Reverend Ben Cooper's Podcast
Join Reverend Ben Cooper from Elim Swanley on a spiritual journey through life's profound questions, offering wisdom, insight, and a touch of humour in every episode. "Embarking on a soul-enriching voyage through the Bible's timeless wisdom and the Christian journey, with a diverse array of inspiring guests, Join us as we explore faith, life, and hope.
Reverend Ben Cooper's Podcast
The Holy Spirit's Guidance: Finding Strength, Peace, and Hope in Times of Challenge - (#690 - Elim)
Join Reverend Ben Cooper and guests around the table and ask the questions, What if the key to navigating life's challenges lies not in our own strength, but in a profound spiritual presence that guides and comforts us? This episode promises a transformative exploration of the Holy Spirit's role in our lives, drawing inspiration from the teachings of Acts chapter 2 and John 16. You'll learn how aligning with the Spirit can empower us to stand firm in our faith amidst global challenges and personal hardships, offering strength, healing, and a sense of unity among believers.
Join us as we journey through pressing topics such as the economic uncertainties and the refugee crisis, all while finding peace and hope through faith in Jesus Christ. We explore how the Holy Spirit acts as a comforter and enabler, helping us bear fruit even during the commercialized chaos of the holiday season. Our discussions emphasize the importance of prayer, the power of scripture, and the transformative presence of God's Spirit in daily life, with special prayers for individuals like Glenn, Donnie, and Margaret who are seeking divine guidance in their journey.
Every Wednesday morning, we set aside a moment for coffee and faith, which has become a cherished tradition and a reminder of our deeper calling beyond the daily grind. These moments are not mere coincidences but divine invitations to embrace a journey of faith, offering solace and hope to those feeling overwhelmed by societal pressures and financial burdens. Through prayer and reflection, we aim to provide a sanctuary of reassurance and strength, standing resilient against external pressures and celebrating the enduring hope found in Jesus Christ.
https://www.pastorbencooper.co.uk/
Good morning, good morning wherever you are this morning. We thank you so much for joining us. We do apologize before we go any further about the broadcast this morning, just to do with the visuals, but the sound is okay. May God bless you and strengthen you wherever you are. Thank you, world, for joining us. Across the world, so many countries, so many nations, so many people, so many downloads. We are really, really blessed. Whether you download from Reverend Ben Cooper or CST, you know hashtag, christian Straight Talk. Whatever you are watching, whatever you are listening from this morning, may God strengthen you and carry you. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
Speaker 1:We're going to go straight into the book of Acts. We're going to go straight into the book of Acts, chapter two the Holy Spirit. Brothers and sisters, before we press into Acts, chapter two, verse one through to four, let's just remind ourselves, which I think is very, very healthy to do at this moment in time Jesus Christ is coming back. Jesus Christ is coming back for each and every one of us and we pray that the power of the Holy Spirit will carry us and the anointing of God will just lift us up today. Whatever, however, wherever you are, in the mighty name of the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit. Let's really hold on to Christ. We are seeing very unusual things happen across the UK. We're seeing very unusual things happen across the world, but it's not really unusual to the Word of God. The Word of God is moving. The world is operating to what is happening through the Holy Word of God. But let's be faithful, let's be strong in the Word, let's be brothers and sisters that stand on the scripture. Let's really press in. There's a, there's a vision, there's a dream, there's a hope for each and every one of us. And you know what it is the holy spirit. It is the holy spirit that will lead us. It is the holy spirit that will guide us. It is the holy spirit that will enable us. It is the holy spirit that will carry us to where we've got to get to.
Speaker 1:But let's get straight into the scripture. We're in the book of Acts, chapter 2, verse 1 through to 4. And just remind yourself that you are born again, that you are the John 3, 3. You are not a churchgoer first. You are a born again, spirit filled, blessed and highly favoured brother and sister in Christ Jesus. You are saved. The hand of god is over you and whatever your life is reflecting. Now, I pray that the love of god and the power of the holy spirit will strengthen you, whether you're on visuals, whether you're on audible. Wherever you are, let's get straight into the word, let's pray, let's believe for miracles, in the name of Jesus, father, we come to you. We come to you, lord, in the Gospel of John, chapter 3, verse 3. You must be born again, father. We thank you that we are born again, that we are spirit-filled, lord, that we are sinners saved by grace. And as we come before you, we stand at the cross of Calvary. No-transcript rain today, everybody online. Lord, let the Holy Spirit rain on them today, wherever people are gathered right now, listening, watching, capturing this audible Father, we pray for an outpouring of your Spirit right now.
