failed Lord, and that's a hard thing to get over. But when I read your word, Lord, I'll say that that doesn't matter. Not really, Lord, not when I read your word, because it revives us, Lord. And our reading this song The other day, 23rd Psalm. Probably the most famous song that we ever made. And Lord is good reason for that. Because it describes our journey in this life perfectly with Jesus as a shepherd Lord, and I just want to read you through it. This 23rd Psalm, and in it, I want you to see that We are the responsibility of the shepherd. He's responsible for us. Shepherd is always responsible for his sheep. And if you remember that word, Jesus spoke to his father about his side and said, Father, I've kept them all. My saved them all, kept him safe. And he will say that about every question one day, Father, or capital are saved, or because this word says that Jesus has done it all. When he said, it's finished, It is finished, not just on a cost man, but in our lives as well. It's finished once were saved what we born again, is finished, Jesus will deliver the shape. And is it the word that describes the journey will be on with him? And a lot of read it to you? And then it says, The Lord is my shepherd. As a comfort. Yeah, I shall not one. He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. No doubt. That tells me you know what's going on inside me. It tells me, you know, when I need a rest, you know, when I need to lay down while it still was. The shepherd knows his sheep. Yeah, well, that's a comfort to me. All this work you've already accomplished. It says here. He restores my soul. Lord right now could do some restoring and, it says you will do it. The shepherd, will restore my soul. He says He leads me in the path of righteousness for his namesake. Notice, he said, he makes me. Here is me. Thank you, Jay. He restores me.
Reverend Ben Cooper:He does. He leaves me
Donny Stockburn:everything. Jesus has done it all. He's done it all for us. And this is just describing the journey of every question, what we will go for. And then we get right down here. And it says, our fear no evil. Lord, I'll fear things. Many times, I don't quite understand what that means. But when I see it says, You are with me, this Shepherd is with us the whole journey. He never leaves us, lord i feel life coming back into me again. And this is your word to that you remind us that you never leave us. And that we your responsibility. And no, we will arrive there in first sight. Because you have bought us there not because of our works, not because of our efforts, not because of our fears and worries. Because you've done it. You've finished it. You've secured it, Lord, for us. And it says right there. You prepare a table format. This is Yeah, this is what's why in first, you prepare the table for me before my enemies, all my fears or my troubles are set before seven cup that will run over. And a lot and already I can look back. And I can see the truth I can see the goodness and mercy that has followed my own desires, my life our true Your word is Lord, to your word is and last bit there. The shore safe end of this journey for every question in this world is I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. A father that brings life back to me that comes to you, Lord, that you've already done it, that you've already finished it. I'm on the journey. Yeah. But you've finished it already. Jesus has done it all is done everything for us in advance. And is that time on this journey? I don't really understand God all the time. When my faith goes and gets to a low point, I don't understand it. I don't understand all the things you do in my life. But I know Lord, FMR good Yes, I know the full strength in me. Oh no, no for making me like Jesus. Lord, don't know just hang on in house time sometime. Just hang on to this word, this truth, that you are the shepherd who never leaves us think tanks responsibility for that, Lord, he's with us. When I go through you say we will go through times of fear. And and your disciples certainly went through times of fear, Lord, but they're with you now safe in heaven. And your Word is true. That you've done it all on. You give them strength when they needed it. You saved them one out of situations when they needed it. You cheer them up, Lord, You filled them with good This summer as a spirit, not an artist, yes, love fall down before you, Lord, because I'll know that these words are true. And you have finished all you have done it all, I believe there's a song called Jesus done it all. And that's a truth that Jesus has done it all before louis farrakhan we to sit there and say these things come up in our lives, Lord, and know that you are in charge, that you are our Redeemer that our lives have in your hands, Father, God, come what my you will, you will finish the work, you will do this we will dwell in the outer loop forever. And we will sit before the only pen our cup will overflow follicle. Images. Thank you, Lord, all these promises are so true. And Lord, in our experience in life, is that you love us, Lord, and that you've done it all for us. And I just say thank you, Lola, I want to pray for those who are like me at times right now, Lord, filled I found it may be pastors may be vicars, maybe teachers, whatever. You feel you failed. You feel that you're not doing what God called you to do. I want you to know this work. Jesus is done it all already is finished the word whole world. Yeah, there'll be times on his journey when it's tough. There'll be times when we don't understand. But this word, pride foreigner will go down, who you will download it into our spirits, that Jesus has done it all. It really is finished. We are yours. We are your responsibility. Our survival safe in heaven is Jesus responsibility. And he says it is finished. I've done it already. Lord says want to thank you for that word. In Jesus name, amen.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Amen. Thank you.
