#CST - Excuses for rejecting Jesus - (#CST45)

Excuses for Rejecting Jesus

Hosts: Reverend Ben Cooper & Simon Pinchbeck
Scripture Focus: Luke 14:14–15

Have you ever made an excuse—subtle or blatant—to keep Jesus at arm’s length? In today’s compelling episode of Christian Straight Talk, Reverend Ben Cooper and Simon Pinchbeck dive deep into one of the most heart-wrenching stories in the New Testament: Peter’s denial of Jesus Christ.

Set against the backdrop of Luke 14:14–15 and the courtyard scene where Peter’s betrayal unfolded, this episode reveals the inner turmoil many of us face when standing at the crossroads of faith and fear. The moment Peter locked eyes with Jesus after denying Him three times wasn’t just about failure—it was a picture of love, redemption, and the raw struggle of human weakness.

As we explore the parable of the great banquet in Luke 14, we hear Jesus say, "Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God." Yet many turned down the invitation, offering excuses rooted in personal comfort, busyness, and pride. In truth, these ancient excuses echo our modern lives.

Reverend Ben and Simon take this ancient text and give it modern legs. They challenge listeners to examine their hearts—what excuses are we making today that keep us from fully surrendering to Jesus? “I’m too busy.” “I’ll come to faith when I’ve sorted my life out.” “Church just isn’t for me.” These phrases, while culturally common, are spiritually dangerous.

This episode also touches on Peter's transformation from cowardice to boldness. After his denial, Peter wasn’t cast aside—he was restored and became one of the greatest voices for the gospel. This speaks volumes about the grace and redemption available to anyone willing to return to Christ after failure.

The conversation then opens a broader dialogue about contemporary Christianity. In a world filled with distractions, cultural pressures, and shallow commitments, we’re reminded that true discipleship comes with sacrifice, honesty, and humility. Being a follower of Jesus means more than ticking religious boxes—it demands the courage to face our fears and surrender our excuses.

You’ll leave this episode not only moved but equipped—to let go of your justifications and come boldly to Christ. Whether you’re a seasoned believer or exploring faith for the first time, this episode will encourage you to respond to the Master’s invitation: Come, for everything is now ready.

Peter denies Jesus, excuses for faith, Christian discipleship, spiritual growth, Jesus redemption, Luke 14 parable, deny Christ, eye contact with Jesus, Christian repentance, kingdom of God invitation, New Testament teaching, Christian podcast UK - The Bible 

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Transcript

Reverend Ben Cooper: 0:30

Good morning, everybody. Thank you so much for joining us this morning. #Christian straight talk. We are streaming across 11 This morning, and on our very own Twitter feed. # Christian Straight Talk. Good morning to everybody that's jumping online, I can see where you are. God bless you in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. And we welcome you. It is Thursday, the second of March and it is 2211. And whatever your life looks like this morning, we just pray that you will just find the living Word of God and just continue to follow Jesus Simon. Good morning, we're in. And we are ready. Ready to rumble ready to rumble? Let's get ready to rumble.

Simon Pinchbeck: 1:11

Good morning, everyone across the world. And it's you know, you just thank you again for joining us and hallelujah. And Ben this week, what dropped what Trump wrote a post from the person was this is our second

Reverend Ben Cooper: 1:26

yet. Our second book, Ben's second book is out on Amazon. This is unbelievable. And it's amazing, isn't it? The second book is out. And we thank God for that happen

Simon Pinchbeck: 1:36

that that you just, you know, it's the Lord, the Lord is moving. So this is that this is our hash second book, hashtag Christian straight talk. And it's all about fear, fear talk and some great titles in here. Fear is not an option a standstill Johnsville for different spirits. Fear is a lie, the fear of God, keep your eyes on Jesus,

Reverend Ben Cooper: 1:56

keep your eyes on Jesus,

Simon Pinchbeck: 1:57

it's on Amazon. There, it's there, you know, we'd invite you to, to get get hold of a copy. It'll bless you of just just reading it through again, this stuff is like dynamite. It's got a cross mic to the enemy. It's all

Reverend Ben Cooper: 2:13

about Jesus. It doesn't talk about us as Ben and Simon it talks about Christ about following Jesus, it's got nothing about us in there. It's all about following Christ walking with Christ believing

Simon Pinchbeck: 2:26

and how we deal with fear, and how we deal with fear, which is

Reverend Ben Cooper: 2:30

and it's just the fear. So when you look at the titles, or the chapters that are out there, it's all about Jesus, because Jesus is the one. So it's fear is not an option, as Simon said, and the other chapters, but it's Jesus all the way through, all the way through, yes, all the way through how to deal with fear. So if you've got issues with fear, and worry, and all that sort of stuff, it's worth just grabbing your cell for copy. And we thank God for all those followers as well. We got many, many 1000s of followers on Spotify, and Amazon music. And we've got some other news coming up in the next few weeks, another platform that we will be using, but once that's in place, we will let you know. So there's amazing things happening in the world of podcasting. So God is blessing us and God is blessing you. And we just pray that wherever you are today that you will never give up. But we got a title for today's podcast. And for everyone that is live streaming with us this morning. Good morning. Now I can see you jumping online there. Thank you. And good morning to you too. And for everybody that is in the world of podcasting that will capture this a week down the line, we just want to say thank you to you as well, very much for the for downloads 10,000 downloads plus of just pure podcast in that we've done. So God bless you across the world and the power of technology is just mind blowing.

Simon Pinchbeck: 3:53

It's mind blowing Ben and we'd invite you to, to add comments. But as you appreciate, you know, with us talking at the same time, it's a bit difficult to reply. But we will get we will we will get there. Yeah. So we'll invite my comments and be encouraged. And today Yeah, is what

Reverend Ben Cooper: 4:15

we are. Where are we today? What are we doing? What we talk are we talking about?