Speaker 1:Lord and Father, we thank you that there is power in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. But, lord, we pray for an outpouring of your spirit. We pray, father, that you will draw us to the cross. We pray, father, that you will strengthen us. We pray, father, god, that we will stand on the living word of God and we will rise up, lord, as brothers and sisters, that we will rise up on wings as of eagles. Father, we thank you that we rise out of the ashes of trouble and, lord, whoever lord is unwell this morning. Lord, mental health, sickness, disease, whatever it may be, father, we thank you for the power of prayer, but right now we pray, lord, for every one of us around the table. We pray for our brothers that are not with us today. We pray for glenn. We pray for Donnie. We pray, lord, for Margaret. We bring Margaret before you today. Thank you that they've landed within the UK. They're back safe in their house.
Speaker 1:But, lord, as life looks very different to Margaret and Donnie and the family, father, we pray that you'll strengthen them in the mighty name of the Father, that you will strengthen them in the name of the Holy Spirit, that you will strengthen them in Jesus' name, lord, we thank you, lord, for everybody that is online, father, where everybody is today, everybody watching, everybody carrying Lord, this service through Lord, on the online church, father, we pray that you will touch their hearts, that they will feel the presence of God in their house, in their home, lord, if they're listening to us in the gym, if they're out walking, lord, if they're just at home, if they're cutting the grass, whatever they may be doing today, lord, father, we pray that the Holy Spirit will enable them. And right now, lord, we believe in healing, we believe in miracles, we believe in the power of the Word of God. We believe in miracles, we believe in the hand of the Father. We believe, lord, right now, that there is healing.
Speaker 1:Sickness bows, fear bows, doubt bows, lord, every sickness, every disease bows to the name of Jesus. And we come to you, father, as brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus and Lord, we get to the cross of Calvin. We say thank you, father, thank you, holy Spirit, that there is power in the greatest name in heaven and earth. And right now, lord, father, will you strengthen the online church? Father, will you fire them up? Lord, let the spirit of the living god just run through their bones today. Let them feel the anointing and the glory and the presence of the holy spirit. Lord, we thank you that for the cross of calvary, that we are saved, that we are blessed, lord, that we are free, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, as we stand, father, at the beginning of a new day, maybe wherever we are across the world today, lord, the time zone, whatever it is, whatever the weather is, we thank you, father, that we stand on the threshold of miracles.
Speaker 1:We believe in miracles, we believe sickness is moving at the greatest name in heaven and earth, that Jesus Christ is the greatest name this world has ever heard. That Jesus, the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow on the earth, under the earth, through the earth, every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. But, father, as we read these scriptures, we pray for such an outpouring of your Spirit. We pray, father, as we read these scriptures, as we dive into the Word of God, that the Holy Spirit will move in such a powerful way that we will find freedom, that we will find hope, that we will find the love of God, that we will know John 8, 32, that you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. Father, we pray for this nation, that this nation will find freedom in the name of Jesus and we will realize. It is by your blood, it is by the blood of Christ, lord, that we are washed, that we are cleansed, from the crown of our head to the sole of our feet.