Glenn Walsh:Donnie i was preached on that on Sunday, just taken it and made it whole. JOHN 10 verse seven, Jesus says, and this whole thing is about Jesus being the Good Shepherd now
Donny Stockburn:Amen.
Glenn Walsh:When you think of Shepherd, Tom, think of some insignificant man who can only look after sheep. You try get through the shepherd to the sheep is rod, which is a club, and his staff near will protect the sheep. And when they made the sheep pens, there was only one way in one way out. And that was the gate. Yeah. And it was a very narrow gate, a very small gate, you'd have to squeeze through it if there wasn't a gate. If there was out in the wilderness, there'd be a makeshift pen. And the shepherd would literally stand in the gap. Yeah, to go through the shepherd. And Jesus says from verse seven, truly, truly had Jesus cannot lie,
Donny Stockburn:man.
Glenn Walsh:So he says, Truly, truly saying, Listen, listen, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. And then he says, All who came before him were thieves and robbers and everyone else is a hired servant, a hired hand. He is the shepherd. He says in verse nine, I am the door.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Amen.
Glenn Walsh:If anyone enters by me, he will be saved. Praise God. That's it. Yes, reverse. He later he says, I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep, the Holy Spirit. Thank you. He says in verse 14, I am the good shepherd. I know my own and they know me. He says in verse 15, I know the farmer and I lay down my life for the sheep on it's all about Jesus, the rest of us are hired hands only him. Yes. So do not put your faith in anyone else but Jesus, amen. No one no other name can save you. No pastor can save you. No Christian hero could save you no denomination can save you the religion of Christianity cannot save you. But they all point to the one who can we point to him and he is the Good Shepherd. Yeah. Oh, no, the others everyone. Some Peter some Paul, Matthew, Mark, Luke and john alijah. As for sitting here, which is hard hat. Yeah. Jesus said the hired hands flee. And when you look at the heroes of the faith, Moses fled. Yeah, Elijah fled. Peter the rock fled. JOHN mark,
Donny Stockburn:yes,
Glenn Walsh:fled when Jesus didn't. For the joy set before him the joy they endured the cross, our good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. Yes, our salvation is inhuman him alone. He is the now gate by which we must enter the follicle. Thank you. He is the way the truth and the light come on. And the way to the Father is through him. And his being open this meeting, once you his and he's laid his life down for you and he's paid for all of our centers in his total as soon as nothing can snatches from his hands. What a shepherd Jesus was Shepherd, nothing can stand before he means above all things, all things were created by him and for him and for his good pleasure. And his good purpose soon as he saved us it is given us is to see how else to believe and the faith to know him. My sheep know My voice, he says they cannot listen to another, put your faith in Jesus ability as the shepherd, not in your own. Listen. I'm not the good shepherd. It's always been noise and the noise. Donny,
Reverend Ben Cooper:thank god for that
Glenn Walsh:noise any pastor go in, if you're trusted in our abilities, you're going to follow this. Yes, everything. But I put my trust in the one who is unshakable.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Thank you jesus
Glenn Walsh:the one who carries me the one if I wandered away from the flock, leave the 99 just for me.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Hallelujah.
Glenn Walsh:The one who was with me always said I see him face to face. He's promised to be with me through His Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, we just invite you now to come and speak to whatever despair people are in whatever walk they're hiding on the level. Come on, the ones who are fleeing when Elijah fled. He was given breakfast by angels. And when he stood in God's will, he was fed by an unclean bird. God's grace is sufficient for you. Wherever you are today. If you're the protocol, thinking, can I go home the father runs to make it. God is love. He doesn't just love He is love. Every good thing comes from him. Jesus, I want to thank you for who you are. We worship you
Donny Stockburn:everything.
