Reverend Ben Cooper's Podcast
Reverend Ben Coopers podcast, offers an inviting space for listeners to explore Christianity and spiritual growth with wisdom, humor, and a deep commitment to biblical truth. Through Rev. Ben's engaging conversations with guests, the podcast not only explores the timeless wisdom of the Bible but also tackles the pressing issues of life, faith, and hope in a way that is accessible, thought-provoking, and enriching. Whether you’re seeking spiritual nourishment, answers to life’s big questions, or simply a place to reflect on your faith, the Rev Ben podcast is a valuable resource on your journey.
In each episode, Rev. Ben guides listeners through profound theological reflections, personal stories, and practical insights drawn from the Bible and the broader Christian tradition.
Reverend Ben Cooper's Podcast
10-commandments - 8th-commandment (#CST32) - pt 2
Navigating Life’s Challenges with Timeless Biblical Principles: A Deep Dive into the Ten Commandments and the Power of Christian Community
Have you ever wondered how the challenges of modern life could be navigated with timeless biblical principles? The Ten Commandments, though ancient, continue to serve as a powerful moral compass on our spiritual journey. In this episode, we explore how these essential Christian principles are not just rules but enduring truths that reach into the heart of human behavior. They urge us to examine our hearts, confront deep-rooted issues, and engage with the profound connections between each commandment. From the first commandment to love God above all else to the commandment of loving your neighbor as yourself, these foundational principles continue to shape our relationships with God and each other.
Reflecting on the wisdom of Proverbs and the Gospels, this episode invites you to confront personal brokenness and embrace spiritual healing and redemption at the cross of Calvary. The Bible is filled with stories of transformation, showing us that no matter where we’ve been or what we’ve done, God's grace is greater than our mistakes. By opening our hearts to the transformative power of God’s love, we experience lasting change. The cross represents not only the sacrifice of Jesus but also the ultimate invitation to experience the freedom that comes with embracing His redemptive grace.
Conquering Fear with Faith and Community Support
Fear is a natural part of life, but how can we reframe it through the lens of faith? Fear often signals a gap in our trust in God, leading to doubts about His promises and our purpose. What if we could bridge this gap through the power of faith and Christian community? Join us as we explore the dual nature of fear in a believer's life and how the support of a faith-filled community can help overcome personal anxieties. The Bible teaches us that perfect love casts out fear, and by walking alongside fellow believers, we are reminded of God's promises and His presence. Together, we can find courage and strength to face life's challenges.
In this episode, we delve into stories of spiritual awakening—moments where individuals have experienced God’s transformative power in their lives. We also examine the concept of spiritual robbery: how false teachings, distractions, and worldly influences can steal our peace and joy. Grounding ourselves in biblical truth is essential for maintaining a strong faith and avoiding the dangers of false teachings in the church. By reflecting on our spiritual journeys, we rediscover the unyielding love of Christ and the redemption found in embracing the true gospel of Jesus Christ.
The True Meaning of Christmas and Easter: A Return to Spiritual Roots
Amid the hustle and bustle of commercialized holidays, we challenge you to return to the spiritual essence of Christmas and Easter. These sacred holidays are often overshadowed by consumerism and superficial celebrations. But there is a deeper, more meaningful way to experience these holy seasons. In this episode, we discuss how peace and joy are metaphorically stolen by consumerism and distraction, and how we can reclaim the true message of Christ’s birth and resurrection.
We also address societal issues like human trafficking and exploitation that are hidden under religious facades. As we prepare for the Christmas season, let’s refocus on the spiritual significance of this season—the birth of Christ and the hope
https://www.pastorbencooper.co.uk/
https://www.rbchristianradio.net/
Good morning world, wherever you are today. Thank you so much for joining us here at Hashtag Christian Straight Talk. May God bless you and strengthen you in the mighty name of Jesus. You might hear I've got a bit of a bunged up nose. It's not COVID. All is well Been testing for days and days and days. It is just a bug. We've got to get that clear. Yeah, the weather's a bit chilly out there, Ben, isn't it? It's nippy, isn't it?
Speaker 2:As we talk, down here in sunny Swanley, it's minus 60 degrees, isn't it?
Speaker 1:It's really cold. It's really cold across the nation.
Speaker 2:And I've come from Essex, where we're in our Hawaiian shirts and shorts.
Speaker 1:And it's lovely, the sun is out from where you've come from. But good morning world. Thank you so much for joining us. Hashtag Christian Straight Talk. It's great to be just speaking about truths, and we're still in Exodus. We're still in Exodus, chapter 20, and we are looking very clearly at the Ten Commandments. And that has been a tough draw, isn't it?
Speaker 2:Well, it's amazing. That has been like really deep, absolutely amazing. It's amazing how each one really is interlinked with each other and the overriding thing- most definitely yeah it's a heart issue, isn't it?
Speaker 1:it really is. And I've got to be absolutely brutally honest. I tell you what, since we started talking about it and it really has started to open my heart up and I just didn't realize how broken I was. And I've come to a point in my life understanding that God needs to heal me. So, going all through these, these one by one, line after line, and still going back and looking at everything, you know, you don't realize that you've got stuff in your heart, in your life, that needs to be dealt with. And when you start studying the Ten Commandments you start to really feel the love of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. But it's challenging. I've never been so challenged in all my life. It is very challenging you know.
Speaker 2:I've heard a scripture come the other day. Proverbs 23.7 says you know out of the heart, the mouth speaks, doesn't it?
Speaker 1:It does yeah.
Speaker 2:Or as a man thinketh in his heart so is he yeah? So it's all about your heart, because you know Jesus does say in the Gospels out of the heart comes all this stuff, yeah, yeah, the thieving, the debauchery, the drunkenness, all of that stuff, Everything that's connected with the Ten Commandments, comes out of your heart doesn't it. Because you know you might have an idea in your head, but your heart will tell you to have a go.
Speaker 2:So yeah, and we're still on the we're going to have a look at it again a little bit later, are we? Taking communion first. Ben, we're going to have a look at it again a little bit later. Are we taking communion first? We're going to take communion.
