Reverend Ben Cooper: 0:01

Hello and welcome to elim church swanley you're joining myself, Reverend Ben Cooper for today's podcast. Good morning world, wherever you are. Thank you so much for joining us for this online streaming service this morning. We are a tad late this morning. Good morning to everybody online. Thank you so much for joining us, wherever you are today, as we just have coffee and prayer as we gather as we rest in his presence. He is the King of kings, and He is the Lord of lords. And we've had a little technical difficulty sometime this morning. But we're on our way, we're on our way, thank you to all the podcasters that are listening, as we record this podcast, wherever you are today, we always try to push this as much as we possibly can never give up, keep going in the Word of God. You know, there is seasons on your life, things are happening that you never thought that you would see to happen around your life at this very moment in time. We are living in very powerful and very rich spiritual times. And I believe God is just clearly speaking out for the signs of the times and everything that's going on. Are you for me? Or are you against me? Are you for Jesus? Come on church, wherever you are today. Thank you for joining us. May God bless you and strengthen you. We just asked God this morning that he will open our hearts and our minds. And he will strengthen us and wherever you are today to the world of the podcast as we welcome you on buzzsprout, Spotify, and all the different other platforms that you may be catching this and we thank God for your life at this very moment and everybody online for this online streaming service and this church service as we gather around the mics here in a small studio. And wherever you are, wherever you capture this, we know people watch this and listen to this. And while they're having coffee while they're in their staff room while they're at work while they're at home, wherever you are today. Welcome. And good morning. So the scripture kickoff point is john 14 for myself, do not let your hearts be troubled. So let's be bowed. Let's rest in his presence. Let's just surrender everything over to Jesus, wherever you are today. Never, ever give up. God is moving powerfully. All things are possible to those who believe. We believe we believe we believe in the King of kings and the Lord of lords. May God strengthen you this morning. And may the hand of the Lord always be upon you. But the scripture says john 14 verse one, do not let your hearts be troubled. Do not let your hearts be troubled wherever you are today. I just want to emphasize that I just want to just just bring that again, do not let your heart be troubled. Are you troubled this morning? Are you aware of this morning? Are you tired this morning? You believe in God believe also in me. My father's house has many rooms if it was not so what I have not told you. Come on. God is preparing Christ is preparing the Holy Spirit is preparing. Wherever you are today. Just press into the Word of God, you are a child of the living God. And just the first few words in john, Chapter 14, verse one, do not let your hearts be troubled. Let's pray. Father, we thank You, Lord, that You are the Comforter, you are the Great I Am and as we gather around the Word of God today as we be still one know that you are God, we thank you for the online church this morning. But right now, in the mighty name of Jesus, we pray for an outpouring of your spirit. We thank You, Lord, that there is no fear in love, because perfect love casts out. So, Lord this morning, we pray for such an outpouring of your spirit and your goodness upon each and every one of us, Lord, that You will guide us and lead us. lead us into areas of newness lead us into New Beginnings leaders Father, we thank you and we praise the wonderful name of Jesus Christ. You are a good God and we worship you now as the Father wherever we are on this earth at this moment, Father, we take hold of john 14, verse one, do not let your hearts be troubled. Do not let your heart be troubled. Wherever you are today church, do not let your heart be troubled. Hold on to Christ. He is the way he is the king of kings. And He is the Lord of Lord hold into the Word of God. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Are you troubled this morning? Hold on tight to his word. Are you aware of this morning, hold on tight to his word. You know, keep in the Word of God. God is with you wherever you are today. Hold tight, never give up. God is moving. But I really feel this in my spirit this morning. Do not let your hearts be troubled. I'm emphasizing this I'm not going to we can never exhaust it in that way. But as we pray, Father, we thank You, Lord, that your word is telling us Do not let our hearts be troubled. And if we're anxious, Father, we come to you this morning or anxiety or worries or fears we bring before you this morning and we say thank you Jesus, there is power in the name of Jesus, Lord, and we rest in your arms, we rest in your presence. We say Yes, Lord, all things are possible to those who believe. And this morning Lord, Father, we're learning to live by faith but right now we pray from the online church, that you will strengthen them that you will be with them. You will guard them that you will protect them, that the hand of God will be upon them, Lord, that you will just show them the way make it so clear today but Lord, all those that are Lord are caught in an anxious, fearful moment. We thank you that it is broken at the name of Jesus, we pray for peace to abound this morning that peace will come, Lord, that your glory will flow that you're on 19 will be released today. Lord, we thank you that as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil, for you are with the Lord your your staff and your rod Father, we thank You Father, that staff and that rod father at