Glenn Walsh:We give you our utmost, only in you to really trust and it's your blood that has saved us. Nothing. Nothing can separate us from your mouth. thank you Jesus. Amen
Reverend Ben Cooper:Thank you Holy Spirit. Yeah.
Donny Stockburn:Yeah, that's a blessing, assurance keep that. Keep that in your hearts. Bless it assurance. Jesus did it all. He was there at the beginning. One john says, john one says it was there was that he was there. There was nothing made. That wasn't made for him. He is the author of life is the giver of life is a style of life is our Savior. Oh, Lord, thank you, Lord, bless it assurance that it is finished, Lord, that You did it all. Jesus did it all. Jesus did it all. Keep that. Keep that in your hearts, through all the troubles and all of war is an issue that goes on, like the disciples did. Lord Jesus did it all was already done, it is finished. We thank You, Lord, we thank You, Lord. Amen.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Amen. Father, we just rest in you this morning, Lord, all those online. Each one of us in this house this morning, Father, we just give you everything can our heart this morning Father, Lord, our faults our our understanding Lord, the logic of life, Lord, the cognitive process in the way that we the way we deal with things, the way that we compute things, the way that we try and work things out. Lord, I pray for any one of us that over anticipates tomorrow. Because tomorrow Lord has got enough worries of itself. Just concentrate on today. So Father, I ask you, that you all Look dear god guide each and every one of us just to focus on today alone, because we know very clearly today has got enough trouble of its own as the scripture says, And Lord as we just come to the Father, the Son the Holy Spirit. Lord, we believe in miracles we believe in the power of the word we believe. In guardhouse savings. Lord, we call on the God of Israel, Jehovah gyra, Jehovah nissi, Jehovah Shalom, Lord, we thank You Lord, we rejoice this morning, in spirit and in truth that we are children of the living God. And Lord, no matter what our physicality, our body, our minds, the logic is trying to do to us, Lord, we rise this morning on wings as of eagles, and we stand as children of the living God, we believe in the Word of God. We believe in the Word of God. We believe from Genesis to Revelation. We believe in the God of Israel, we believe that your word is yes and Amen. We believe that your word is without error. And Lord, we thank you that your word is sharper than a double edged sword. And right now as we are gathered around father, as we are praying as we are listening as we are just in this online service today, Lord, we thank you that you are calling everyone on the other side of these mics you are speaking directly to them today. Your Word, Lord, Your Word, Father, God is penetrating through the darkness. Your Word, Father, Lord is is so powerful is cutting through the mirror, as the scripture said, Your word cuts through. So Father, we thank you that the Word became flesh and he made his dwelling among us. And as john said, we have seen his glory. We have sinned the King of kings. We have seen the glory So Father we pray this morning, that your glory will continue to go before us as Moses said in the book of Exodus if your presence does not go with us, we a move. Lord, I pray that that will be for us for around these my online church brothers and sisters today, Lord, we need we need your presence and Lord if we are ahead of you, draw us back Lord, if we're if we've wandered and lent to the left or the right, pull us back, Lord, if we are lagging behind drawers up. So Lord, we want the gun. We want to be in tune with you Father, we want to be in step with you, Lord, we don't want to be galloping on. We want to be Dec on hearing your heartbeat. What is your plan? What is your purpose for us? We pray Lord, for the lone parent today, we pray for the single parent families. We pray for either the mom or the dad, whoever is that lone parent, we pray that you'll strengthen them as they bring up their children and father as the scripture says, Bring up in the child in the way that he should go we pray, Father, for those that are struggling, Lord with wayward children, Lord, that You will dear god intervene into that area Lord into that young adult father, though that is being very disrespectful to their parents, Lord, we pray for them. Young children, Father that that are just a full of beans, so to speak, that are hard Father, God, parents a lot we bring parents before you today, Lord, and we ask you father, that you will work through families, that you will work for those that are looking to have a family those that we pray for them women that are given birth at this moment in time, we thank you dear God and Heavenly Father, that you are working long in the maternity suite right now that you are bringing a life into this world and we pray Father, for all the mums, Lord, all the mums that are carrying at this moment, we pray that you will strengthen them and you will be with them father, that the transition Lord from womb to world will be blessed in the name of Jesus. We pray, Father for the mums that are carrying these miracles. We thank You Father God, for for the way Dear God, children come into this world and we pray for every child in every woman's stomach right now in their very being Lord in their they're very heart Lord as they carry them in their physical Lord and in their art as well. So Lord, we pray for every woman that is going through bad childbirth at this moment we pray the angelic activity that God will intervene in the area we pray that you will be with the surgeons you will be with the midwives you'll be with all the team that are in the maternity suites now that no life will be lost in the name of Jesus, that you will make a way we thank you that life begins at conception and Lord even before the physical comes