Speaker 1:So whoever is with us at this moment, let's give them a couple of minutes just to get some communion ready. So we've got some bread and we've got some grape juice here, we're going to take communion and we have been feeling, and I've been feeling for a long time. You know, to come to the cross of Calvary. There's something powerful about the cross of Calvary and I'm starting to be a lot more open about how I am, and it's the cross that's giving me freedom.
Speaker 1:And again I've got to say, you know, studying and looking and speaking openly about the Ten Commandments, I'm not frightened to say that I've been broken. I'm not frightened to say that I've been lost. I'm not frightened to say that my attitudes and certain areas of my life have been really bad. And it's dealing with past stuff, bringing stuff up and dealing with stuff, and asking God to help you in every area of your life. And there's something so powerful that makes me chuckle, but chuckle with actual fear. I prayed that prayer and we all know, and we've been very open, and Simon and that, and the Lord stripped me back.
Speaker 2:When you pray a prayer like that, well, you've got to be prepared for the consequences, haven't you?
Speaker 1:So the Lord will strip you back To have your heart, wide open before God, wide open before humanity, to say I'm really sorry I failed. Help me, please Carry me in prayer. Will you watch over me? Will you hold my hand? Will you take me to the cross of Calvary? Will you keep me in this position? Because being open and laying everything out across the table to Christ is so difficult, isn't it? Because you want to just lay things away.
Speaker 2:You want to put things away and there'll be things that maybe you haven't even thought of oh, definitely, yeah, bring to your attention, because all the holy spirit will, because and there's something about I've got to tell you, but there's something about just lying down on the floor and saying, yeah, not my will, but your will be done, I'm not worthy to receive you, and something, something about actually just giving it all to jesus. I think you know as much as we we say, and you know you'll hear uh groups and uh ministries say oh, you know, you've got to get in a discipleship group or a home group and stuff like that, but some, some stuff is just between you and God, ben, isn't it?
Speaker 1:Some stuff, yeah, is very personal between you and God, and I think sometimes a group of people can almost hinder you as well, because you might be frightened of saying something in a group of people. Because when you look at the Ten Commandments, when you go all the way through them, that is real strong biblical stuff and it makes you look at everything and there are certain stuff that you don't want to share with everybody. As you said, it's just very private between you and God and you're trying to deal with life now. You're trying to deal with history, you're trying to deal with the present, you're trying to deal with the future, stuff that is around and producing all day long, but coming to the table, coming the passover, is a time that we're at now coming to, a time of breaking a bread and, and this is a time to lay everything out before the lord, isn't it?
Speaker 2:but 100 ben and and um the thing is what. What we'll find is. I mean, I've been in many men's groups where you know the big issue is is, with a lot of guys is pornography obviously, and I've been there when a lot of guys have openly admitted in front of you know they've brought their pornography addiction or their viewing into the light and that's great, don't get me wrong. But all these things have a root, ben. All these things have a root.
Speaker 1:Ben, All these things have a root.
Speaker 2:They start somewhere and these guys sitting around a table. They can't tell you where that root was. The only person that can tell you where that root is is the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 1:So we need the Holy Spirit for counsel in every area of our life.
Speaker 2:Forget about these motivational speakers, forget about these motivational talkers, forget about all that stuff. We've got the greatest thing the lord's. That's what the lord left us when jesus went.
Speaker 1:He left us with the holy spirit yeah, and I think now is a time for all of us, all of us all, be really saying Lord as we look at the Ten Commandments. Lord, we need the Holy Spirit to take any roots out, excuse me, take any roots out that are deep, that are hurting roots of years ago, and say Lord, we need counsel, we need the Holy Spirit, we need the counsel of God, the counsel of the Holy Spirit, we need the counsel of our King, we need a saviour. I'm really sorry I'm interrupting you there, simon.
Speaker 2:I really need Jesus like never before. That's unusual, but it's the truth. We need Jesus, we need the cross, we need what he's done for us at the cross. And do you know what, ben? We need to lift Jesus up to the Father, don't we? Because what he's done? He's done everything for us, isn't he? Yeah, god is hope.
Speaker 1:Jesus has done everything. The cross has wiped everything out our present, our future, our history, everything. Christ has wiped everything out and all these conversations that are deep and really personal and opening up wounds and more we talk, it's opening up my past, right up to now. Everything's being opened up to me and it feels like god is really stripping me back and dealing with me and opening me up. You know to to so much more to to leave it at the cross to leave it it at the cross and to be healed at the cross.
Speaker 2:This is the thing, because you know, if we open up and we can get rid of stuff that you quite rightly said, a lot of this stuff is deep-rooted from our very early age, from our youth, from when we were children. So when this stuff comes out it's dangerous if we don't heal it at the cross, we don't heal it with the Lord. You know God will heal it. Because you know I ask this question to many of you listening have you ever asked God who he thinks you are? And the thing is a lot of us don't.
Speaker 1:No.
Speaker 2:Because a lot of us maybe are a little bit weary, wary really of what God's going to say. But listen, he made you, he loves you. He's not going to say… God loves us. He's not going to say you're rubbish. He's going to say you are amazing, you're fearfully and wonderfully made. But he's also going to point out things that he really don't want you doing that.
Speaker 2:you know we all probably do, and that is the conviction of the Holy Spirit. And when that happens and the thing is, when that happens if we don't bring it to the cross, ben Bring it to the cross. If we don't bring it to the cross, when the Holy Spirit's convicted of things, if you don't bring it before the lord, put it in a, out on a black rubbish bag, just tip it before the cross and say, father, forgive me of this stuff, jesus, forgive me. And if we don't do that, then we will, as the scriptures, as we will return to keep going and keep going, and he puts it really vividly, like a dog returns to his vomit, doesn't it?
Speaker 2:So we're going back, and what happens then is, ben, our consciences get hardened, they get seared, and pretty soon we're doing stuff and we're making excuses, and we're making excuses while we're doing this stuff. So what we need to do is on a daily basis. This is what Jesus meant when he said pick up your cross and follow me Come on Jesus.
Speaker 1:Thank you, holy.