conferences, Lord that that presence of you are around us Your glory, your goodness, your love. But Lord as we go, Lord, as we continue to walk through the darkest paths of life, Lord, we will not let our hearts be troubled or we will not be weighed down. Father, we ask you right now that we will learn to die to self, Father, that we will not look to our, our own strength for that we will not look to our own flesh for the vehicle, Lord of happiness, but Lord that we will look to the Word of God for our strength. We lift up our eyes to the hills today as the psalmist says, we look to our God we look to our king, Lord, we will not let we will not let father we will not let our hearts be troubled Lord, I want to press this like never before Lord, I want to shout this out this morning, Father, do not let your hearts be troubled. I believe in you. I believe in you. Father, I believe in you Jesus, I believe in you. Holy Spirit, I believe from Genesis to Revelation but Lord, sometimes I struggle trying to understand Lord I struggle Father, in the flesh than I mean Lord, I struggle sometimes trying to believe I struggle God trying to walk in faith I struggle but Lord, I ask you father today that your Look dear god guide us on the journey of righteousness that you will guide us Father we thank you that our our path has been carved out the steps of a good person have been ordained by the Lord to Father I thank you that we keep walking give us the strength to keep walking give us the ability father to go deeper Father give us Lord open that door we need revelation on knowledge. We need to handle God we need your father like never before this nation father his way would this nation is wild. This nation father is so far away from the God of Israel father calm and your full glory and your power. So Lord, I ask you for the trouble and the turbulence father and the the ungodly ness that is across this nation I pray Father that you'll draw all those that are crying out to you this morning. I pray that you will bring all those in today. Lord, Father, we thank you that we will not Lord Let our hearts be troubled. Father we will not worry about tomorrow we will not worry about finances we will not worry about our lives. We will not worry about the fuel crisis the the issue with the food we will not worry father about Universal Credit. We will not worry about our lives. Father, our lives belong to you. So help us to surrender every day help us to lay everything down help us father to put everything at your footstool. But Lord this morning this is really beat in my heart this morning or this is really making my heartbeat Lord, do not let your hearts be troubled. Come on church. Let's all stand together this morning. Come on podcasters wherever you are. Come on online church wherever you are. Come on brothers and sisters Come on let's stand together. Let's not our heart, Let our hearts be troubled. Let's trust Let's walk by faith let's hold on to the Word of God. Let's go deeper. Let's say father strip me back today. You are the vinedresser You are the gardener You are the great IMU are Jehovah gyra, Jehovah nissi, Jehovah Shalom, my God shall supply all my needs according to the riches in glory. And Lord, as I walk as a believer, as I'm on a journey of faith today, Spirit of the Living God, I thank you for the power of the counselor, I thank you for the power of the word and Lord, I ask you that we will learn to live by faith that we will learn to live by faith we go Lord, we want to go deeper in your presence. We want to learn to to live again, Lord, we want to learn Father, God, maybe for the first time in our lives, to completely come to the end of self. Help me to come to the end of self because Lord all the time, I'm living in my way and my understanding my heart will be troubled. So Lord, I need to come to you today in a fresh way, a very new way. And say, Lord, I need to come to the end of me. I need to come Lord to the end of my fleshly earthly desires. Lord, I need to come Lord and I need to pick up my cross I need to learn to die to self and say Jesus, my life is yours. The ransom has been paid. And Lord, my heart is still troubled. I'm still Lord in a term while I'm still trying to fix everything helped me Lord, to lay my life down. Help me Lord just to relax in You helped me not to worry about the life issues that we face in everyday circumstances helped me not to worry father, about this afternoon's issue of this morning's problems helped me not to worry Lord, draw me in take me in Lord. Lord I need a garden experience father I need to get sentiment gifts m&e experience. I need father to come into that garden, I need the courage Lord, you got to give me and help me Lord, take me in to your depth of your love. Draw me in lawn because church doesn't work for me Jesus. Religion hasn't worked for me, Lord, the system of church the business church, the the prosperity gospel father the name it and claim it the faith healers, Lord, it hasn't work for me, Lord, I need Jesus in my heart has been troubled in church for so many years. My mind has been confused for so long in church for so years, Lord, I need to be free. Who the sun sets free, is free indeed. So Lord, all of us, any one of us that is bold enough to say, Lord, I've been trapped in religion. No wonder I've been troubled for so long. Now wonder I've been confused for so long, is because the religious order hasn't been able to set me free. But now I want to walk with Jesus. Now I want to surrender it to Jesus. Now. I want to live by faith. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling. Come father, refresh us today, anoint us in the battlefield. strengthen us in our weakness. Guide us in our tears. hold us in our panic. Take control or come Lord, bless us through this service this morning. We want to go deeper. Take us in Lord. We love you, Jesus. Thank you, Father. Thank you Holy Spirit. Yes, Lord, just Lord, take us please, Father, let us go in. We want to go deeper. Lord, we want to go deeper. We want to go further. Help me reach the end of myself. Because Lord myself is dangerous myself. Is arrogance. Myself. Father, God is not of the kingdom of God and Lord reaching the end of self. Help me to reach that end point. helped me to reach that point where I say Father, thank You that your will be done. helped me to lay my fleshly thoughts my fleshly desires helped me reach that place, Lord. Is it because I'm troubled so much? Because I haven't reached the end of May. I haven't laid everything down to your Jesus. I've been holding things back for a while will help me to lay arrogance down help me to lay pride down. Help me to lay unforgiveness down. Help me to lay doubt down. Help me to lay anxiety down. Help me to lay it down. Lord. Lord, you tell us Do not let your hearts be troubled. Take that trouble. Take them anxious thoughts. Take the fear, Lord, have not been able to pay the mortgage take the fear of not being able to pay the social housing rent. Take the fear, Lord of the worry and the Panic of Universal Credit. Lord, help. Take the panic. Dear God, I've been a single parent family. Take the fear away of just being a human being. Take the fear, dear god away of n times. Take the fear of all this stuff, Lord, and I want to be fearful of my God. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and understanding. Please, Lord, every one of us today that is bold enough to say, help me reach the end of self. Help me to get to that place. Give me the courage. But Lord, do not let your hearts be troubled. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning world we're in. We're in this morning. Do not let your hearts be troubled. It's a good day is a good day to day wherever you are today. Whether you're catching this back on the podcast, whether you're just catching this flicking through social media is a good day. God is with you. He's already saved you. He's already set you free. He's already done great things. Great things are ahead. But he's calling you. He's calling you. He's calling you to walk deeper. He's calling you to walk closer, he's calling you for a greater purpose than your workplace is calling you. You have a calling on your life. You're not just the parent, you're not just a grandparent, you're not just who you think you are. You are a child of the living God. He's calling you into greatness. He's calling you into a deeper walk. He's calling you into a deeper understanding. He's calling you. He's calling you because His love is unconditional. No strings attached. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Follow him. Rest in him. surrender to Him. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Holy Spirit. We rest in your Lord, help us to rest. Lord, I pray for everyone. And all of us, and maybe a few of us that is bold enough to say, Lord, all the years before the pandemic, I didn't realize that church didn't do anything for me. Because it was religious. It was stuck in an old way. It didn't give me freedom. It didn't allow me to grow in my gifting. It didn't allow me Lord, to express how I felt and how I felt about you. But Lord, through this pandemic, through this time, Lord, what the enemy meant for harm God, his turn for good. I thank you, Lord, that I am feeling very different that we are looking and feeling very different at life. And Lord, I pray. Lord, now is the time. God is saying he's doing a new thing. You're doing it now or not now is always now. He loves you unconditionally. Church will keep you in the box at church. Do we want to be in the kingdom of God? Or do we want to be just call in religion? Call in the Sunday club, the happy clappy club, the the smiley club, the evening club or do I want to know that my Redeemer lives? Don't want to know that? Do I know that I'm saved? washed in the blood of Jesus. Your conqueror, your child of the living God? May God bless you and strengthen you today. May God bless you and strengthen you today. The word gives life the word is life and the word made his dwelling among us. I'm handing over to my brothers the real holy ones where are they were looking around the room my god bless you and strengthen you my sisters and brothers that listen through the world of podcasting through this online streaming service we really appreciate you and let's just the half god this asked Jesus say take me in take me deeper. Thank you Lord, thank you Holy Spirit. It's making me think this morning Lord. Lord is making me Lord look deep within the challenge I think for any believer is to look within is to look within. Lord, if I've got more than a plank in my eye a lot, I've got a forest growing. I've got I've got acres. Absolutely. hectares of forests growing. In my eye and the plank Lord, the plank seemed to be quite small. We fight a plank, I think I'll be doing pretty well, Lord. I need to be stripped back Jesus. I need to be stripped back. further and further to the end of self. To the end of self, Lord, that can be quite frightening to the end of self. I believe God has called many people and he is still calling. But you're holding on to your desk. You're holding on to your PhDs you're holding on to your skill set in the natural world. Got it asking many people to lay lots of things down. That's the biggest challenge you have in your life and all I have in my life is to lay what we think God has put in front of us. you built your empires. You sit in an ivory towers. We're sitting in pastors offices that are empty, that are filled with risk assessments, Gift Aid forms, meaningless tasks. When Jesus is calling, we have a very short window, a very short window of opportunity to step out, but to step in. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you Holy Spirit. Move lord, in the stillness this morning.