Simon Pinchbeck: 4:19

What was funny enough when we're talking about Jesus, we're talking about Jesus and these excuses for rejecting Jesus. And do you know what, Ben? There's a lot of excuses that people make when when, when challenged really to tell us about Jews. Why? Why is why isn't Jesus not fit into your life? Why? Why What do you think and the devil has done an amazing job and he has Yeah. But Jesus said himself and if we if we kick it, kick off his podcast with scripture, which is In Luke 14, Ben, Jesus said himself that many will be invited. But few will respond. And Luke 14 Right at the beginning, he says, Now it happened as he went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees. Now, this was one of the rulers or the Pharisees. So

Reverend Ben Cooper: 5:20

this was the big, big Cheese. Cheese was a big daddy in the world of the Pharisees and

Simon Pinchbeck: 5:25

one of the top men and either been ordained his robes, and no doubt. Oh, definitely, yeah. And there'll be other people around him and Jesus went in and he, well, to say he gave it to him is is

Reverend Ben Cooper: 5:39

in True Jesus style. Jesus didn't hold back. He didn't hold back. What's What's interesting with Simon is reading that from verse one of the Gospel of John Chapter 14. Now we're not in John r1. We're in Luke. So Luke 14, the Gospel of John has been banging around my head and up for so I'll get into that. We'll be joined in a minute that way to the Gospel of Luke, I stand corrected. Luke chapter 14, and verse one, and it says on on the Sabbath, or one Sabbath, depending on translations of when Jesus went into eat that house of a prominent Pharisee he was being carefully watched. Isn't that true? Now, that if you are a believer, you are being carefully watched by the outside by religion. So Christ was in the Pharisees, a man of stature. It was probably well known to Nicodemus as well. Interest in this that it doesn't actually mention his name, does it? No, it isn't. So So he's the same, he's of the same. drumbeat it up so he's a Pharisee he's high up he's, he's exalted. He's lifted up in society. He's well oiled. He's well educated. He will know Nicodemus very interesting. It doesn't make doesn't mention this name of this person. But it says that he was being carefully watched. Being watched and and we are being watched. We are

Simon Pinchbeck: 6:59

Yeah. All the time. We're being carefully watched but didn't stop Jesus from being solo being radical radical. Straight Talking with him. That's right. Yeah. So yeah, we we try and we try and be the straight talkers. And so Jesus was straight talking he he just Yeah. Any Ahmad right from the right from the get go, didn't it? Because

Reverend Ben Cooper: 7:27

he's straight in no messing about says if you're,

Simon Pinchbeck: 7:31

and he talked in parables, which is stories, but they know what he was saying. They understand stood, he was talking about them. And so he, if you go to 14, seven, he says, don't say we were invited to a wedding don't sit at the top on a table in case someone gives you a little tap on his shoulder. I'm sorry, that, you know, you've got to be sitting down and sit right at the bottom, sit at the bar. And then if you're invited to come up,

Reverend Ben Cooper: 7:58

and then come forward, yeah. And then come forward. Interesting that what Jesus says about that,

Simon Pinchbeck: 8:02

yeah, because you go in any church and see you sitting at the front.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 8:09

On there. Yeah, yeah. Or do you sit in the front and certain cultures, they like to make sure the pastor has got a gold throne, a red carpet, certain areas of church like to, you know, I've, I've signed up for

Simon Pinchbeck: 8:26

entourage, he was in a white Rolls Royce,

Reverend Ben Cooper: 8:29

white Rolls Royce, police escort was on horses on the side, red carpet. And then he had a commentator when he was getting out the car. It comes to the pastor, it comes the pastor, and you're thinking there comes the man of God, you think and what have we actually come to? And then they go and sit on these big humongous gold thrones, we see it within the UK and certain movements within the UK. And we're servants all of us our servants.

Simon Pinchbeck: 8:55

This is completely contrary to this teaching in

Reverend Ben Cooper: 9:00

what Jesus Christ is saying. And even that they're arguing about the healing that he's doing. And it says, there in front of him was a man that was suffering with an abnormal swelling of his body. Jesus asked the Pharisee the experts in the law, nobody says Christ is saying that these men these Pharisees are experts in the law. Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not? But they remained silent. See, when you bring the word to the law, when you bring the Word and your speak truth into a very hostile environment, the truth will always out, strengthen and completely deal and take down the Pharisees the Sadducees, the law giving strike through a cut straight through here. It says that the Word of God is sharper than a double edged sword. So speaking the truth through the living Word of God will destroy I have all this religious stiffness, all this sort of stuff. So if you speak Jesus, you're speaking powerful.

Simon Pinchbeck: 10:08

So I was just thinking so Jesus isn't he he's got incarnate is is is always been a always will be always was. He's He's the most powerful, most amazing man that ever walked the earth. And yet when he wrote he went on a donkey Danny,

Reverend Ben Cooper: 10:29

he didn't go and Mercedes in a Mercedes. And it says they said Hosanna, hosanna hosanna wave in the palm leaves and he came in, found out knackered

Simon Pinchbeck: 10:42

old donkey, or is Jesus on his private jet just going Yeah,

Reverend Ben Cooper: 10:45

it wasn't doing the Kenneth Copeland they wouldn't land in with his four jets, the Lord

Simon Pinchbeck: 10:50

is called soil. But I'll bet your bottom dollar that the devil incarnate which will be the Antichrist, even old back on, on, on

Reverend Ben Cooper: 11:03

on private jets and now that's the Antichrist, the Antichrist will be the richest person on earth because they come into claiming to capture everything that we own. The government's are after what we have. You can see what we got tyranny in the UK for the government. Things are breaking out in religion, now is a time. If you are a believer, and we are talking about being born again, spirit filled. You You've we've got to stand on the living Word of God. But the excuses for ridet rejecting Jesus, even now across the religious table. There is so many excuses on the table for rejecting Christ. But Christ came in to that place on that donkey that's really interesting. So he wasn't highly exalted. He didn't have an entourage he didn't have anything around him. He didn't have a PA team. He didn't have a social network. He didn't have all the lights and the glitz and the glamour. But where was he going? Going to the cross? Yeah, you think the journey that he was on? He came in on a donkey that was worn out exhausted, you know, probably not treated very, very well. There was no lights, there was no Glitz. And that's what it is when you're following Jesus, when you really follow Christ. There is no materialism to that to be exalted.