Speaker 2:Spirit On a daily basis. We need to be coming towards the cross and need to be convicted of stuff and even as we speak, you know things might come into your head and whatever you know there, and then it doesn't matter where you are. You don't have to be in a nice quiet room. You can be driving, you can be out, you could be in company and the Holy Spirit will catch you.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You might have verbally told an exaggeration, or you might have told this or that or the other, the Holy Spirit catches you. You've got to, father, forgive me. Father, forgive me. That's the question. That's the question. Then, of course, with that comes repentance, which is turning away from that stuff. We need to turn away from stuff that we are constantly involved in, and these Ten Commandments, ben, as we've said right from the very beginning.
Speaker 1:Really, really bring us to a point, Bring us to a point, and if you break one of these, you break them all, don't you?
Speaker 1:They're all broken. And then I've never, ever really studied them like this before. I've never really gone into the depth of them, never really looked at them. But by going into the depth of everyone, line after line, looking at it, studying it, reading it, praying over it, you realize how powerful they are. I know that might sound a little bit strange to say, but the churches and we're not not been preaching and teaching on them. So that's affected the schools, that's affected the climate of life, it's affected absolutely everything in it. So the 10 commandments are such a steadfast place to be that will pull everyone into some form of check. Because when you look at the checklist, the checklist of the Ten Commandments, they're all interwoven, they all move together. You can't separate one without the other. They all gel together, although they might be in line by line on their own, but they actually are joint together, so they all move together. So every one is as important as the other one Totally.
Speaker 2:And, as we know, as Jesus said in the Bible, he said that when they asked him what was the greatest commandment, he said love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind. And then he said love your neighbour as yourself. And then it's interesting, ben, because he said on these two, all the others hang.
Speaker 1:Everything hangs. Love the Lord, thy God, with all your heart.
Speaker 2:So if you're loving the Lord, your God, with all your heart, you will automatically love your neighbour as yourself and you will automatically not get involved in all this other stuff you know yeah. Because you're loving it, but it's a journey, though, isn't it?
Speaker 1:Every one of us is on a long Christian journey, a long walk with the Father, and as we want him more, and as we move more, as we ask God to help us more, as we look more, as we study more, as we come to the cross, more God opens us up, and then, suddenly, we go. God, please, I want you more. So you're on a continuous journey of always going for repentance, always going to the cross, always worshipping differently. You know, I'm on a very, very different journey at this moment, and I thank God for the journey that he's put me on right now a journey of repentance, a journey of coming to the cross, a journey of looking back in my history, dealing with situations, looking at myself and saying, lord, I don't like what I see, but I've put a concrete lid on it for so long, but now it's the time. We're going to come to the table.
Speaker 2:We're going to come to the table, and this is a great time If you're in and, ben, I've been on a not as I don't think it's quite as drastic a journey as what you're describing there, but certainly the Lord has been exposing things that in my own life where you know you've got to sort them out.
Speaker 2:They know they've got to be sorted and you know we're talking about this time of year. People will be making resolutions for the new year. Well, we don't need to make resolutions, because Ten Commandments ain't resolutions. They are what they say, they are. They are commandments. They are yeah yeah, yeah, they're commandments. So this is our, this is wherever you are, you know, and wherever you are as we come to take the bread and wine you know this is a time that in my lifetime and it's unprecedented.
Speaker 2:It's with the way that people are feeling. Now, if you, I see, I see fellow believers who are, who are in trouble with you know, with uh depression with fear and worry anxiousness, and so if you've not got a lord in your life, it must be even you can't.
Speaker 1:I can't imagine what it'd be like not to have christ in your life and and mate, it's going to get harder because we know that people's.
Speaker 2:there's only so much money in your bank account and Christmas coming people are spending like mad, but there comes a time there's no free lunches. They've got to. You have to pay off that credit card at some point or live in a mountain of debt.
Speaker 1:It's like, yeah, debt, debt is so frightening, isn't it? Financial struggles is so worrying.
Speaker 2:And you know, here we are right in the middle of a cold snap.
Speaker 1:In the UK?
Speaker 2:yeah, and they've ramped up the energy prices stupidly two or three times than what we were paying before. Stupidly, two or three times than what we were paying before. And there are people sitting at home in their coats and layers of clothes because they're frightened about the heating. And all this stuff mounts up then, doesn't it?
Speaker 1:Yeah, because it starts to fear. I can't spend no money, I can't turn the heating on, I can't put the boiler on. So fear is an enormous thing at this moment. When you go back in the bible and you study fear, we've done a lot of talking about fear and a lot of looking at that. Fear drives you to think different, to act different, to to do strange things, and to fear is is a dangerous thing to live in, isn't it? But I don't think we realize how long society has been living in fear.
Speaker 2:Well, we've been in fear since the first lockdown. We've been in fear for those years Anxiousness, and then we're taken out and we've been shown all sorts of other stuff. So you know, the world is throwing stuff on top, on top, on top. And you know, Ben, for a Christian, fear is really a problem. Yeah, Because fear amounts to unbelief, doesn't it?
Speaker 2:Yeah, because if you know your Bible, you know the Bible says trust in the Lord, your God, with all your heart, proverbs 3. And so if you're living in fear, then it's kind of it's unbelief really so the Lord doesn't want you to live in fear. Then it's unbelief really so the Lord doesn't want you to live in fear. He wants you to trust him.
Speaker 2:And you might be saying out there well, it's easy for you to say that I've got this, that and the other coming in, but we need to put our hopes somewhere, don't we?
Speaker 1:So we've got to really encourage one another. We've got to encourage your brother, your sister. You've got to really lift one another up because society and culture is really bruised. So imagine what it's like not to have Jesus. But then also when you've got him, and you know that you've got him and you know that your Redeemer lives, and another really big thing I think sometimes, when you know that you've got Christ and you have them fearful times as well, that can be worse by not having him because you're just living by the way of the world. But when you live by faith and you live by faith and you're holding on to Jesus, and then something happens and fear comes in, I think it can be almost like a double hitter as in crash.