Glenn Walsh: 20:28

It's very different this morning is very, very different than it is week by week. And I've just been looking through john 17. Ben started off this morning with john 14. And it's the high priestly prayer of Jesus. Now. I don't know what you think of yourself. I know I think of myself, and I'm not impressed. But one thing before I look at john 17, I had the privilege last week of spending time with a community of missionaries. And just here in the hot sun refreshing, again and again and again, one young person after another, saying we're called to seek first the kingdom of God, amen in it, and I'm living it. And I won't say his name. But there was one particular story or testimony of one young lead, say, young man, he's probably close to 30. That's young to me, who moved from South Africa and had a dilemma just a few months ago. Does he go back and finish his master's degree? and equip himself and his family to be affluent? Which was his plan? Or does he listen to Jesus? Who said, you can do that? Or you can say to eternity, amen. Fortunately, he made the right decision, sold up everything, financed himself with no security in the world. To seek first the kingdom of God. Wow, challenging. He said, I'm scared, which is fine. He said, basically, he Sony's hold on me, Jesus. Wow, surrender, surrender. That's it is scary. I understand that. And when we look to ourselves, we think I haven't got the ability. I haven't got there. I can't do this. But as I said, john 17. And now this is the high priestly prayer, and this is Jesus for us. And I'll just read first five, because that that always strikes me. And now Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you. Before the world existed.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 22:37

Beautiful, isn't it?

Glenn Walsh: 22:39

before the creation of substances, we see it better? Yeah. Before the universe came into being. Jesus was glorified. Jesus is God. It didn't come to going glory, he already had it. Why did he come in? For that joy set before him, he endured the cross. What's that joy, and we kind of see it in his prayer. I'll drop down just to a bit of verse 12, where he says, I've guarded them. And not one of them has been lost, except the son of destruction, which is Judas, that scripture might be fulfilled, dropped down to 15. And you see the heart of Christ coming out. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but you keep them from the evil one. Then we see again, dropping down verse 24. Father I desire what's the desire of Jesus, the one who was glorified before the greater the world. Father, I desire that they also whom you have given me, may be with me. Thank you. He's called us to know Him and be with him. The glorified one, the glorious one, came and lived over this, went through this injured the cross for you and me. Wow. And, Father, I desire that I desire that I can just stay on that, can you, you could desire the heart of Jesus manifest here. I desire that they also this is you and me, brothers and sisters, whom you have given me may be with me, and where I am, to see my glory that you've given me because you loved me before the foundation of the earth. Amen. Well, Father, I want to thank you for this gospel, this, it blows our mind. It does, Lord, we don't deserve anything. Lord, I we live in that almost schizophrenic calling where our flesh is crying out for one thing, and telling us who we are. But your grace covers that. And more than that, yes, Father, and new identity and new nature, screams from within. I want to be like Jesus. And that is our destiny. You're transforming us from one degree of glory to another.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 25:04

Amen.

Glenn Walsh: 25:06

I want to thank you for your heavenly calling upon a slot, that we will be with you that we will see you in all your glory.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 25:16