Simon Pinchbeck: 12:24

Oh, no, no, nothing like that. But so you're right. Ben is time that we kept our head on a swivel. Yeah, it's time to stand for something. Yeah, otherwise, we'll fall for everything. And we will fall for the Antichrist if we're not standing for Jesus. And for for the world, really, because I'm looking at this. And when I looked at this when I thought, we thought, well, excuses for why people don't accept Jesus. But hold on a minute. It's also even if you are a believer, for not following Jesus or not following Him and not standing up for him. What did he What does he like? Was it say? What does he say? If you? If you're ashamed of me, I'll be ashamed of you.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 13:13

Yeah, I don't like reading that text. Now, I don't like reading that that text is just, it's just a very big text. And now is a time. So when we're talking about excuses for rejecting or not following Jesus, there's a classic isn't there? There's that classic, that great, that great disciple, when the rooster crows, you will Peter, you will deny me Lord, I'm going to die for you. I'm going to follow you. I will fight for you. I will do everything for you. But what's interesting is when the human skin the human body, their back is against the wall. And and you're thinking how am I going to get out of this situation? He denied Christ but he was called he was a disciple. He was chosen. And Christ in in the beginning of them Scriptures said something really powerful. And when you come back, and when you come back, and when you come back, Feed my lambs or sheep, whatever one you're reading from, feed them, what are you going to feed them? Are you going to feed them kebabs burgers, what you're going to feed them steak? No, you're going to feed them the living Word of God go feed my children feed the sheep. You know, Sir Peter had a colon. strong, powerful Coenen. But when he sat around a fire Ben when he when his life was in, when he was looking at his own mortality.

Simon Pinchbeck: 14:40

So we can look at Peter But we got to look at ourselves only. Yeah, so when were our backs against the wall when we're standing near the fire being alive when our faith comes into question or when we get an opportunity to maybe bring Jesus into it. conversation or, or by our actions, are we going to step forward and go? Yes, Jesus, your front and center, or we're going to duck into the crowd.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 15:15

So if you take education at this moment, families, whoever we are, have got children and the educational department. The educational department in a massive error area is trying to take our children away from the teachings of Jesus Christ. And even the church is trying to do that, from this gender issue or many other issues that they're coming against the pronouns and, and the gender fluid God rubbish that the talking about even attacking the word our father, aren't they? So how do we deny Christ? Do we deny Him through our speak? Or do we deny Him for our actions and denying him by our actions? We don't need to say anything, just by going into the workplace, going into school, going into life, and allowing that beast system control us. We are denying, in a roundabout way that we belong to Jesus Christ. Yeah, that's true. But we get caught in the snare of life. The enemy lays the snare, it's so easy, easy to do.

Simon Pinchbeck: 16:18

Look what happened to Peter. The same is happening to two believers every single day. And that's interesting. You mentioned that the educational system, because it's not just in the UK, it's across the western world, and especially no more so than the United States. And I read this morning, quote by the new mayor of New York, who, who you know, in New York has a democratic place. But he said, he said, When we took our God, schools, we replaced it with guns, and one, and he was adamant in saying that. And so when you take God out of anything, you got to replace it with something.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 17:02

Yeah. And the devil steps in the

Simon Pinchbeck: 17:04

humanistic approach that's that's come in, and I'm afraid just lays bare or gives opportunity to for, for people to move away from God and an excuse to do whatever they want,

Reverend Ben Cooper: 17:21

I would say the biggest challenge where we're seeing brothers and sisters, believers on whatever label we put on this, where do we deny Jesus is in the teaching of the gender issue? If someone cornered any one of us in a corner, and says, Do you believe in all this stuff that's coming out? Or do you believe in Jesus Christ, if you stand up and you say, I believe in Jesus Christ, you will have bullets fired at you, you will be put in the arena, and almost made an example to but there is a classic example where the church, the church, he world, and the government and education is saying to our children, you can be whoever you want to be live, however you want to live, wherever you want to flow from one to the other. That's up to you. We'll support you in all of that. But then, as a believer if you stood up in the classroom, wow, if you stood up in the playground, and you stood up in the headmasters, headmistresses offices, whatever it may be, and say, I don't accept this because I am a Christian. I believe families, through education, even in church, even there are a lot of denominations that are accepting this, that this is the teachings of Jesus Christ. And the Scripture is clear. This is one big area that is coming to the door of the church, and it's not coming to the door. It's in the church in the church, and this is an area are we going to stand up for what we believe that God created the heavens and the earth, and God created man and woman, the biggest challenge I believe men's ministries are going to face Men's Ministry is we're seeing it in men's prisons. We're seeing it in women's prisons, we're seeing all this stuff that's going on. Will you stand up? So John 1338 Simon says this, Jesus answered, will you date lay down your life for me, Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow until you have denied me three times. The church is denying Jesus through the wrong teachings suddenly,