Speaker 1:Wow, hang on a moment. I'm supposed to be this believer. I'm supposed to be this son and daughter of the living God. I've been angry, I'm frustrated. I've done this, I've done that. I've not believed as I should have believed. I haven't got into this position correctly with God. I haven't forgiven. I haven't done this, I haven't done this, I haven't done that. So there's two sides to you. Isn't there that can be rubbing up the wrong you someday?
Speaker 2:Yeah, and you know we've done our second book coming out it's all on fear, isn't it?
Speaker 2:When that comes out the door, yeah but the big problem for me with fear is it's an inward driver, so it's all about you and what you're going through and your fears. I get it constantly on the social media Please play for me, I'm anxious. Please play for me, I'm fearful. Well, here's the thing If you go out and you do something for someone else, mate the look on their face when you see a smile, when you see that they're being blessed that takes away Takes away.
Speaker 2:That takes away that fear and you're not thinking about yourself anymore.
Speaker 1:No, that's right, Because you're thinking about yeah yeah.
Speaker 2:So you know, like what you're doing here in the church, when you see these people come in, you know haven't got a pot, but they're going out with smiles on their faces because they've got bags full of food that cheers the old spirit up, doesn't it?
Speaker 1:It does, yeah, and I think what's really important, these Ten Commandments are opening up the whole Word of God so clearly and so powerfully. It speaks about so much, all these Ten Commandments. You know that beautiful scripture in the New Testament says perfect love drives out all fear. Jesus, jesus' love will drive out all fear. So if you are fearful today and worried today as we come to the table, perfect love drives out all fear. So I think we're at this point, we're going to break bread and we're going to take this cup. If you are fearful, let's bring all our fears and our worries to the cross of Calvary. Let's lay everything at the cross. Wherever you are today, let's lay everything at the cross. I know I've been saying it a lot lately, but how do we do that? I think the only way we do that is by speaking to Jesus and talk to him.
Speaker 2:Yeah, totally. And you know, ben, fear is a massive tool of the enemy, fear and doubt is a huge tool of the enemy and and doubt is a huge tool of the enemy and it's running like wildfire at the moment. So you're right, let's take communion and let's bring that stuff to the cross and where the cross will build us up. So where the cross was meant to defeat, it's a victory, isn't it? So we're going to build each other up, encourage one another.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's what we've got to do as Christians. You know it may be winter outside, but you know in your heart, let's encourage each other. Let your light shine. Let your light shine.
Speaker 1:yeah, I think we've got to get into that position where the Scripture says let your light shine, come on, light shine. I think we've got to get into that position where the scripture says let your light shine, come on church. Brothers and sisters, as we come to the table, let's just pray. Father, we thank you for the power of the blood of Jesus. Father, we thank you for this great opportunity to break bread, to take of this cup. Lord, we pray that you will move powerfully, lord, and freely in our hearts and our minds. Lord, that you would do a great work within us. Lord, that the love of Christ will be over us. Lord, always and forever. In Jesus' name. But, lord, I bring myself to the cross. I bring myself to the cross of Calvary, lord, I bring myself to this place, lord. Lord, I'm broken, but I know you're healing me. Lord, I'm lost, but I know that you have found me. Lord, I'm fearful, but I know I'm going to be free in the name of Jesus. So, lord, I think and I bring everything to you. So, right now, lord, as we break this bread, father, we understand that this bread symbolizes the body of Christ. Lord, and as we break this bread together, now, lord, father, thank you that your body was broken for each and every one of us. And as we take this bread together now, lord, father, I thank you, lord, that Calvary, calvary is hope, calvary is new beginning. Calvary, the cross of Calvary, is everything that we need. So, lord, my brokenness, my worries, my doubts, my sins, my history, my now everything, lord, I want to learn. I want to learn to walk different with you, lord, from this moment on, I want to walk more in faith. I want to walk more in your love. I want to walk more in the Ten Commandments. I want to walk free, lord. I want to walk, lord, as a child of the living God. Lord, I want to walk, lord, shackles, take the shackles away, take the chains, take the restraints away. Take it all off.
Speaker 1:Lord and Father, I pray for brothers and sisters today as they break bread with us. Lord, that freedom will abound in hearts today and mind, lord, that the fear Lord won't control, the fear won't dictate, the fear won't lead, but, lord, that we will know that our Redeemer lives and because he lives, we can face tomorrow. Come Holy Spirit. I thank you, lord, for every area of our lives. I thank you, lord, that you are stripping us all back that we are being washed in the blood of Jesus. But, lord, this symbolizes the body of Christ. In Jesus' name, amen, amen, amen. Thank you, jesus, thank you, holy Spirit. Just take a moment. Simon's going to pray in a moment for the cup that represents the blood of Jesus. Just take a moment for the cup that represents the blood of Jesus. Just take a moment.
Speaker 1:The perfect love drives out all fear. I'm going to be more open when I talk. I'm going to be more open from the pulpit and talk about my fears and my doubts. When we're online and when, wherever we are, I feel lost, I feel broken, I feel ashamed, I feel bad, I feel a wretch, I feel ashamed, I feel bad, I feel a wretch. But Jesus is working within me. Jesus is setting me free. Jesus has given me a hope and a future. If he can do it for me, how much more can he do for you, brothers and sisters? Let's bring each other to the cross. Let's bring each other to the cross through prayer. Let's edify and encourage everybody. Send a text to your church family. Send a text to your church family. Send a text to your church family and say Jesus is calling you. Jesus is calling you today in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. He's calling you afresh, simon. Will you pray for this cup, please?
Speaker 2:Thank you, ben, I think you put that really beautifully. And so, as we come to the cross, as we come to take the bread, and the bread will edify us, the bread will build us up. The bread is Jesus. And so we lift Father, we lift Jesus up to you today and we thank you for him. We thank you that he came to this earth, him. We thank you that yes, lord, he came to this earth, and we thank you that he died on a cross for our sin that put him there.
Speaker 2:Yes, each and every one of us and we thank you that, even if there was only one of us, only surfy, to come, and we thank you for that, and we thank you that he rose again to save us and accept us, and we thank you, father, that that he led us to you, father, and we thank you that he separated us from the world and we know he's coming again in glory. So we thank you, father, for jesus and jesus. We thank you for everything you've done.