into being Lord, Your Scripture tells us before the foundations of the world. I know you before mom and dad ever got together before the stars were put in the universe before he ever said let there be light before the foundations of the world. He knows every human being when they're going to come into being and when he will take them off of the earth as a father, you are the life giver. And Lord, we pray again for that lone parent today, that lone parent that is struggling with life, Lord that has their head in their hands at this moment that is struggling father that is just worried about their daughters or their sons. We ask you father that you will just give him Godly counsel. We pray Lord for wisdom, Godly wisdom that you will be Lord with parents Father, we thank You, Lord for the homes that we thank you for every house. But Lord has a scripture says I really believe now. This is very apt for every one of us on planet earth that calls themselves a believer, set your house in order. Set your house in order. But father suite for this nation, suite for every house suite for every church, every pastor's office, Father, Lord is common. Give us rest today. As we press on Lord and sisters and brothers time is really ramping on this morning. And if you want to take communion with us this morning, please get yourself some bread ready in the next five minutes and he will lead us in a moment. But as we're just gathering for prayer, I urge you never give up. If you are that lone parent, never give up. Whether you're the mum or whether you're the Dad, you're the lone parent, whoever you are, or maybe the grandparent or whatever, whatever your your role is in bringing up a child if you are that loan parent, we thank God for your life. Because you are not alone. You are not alone. Don't put too much weight on Universal Credit. Don't put too much weight on the system. Put everything you've got into Christ. For everything you've got into Christ the system we know the system always vows us, but Jesus won't value so if you're that lone parent and however you call parent in whatever that may look like in your sight. I pray that God will strengthen you in the home. The Spirit will guide you. And he will bring that child up in the way that they should go in the Word of God. The best investment a parent can ever do in our house, is get a Bible and read it to their child. The best investment anyone can ever do is get a word of God. It comes in paperback form. It's not just in electronic form, it comes in paperback. And our brother Andy, if anybody wants a Bible, we'll move on to that later. Anybody wants a free Bible, please contact us here and they will put you in contact. The Word of God is the best investment a parent, a grandparent, a human being will ever have in their life. invest your life, in the Word of God, and they're free. We're coming to the table. We're coming to the table of remembrance, we're coming to that place where Christ was gathered with with the just and remembering who was around that table. Judas. Judas Iscariot was around the table. So when the priests have said to us over generations, you're not worthy of communion. How many people have been told that in the past through the different layers of denominations? I'm sorry, you can't, you can't take communion. But Jesus says you can. How many times have we heard this for our life that the priest, the bishop, the leader said, I'm sorry, you can't. Because of A, B, C, and D. Well, Jesus says in my Bible, in the Word of God, as often as you come together, Do this in remembrance of me. I don't see any church folk around that table. What I see are robbers, what I see are thieves what I see are human beings, or what I see are men around that table fishermen, what I see is Judas Iscariot, that was just about to betray Christ. And Christ knew who was around that table. Because he said to him, Judas, what you're about to do, do quickly, and the others thought that they were talking about a money transaction, something that was happening as he was the keeper of the person, everything that went on, but Jesus sold him for 30 pieces of silver. So when you really analyze him really study, who was at the table of remembrance, there was no holy Joes around there. There was no bishops and not archdeacons. There was no Vickers, there was no clergy around there, there was fishermen, the one that denied him three times was about to take the bread, the one that sold him for 30 pieces of silver was the first one that took it. And just as he took her that it says that Lucifer entered into Judas Iscariot, so Lucifer was on the outskirts just waiting. It's really interesting, when you look at what communion is, but Jesus is telling you now, you'll never get yourself ready to come to the table. No one's worthy of coming to the table, but by the blood of the Lamb, but by the power of repentance, and by the power of salvation, the gift, you are saved, not because of you are great and wonderful. We're not saved because we are great and we're doing good things we are saved by grace. You cannot earn salvation, it is given as a gift. And God has given you the gift. You are alive you are well. Your heart is beating, whether you're listening to this in hospital or at home, in a hospital or at work wherever you are. We're about to break bread together. The most powerful thing a human being can ever do. Whether you're at home or at church, wherever you are today. We got a couple of minutes before we break this break. Get yourself ready. And I don't mean get your physical ready. I mean, get your bread ready, get ready, get that cup ready to get the rhiwbina flowing. And it's a little bit early for any Pinot Grigio but please be careful. Drink sensibly, or warnings go ahead of this. But come on. Let's gather around a table together. Let's break bread together. Let's break all religious jargon and chat. Let's break bread together this morning. Thank you, Andy.