Speaker 1:Come, holy Spirit, wherever you are, you are lord, whatever you are doing, because you're omnipresent, you're omnipotent, you're in all, you're about all, you're in the fabric of time, you are time, lord, you are space, time and matter. You are our healer, you are our god, you are our king, you are our redeemer, lord. We pray, lord, for every one of us in the lord's house today, all those online, wherever we are. We pray, lord, for the fire of god to burn in our spirit. We pray, lord, for breakthrough in so many areas of lives. Lord, we pray for those that are going through bereavement, those that have lost family members, those that have lost friends, those dear god that are, that are finding out news that they don't want to hear. Father, we believe, we believe in the power of God. Lord, let your glory rain down, let your presence move, and, lord, we thank you for the love of God. We thank you for the love of the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit and Lord. We pray that that love will abound and that love Lord will break barriers, that love Lord will destroy the work of the enemy. The love of God will be so powerful, lord, that the love of God is over all of our lives, that we are experiencing the presence of God, even though our natural eyes are playing tricks on us, even though our mind is over-engineering, even though that we may be going through the valley of the shadow of death, as the writer of Acts says, as he makes it so clear, the Holy Spirit will enable us. So, father, bless this reading in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Speaker 1:The book of Acts. We're in the book of Acts, chapter 2, verse 1. I'm just going to read this and then our brother's going to carry on. It says when the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly, a sound like a blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came and rested on each of them Verse 4,. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and that began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Speaker 1:Let's just take a moment out of the craziness, out of the busyness, out of the strangeness, out of the weirdness of life.
Speaker 1:Let's just take a moment and come to a realization that we are born again.
Speaker 1:And not only are we born again, that we have the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 1:And the Bible says in verse 4 of Acts, chapter 2, all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 1:Father, we thank you that we are filled with the Holy Spirit, that our cup runneth over, that we lack no good thing, that we lack no good thing.
Speaker 1:And, in the name of Jesus Christ, I pray that we will not allow the emotions of humanity, we will not allow the emotions of ourselves to dictate and to control us, but, lord, that we will live in the power of the Holy Spirit. That today, lord, we call the things that are not as though they are. We speak the power of the word over our lives. We believe in miracles, we believe in the Holy Spirit, we believe in the Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost and as we stand, dear God, on the Word of God, right now, lord, speak, lord. We're hungry, we're thirsty, we need more of God, we need more of the Holy Spirit, we need more of the love of God. Lord, will you do your great work?
Speaker 1:Holy Spirit, break out over this nation today. Let there be an outpouring of your glory. Let the holy spirit just move in such a powerful way and enable us. The holy spirit is the enabler, the holy spirit is the comforter. And you carry, father, son, holy spirit. May god bless you in the mighty name of j Christ. Let's come to the realization that we are more than what we think we are, because it's by him all things are possible. To those who believe, god bless wherever you are across this world this morning and just remind yourself that your Redeemer lives, that Jesus Christ is alive and Jesus Christ is changing our lives. And Jesus Christ is the Savior of the Christ is changing our lives and Jesus Christ is the Saviour of the world. The Holy Spirit is with you, amen.
Speaker 2:Yeah, good morning everyone. It's good to be here and, strangely enough, ben's been referring to the Holy Spirit in Acts 2. Well, I had my Bible open at John 16, and there's a heading there the Work of the Holy Spirit. So we're in tune this morning. What Jesus says? He says that unless I go away, the counsellor will not come to you.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:Lord, but if I go I will send him to you.
Speaker 1:Hallelujah.
Speaker 2:When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment.
Speaker 1:Please Lord.
Speaker 2:In regard to sin, because men do not believe in me. In regard to righteousness, because I'm going to the Father, where you can see me no longer. Thank you, Jesus In regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
Speaker 2:Oh, jesus, I've got more to say to you, more than you can now hear, but when the spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. Father God, I just thank you for Jesus. I thank you that you sent your Holy Spirit, the counsellor. We would not be sitting around this table if it was not for the Holy Spirit coming and guiding us and leading us to the one and only Saviour, jesus. And earlier in John 15, it says you did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last. Then the father will give you whatever you ask. In my name. This is, but there is a a but to this. I think you've got to love each other.
Speaker 2:Love each other, and, father, we thank you that jesus called us friends and we, we pray, father, this morning, for all those who know, know you and have a relationship with you. We pray, father, that love will abound amongst our Christian brothers and sisters. We pray, father, that the love will be reflected into the world and others who don't know. You will see that that is so special that these men and women love each other and, father, they will be drawn in to the kingdom by this love which is guided by you. We thank you, holy Spirit. We thank you that you equip us by your spirit. We know that your gifts are given to us so that we may draw other people to yourself. We thank you, father, god, for the power of your word.