Speaker 2:We are nothing without you, but everything with you yeah and as we bring all our stuff, all our crazy, horrible stuff, before the cross, let this blood symbolise the cleansing, healing power of the blood of Jesus. Amen, it's the blood of Jesus that cleanses, that cleanses us out, and we just want to take this blood in remembrance of you and to walk away cleansed from the cross in Jesus name.
Speaker 1:Amen, amen, amen. Thank you, jesus, lord, we love you and we bless you. Lord, draw us, draw every one of us to a deeper, greater walk with you in freedom. Perfect love drives out all fear in jesus name, amen, amen. What a great opportunity to take that in the middle of a podcast in a time. In such a time as this. You know the world is broken, everything is happening and everything is going on, but we're still in the book of exodus, chapter 20, and we're we are hanging around that text where it talks about stealing, isn't it? But you mentioned something earlier on that has really really interested me through this conversation about the thieves on the cross. Who was on the cross?
Speaker 2:The two Jesus was on the cross, but there was two thieves either side of him. Ben wasn't there.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so when you look at that, what their lives what had they actually done?
Speaker 2:They were accused and found guilty of stealing.
Speaker 1:But they was next to Jesus. They were next to Jesus, yeah.
Speaker 2:Jesus.
Speaker 1:What a fantastic, unbelievable but believable. Right but true. That is the power of the love of Christ, isn't it? Yeah, that Jesus doesn't reject anybody, jesus doesn't turn anybody away.
Speaker 2:And here we see in this example, and it's just an amazing example because we see again, it has to be a heart thing, ben, doesn't it? Because one rejected Jesus right at the last moment and the other one accepted him, you know, rejected Jesus right at the last moment. And the other one accepted him, you know. And what it tells us is that it doesn't matter when you turn to Jesus.
Speaker 1:At your last hour, at your last moment, at your last breath, the last second. Jesus never turns you away. You see it in the hospice, don't you on a regular basis? I see it so much. Life is very fragile, life is so much. Life is very fragile, life is very thin.
Speaker 2:Life is very powerful. Let me ask you this one very just, briefly the countenance of someone who leaves this world having accepted Jesus, is it different to someone?
Speaker 1:who's rejected Jesus. There is a very big difference between when someone takes their last breath of life let's say it like that that have accepted or knows or walks with there's so many different ways to look at that that has a faith with the God of Israel that's the best way to put it like that, because when someone may give their life at the end they haven't lived in the fullness of god's glory. So the best way to put that is when you see someone called from this world that leaves with the holy spirit and the deity. There is something very different between someone that doesn't leave this world with jesus christ. You can see on, on on the carcass, on the, on the body is there a piece?
Speaker 2:is there a piece? There's a?
Speaker 1:there's a piece. Yeah, when people leave with the god of israel, there is a peace. When people I don't even like saying it when people leave without, without that, that that is very harrowing to watch, that that is very disturbing to see, to see that there is two different types of death, two different types of death a death with Jesus and a death without.
Speaker 2:I mean, we're right down to the wire on this one, aren't we, you know?
Speaker 1:You can't get any clutter. You can't get it. No, this is right.
Speaker 2:A story that's always still with me, and it is a true story about a vicar who used to go into a church in London and this man's daughter said he was dying. He was dying, he was in the hospital. And she said to the vicar would you come and pray? My father is not a believer. And she was. And he went along. She went, he went along and and there was a man and, um, he rejected jesus, uh, there. And then to to the man's face and and the vicar just said to him he said there's a chair there. He said just just imagine, jesus is in the chair with his arms open for you, wow. And. And the man said no, I'm not interested, and walked away. And it was a.
Speaker 2:A couple of weeks later he saw the lady again. This, the vicar, yeah, and he said this is a true story and it really. It wells me up, but be honest with you, because she said he said well, how was your, how's your father? She said he died. Um, he said I'm sorry to it actually, but the funny thing, oh dear, when he died, um, they found him out of the bed with his arms around the chair.
Speaker 1:Wow, oh my goodness, loving jesus, loving jesus.
Speaker 2:That's the, that's the difference. And people say if people say ain't real yeah this is nonsense, isn't it?
Speaker 1:jesus. Jesus is real brothers and sisters on the other side. You know we are in the ten commandments, but the ten commandments opens up everything to god. So just because we might not be on the stealing one which we are on, but this is really, really important because Christ doesn't want us to be robbed of anything- so, there's two sides of stealing. There's the physical.
Speaker 2:There's many sides to stealing.
Speaker 1:There's the physical, and then you look at the spiritual, and you look at the cross of Calvary with the two thieves and you look at what Simon has just told us, that fantastic story. You know how many people have been robbed of so much that the Scripture has had? Why have we been robbed? Who tries to rob us? Who tries to keep that from us? What is all that about?
Speaker 2:Yeah, well, we've got an enemy out there, Ben, who blinds the eyes of. And he's the prince of the power of the air and he is the prince of this world. So he's you know, right at the last. Right at the last hurdle, you see he's battling for that soul as much as you would be in a hospice, isn't he? Yeah?
Speaker 2:So, he's battling, coming against whatever Jesus is saying to that particular person. He wants that soul for him, but, you know, the problem is that there's no free lunches with him, you know, whereas with Jesus' freedom, forgiveness and acceptance and everlasting life with this other fellow. I mean, the thing is, as you quite rightly put it. You know, as soon as we stay on this tag for a few moments, this earth suit will disappear but your heart and your soul will live on forever, doesn't it?
Speaker 1:In eternity.
Speaker 2:And if we have a choice, where is it going to live?
Speaker 1:What eternity.
Speaker 2:What lake of fire or heaven, yeah.
Speaker 1:The way I treat people, the attitude, everything you know. There are many ways that stealing can be looked at, you know, and religion can steal so much away from people.
Speaker 2:It's totally been.
Speaker 1:Business can steal, life can steal, the world can steal. But being spiritually stale I'm not a very good way to pronounce to put that, but maybe I'll put that a little bit different having having your, your, your understanding of church and religion being stolen and taken from you purely by certain denominations telling you certain things when actually that isn't actually quite true. So there's wrong teachings, there's wrong doctrine out there, ben.