Thank you, Jesus,

Glenn Walsh: 25:18

and nothing can snatch us out of your head. Lord, I want to thank you that it's not because of our ability to follow you, because we all like sheep have gone astray. And even when we follow you were so wobbly. Yeah, but we thank you that you have done it all. Your words on the cross, you said it is finished. And you experienced true separation from the Father. You gave up the spirit. And the father turned his face away. He was alone. You did all that for us, Lord, what can we say in response? What can we do in response? Holy Spirit. And now you've given us your very spirit. Yes, Lord, you live in us. You have made us temples of your very presence, Lord way. We could never be worthy of that. But we thank you that it's through your blood, the blood shed on the cross. You've covered us in your righteousness. You've relayed us in robes of righteousness. You've clothed us with garments of salvation, and called us your very young and your desire is for us, your friends to be with you. Thank you, Lord, thank you. Thank you, Lord, that before the creation of the world, you chose us to be holy and blameless in your sight. blameless. Thank you, Lord, such grace, such mercy. We do not and never would deserve it. We just rejoice to say Thank You, Lord. Thank you, Lord. For one thing I've been thinking of these last few days, it would be easier for humanity to dwell on the surface of the sun, than to stand in the presence of the Almighty God who is a consuming fire. Exactly. See, Heaven is holy. Heaven is full of the radiance of God, there's no distance in heaven, between the full manifestation of God, the brilliance. And we think we can dwell there with all their sin, and wonder to set to come and fulfill the four requirements of God and meet him eye to eye there was not one sin, not one blemish. When Jesus surrendered his life, the pure spotless Lamb of God, given for you and me, amen. Death could not hold him. Because the wages of sin is death. And he had not earned that. He had not earned the wages of death. But he surrendered his life and death could not hold him. But because he paid that price, not for himself. It's for you and me. And my debt has been paid. Your debt has been paid in full through Jesus Christ. And his desire is that way, be with him. Send your Holy Spirit, Lord, send your Holy Spirit even now. For Lord, your desire is not that we be taken out of the world. But we be kept from satanic influence. Amen. wrap yourself around us. Come on Jesus. They caused us to stand in faith and do the things you've called us to do. wake your church up Lord, the slumbering giant shake myself included, Lord, that we may take on the Great Commission, to heal the sick to raise the debt. To do the staff here on the earth, and not just to dream about it. Amen. Lord, revive your church. Yes, Father, revive your church and cause the world to say. Jesus is the way the truth and the life.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 29:16

Yes, Father, Amen. Thank you, Father. We rest in you. Surrender, surrender, and surrender. And everything over we got to hand it over. we hand it over. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Glenn was reading out there about the glory. We've read out from john. A couple of texts this morning. Just do not let your hearts be troubled. The power of God is so strong. It just burns up all sins have gone the blood of Jesus. You are washed in the blood of Jesus. You are a child of the living God. Don't worry about tomorrow. Just seek Him seek Him. God is calling you a fresh. God is calling us the fresh. God is moving. God is moving on your life. God is moving on your heart God is God is calling you. God is calling and this Scripture says it seems as if something strange has happened to you. See, church has been beating you with a stick. Church beats and expects you to perform. Jesus just says Come on, follow me. Come on, follow me. pastors and leaders and controllers behind pulpits cracking the whip, expecting squashing your dreams and your visions. When Jesus just says come and follow me, yeah, but Lord, my rags are filthy. Come and follow me. Lord, I'm exhausted. Come on, follow me. But Lord, have you seen my rags? Have you seen my garments? Come on, come and follow me. But laws. Come and follow me. Jesus is saying, follow, follow. But Lord, I'm struggling with life and have to come and follow me. Come on, lay it down at the cross. But Lord, I'm trying to fix me. And that's the problem. I'm trying to fix me. Come to the end of self. And just say, Lord, I'm actually struggling to get to the end of self. Because I've been brought up in a house, I've been brought up in a culture. I've been brought up in a society I've been brought up in the UK when it's, it's all about me. I can achieve I can switch and do what I like and be who I want to be. When actually Jesus just says, come and be a disciple. Come on, follow me. But Lord, following you is the hardest thing I will ever do. Because I'm like that salmon that swimming upstream, and I've got to get back home. swimming against society, swimming against culture. Laura, I feel the crowd is pushing against me. Come on, follow Jesus. Do you want to follow Jesus? Are you hungry for Jesus? Because he's calling. We follow ministries, we follow men, we follow human beings. But are we following the author? The perfecter of life are we following? We read the word, we preach the word. But do we know the author? Do we really know Jesus? Do you really know him? fully Philip, he said, Philip the Father, the father is here. I'm here we're here, Philip on before you. He said show us the Father. The church cannot recognize the presence of Jesus. Religion cannot recognize the presence of Jesus. And I use the word church because that's the language that we're used to at the moment. But the body of Christ is very different to what church looks like within the UK, churches all about pastors and leaders in the worship band. But the kingdom of God is about God. So Lord, I need to switch from religion and church. And Lord, I want to walk in freedom, religious changes, they've got to be broken denominational ties, Father God, I've got to be broken. false teaching, there's got to be broke. So Lord, I'm troubled, not so much with the weight of the world. I'm troubled with realizing I've been in the wrong church. I've been in the business model I've been in the wrong place. Save me, Lord. Get me, Lord, under the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus is calling all of us just to be disciples. Come on, follow me. Come and follow me. Are you ready to follow Jesus? Are you ready to lay ministry down? Are you ready to lay your house down? Are you ready to lay that that office down as you stare out across the skyline of London as you sit in the office of no All righty as you've climbed the greasy pole, and you've got to the top of the business, you've won awards, and you've done great things. But you're still empty. You've been in ministry for years. And you're exhausted. prophesied and teaching and preaching. lip service is very different. To heart commitment. I really believe that we are in the depths of n times. And God is calling Christ is calling is calling me and is calling you is calling us for a deeper walk with him. But surrender, have we got the courage? Have we got the courage to step out of the crowd and lay everything down and follow the God of Israel.