Simon Pinchbeck: 19:30

it's it's wants to we've always said it on this platform that you you can't beat a world to win the world. Now you can. And and I'd be I believe that people out there don't want the church to be the world they want. They want the church to to to give them Jesus and the teachings of Jesus and to be different. Right. I said the other day I was talking If in a church and I said if I had a pound for every gender, I said, How many pounds would I have? went all in one block said you'd have to. I said, that's correct. I said, I'd have two pounds. I said, I have a few counterfeit coins. But do you know what Ben is? You know, across the world, and I don't want to digress too much, but across the world. It's gone so far, that certain governors in the United States are just turning it around. Yeah. So you've got Ron DeSantis in Florida, bless. It means he's coming against auto curry in, in, in education. He's even standing up against Disney. You know, he really is. And if you listen to that, man speak, he's so articulate. And he said, I saw it coming up through the educational system, I saw how they were the the left were trying to indoctrinate people. And we're not it's not going to happen in my state. It came in with a majority in 2018 of 32,000 is latest majority. Last year, it was 1.5 million. So wow, people are believing and people are leaving other states to go and live in Florida. It's like now. So he's standing up, he's standing up against all of that stuff, all of the gender issue, or the gender, auto woke, re, all all of that stuff, extend it out, and people are going, I want to be free. I

Reverend Ben Cooper: 21:36

want to be free. I want to be free. This is really important, isn't it for us, when we live, we are living in a time of the Beast system. We are living at the end times, now is a time to stand up for Jesus Christ. And wherever you are, are across the world at this moment in time, and however you're listening to what we're discussing this morning. It is so critical. It is so critical that we follow Jesus Christ. But Peter was called Peter was chosen Peter, what a character. But when he was challenged by the servant girl and the system of life, he rejected Christ really clearly. And Jesus even says to him in John 1338, Jesus answered, will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, he says, Peter, I say to you, the rooster will not crow until you have denied me three times there comes a time in people's lives, our lives, your lives, whoever you are, when, without realizing the involvement that we are involved in, in the workplace issues within education. At the moment, education is a very dangerous place to be if you are a young Christian because it is driving everything that the world has to offer and more to your door. And if you are a young person in Christ and you're at university, you got to be very careful that you don't get steamrollered by the majority that is driving all the agenda, all the wokeness all the the all this freedom go and live the dream when actually Jesus says I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through me. So here's the truth. I honestly believe over the next two years, 18 months, we will see a mass percentage of believers really standing up for Jesus,

Simon Pinchbeck: 23:24

or there'll be a remnant, remnant mass percentage men, but there will be a remnant and I know what you're saying about young people in church. That's what has concerned me for a little while is that we've said on this platform, Ben, that you you will get a young person coming out of college or whatever, straight out of Moses basket straight into a position of authority over over our youth and young children without having any worldly experience or knowledge. And very easy to be to go off down down down certain avenues and routes. And that's why I love it when when a youth leader is on our 40s or 50s is seen we've seen a bit of life who knows who's grounded,

Reverend Ben Cooper: 24:23

and that is scripture, God God uses life experiences God God takes us you look at Sol Sol Sol, why are you persecuting me? So had to go and to deal and to do everything that he did before. We would call that that moment on that road. And that life skills and life's issues and life's pressures that they make us and they they they enable us to lean more into Jesus. So there is a reason for the season. And scripturally that is what we call endurance life is about enduring. You know that great writer, Paul, that great writer reach that point in his life when he when he clearly said something so powerful. He said, We even hate and despise life itself. We're exhausted, we're tired, we're weary, we've got to the point where we are absolutely all burned out, all lost and said and done, but we are holding on to the faith. And in Mark chapter 1429, it says, Peter said to Him, even though they all fall away, I will not. What a classic line is that further for someone to say, Lord, everyone else will drop away from you, everybody else, Father, when it comes to the last hour, I will stand for you. This is that men have denied him three times. So what are the excuses for rejecting and not following Jesus? There are so many around our lives, there are so many in culture, there are so many. And we get so caught in the rhythm of that life before we know it, without actually speaking it actions of following the system of the world is literally denying Christ by what we have and how we live our lives according to the system of the world.

Simon Pinchbeck: 26:07

Well, when we're talking about believers rejecting rejecting Christ, it's, it's a tough one. It's a hard one because people don't like cast themselves as a believer. They may think that by going to church every Sunday, they're they're a Christian. Yeah. I was listening. I was listening. So I've got Mike, Billy Graham the other day and he said, he said, he said, I'm not always true. And I said he had a story where a dog every Sunday morning would leave its house and go to a local church. Extended and as the vicar was sort of the pastor was shaking hands, he put his poor out and shake his poor. He said, the lead the service and come back, and it happened every Sunday, but that don't make that darker Christian that made the point he was making was just because you got to church now doesn't make you a Christian. So to be a true follower of Jesus Christ, the only way we can stand out for Jesus, yes, we're a follower. If we say we're a follower. The only way is through the Holy Spirit. We can't do it in the flesh, no other way. So we see Peter, who was a classic example, didn't have the Holy Spirit. At the time, denied, ran at the first sign of trouble, he was on his bike, as well the rest of them. The rest of them are scattered. They got it. They got they got when he had when the Holy Spirit came on and Pentecost, different character or give us strong and his phone didn't care who was talking about Jesus stood up for his back. So I honestly think that, that we can't do this without we

Reverend Ben Cooper: 27:49

can't do it in the flesh, the flesh

Simon Pinchbeck: 27:51

can't do in your own strength. We can't do it in our own strength.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 27:53

You've got even though that were born again, spirit filled, when you when you look at this, when you look at this scripture about Peter, he was called he was chosen. And And Christ gave him that. And he said, When you come back to me, Peter, feed, and he said, You're the rock, and on this rock, I will build my church. So Christ know that he would deny him. The fire being Christ knew that the rooster is going to crow three times Christ knew that Christ did not reject him didn't