Speaker 2:Scripture speaks. I could not say anything without looking at your word, the word here to love one another. And, father, that has consequences, we know, because your word also says that the world will hate you. And we only have to look around the world at the moment the wars and rumours of wars going on, how people are being displaced. We have a refugee crisis in the Middle East, in Gaza, in Israel. Father, we just pray for the peace, your perfect peace, to come into the world. We thank you, father, that we live in such a stable country here in the British Isles, but we know things are fragile too. We pray for our government.
Speaker 1:Yes, Father.
Speaker 2:Especially today, when we're going to hear that there's going to be a budget. This is going to have so much an impact, especially Father God. We all already know that things like the special winter allowance will be withdrawn.
Speaker 1:Oh God.
Speaker 2:And Father I was just listening to the radio on the way here this morning that there is that fear that many people will be affected by that.
Speaker 1:Yes, Lord.
Speaker 2:And Father. We know that our elder folk are quite often too proud to ask for any assistance and we pray, father, god, god, that there will be someone to minister to them that they will be able to reach out in this difficult time. As we approach winter, father, we we pray that your love will abound and we pray for your church. Your church will reach out to people and this is, father god, what you would thank you, jesus you sent your disciples out into the world.
Speaker 2:Such an amazing yes the holy spirit equipping your original disciples who went out into the world, went around the world, went round the world and taking your word. We thank you, father God, and that's why we're sitting here today.
Speaker 1:Amen.
Speaker 2:Because we've heard your word, we know that we can have that relationship with you and that you promised never to leave us. And, father, we thank you.
Speaker 1:Yes, Lord.
Speaker 2:Just again in John 15,. There's a verse here that you did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you, and we need to go and bear fruit. Um, I find that astonishing, father god, that you chose me thank you, little old me you chose, chose me, and but there is that command go and bear fruit, father.
Speaker 2:we thank you that we couldn't do it without that Holy Spirit which Ben read from Acts 2, that you sent the power of your Holy Spirit, and we ask now that all those listening and who will listen later will receive that power. And may it cross the airwaves today, the power of your Spirit, we say come, holy Spirit, fill us afresh with your power, with your love, with your love for the Gospel.
Speaker 1:Yes, Jesus.
Speaker 2:With your love for each other, with your love for the lost. We thank you, father, that you have called us, and john 15 says he's you've called us to bear fruit and father we, we can't do it without that holy spirit, your holy spirit, and he's a friend of each one of us. So we say Holy Spirit, come, fill us from top to bottom, equip us.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:Lord, give us that love and mercy. We thank you for your mercy that you've shown each one of us. We often fall away from you, but in your mercy you reach out your hand and you take us back. Father, we pray for all those who maybe have drifted away from you and feel lost. But, father, we know that you are the Good Shepherd, and the Good Shepherd would leave the flock to go after and find the lost one. So we know that you will look out and search for those who are lost.
Speaker 2:Bring them back to you, father God. Bring them back, search for them and if they've fallen away, they can come back to you, and we know that you forgive us because of all that you accomplished on the cross. You went to the cross and died for each one of us so that we could have life. It's difficult to understand how you would do that. It's difficult to understand how you would do that. God of the universe sent your son to die on the cross. Such amazing, father God. Such an amazing act of sacrifice.
Speaker 1:Thank you, Jesus.
Speaker 2:That supreme sacrifice. So, father, we thank you. We thank you that you are merciful, that you can forgive us all of our wrongdoing, well, and father. So, father, we leave it there and we ask you to come and take us by the hand. Lead us gently, father, because some of us are fragile, some of us are fragile. Lead us gently and we pray for all those who need that healing touch from you today yes, we've already prayed for god for margaret, donnie's mar, margaret.
Speaker 2:But there are others there, father, that we all know, who need a special touch from you, that healing power that only you can do. So we ask, father, and if you're listening to this today or later, just sit quietly and ask Jesus to bring his healing to your body, mind and spirit. We thank you, father, that we can do that. But, father, we thank you that, as it says in John 15, you are the vine and we are the branches. We're connected to you. But there is a warning there that if we don't produce, then the vinekeeper, the gardener, comes along and trims and cuts, which can be painful, but he also cuts to encouraged growth, growth in us, growth as christians. We need to grow, no matter what stage of life we are. We need to grow and bear fruit. So help us to that, help us to do that and be with us as we go about our day to day. Amen.