Andy Hammond:I just want to Can I give a few thoughts this morning. Just before I left this morning, I the TV was on and on the news and there will see football em right on the TV. And I think he was talking about a book you might have published. And the interviewer asked him what's it all about? And he said it's all about hope. Rarely. And I thought that's interesting, good. But at that moment I left to come here. And it got me thinking because the magazine that good news for everyone publishes
Reverend Ben Cooper:called Praise God. Great magazine. Yeah.
Andy Hammond:And in this is the whole of John's Gospel, and a few songs. And I think Donnie referred to one which is in here, Psalm 23. But that's a good magazine. And I then thought of the song, our hope is built on nothing less, Jesus Christ, and His righteousness, amen. And that's what it's all about, really, it's all about Jesus. And I just want to invite Holy Spirit to come and be really present with those who are watching this morning. And just open your arms and those of you watching now, wherever you are, just ask Holy Spirit to come and bring. Bring his power, bring his love. Bring his comfort now, and I know that there are those who are grieving this morning. Yes, love with great loss. Just come and sit in his presence. And let the liquid love of Jesus pour out now for you, just to come alongside you.
Donny Stockburn:Thank you.
Andy Hammond:Because Jesus came, he came. He's, he's a warrior. He had to fight a battle. He came to bring good news. Amen. Yes, Lord. And my thoughts have also turned to Isaiah 52. And verse seven says, How beautiful and the mountains are the fate of those who bring good news, and proclaim peace and bring good tidings who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, your God reigns. Now, I'm told that those who bring good news, this was the messengers running back to the king, to declare the victory that his armies had won. And that was a good news. This, this messenger would run back and give the result of the battle to the king, the men, and if there was a victory, it would certainly be good news. And fetuses won the victory. And in Romans 10, verse 15. That verse is really quoting, it says, and how can they preach? Unless they are sent? Yeah, as it is written? How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news?
Reverend Ben Cooper:Thank you, Holy Spirit.
Andy Hammond:Jesus has won the victory. He's won the victory. And that's why it's incumbent upon us to bring the message of the good news.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Yeah, finally,
Andy Hammond:Jesus has won the victory.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Amen.
Andy Hammond:And it's all about you, Jesus. Yes, we just want to thank you, for what you accomplished. You won the victory. And we we are your messengers. Let us, give us courage, give us strength to bring the good news. And we celebrate that victory this morning by taking bread and wine. And all those now join with me as we take the bread and celebrate the victory that Jesus has accomplished. And that necessity for us to take the message to all those around us. Yeah, serve our neighbors, to our friends, to our families. To those we meet by the bus stop in a supermarket. Take the good news that Jesus has won the victory and you can have life in him. In all its fullness. Amen.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Thank you, Jesus. Thank you. Holy Spirit. Yeah, just as we all become this as we are. Thank you, Jesus.