Simon Pinchbeck: 28:25

reject God, he loved that. He loved him. He loved his character. He loved his passion for for for Jesus. But he was only human. At that time. It was only human and we've got the spirit wasn't strong enough to stand up and say, Yeah, I'm five. I'm a follower.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 28:45

I'm a follower. And I believe as believers in this nation in England, there's coming a time and probably the it's already been at the door for a long time that we are going to need to stand up for our faith. And as Simon has said, in the Scripture says, we can only do that with the power of the Holy Spirit. In the book of Acts, chapter two, it says, And when there was all together, there Pentecost came, they was together in one place, there was no denomination, there wasn't the 26,000 denominations that we've got. There wasn't any pastors leading services, they were still and waiting, and the Holy Spirit came and rested on each of them. But What's lovely about that text is just in the fabric of that it says the Holy Spirit enabled them. See now we're at a time that the Holy Spirit will enable us the book of Joel, the book of Acts in the last days, God says, I will pour out my spirit.

Simon Pinchbeck: 29:40

I will pour Yes, all flesh, pour out my spirit on all flesh. So that when you've got Peter, given a talk, and people listened to him, and it said even the elders or Pharisees, whoever he was talking to recognize these were an educated men but they knew you If there was something that they'd been with Jesus, they knew they knew Jesus. So, so here's the deal. We have to show people, Jesus damn people, we have to be different to the world we have to be. We have to let the light shine out. Yeah. So that's dealing with really people that that believe they are believers. And I honestly, the more I go around, and the more I talk to people, the more I speak to people in churches been, as you do, and I know, because we've discussed it. The more I believe that church needs evangelizing the more I believe there's this I put out a scripture yesterday on on Facebook about the narrow path and path what a word that is. The the example was a path going one way with loads of people and the path going the other way with one person on it one person. And so I honestly believe that there's a narrow path and to know what it means to be born again, you know, we've gone through this with the Nicodemus thing with John John, free free to know that you're born to be truly born again, I think we, it's, we need to be asking this sort of constantly. Am I born again, asking that question born again, again, the

Reverend Ben Cooper: 31:34

critical point that the church is at within the UK at this moment, and we can and the title of this conversation, the excuses for rejecting Jesus, and we can see where the church and religion is rejecting Christ. And we must remember the Scripture says, All have sinned and fallen short of that glory, and the power of repentance and coming back to Jesus, but just living in the UK living within England. It will it is, it is like an endurance race to follow Jesus because the base system, the government, the certain areas of life, education is not for Jesus. Well, I'm

Simon Pinchbeck: 32:15

telling you this, Ben, and I've seen this in many places that I've spoken in many places I'm associated with. And I honestly believe that the church in general is biblically illiterate. And that's a bold statement. But I believe that's the truth. Because I, you know, I've been in many places, Butte lovely,

Reverend Ben Cooper: 32:42

now don't go the buildings, the bells, and the whistles, lovely

Simon Pinchbeck: 32:44

community places, lovely places for people to come together. They create a warm space they've got they've got all of that going on. But sitting in church, very few similar Bible, then very few very few similar Bible. And I said to a good night, Aman, you know, I said, I said, you take your Bible to church. He said, Oh, no, I don't. He said, But what good idea, I think I better start doing.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 33:09

I've been at church all these times. And

Simon Pinchbeck: 33:12

I'm not talking about on your phone, because if you go on your phone, you get distracted. Yeah,

Reverend Ben Cooper: 33:17

I think I will. I think I think that's

Simon Pinchbeck: 33:20

a word of God. And what you're saying then, is that, that we would if the church is rejecting Jesus, then it can't know Jesus can it be? So? I mean, we might we just read this stuff. We can we count and it explodes in revelation to you.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 33:41

But it does. Yeah, it just explodes.

Simon Pinchbeck: 33:44

So you know, so. So we were talking, we've been talking about people in church rejecting Jesus, but maybe people who believe they're believers rejecting Jesus, but people who are in the world, why did they reject Jesus? Well, Jesus said, He's talking to these Pharisees. He's given it to him. He just doesn't hold back. Generally. I don't he probably didn't even have time to eat his meal. He's just Amarin amaranth all the times. He said, he said, Now when one of those who sat at a table with him heard these things, he said to him, Blessed he say, you shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. And so Jesus said to me, so certain man gave a great supper and invited many and sent his servant at supper time to say those who were invited come for all things are now ready. But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him abroad preset ground, and I was concerned. I asked you to have me excused. Well, Sky could have looked at that.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 34:48

I'll follow Jesus tomorrow. I'm chasing the ivory tower.

Simon Pinchbeck: 34:53

bought our sobered equally, Garland said at any time, but yeah, it didn't so and another said I bought a fire Have a yoke and oxen, and I'm going to test them. I asked you to, for me to beat excuse, well, you know, we could do that anytime coming. So what is that excuse is still a

Reverend Ben Cooper: 35:12

fireman, or these, these these scenarios these these picture forms that we are reading and now Christ presents this, you know, at the moment we can get to church but there's coming a time when, when the door of opportunity will close, the door will close, there'll be many that are in the field want to be taken, that Christ is coming back and the opportunity to follow Jesus will will just go it will it will literally be finished. It will be like Noah closing the door of the ark. It will just close and and imagine being on the outside of the ark. I'm gonna cut me grass. I'll go to church next week I'll I'll think about Jesus. Now I'm all right, I'm comfortable. I don't need Jesus.