Andy Hammond: 36:11

That's really difficult to do that sometimes. And just making that one decision to follow. Once you've done that, you don't look back. You don't look back.Just have that picture in my mind of Jesus on the beach when he called Peter, the sea of Canada. He said, Come follow me. And there was Peter, working man fishermen. And he left everything behind to follow Jesus. And it's the same for each one of us. When we follow Jesus, it changes our lives completely. Things won't be the same. But it's a real difficult decision for a lot of people to actually do to follow. But as we sit around this table this morning, we know that God is all powerful. He brings comfort, he brings strength. He picks us up. When we fall down. He guides us, points us in the right direction brings the right people alongside us. God, you are a fantastic God. We thank you, for your son Jesus. For all that he accomplished. And I've been in the Old Testament prophets recently, and I have open hair guy. Or some people say Hey guy, and it's chapter two, the promise glory of the new house. And it says verse six, this is what the Lord Almighty says, In a little while I want once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land, I will shake all nations. Well, isn't it happening? I will shake all nations. Yes, Lord, and the desire of all nations will come. And I will fill this house with glory says Lord Almighty, the silver is mine and the gold is mine declares the Lord or my praise Jesus, the glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the farmhouse says the Lord Almighty. And this and in this place, I will grant peace declares the Lord Almighty. Thank you, Jesus. So if you want peace, just come. Come. Jesus is calling you. Jesus is calling you. He wants to bring the revolution in your life. Yeah. When there's a revolution, things change radically.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 39:51

Praise the Lord.

Andy Hammond: 39:52

He wants you to be a radical follower. Oh and I Pray that father built for us here sitting in front of these microphones that we will be radical followers of Jesus. Thank you, Jesus, and all those listening. Justin said before, Father God now and ask him to come by His Spirit, Holy Spirit, we say come fill us a fresh with that strength of power with purpose, guide us. Help us to be the radical followers of Jesus today. And while the neighbors notice that we are, we are different. And we will be attractive. People will come and ask us. What is it that you have? Because I want some? We want to Yeah, Father, we just thank you that we can come before you in these difficult times. Thank you that you've been with us over these last 1819 months. Thank you that you've come alongside us.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 41:21

Praise the Lord.

Andy Hammond: 41:23

But you've comforted us when things haven't been right. When things are thrown in the set, we never thought would happen. But you've been there all the time. You haven't promised easy times.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 41:48

Oh, no. Oh, no, no, no.

Andy Hammond: 41:50

We know things can be difficult. But when they are, we know that we have a God who stands with us. It gives us strength. It gives us that perseverance to carry on. So we asked for all those who are struggling today. Just a little bit more for them. Father, we asked you to come alongside and pick them up. Put an arm around their shoulders. Say it's gonna be okay. I'm with you. I will never leave you or forsake. And we thank You, Father. But you are building your church. Amen. Thank you that you're building your church.

Glenn Walsh: 42:52

Yeah, the church is made up of individuals. Yeah. God is really speaking to individuals to learn the same thing that I'm hearing. And I'm still in john, and I'm just looking at john 16, verse 3233. And Jesus said, I've said all these things to you. He's speaking to us, that in me, you may have peace. Yes, in the world, you will have tribulation. And that's what we're praying. That's really saying, But take heart. I have overcome the world. Amen. In Him. We will have peace and I really believe someone needs to hear verse 27 today. For the Father Himself loves you. unconditionally. The Father Himself loves you. God loves you. A may godless of what other people have said to you. Yeah. You've been told you're rubbish. You've been told you a failure. You've been told you junk. Then lies. Remember, Jesus says desire is that you be with him. The Father Himself loves you. For that joy set before him. He left the glory took on your failures and sin. He treasure. He treasures your your his joy. The Father loves you. Amen. He wants you to know it individually.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 44:21

He does.

Glenn Walsh: 44:23

He doesn't just love other people. He loves you hard to accept, isn't it? He loves you.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 44:31

Thank you, Jesus.