Donny Stockburn:Yeah, thank you, Lord. Just take us back to beautiful Psalm 23 mistoria of every questions journey in this world, then, just want you to comment on these truths, this journey. Is with Jesus. There was not one moment in when he describes our journey without him. He is with us always. He even said those words always. The shepherd never leaves the sheep, no matter what's going on. And they also live is not one moment when we're not his responsibility. I love that. I'm Jesus response. He's my, he's taking responsibility for me for my safe arrival in heaven. And my safe journey through this world. It may be a dangerous one at times, but he's going to get me there as his promise. And this is the blood. Is it the blood Lord, this is what we know, is one the lifeforce, this is Jesus has done it all. And he did it by shedding his blood for us. We just thank you for in Jesus name. Amen.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Amen. Thank you. Wonderful.
Donny Stockburn:I've just one other word. I'd like to say it's in Psalm 55. And it's just this one verse in his first 22, and it says, cast your burdens on the Lord, and He shall sustain you, he shall never permit the righteous to be removed to be moved. I like that and all. Am I righteous? Yes, this blood has made me so much Thank you, Lord, for this word here. It says that you will never permit the righteous to be moved on or stand on Metro's and if each of us here and stand on natural, which is Thank You, Lord, that You are our sovereign. You'd, you really did do it all Lord is finished. Thank you, Lord. Amen.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Amen.
Andy Hammond:just mentioned, scriptures that are available to you at no cost. I can provide New Testaments or Bible even if you want it. Here is brilliant, New Testament and Psalms and
Reverend Ben Cooper:Proverbs, yes.
Andy Hammond:This reading plan and this you can actually read a few verses every day with a reading plan and accomplish the whole book in one or two years. So certainly a little bit you have to read every day. But when you read Scripture, you take it into your very being maumoon, and you you absorb it, and it becomes part of you. And I've just had a thought about that good shepherd, which we started off with and that the Good Shepherd doesn't the night, he lays across that show opening. Yeah, so there he is the protector
Reverend Ben Cooper:Amen.
Andy Hammond:Just that image to finish with today that Jesus is your protector, here is the Good Shepherd. And he lays across that small opening of the sheep pen, so that the wolf or the bear,
Reverend Ben Cooper:Thank You, Jesus.
Andy Hammond:So bring that peace into your life today. Peace over all, all who are listening today.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Father, we just in these few moments of closing this service today, Lord, all of us wherever people are gathered today, on this online streaming service, we thank you for their lives. Lord, we thank You Father, that as we gather together across the world, whether we're on the school run, whether we're in the office, whether we're listening through headphones, earpieces, or whatever it may be outside of coffee shop, Lord, and in the staff room at home, wherever we are listening and joining into this service, we thank You, Lord, that wherever we are, you are we thank you that we carry you, Lord. Lord, that nothing as Romans said, Nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus, I pray for all those that that feel, Dear God, that they are separated from the world. I thank you for that. Because they are Lord. All those that feel that there's a strange atmosphere. I thank you for that law, because you are speaking I thank you, Lord, as the book of Joel and the book of access in the last days or pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Lord, I ask you that you will have mercy on the church for where we've missed it, where we've had our head down on the spreadsheet and the pie chart Lord and mapping our way through Lord and we have come away from the Word of God. We just bring this service to a close by asking that you will have mercy Lord On the ecclesia, on the church on the establishment, that we bring all pastors, all leaders, anyone that is a leader in the church that calls themselves a leader. I pray, Lord, that you'll bring us all. All to the word if we're in the word. Bring us deeper. If we've pushed the word aside because of regulations, systems of church, put the word in front of us today, Lord, we pray, Father God, for bishops and leaders, pastors and prices, all the clergy any anyone that is in a position of position of leadership, within the church within the UK, we ask you, Father, that you stir them, stir them hard this morning started going, stir them for the word, yes, we pray Lord for all congregations through every different denomination, the hundreds and 1000s of different denominations on this earth. But we pray for every establishment within the UK. We ask your father, for those that attend church regularly, that you will guide them closer to you, we pray for all those that are worried about stepping into church that haven't been in church for years, that they feel that church will judge them that will religion will judge them. They're frightened to step into church, maybe for the first time. We thank You, Lord, that we don't need a church building to receive Jesus. Because wherever you are right now, Christ is speaking to your heart. It's not about the building is about the great Iam is about Jesus, and he loves you. Even if you don't put a foot over the threshold of a church, even if you don't go and sit in that building down the end of the road that's called church. Christ is with you. Now. Wherever you are on this earth. The Holy Spirit is your comforter, God, the Word is your guide. And the Father in Heaven is your father. Wherever you are, don't feel intimidated by religion and church. just surrender everything to the Father, Son, the Holy Spirit. Go to the cross, the cross, and the price has been paid, you are free. You are free this morning. Not because of the great building down in a town. Because of the cathedral you're not. You're not free because of religion, you're free because of the blood of Jesus. You're free because he chose to save you. You're free, even though you're at your life is a mess. situations are out of control. He loves you. Don't look to the building. Look above lift your eyes above the skyline of that building. Don't worry about stepping in the threshold of religious order. I would actually say step outside of religion and follow Jesus. We got to be disciples. Not in trench not grounded in religion, and man's viewpoint. But I want to be found in the Word of God. So wherever you are, as we bring this to our closes, I invite Glenn to bring us to the final prayer this morning.