Speaker 2:So you're being robbed, Robbed of the truth. Jesus said in John 10, 10, and many people think this was the he's talking about the enemy, the devil, but he's actually talking about religious leaders at the time. If you read it in context with the rest of it. He said the thief comes to. You know, rob, steal, kill and destroy, and that's what he's after, isn't it? That's what some of these denominations are doing. They're directing people in wrong doctrine and putting you at the centre of stuff, rather than Jesus and the cross.
Speaker 1:So they're robbing you of the truth. They're robbing you of the truth and I think that could be the biggest thing that could ever be stolen or tried to be taken from you is the truth that Jesus loves you. Jesus loves you abundantly. Whoever and wherever you are at this moment in time, christ loves you. Whatever is going on wherever you are at this moment in time, christ loves you. Whatever is going on in your heart and your mind, jesus loves you abundantly.
Speaker 2:A mate of mine, ben, a mate of mine, a good mate of mine, in his testimony. He's got a great testimony, a real inspiring testimony. When he came, actually came to faith, his wife found him calling out I've got it all out, I've got it all wrong. I've got it all wrong. I've got it all wrong Because he's finally known the truth Exactly. And if we're not in our Bibles, if we're not in the word of God, then we can be quite easily led away by a different doctrine can't we? Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:And I wonder if there's anyone out there that actually feels that they've been robbed of the teaching of the gospel. I know it sounds funny to put like that, but I wonder if anyone is out there that feels that they've been robbed and they've not wasted years in church, but they're actually thinking to. I'm actually thinking to myself now. What has actually happened to me through church all these years? What has actually happened to me through church all these years? What has actually happened to me? What really has gone on in me? You know, I grew up in church and all sorts of things and everything and all types of things have gone on and everything. And now I really believe. Now I'm walking in a bigger and a stronger relationship with jesus than I've never had before. But but this happened through lockdown. To me, this happened in lockdown. Lockdown was a critical thing for me when the key of the church was locked, but that brought a fear that I never thought your church wasn't locked out was it ben, it was, we're online.
Speaker 1:We won't turn on, we were locked down. Yeah, of course we were.
Speaker 2:You bring an interesting point because right at the start of lockdown a mate of mine from the States contacted me and said he said, simon, this is a time you've got to press into the Lord more than anything else. You know they speak like that over there and he was right, he's right and he was right, he was right and you're right, ben. This is a time through a lot of stuff we discuss on the podcast and our podcasts go back.
Speaker 2:We've got loads of them right back through lockdown and what we realised at a very, very early stage was we have to come to our own garden of Gethsemane the garden of Gethsemane and I never realised what that actually meant.
Speaker 1:I've read over that for so long and I'm being absolutely honest here. I feel broken. I feel lost, but not in a way that I've lost my faith. Got to be careful how you put that, because you can't lose your faith. It's not that I just feel lost in society and culture and I feel broke. I feel hurt. There was a lot of stuff in my past that is rising at this moment. God is dealing with stuff within me, stripping me back, melting me, molding me all that sort of stuff. I'm learning to walk very differently with jesus, but it was the lockdown that was the trigger and it really affected me.
Speaker 2:Let me ask you this Ben. You know, so when we make a decision to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, all of a sudden we're not walking the way of the world, are we? We're a citizen of the kingdom, so we've turned around and we're walking in the opposite direction to the way of the world. But you get swept back.
Speaker 2:But yeah this is what I'm going to say, depending on which church you go to. If you go to a church, or depending on which denomination it is, you swap the world for the way of the church, don't you? Yeah, and you go the way of the church, which may not necessarily be the way of the Bible.
Speaker 1:But, you don't realise, because religion and church has been hitting this drum for so long. It's such a mix of everything in it and it's so difficult to focus when the churches and a massive percentage of everything seems to be all swept up in one. And you're trying to live right and you're trying to do this, you're trying to do that, you're trying to make a way in the wilderness and in the desert and you're saying Lord, help me, god help me. And suddenly you find yourself in a position of unfamiliar territory and you think how did I ever get to this place? Whatever happened to me on this journey? You know you're following Jesus. You know that you love him with all your heart. You know that you are looking and you are stretching out and you are really pressing for Christ.
Speaker 2:I think you put it in a good way, ben. I think you can quite easily get swept up in ministry. You can get swept up with all the church stuff, and I remember when I was dealing with a lot of men's groups, some of the less active men's groups were in the bigger churches. Yeah yeah, because the bigger churches like to keep everyone busy all the time, like to keep them going to this study, bible study, this course, that course, and using up all of your time rather than….
Speaker 1:And you get caught in the wheels and the business of church and religion and the process of living and everything gets swept. It's like sweeping a floor, isn't it? When you sweep a floor, everything gets caught up.
Speaker 2:And you look at that. I don't know how to say this, ben, but it is the truth. Many people seek vindication from the leader rather than from the cross. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So many people will be looking to the leader and if they're not careful, they'll be going. What does he say about that? What?
Speaker 1:does.
Speaker 2:Jesus say about that, that's right yeah, yeah, so you know, I understand it, I get it, it's very easily done. But we've got to break that and we've got to say hold on a minute does what this leader says, what his doctrine is, what he preaches does it line up with the word of God, Because if it don't line up with the word of God, then I'm sorry, but you've got a question why you're there really.
Speaker 1:And that's the question is now, lord, where do you want me? What should I be doing? Lord, can you lead me to the cross? You know the garden of Gethsemane, you know we're in the Ten Commandments, but I never realized you know, I keep having a little chuckle there I never realized that the Ten Commandments open up so much. It opens up Genesis to Revelation, but it draws you in in a way that God has got you, god has got you, and when you want Jesus more and more and you start to look within yourself, you know, the most difficult thing is to look within, to look within me and say, lord, I thought I was further up the track than I am and suddenly, lord, I realize that I'm so far back down the track so far down Because the standard is so high Because standard is so high, yeah, and the flaws, the character flaws that.
Speaker 1:I've got the worries, I've got the silly ways that. I've got the issues. I've got the struggles, I've got the fears, I've got the insecurities, I've got everything. But trying to bring this stuff to the cross is so difficult. Because I'm not blaming the church in any way, shape or form, but maybe religion.