Speaker 1:Amen, father, we stand, lord, we stand on the word of God and Lord, whatever life is bringing to the front door of our lives, lord, whatever is around us, father, we just pray that you will move in such a fresh way that you will strengthen each and every one of us, lord, at work, at home, in life, in relationships, out of relationships, children, education, work, whatever is in our lives today. Father, we pray that you will strengthen us, lord, that you will give us energy for those that are feeling really tired, those that have got fatigue, those, dear gods, just finding it very difficult to get moving, finding the right way and maybe the right attitude to get into work, to get into life, and just struggling to get out of bed and just feeling very, very worthless. We pray for those that feel worthless, lord, that you will reveal to them that they are dear God blessed, that they are chosen, that they, dear God, are loved, that they are dear, god blessed, that they are chosen, that they, dear god, are loved, that they are safe. So those that feel worthless in themselves, those that feel empty within themselves, those that feel lonely, father, as the scripture says, we pray and we thank you that the holy spirit is the, the enabler. We pray for those that, dear god, are just finding it really difficult to to get out the house and just to get through life, those that are struggling with mental health and sickness and diseases and the worry of money. And, lord, as Christmas is looming, the commercialized Christmas face that is before us in all the shops already, father, we pray, father, that we won't get caught in commercial Christmas, but, lord, that we will step back, lord, and we will just pray, lord, that you will provide everything that's needed.
Speaker 1:Father, we think of families, lord, that are really pressed against the wall financially, as Christmas is driving down the track of life, as the retailers, lord, are trying to drain and to rinse and to draw everything out of the human being. Lord, to exhaust, father, we pray that we won't be exhausted but, lord, that we will be filled up. We pray that our cup will run over, that the spirit of the living God will heal, that the spirit of the living God will provide, that the spirit of the living God will lead, that the spirit of the living God will make a way. So, father, as we stand, as brothers and sisters, at work, in work, out of work, churched, unchurched, wherever we sit in life, father. We're coming to you today, lord, and we're saying we all need a miracle. We need a miracle, father. Every one of us needs a bag of miracles. We need miracles in our lives. We need one, two, three, four, five. We need miracles in our lives. We need one, two, three, four, five a continuum of miracles. Father, we need you to open the door of hope. We need you to open the door of faith. We need you to pick us up and to carry us, lord to that new destination.
Speaker 1:Father, we pray for those that are really tired today, that are really exhausted of life, that are worn, completely, worn out in mind, uh, lord in emotions, that those are the worn down, those that are really tired that are caring for someone, looking after someone, those that are on their own, those that are in a large family that just feel, uh, everybody's coming against them, those that are in ministry that are not seeing any fruit. Lord, we pray for those, dear God, that are just working and just like very robotic from a Monday to another Monday, from another day to another day. We pray for those that are struggling through half term at this moment the lack of money and the children running around the walls and everything that's happening, lord in life, father, we need miracles, dear God, if I can be honest, that's happening, lord in life, father, we need miracles, dear God. If I can be honest with you today, lord, when I look across the platform of life, when I look across the world, it looks quite scary, jesus. It looks quite scary and, lord, I need your hope, I need your guidance, I need your hand on me. So, lord, we pray for all those that may be scared today, all those that may be really worried today, all those that are really lost in society, lost in culture. We pray for those, dear God, that are living a life that is feeling really miserable, those that are living a life that feels very down and very lost and very unsecure, that they feel very wayward in everything, that everything has lost its stability. We pray for stability across this nation. We pray for stability in church. We pray for sound doctrine. We pray, lord, that you will pour out your spirit. You know when we're in the book of Acts, when you look at the book of Acts, chapter two, when you go in Acts, chapter two, verse one, through to four, and see what it says, and it says all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and they began to speak in other tongues, as the spirit of God enabled them.