Simon Pinchbeck: 35:58

He says still another man said, I have married a wife and therefore I cannot come well, you know, maybe he's Yeah. See, you can see that going? Let's see that. So that the servant came and reported these things to his master, then the master of the house began, became angry and said to suddenly go quickly into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in here the poor, the mind and the lame and the blind. And the servant said Master is done as you commanded. Still there is room. And the master said to the servant go out into the highways and he is uncompelled him to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say to you that none of these men were invited shall taste my supper. Wow. So So Aaron is what is what is the subtler What is he inviting him to pretty much us inviting them to.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 36:54

Really interesting at verse 21. It says the servant came back and reported this to his masters. And it says the became angry and ordered the servants go quickly into the streets, the alleys and the towns and bring the poor, the crippled and the blind and the lame that is what and who we will find that the cross. That is who will find the cross no Pharisees no Sadducees there was at the cross of Christ because that's what they wanted to see. Religion wanted to now Christ religion thought they had Christ religion. And it's thinks that now on religion is rejecting Christ. But when you go into the house of the Lord, where God is you will find the lame you will find the poor you will find as the scripture scripture says the blind, the lame, the crippled, those are the hungry, you will find those that are addicted, and trying to get things right through Christ Jesus because that is the true Church of Jesus Christ. So it's not about the Pharisee. And the sad you see, it is not about that religious church, The Church of Jesus Christ is is is is built up of, of people that are hungry for Christ. And Jesus just said, Come Come to me all of you.

Simon Pinchbeck: 38:04

You see, you can't yet economy and his arms are open. And and he's, he's there waiting for us. But you know, you've got people go, Well, I'm a good person,

Reverend Ben Cooper: 38:17

I don't need to coach. What do I need was Jesus, what's the benefit of following Jesus? What?

Simon Pinchbeck: 38:22

Do you know what Ben? I mean, what might come up will come under that. But I think churches is got its place to play in where people just don't want to go there. Because they think it's too judgmental applied. So people go, Well, I'm a good person, and I surely aren't going to go to heaven. Because that's the question you want to ask yourself when you read it. And your question is this, you know, if I, if you die then and where am I going? Where are you going? If you die this very day?

Reverend Ben Cooper: 38:54

What's the next step?

Simon Pinchbeck: 38:56

Are you sure? You need to be sure Nicodemus need to be sure you must

Reverend Ben Cooper: 39:01

be born again, it's not about getting into the box of church is not about getting into that building. It's about following Jesus Christ. But if you are living in the UK, and there are many governments around the world, that are very extreme, to those that believe in the eternal God, and we see that through the persecuted church in a lot of areas, and a lot of nations. And you can see that the UK is leaning towards this now. And there is going to be no excuse. You know, we've we've ducked and we've died and we've gone along with the wind blowing backwards and forwards, you know, and all that sort of stuff, but there is a time now. Well, there is no excuse to say, I can't I can't get the church. I can't foliage it tomorrow. I'll start reading tomorrow. I'll start off tomorrow. Now is the hour because the hour is short. And I

Simon Pinchbeck: 39:53

believe that the biggest lie that's given to people that don't believe is that They say the biggest lies Oh, that God stuff might be true. But you know what? It's not for me just

Reverend Ben Cooper: 40:06

yet. It's not normal, right? I'm okay.

Simon Pinchbeck: 40:08

I'm a good person. Yeah. But the problem is, the Bible clearly tells us it's not about you.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 40:16

It's not about work. It's not about work and do whatever you're

Simon Pinchbeck: 40:19

good or not. It's, it's about you must be born again, born again. It's about Jesus, and we can't work our way to Evan. And the most foolish man in the Bible was the guy that said, Oh, look, I'm doing really well. I'm gonna build a bigger bomb. He said, But that night, he says, Now, Jesus, don't use this word. Lightly, lightly. But he called him a fool. Yeah. And I would be very cautious about calling anybody a fool. But this guy was a fool. And Jesus said, that you fall, yeah, this very night, your life will be taken from you.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 41:00

So business, culture, life, materialism, is all trying to take us away from Jesus. And we all can fall into the trap, without realizing that we have been trapped. And we have been caught in a snare, where even when you look at certain areas of work, where you might work, where we might work is that workplace for Jesus, but we allow the workplace to control us in our

Simon Pinchbeck: 41:28

faith. And we got to separate lives, we've got

Reverend Ben Cooper: 41:31

two separate lives. So every one of us can fall into that area where Jesus says, your fault, you got to stand up. And I honestly believe now is a time, whether you're at work, whether you're at home, or wherever you are, wherever you are, to follow Jesus Christ, to follow Him, and to keep in the living Word of God. And there is no more excuses for rejecting Jesus, the Church of England, is rejecting Christ like I've never seen it before, through what means, through not teaching the troops.

Simon Pinchbeck: 42:03

What did Jesus say? But he said, Why don't you say Matthew said somewhere he said, What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world but lose his soul loses his soul? When you think being the richest man in the world, you can be Jeff Bezos you can be on and you could be any of these really wealthy fellas, but if you

Reverend Ben Cooper: 42:22

can't take it, the question comes down to who you're following. Now I'm gonna

Simon Pinchbeck: 42:27

leave a legacy, oh, my name is gonna be on a building.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 42:31

And everyone's happy. Now you can,

Simon Pinchbeck: 42:33

you've got a choice to make heaven or hell is that

Reverend Ben Cooper: 42:37

and when you look at Peter again, looking at Peter, for I'll be going back. Back when he was cold. He was cold, and he had a colon on his life. But there was a situation that arose and his flesh kicked in, and the human Peter reacted to the environment around him. And that's what happens we react as human beings to the environment that is around us. And so often, it might be the reaction that we should have through faith, it might be a reaction through fear. So when fear is driving at you, and when your life and situations are being pointed at you, Peter just went, No, I don't know him. I don't know what you're talking about. But Jesus knew that he would deny Him Jesus knew. And Christ also knew that he would come back, and when you come back, so there's a chance for religion. There's a chance for anyone. And when you come back,

Simon Pinchbeck: 43:34

then, you know, we believe that inside of everyone is this thing called a God shaped hole. Yeah, yeah, that can only be filled by Jesus Christ. Right. Amen. And we're talking about the love of Jesus. But obviously, we're talking about not not that mushy type of love. We're talking about a proper law.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 43:56

We're talking about the Agha pay love beyond.