Andy Hammond:Can I just intervene?
Reverend Ben Cooper:Yeah, course you can
Andy Hammond:just feel that there are a number of people who want healing from God. And this might be just their, the way they think their thought processes the way that they're feeling at the moment. They need to be lifted. They need to be encouraged, and just ask God's Spirit to come and be with you now healing and just sit before him and just say come Lord Jesus, be with me. Walk with me, encouragement. And there's also someone I think who's got a problem with his foot. It's, or it might be a lady. It's, it's a big toe. I get this picture of a big toe and he can't bend and which is causing a problem with walking. And Father I just pray now that you will come and meet with them that you will bring your healing power and we say be healed in the name of Jesus story. Yeah. Amen.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Thank you, Andy. Thank you.
Glenn Walsh:Yeah. And in closing those people, if you've tuned in and you're, you're thinking, well, it's alright for you, you don't struggle like i do. It's all right for you. You know, as Donnie said earlier, you're righteous. Now that's not the case at all. Even the Apostle Paul struggled. And we'll close looking at Philippians three, verse 12. And this is the words of Paul, not that I have already obtained this already perfect. But I press on to make it my own. Because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I've made it my own. But one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on towards that goal for the prize of the up would call of God, Christ Jesus. And he says in verse nine, not having a righteous righteousness of my own that comes from the Lord, but one that comes with faith in Christ,
Reverend Ben Cooper:amen.
Glenn Walsh:to Jesus, I want to thank you, for your up would call,
Reverend Ben Cooper:Yes, Lord,
Glenn Walsh:know that you've already laid hold of us, and we want to take hold of the reason for which you've taken hold of us. So Lord, I pray for everyone listening. I pray for us in this room, that we press on, that we would not let past disappointments hold us back, we'll forget what's behind. But we keep our eyes on you. The one who is faithful. The one, you're the same yesterday, today, and forever, glory. So Lord, for those who think I'm not worthy, well, none of us. But it's your grace. For those who are thinking, I'm abandoned. You're not speaking to even now. Yes, fall. And for those who are saying, What do I do with my life, follow Him and know His voice. So, Lord, we commit ourselves and we commit all of our heroes to you, knowing that you're the one who goes before us. You're the one who stands behind us. You're the one who's to our left and to our right, knowing that we're securing you that nothing can snatch us from your hands. Let us hear your voice each day. Yes, just like you promised, for your kingdom coming here on the earth.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Thank you, Jesus. Amen. Yeah, wherever you are today, we just want to say thank you so much for joining us for this online church streaming service. And may God continue to guide you in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Thank you, Donnie. Thank you, Andy. Thank you, Glen. And thank you for everybody online. And wherever you are, again and again. Follow Jesus never give up. There is always hope. There is always hope. And thanks to the online churches, we are watching you and we we've been trying to cover all the prayer requests coming through and we thank God that we're able to do that and everybody that will listen to this podcast back down the timeline of technology and to whoever you are, and wherever you are. Follow Jesus. Have a great day. In Jesus precious name, amen. God bless. Goodbye.
Close:Thank you for listening to Elim church swableys latest podcast. You can find us on buzzsprout Spotify Apple Music iHeartRadio Google Play Alexa mixcloud, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.