Speaker 1:You might be feeling weak and you might be feeling tired. Today, you might be feeling completely exhausted, completely worn out, completely run down. You feel like you want to run from everything. You feel like you just want to escape life itself and just disappear across the other side of the world. You feel like you need to find a place that you can find peace, you can find hope. Will you come to the cross? Come to the cross of Calvary, wherever you are, try and get an image of a cross, wherever you're capturing this broadcast or whether you're watching, whether you're listening. Across the world, we pray for peace today.
Speaker 1:I actually believe that, whether we're in faith or whether we're out of faith, whether we believe or non-believe, wherever we are, I believe, as human beings, we are craving hope and peace, that we're looking for a place to find rest. Your mind is tired. You can't cope with anymore. Your brain is about to explode. You're trying to find a way forward. You're trying to find a way out. You're trying to find a way to get to a place where you can breathe. Do you feel like life is suffocating. Do you feel like life is suffocating? You're finding it really difficult to breathe.
Speaker 1:You're frightened of this afternoon. You're worried about this morning. You've got everything breaking out around you. You've got everything happening in your life. Your finances are really low. Your emotions are low, you know your mind is really low. You're trying to get stable. You're trying to find stability. You're trying to find a place to rest. You're trying to find a place to gather your thoughts.
Speaker 1:You're not sleeping.
Speaker 1:You can't find time to sleep.
Speaker 1:You can't sleep. When you're trying to sleep, you can't get no rest, even though that you may be sleeping hours after hours. You're waking up even more tired when you're just living life. You're waking up for work, for the new day and you're dreading what today brings. Is there anybody out there dreading what the day brings? We pray for peace. We pray for anyone that has got that feeling of dread. Anybody has got that feeling of no hope. Anyone's got that feeling of unstable thoughts in their minds that we pray that God will bring peace, that the Holy Spirit will stir you today.
Speaker 1:You know the Bible is clear. All things are possible to those who believe. I pray that you will believe for new beginnings, that you just stretch your mind just that little bit further, that you just see yourself in freedom, see yourself complete free, see yourself in hope, see yourself that there is a way forward. You never give up. The power of God is with you. Whether you believe or non-believe, whether you're resisting, whether you're trying everything in the world to find the happy button of life, you know faith.
Speaker 1:Faith is a powerful instrument. Faith is a powerful weapon against thoughts. Faith is a powerful influencer to to life. Faith is so powerful when we get ourselves and say dear God, I believe, lord. I've never called on your name before, lord, I've never spoken to you before, I've never prayed before Lord. I don't even know what I'm saying. But, lord, I need, I need a miracle. And if you are there, god, if you are moving, if you have created the heavens and the earth, will you bring me to a place of freedom? Will you stir my heart, lord? Will you get me to the cross? Will you get me to that place where I can find freedom and hope? Will you get me to that place, Lord, where I can just find a place to breathe? Do you need a place to breathe? Do you need that place just to gather your thoughts.
Speaker 1:Are you feeling really lost in society? And what's happening through the budget, through the world, through the wars, the rumors of wars? You know the lack of finances, the fear of Christmas. How many people are fearful, financially, of Christmas, fearful of meeting families, fearful of the season, fearful of all that sort of stuff? We pray right now. We pray right now, wherever you are across the world, that we won't allow the fear of Christmas, meeting family, having to socialize, money that we don't have, and we're trying to think where am I going to grab that from? How am I going to get through?
Speaker 1:I pray that you will bring peace at this season, Lord, as we are entering in, as we're getting closer to, as we're just weeks away. Sometimes that word can bring dread. Sometimes that word can bring stress and pain. Sometimes that word Christmas can really affect us and make us feel sick and scared. As the weeks and the clock is ticking down. Father, we pray for this season that is looming. We pray for this season that is moving closer. We pray for this commercialized, crazy time of the year, father, that we will know the true meaning of the season and, lord, that we will draw close not to the tree, but to the cross, not to the pagan tree, but we will get to the cross of Calvary. Lord, there is so many people across this world that is crying out for hope, so many people crying out for a way forward. So many people crying out for a way forward. Father, we pray for those that are crying out for a way forward in their lives, those that feel really depressed, those that are really scared about Christmas approaching. I pray, wherever you are, that we won't look at the green tree that gets dressed up for a few days and it takes us to many places. It can take us to a place of dread and fear, a place of God. Where am I going to get the money, lord? I don't want to sit around the table with them lot. Lord, I'm scared because I've got to socialize, I've got to mix with people the tiredness that Christmas brings. Lord, I pray that we won't get to the green pagan tree, but we will get to the cross of Calvary, the cross that brings hope, the cross that brings peace, the cross that brings peace, the cross that makes a way where there is no way.