Glenn Walsh: 44:33

And as he said, I've said these things to you. That in me in him in Jesus, you might have peace, our man in spite of tribulation. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Lord, Romans eight. First one.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 44:52

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus because through Christ Jesus, the law The Spirit who gives life has set you free. You are free, free from the law of sin and death for what the law was powerless to do, because it was weakened by flesh. God did by sending His only Son in the likeness of sinful flesh. To be a sin offering. You are free this morning, there is now no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus, not in the church, not in religion. We're not talking about ministry, we're not talking about what you think that you're doing that is, is great for God. It's not about works. It's what he has done for you and for me, for all of us here this morning. There is now no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus, your family is still trying to condemn you. The world is still trying to point the finger at you, your your, your loved ones are pointing the finger at you, they they say here, but it's just you know, no, no, Jesus doesn't look at just you. He loves you unconditionally. There is no, now no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus. You are saved. We are not capable of saving ourselves. We are not capable of following Jesus. Because the flesh is always at war. But what happens through predestination and through the power of God, through the gift of salvation, salvo salvation has been given. He has given me and Donnie that's not with us this morning. And Andy, and Glenn, the four of us at normally sit here. He's listening. He's listening. I know, he's online. But everyone on line this morning, everyone on the online church, everybody that's listening through the podcast, we cannot buy salvation. We are not worthy of that. Because of the fall of man, but but by the grace of God, by the gift. See, that is a leveler to everyone. That Christ gave his life to anyone that would believe. But it's interesting, isn't it that I say I believe, but he chose me before I believed. You believe that he sent his one and only Son to die upon a cross for you before he was able to believe before the very beginning of time. He was chosen. Before the foundations of the world, he was loved. Because God is love. We're coming to the table. And none of us, no one on planet Earth has got this right. All have sinned and fallen short of His glory. And the Bible also says each man is drawn away and enticed by his own less. So we're all fighting all day long. We're all in a battle. We're all trying to hold on to the Word of God like never before. We're all trying to live right. But if you live within the UK, the challenge that you have is to be a believer. Because certain policies, government departments are coming for your children. They're coming for your marriage. They're coming for your ministry, they come in, they come in. They're not interested in the world. They're interested in anyone that follows Jesus. Because the end has already been written. And persecution is coming in, like a train to the UK is in many places across the world. So if you are a believer, I believe the prayer this morning is his strength for me for what is coming. strength for me, Lord, that I can stand for Jesus. But Lord, I just want to let everybody know this morning as my two brothers has been emphasizing this morning. And as I read out that text, therefore there is now no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus. You are free. It ties in with what Glenn has said and what Andy has read out on what we've been looking at this morning. I can't fix me. You can't fix you. But Jesus, the author of the perfecter of life, isn't it interesting. Andy mentioned something about fishing. And Jesus just said drop your nets. That word net was everything that they had. It was their finances. It was their lifestyle. It was their business. Drop your nets and follow me. That is the same power in that as it was 2300 years ago. It's the same power today. Drop your net, come and follow me. So as Glenn leaves us and breaks bread for us this morning, as Andy leads us as we take the cup this morning, the challenge for me is to drop my nets. Because then nets represent everything about a person. The net of life than the net also is a snare. a fishing net is a very dangerous thing. You can drown if you get caught in the net. Very interesting how Jesus just spoke that word, drop your nets, my drown in him my nets. Have I dropped them nets and found freedom plan over to you My brother

Glenn Walsh: 51:04

is very interested in as we come into communion, which is about this new covenant that we've been brought into a man. There's been as you were saying that I was thinking yeah, they'd have kept the Nets who would own What? With the Nets on them or with them the Nets? And that's the challenge. Do you own your possessions or do they own you? Now we know we were under God's grace, there's no compassion, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 916 says so then it does not depend on man's effort or desire, but on God's mercy. And God's mercy is demonstrated through Jesus as a man Jesus came, he allowed his body to be broken. So I've got a little ritual that I go through, whenever we're coming in, and I do I break the bread, as small as it is, I break it, to remind me that Jesus's body was physically broken and pierced, for my sin for your sin. Let's take the bread together. And if you think about leaving your necks, within this new covenant, there's a new way of living. And it's in Romans eight, verse 14, for all who are led by the Spirit of God, are sons of God. That's the way we lead now. And we did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. But you have received the Spirit of adoption of sons by whom we cry, Abba, Father. Thank you, Lord, that this communion shows us this new covenant of adoption of sonship of directorship of your family through Jesus as Savior. Amen.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 53:01