Simon Pinchbeck: 43:59

So if you don't feel that with Jesus, you're gonna fill it with something, because he all needs something. You all need a purpose now. You might fill it with drugs. You might fill it with alcohol, you might forever sex and that's okay for a season but they're all that's all another lie that's that will just bind you up. That won't set you free. Though, that will bind you up.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 44:24

People are looking for a purpose in life. People are looking for a reason to live. What is the purpose of this earth? What is the reason for living? Who am I? Where am I? What is going on in my life? I've lost all sense and I've lost the compass of my life I've almost trapped in work trapped in life trapped you know, commute in trapped, trapped, trapped, trapped in mortgages trapped everywhere. And when you look at life now, you've really got to look within yourself and say, Father, I need you I need to break the addictions. I need to break the the normal tread of I law because I've lost my joy.

Simon Pinchbeck: 45:03

When some of these some of these most controlling countries in the world, which are not outside communist countries and yeah, or dictatorships. What do you see when you're over there, then all you see is massive pictures of the dictator of the dictator. So in China, when Mao Tse Tung was all there, all they had was massive pictures of masseter. So we became

Reverend Ben Cooper: 45:30

he became God, they got their god he became

Simon Pinchbeck: 45:33

so in South American states and whatever Africa and

Reverend Ben Cooper: 45:36

all around the world

Simon Pinchbeck: 45:39

these pride are worth pushing out of when they're pushing God out of the way. They have to replace it with something carnage Yeah, they replace it. And but we come back Ben, don't we to John eight for EToken you should know the truth and the truth will set you free. All this other stuff just bind you up in chains that

Reverend Ben Cooper: 46:00

it holds you back and that it's the snare watch out for the snare layer, watch out for the beast system, because the base system wants to control manipulate and shape. But there is no no more excuse for rejecting or not following Christ or, or not. Answering the call that is on your life. God God is moving in our lives and your life. God is moving in the body of Christ God is even working within the church. And within the UK at this moment in time, it's really really important that as believers spirit filled blood war sanctified, that we stand on the rock, we stand on Jesus because it's it says in the New Testament, the streams are rising, the rain is falling. Everything is breaking out around us.

Simon Pinchbeck: 46:44

The fingers been losing that great scripture in ronamoon says their rock is not our rock. Now our rock is Jesus Christ Jesus, though the rock of the world is all this other stuff. This materialism? Yeah, which will never listen, I've been down that road. You can pour money as much as you like and material things and be empty. And it's all okay for a little while. But then you will always want something more to feel that.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 47:10

And so you're always chasing someone was

Simon Pinchbeck: 47:11

chasing something. You're always chasing something. And you might say out there. I don't understand all this Jesus stuff. Well, Jesus never said understand that. He just said Believe. Yeah, it's awful. What did he say? He said, Come

Reverend Ben Cooper: 47:24

on. A little child, come was a little child come and follow Me. And that's how he called Peter. Yeah, he just called him. And he followed him. And he walked with him. And he listened to the command. He listened to the call, he dropped everything he had, and he followed Christ. But it's interesting when fear comes in, it changes our vision, it changes our focus, it changes everything. It messes us around and we don't think right, we act wrong. And we live sometimes in more fear than we can live in faith. So it is really important just to follow Jesus Christ like never before.

Simon Pinchbeck: 48:00

Do you think then that that we am a certain aspects of the church? That's the truth? Because it needs it? So. So do you think that the church has not been preaching the word of Jesus for quite a few generations not being preaching the word there are times I've gone into places being given the opportunity to speak, I put out a gospel challenge when people come up to me and go, we haven't heard that in air for years. And yeah, it's, it's not like you cannot and that everyone can understand John 316. For God so loved the world that raise loves to story ever. Yeah. For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that anyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal, you can't believe that understanding can understand that. John 316 Come has

Reverend Ben Cooper: 48:52

come as a little child, Come on, follow Christ. You know, we are living in really strong and really spiritual times at this moment within the UK and across the world. We are hearing of wars, rumors of wars, we're seeing things breaking out the lawlessness, you know, the 10, the 10 nations, you know, the 10 horns from the book of Daniel rising up, we see government's partnering together, we are living in a time when we need to live in Word of God, and it's not any more a place of saying, well, I'll read my Bible tomorrow. I've got to read my Bible. Now. I've got to get in the word now. I can't reject this. I can't push this off from there. I've got to be in the Word. The I think I've got to be in the word.