Speaker 1:Jesus Christ is the saviour of the world. Jesus Christ is the most spoken about person across the world. The world is trying to prove him. The world is trying to disprove him. The world is trying to remove the Bible. The world is grabbing the Bible. He's the only teacher that taught 12 and his message spread out across the globe. He's the only healer that healed so many without any pharmaceuticals. He's the greatest preacher the world has ever seen, the greatest one that's ever given the greatest messages across the world.
Speaker 1:But he didn't go to theological college. He's the greatest king that ever walked this earth. He's the greatest king. No other king has impacted the world like jesus christ, and he had no palace. He had no earthly throne. He's the messenger. The greatest message the world has ever heard is the message of hope. Don't get caught in the next eight, nine weeks of commercialized, paganistic Christmas. Get to the cross. When you see a Christmas tree, ask God that he will take you through the tree and see the tree of Calvary, a place where you can find rest. He's the only king that changed the world. He never lifted a hand, he never punched anybody, he never disregarded anybody, he never rejected anybody. He welcomed everybody in that day, when he was going to that place, when he was being marched around and he had a crowd around him and that lady with the issue of blood said I've got to get to Jesus.
Speaker 1:I believe that there are many of us right now have got to get to Jesus and we don't know how to get to Jesus because we don't want to go to church. We don't want to enter into a building known as a church. We're too frightened. We've never been in a church. We don't want to enter into a building known as a church. We're too frightened, we've never been in a church. But there is something stirring in our spirits. There is something brewing in our innermost being. We're feeling it deep in our gut that I can't live anymore like this. There has to be another way. John 3.3. You are born again. Don't resist Jesus. Resist Christmas, resist religion, resist all that stuff, resist the world, but run to Jesus Christ. He's the king. He had 12, 12 renegades, 12 cannons that were loose. He had 12 men that came from an ordinary background. There was just 12 and they turned the world upside down. His message was the same back then and the message is the same today there is hope in Jesus. God bless you. Thank you, holy Spirit.
Speaker 2:I gave you a smile then because I've got open John 2, when Jesus called his first disciples.
Speaker 1:There you go, look at that.
Speaker 2:What's interesting when you read John 2 is that Jesus, they said he was rabbi. He was a rabbi, and if they didn't match up they would let them go. But if they saw someone who'd come through all the testing, they said come, follow me. And here we have Jesus saying to these fishermen. They said Rabbi, which means teacher, where are you staying? Come. He replied, and you will see.
Speaker 2:So they went and saw where he was staying and spent the day with him. It was about the 10th hour. Andrew, simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said, and the first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon. We have found the Messiah that is Christ, and brought him to Jesus. And it carries on with the other disciples being drawn in.
Speaker 1:Hallelujah and Jesus who they recognised.
Speaker 2:As rabbi said to them come follow me.
Speaker 1:I'm going to teach you.
Speaker 2:I'm going to teach you what this is all about. I am the Messiah, and they discovered that, and this is how Christianity just broke forth into the world yes, lord uh well, we thank you, father god, that in fact you call us.
Speaker 2:We're not. I'm not as bright as the, the professors, or at school. I didn't. In fact, I didn't do very well at school, but I managed, through the power of Christ in me, to go into a profession. How amazing is that. And I always look back and think how God blesses you, how God has blessed me. And Jesus calls you, no matter who you are, no matter what. You don't have to be a professor, a doctor, a lawyer. He calls you because he loves you and he wants you to follow him. So come, follow Jesus today and Jesus looks out for you day.
Speaker 2:And uh, jesus looks out for you, he said. He said to nathaniel um, I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before philip called you. Then nathaniel declared rabbi, you are the son of god, you are the king of israel. Do you believe? Believe, jesus is the Son of God. This morning, do you believe? And I believe, I declare now that Jesus has been with me. He's never let me down.