Speaker 1:Is there anybody out there that has been able to deal with all their stuff in their life? Because over the generations the church has taught how not to live in fear, not how to live in doubt, not how to live in sin. But it's been like this massive big shop broom that has been swept by all denominations and everything has been swept up together and it's been like put in a box and on the shelf and you can have you can have any, anything, every bits of different bits of denominations, bits of this, bits of that teaching. And suddenly we've got all this teaching out there and it's so wishy washy. It's, it's. It's made this feeling that church hasn't worked. What's happened? The religious order, the box hasn't worked. It's not because Jesus isn't working, it's because my eyes have been focused on the structure and the running and the business rather than looking at the cross.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's right, rather than the Bible.
Speaker 1:The word, the cross, the word and the cross.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so it's. Yeah, you've only got to be one degree out, haven't you and your mum? Suddenly, your whole life is thrown all over the spin.
Speaker 1:And there's a really interesting thing happened yesterday down in Brighton in that university I don't know if they've backtracked on that where they they said that the University of Brighton was not taking a Christmas break. They're not recognising the word Christmas. We're taking out the word Christmas and we're switching that for it's just a winter's break because the Christian festival could be offensive to those that are not in that. So there's been a big thing yesterday. So what I'm trying to say is that the world is always trying to rob us Christians. Well, it's happening?
Speaker 2:that's happening more and more, isn't it? You know they've robbed us of Christmas anyway, haven't they? Yeah, yeah, yeah, because the world has taken over that. So you know I've got Jewish friends, asian friends, you know who are Hindus or whatever. They all have a good old celebration at Christmas. But they all enjoy Christmas. They do and they enjoy the world's Christmas more than what we do, do you know? Yeah, because, quite frankly, I'm fed up with the world's Christmas.
Speaker 1:Commercial Christmas.
Speaker 2:I wish, and I got hammered in a group, a men's group, because I said I wish that the Christian churches stand up and say we're celebrating Christ's birthday on another day to Christmas Day and let the world have Christmas, but we're going to celebrate that yeah. Oh no, you've got to stand up, but it's overwhelmed.
Speaker 1:It's overwhelmed with commercialism.
Speaker 2:It's overwhelmed with commercialism, and the same with Easter.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:The same with Easter. Easter is not bunnies and chickens and chocolate.
Speaker 1:You know it's a cross when you think about what it is, and I actually think that Christmas should remind us, yeah, obviously, of the birth of Christ, but also the redemption saviour, because that's what the wise men were looking at. That's the saviour of the world, the gift of salvation.
Speaker 2:And the thing is, you know, this isn't when Jesus was born.
Speaker 1:No, we understand the dates are very different to the calendar, but this isn't when Jesus was born because he was God anyway.
Speaker 2:This is when he became man. Yes, this is when he became man. And do you know what, then? You know jesus's life. He's the only one in the whole of humanity. Yeah, now, since and forever. Who can keep? Who's kept these 10 commandments? That's right. Only one? Who's kept them all? And this one steal, as we quite rightly said last week, because we went into spiritual theft, spiritual stealing didn't we Can you rob from God.
Speaker 2:That's what we said. Yeah, and we came up with the answer. Yeah, very much so, but you can imagine the tablets being caught on you. So you've got, you know, five commandments on one side, five on the other side. Well, the five on the other.
Speaker 1:So you've got, you know, five commandments on one side, five on the other side.
Speaker 2:Well, the five on the other side, which start with you, know you shall not murder. They all have got theft through them, Because if you murder, you steal a life, If you commit adultery you may steal a partner, or if you commit false testimony.
Speaker 2:If you lie, then you're stealing justice from somebody, aren't you? You know, if you commit false testimony, if you lie, then you're stealing justice from somebody, aren't you? You know, if you covet in other people's possessions, then you want to take from other people, and you know it's all of that stuff. And today we live in a society where there's a lot of it's always gone on, but it's exposed more. You know there's a lot of stealing of humans, isn't there? There's a lot of it's always gone on, but it's exposed more. You know there's a lot of stealing of humans, isn't there? There's a lot of kidnapping. There's a lot of human trafficking going on.
Speaker 1:You know, human exploitation, Human exploitation yeah. And a lot of that's done under the banner of religion. You've got abuse under all that. You've got so much under that. This text that we started looking at know, I never realized how big are you know, and as as as a believer, I'm thinking this this is just um unbelievable that.
Speaker 1:what the the scripture? When you start looking and reading about stealing, automatically you think, oh well, I've taken that, I've stolen that and put in my pocket pocket. But that's the minimalistic thing. It opens up so much more. It's huge, and the world is always trying to rob you of what? Of your peace.
Speaker 2:It's trying to rob you of your peace.
Speaker 1:Of your joy. It's trying to impart fear in you and make you doubt, doubt yourself, doubt your faith. Trying to, oh, mate, it's taking away, God isn't it. So you're wrestling.
Speaker 2:The world has robbed you of God.
Speaker 1:Yeah, because you look at it. You look at the world.
Speaker 2:The world's robbed us of God.
Speaker 1:The world's saying you've got to worship the creation and not the creator and we're pressed in our face with foreign gods all the time.
Speaker 2:All the time.
Speaker 1:Foreign gods are pushed in our face and you're trying to live and you're trying to walk for Jesus and then suddenly, things happen, things blow up, things, this happens, that happens, things come into life and you're thinking God, and I think there are a lot of believers at this moment having their joy robbed.
Speaker 2:Having their joy robbed, yeah, their peace robbed oh having their peace robbed.
Speaker 1:Let's just remind people, though you can't have your faith robbed because you're grafted in, but as a human being, what happens is not that you doubt, you doubt, so your mind starts playing tricks the wasteland and the battlefield of the mind. Not that your faith can be robbed, because you have been given a gift and you have got the gift of faith. You've got the gift of eternal life, you've got the gift of the living word of God, so that can't be stripped away. You know you are saved and you are blessed and you are a child of the living God. But your joy is robbed. Your almost a sound mind can be robbed Happiness.