Simon Pinchbeck: 49:35

This is not a time to. To put things to one side I think we need anyone who's listening to this right now to a check that you point again, but be if you're not, then really come come to the class. Don't let anything stand in your way down or any excuse stand in your way. I've heard it said that, you know, I'm too sinful to for God to accept me, well, well listen to this Paul. Paul, who was the chief, one of the chief writers of the New Testaments, what did he say? But he said, he said, I'm the chief of sinners. Saying that he said, top center.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 50:17

Oh, gosh, there's like there's a character to follow. If you want to look, and reflect, and then just look within, there's a character to follow there. Now is the time to come to the cross of Calvary. And let's remind ourselves this morning as we bring this to the land, you know, we're born again, we are born again, spirit filled, blessed and highly favored. God is with you. God is with us. And wherever you are this morning, never give up hope. Because now is the time to stand up for Jesus. Maybe in the workplace, maybe in education, maybe in life, maybe in culture, we've, we've, we've we've ducked under the table of not standing up for Jesus. But now is the time because the hour is short. And we've just got to stand for Jesus. And we've got to stand on that rock of ages because he is your Savior, He is your God, He is your King. And this is the moment

Simon Pinchbeck: 51:11

and listen, you're not alone out there. Because, you know, first and foremost Jesus is with you. But besides that, you've got a family with Aspen, you've got a family with with Christian striked or where a man will stand with you will be with you will support you whatever you're doing. So never ever think that. That you're you're alone. And we've got some exciting news coming up where we're going to be with you even more so we know what you've gone from, because we've been fraud. So

Reverend Ben Cooper: 51:44

yeah, we still walk through it. You know, it can be a lonely path. It can be in a place of isolation, but God is with us. God

Simon Pinchbeck: 51:51

is with us. Listen, we don't want to go down this route. But just very quickly, we both had a real tough weeks this

Reverend Ben Cooper: 51:58

it's been a real heavy

Simon Pinchbeck: 52:01

week. So don't come to the table this morning. And and bring this message is as it's a tough call. But But we're here we're pushing through. Yeah. And that's where we got to be. And we're all in this together. Amen. When we're in this together, we can make a difference. We can

Reverend Ben Cooper: 52:22

we can and we will with Christ Jesus. And if you're still with us this morning, we're just going to break bread together at the end of this, this this time of being together talking and chewing over and listening and looking and just being completely open and honest. We're going to break the bread and as as you join us at this moment in time, you know, Jesus says do this as often as you come together in my name and we're just going to take a moment for the last five minutes of this podcast is live stream wherever you're capturing this on different platforms this morning. Shall we bow down in prayer shall we just come to the cross of Calvary? Shall we just say Lord, I want to learn to surrender to more to you a lot. I don't want any excuse for for rejecting you in my life. I don't want any excuses or I don't want to make any more excuses. I want to I want this to be a new hour a new moment. I don't want the business I don't want life. I don't want every area to accelerate and take over me. And by that way I reject you by not getting in the Word of God Lord, I want this to be a new beginning. So let's come to the table together. I'll pray for the bread and Psalms gonna pray for the the wine that represents the blood of Jesus in just a couple of moments as we as we just find a way just to say good. God bless you and we disappear very soon. But never give up hope never give up hope Father, we thank You for this bread that symbolizes the body of Christ. In the simple way as Jesus did this, we do this the same Lord. So Father we've broken the bread and as we take this bread now we realize that this bread symbolizes the body of Christ. So Father Come Holy Spirit. Be that counselor Lord be that one that will lead us refresh us and restore us but we recognize this bread symbolizes the body of Christ in Jesus name Amen.

Simon Pinchbeck: 54:19

Bob in the same way we take them this little grape juice that symbolizes your the blood of your Son Jesus and as we take it, when we we pray that washes clean, washes clean for a new start because we are a new creation the old is gone and the newest come and just let it edify and build up our faith, Lord as we as we go out into the world and let us be let us be energized to say I stand for Jesus. Nothing else. Amen. Amen.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 55:00

Without all glory to God, wherever you are this morning joining us on Buzzsprout and Spotify on this live stream broadcast, you know, just talking about Jesus, his friend, just just talking about the Messiah is, is just a way you know, to get complete freedom and I just pray for every one of you and me and Simon we just pray for your lives at this moment in time whether you've got young children at school, whether you've got relationship issues, whether you've got trouble at work or at home, in your life, got it, God is with you. God is with you in every area of your life. And I pray that you will find peace you know, we've had a real heavy weight this week, men so have been right through the run of the mill, you know, we've been right under the table on certain things of life been pushed down, knocked down, kicked about, but that that is just life itself. And as Jesus said something really clear. I think we need to make this really clear, just as they persecuted me, so will they persecute you.

Simon Pinchbeck: 56:01

And that comes in many guises.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 56:04

It comes in many disguises, persecution comes in many suits, and many dresses, many faces. So it comes in many ways. So be strong in the living word. Got some you got anything to finish this before we say

Simon Pinchbeck: 56:17

just want to say, Ben that you know this so much in this in the word and I'd say I'd invite everyone to get back into the Word of God to get a Living Bible. And here's the deal. You know, if you can't afford one herb and God, yeah, let us know. And we'll get one out to you. Amen. We'll get you a Bible. We've got even we've got these little Gospels of John, which we wish we give away. We've given away over 1000 of

Reverend Ben Cooper: 56:47

these already. Yeah, I meant, yeah, 1000 lies,

Simon Pinchbeck: 56:51

but just reading that the word that Jesus will, will build you up and give you strength. So I say get into a get yourself a Bible, get start, start a reading program and just get into the Gospels are saying listen to what Jesus read or read words. Because when we, when encourage it, and we'll we've got some exciting news coming up in the next couple of weeks. So stick with us. And we're with you, wherever you are. We're with you.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 57:21

I meant it's that simple. We thank you for joining us this morning. # Christian straight talk as we've streamed across the platforms of Elim. And I see people are joining us from South Asia and other places in the world this morning. May God strengthen you in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. We thank you for everyone that listens. Everyone that comments, everyone, that he's that he's with us at this moment in time, wherever you are across the earth local to where we are at this moment on the other side of the globe, make God's strength for you and bless you. You can find all these podcasts on Spotify, Amazon music and so many other platforms. Just Google # Christian Straight Talk. Have a great day. Keep following Jesus, in that wonderful name. Amen.