Amen. Thank you. Thank

Andy Hammond: 53:02

you, Father. Yeah. And as I was only 53 says, surely he took our power, infirmities carried our sorrows, yet we consider them stricken by God's smitten by him and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed. For our iniquities, the punishment that brought us peace was upon him. And by his wounds, we are healed. That's amazing. That we can come before him. And as we take the cup today, we remember that supreme sacrifice and by his wounds, we are healed. So anyone who needs a special touch from Jesus today, those who are suffering, those who are unwell, those who need a healing, we pray for you now. We say come, Holy Spirit. Be healed in the powerful name of Jesus. By His wounds, we are healed.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 54:20

Amen. Yeah, just take a moment. Just take this moment. Just take this moment in time. Father, I just surrender everything. While I'm trying to surrender everything. It's quite difficult Lord to hand it over. Give us the strength, Lord, to follow. Follow these nets, these nets that you require to be left at the shoreline. They're everything to me, Jesus. It's part of my culture. It's the way that I put food on the table. It's my business. It's my notoriety. That's me, Lord. Drop your next. Drop me next and come on Follow me. Father, we thank you for this time. This unscripted, not rehearsed. We thank You, Lord, that there is the sound of paper being turned over the Word of God, we thank You, Lord, that there is your presence amongst us today. We thank you that your word is open on the table, we pray that your word will be open and our heart Lord. We pray for everybody online on this online streaming service this church service this morning, as we gather weekly, I pray, Lord, that You will strengthen our sisters and brothers around the globe today, wherever they are, that they will know that their Redeemer lives. And because he lives they can face tomorrow. touch their hearts, touch their minds. Bless my brothers that gather around the word and the mics with me bless Donnie, as he's away today, Lord, strengthen him and his family. Let them find rest. Lord, bless them, we pray, bless everybody that's on holiday. But Lord, we bring all those that are not well before you today, Lord, and we say thank you, Lord, for the miracle in their bodies. Thank you, Lord, that you are helping them and guiding them in their anxious thoughts. Come, Lord, refresh us today, Lord. And we thank you for this time. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, amen. I'm gonna ask Andy, if he would close in prayer in a few moments, he's just gonna let us know about the Bible. What we can and how we can get older these the most beautiful book on the earth? Andy

Andy Hammond: 57:32

yeah, yeah, brought the full version today is the Bible. And you see, it's a really good quality product. But that's not what it's all about. It's, it's the Word of God. And, you know, lots of people think that they hearing from God, and it's difficult to hear from God. But I find that I hear from God when I actually read his word. And this is one of the most powerful ways that God speaks to us. And if you haven't got a Bible, or if you need, your Bible is worn out because you've been reading it, or you just haven't got an update version. This is for you. Just let us know. Give us your details, and we get a copy to you. It is a special one about good news for everyone. Formally, Gideon says that we put helps at the front, there are pages of guidance. When you're trouble for your faith, when you find it difficult to forgive someone or you're bereaved, there are several references you can look up. It's got all about praying, how to start praying, suggested readings in the Psalms. And it's completely free.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 59:07

No strings attached.

Andy Hammond: 59:08

So get in touch, please do and we get one to you.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 59:14

Yeah, you know how to catch us here. You know where we are. Please just send your request in if you know someone or you want to just want a new press Bible for yourself, please, please let Andy know here, and coffee and prayer. And we thank God for Glenn and we thank God for Andy. We thank God for our brother Don, wherever he may be. I think he's on the island of Patmos this morning. I don't know where he's got Donnie. And we've got a little confession to make Donnie. I forgot to get Holy Communion ready. That's why we would like Donnie, come back wherever you are. Thank you for joining us today. You've been listening to just three guys you know around the mic just being open to the Word of God. We thank you to the online church wherever you are today. on planet earth May God bless You and strengthen you and to all our church family and our brothers, our sisters and whoever you may be on the platforms of Spotify and buzzsprout. May God be with you. And you know, Never give up. Never give up. Thank you so much for all the shares all the likes and all the traffic that goes through social media through this platform that we're using. Thank you so much. May God bless you today. And never give up. And wherever you are across the world, we always say hold on to the Word of God. Have a great day. We'll catch you sometime next week on Wednesday, between half nine quarter 10 2010 five to 10 whatever that may be. But we will see you this time next week. God bless. Have a great day and stay safe in Jesus name, Amen.

Close: 1:00:46

Thank you for listening to Elim church swanleys latest podcast. You can find us on buzzsprout Spotify Apple Music iHeartRadio Google Play Alexa, mixcloud, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.