Speaker 2:They're robbing, even robbing the children of the nativity ain't they? Yeah, when you think about that they're robbing the children of the true meaning of Christmas.
Speaker 1:What does Christmas really mean? They're taking.
Speaker 2:God out of education. They're taking him out of. He's just another faith.
Speaker 1:He's just another God, you know they're taking him out of education.
Speaker 2:They're taking him out of especially higher education. And now there's other doctrine that comes in the doctrine of socialism, the doctrine of Marxism, which wants to rob you of your property.
Speaker 1:You know, yeah, which wants to rob you of your property.
Speaker 2:You know it wants to take away your property and give it to someone else.
Speaker 1:The question is are our houses safe? Until every bean has been paid, the home doesn't belong to you, does it? It doesn't belong to you, no, your car. Until a car's been paid, it doesn't belong to you and just like that they could go.
Speaker 1:And just like that and we've seen it, haven't we a lot the last few years we see this big band of retired people that were robbed of their inheritance that they sowed into. So the world is always robbing you of, of trying to rob you of your property where they invested. And you've got that big band of retirement people that invested into so many different things that they was told, if you invest into this, when you've got that big band of retirement people that invested into so many different things that they was told, if you invest into this, when you've paid your mortgage, the equity within that will clear the rest off, blah, blah, blah. And then suddenly they hear from these big financial companies Endowment, mortgages, endowments Sorry, we made a mistake and that has robbed retired people of a restful time in their life. So the world is always robbing and how many people got caught in that?
Speaker 2:You've got to work longer. You've got to work, you know. Yes, you get robbed.
Speaker 1:You're robbed.
Speaker 2:All of that stuff.
Speaker 1:And then that affects your faith, that affects your understanding. You've worked all your life, you've paid into the system and then suddenly you've been robbed of some peace where you thought I'm going to rest for a while, maybe go into something charitable work, and then suddenly you're finding that I think the biggest area where the enemy tries to rob us is of peace and joy.
Speaker 2:Totally. That's 100% right. He's a robber of peace and joy, whereas the Lord wants to give you peace, peace and joy.
Speaker 1:He wants to give you peace, peace and joy. He wants to give you peace, and what does God say? Peace and goodwill to all men.
Speaker 2:Yeah yeah, he does say that and that is something to cling on to, because there's always hope. But he also says he said in this world you will have trouble.
Speaker 1:But take heart, I have overcome this world. Sisters and brothers, we have gone in 53 minutes.
Speaker 2:No.
Speaker 1:We have we're in 53 minutes.
Speaker 2:We've got so much more.
Speaker 1:And it feels like we haven't touched that band, but the thieves on the cross. You know he cried out to Jesus, and I think that's where I am at this moment. You know I'm crying out to Jesus. Will you remember me when you come into your kingdom Within a twinkling of an eye? You'll be with me in paradise. Sisters and brothers, do you want to? Do you want to feel that today? Do you want to feel that On your heart today, when Jesus said that? Of course, of course, of course. I will remember you, lord. Remember me. Of course I will. I'm going to prepare a place for you. Where's that, lord? I'm coming back for you. Jesus is coming back for you.
Speaker 2:And if you're, I don't know if you've fallen short out there, which many of us do, if you've fallen away from your faith, which obviously many of us do from time to time, or if you feel and you know I used to get this all the time in prisons there's not a God that loved me. I've done so much wrong and just remember, you know the prodigal son and because when your heart turns back to the Lord, as with the thief on the cross, the arms are open.
Speaker 1:The Father's arms are open.
Speaker 2:As that old gentleman found as he fell on the floor and wrapped his arms around that chair. Yeah, jesus is there.
Speaker 1:Jesus is there, jesus is with us, jesus is with you, jesus is with me, you know, and do you feel that your joy has been robbed? Do you feel your, your peace has been robbed? Do you feel that your, your livelihood's being robbed? Do you feel that you're just chasing around, chasing your tail, going round and round and round and you're trying to restore and trying to and try and get back what, what the enemy has stolen, all their, all that sort of stuff that's going on and taking that territory back. Do you feel there's been stuff taken from you? Well, now is the time, as we come, just to close this you know, open conversation, saying Lord, I need you to heal me, lord, I need you to restore me, lord, because I feel that I've been robbed. But right now, lord, I thank you that perfect love drives out all fear. Simon, do you know what I?
Speaker 2:think it would be a good idea if you take us out in prayer. Yeah, but I mean, you can't argue with that, can you? Perfect love, it drives out all fear. So what we'd say is, if there's anyone out there who's and we know, it's a time like this, where people are in fear, there are people who are in doubt, people who are stressed, depressed. What we say is quietly, don't have to shout it from the rooftops, just quietly, wherever you are, give Jesus praise today. Lift Jesus up to the Father, lift him up, thank him for what he's done for you, thank him that he came to the cross and died and rose again to save you and led you to the Father.
Speaker 2:Lift him up, thank him for what he's done for you, thank him that he came to the cross and died and rose again to save you and led you to the Father. Let him lead you to the Father today, let him build you up and we'll put an end to that fear. We'll put an end to that doubt.
Speaker 2:We'll put an end to all of that negative stuff and fill it with the mighty word of Jesus Christ, and fill it with the word of God and the right doctrine. So we'll be praying for every single one of you out there. We love you, remember. If you like this stuff, there'll be plenty more content coming your way. And if you do like it, don't forget to give us a thumbs up and maybe subscribe to what we're doing. So don't forget it's hashtag, christian Straight Talk, and we're wishing you a. Don't forget it's hashtag ChristianStrikeTalk, and we're wishing you a very happy, very merry Christmas, a very holy Christmas and bring it, but above all, ben, a very cross-filled.
Speaker 1:Christmas. Yeah, yeah, that's very, very true. Yeah, that's so true. The cross, you know, closing this, it's the cross. Let's carry each other in prayer to the cross of calvary. Let's carry our loved ones and our friends to the cross of calvary, wherever you are. Let's get to the cross of calvary today, because that's where peace is at the cross. God bless every one of you in the mighty name of jesus christ. God bless, take care, stay safe. Thank you.