Speaker 1:He's never left me.
Speaker 2:He's always there for me. He's there for family. You just need to call upon him, call him by name, and if you've never done that before, jesus is waiting. He doesn't interrupt your life come on he sits there waiting patiently for you, and he gently taps and, as it says in revelation, behold I stand at the door and knock thank you for knocking, jesus if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in. And it's not just coming in, he's going to come in and have a meal with you.
Speaker 1:How marvellous is that. Hallelujah. Thank you, Jesus.
Speaker 2:So open your heart to him today.
Speaker 1:Yes, Lord.
Speaker 2:If you've drifted away, welcome him back. Hallelujah If you've never known him before, just open, say come into my life. Lord Jesus, I want more of you. Come and reside with me, amen.
Speaker 1:Amen, father, we come to the table, father, we come to you. As Andy has said, let's welcome Jesus in. Let's get to a place where we call on the greatest name. Let's get to a place where we say thank you, jesus.
Speaker 1:Lord, I'm tired but I'm hopeful. I'm weary but I believe, lord, my mind is racing but my faith is holding. I've got no energy but the power of the Holy Spirit. Lord, I look in the bank and it's scary. I feel in my pockets and it's just empty. But, lord, I believe that you shall supply, I believe that you will feed, I believe that you will feed, that you will strengthen, that you will make a way, lord, as we look at the gas meter and the gas ticking away, lord, lord, it's scary, lord, it's scary to know that we're in a time of globalization where the one world government is moving so fast. Lord, it's scary to see a one health organization moving, a one world army coming together. We see the armies, the masses joining, linking up across the world Russia, china, lord, all the stuff that's happening in Ukraine, everything that's happening in Israel and Iran through Afghanistan, lord, as we look at Turkey, very quietly preparing themselves, lord, we look at the Middle East, father, and we see the vastness of the Middle East. We hear all these foreign gods rising and shouting and making a noise and it feels like heaven's gone quiet, jesus. It feels like god that what is going to happen next.
Speaker 1:But the bible says in the last days, in the book of acts and the book of joe, I will pour out my spirit and all flesh. I will pour out my spirit. In the last days, the power of god is being poured out. The spirit of the living god is moving over your life. You are not weary. You are blessed and highly favored. You are chosen. God is with you. The devil is a liar.
Speaker 1:Do not listen to number 10 down in street. Do not allow the budget to control you, because the budget is so clever. It wants to drive fear in the skin that you're in. This government want to drive fear all the way through your bones. This government wants to drive doubt amongst you. This government wants to tell you that there is no hope. This government wants to tell you that there is no way forward. But there is a way and his name is jesus belief.
Speaker 1:Sisters and brothers, we're coming to the table in one minute, just one minute. We're going to break bread and we're going to take it a cup as the budget is released, as we're hearing it gently, as we're hearing things and seeing things. You know, brothers and sisters, we are entering into a time where this government and the world want you to run on fear, because fear will hold you back, fear will pin you indoors, fear will make you crack, fear will make you and turn you into someone you're not believe. When you believe that there is hope after this life, when you believe in the power of jesus christ, when you believe in the word of god, when you say, god, I'm gonna believe, all things become possible to those who believe. Do not be driven by fear and doubt anymore. Hold on to Jesus, and we're not saying go to church, get to the cross of Calvary, find the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Life is tough, life is painful, life is unbearable, but there is hope and his name is Jesus. Father, we come to the table right now and, father, we break bread and we thank you. Lord, there is power in the name of jesus. And lord as we stand at the cross, lord as we live our lives, father as commercialized christmas is alive and well, and lord as the government is going to try and drain every ounce of being out of us. Lord, we come to the table this morning and we break bread in the name of jesus and we believe that this bread symbolizes the body of christ and father. We thank you that you went to the cross, that you sent your son for john 3 16.
Speaker 1:Maybe you're flicking through the socials. Maybe it's the first time you've dropped into coffee and prayer this morning. Every Wednesday morning. This has been pressing for years now. This service, 9.30 every Wednesday morning. God is with you. You're not flicking through just by chance because the children are off school and you might have a few minutes on your hands. God is calling you. He's not calling you to church. He's calling you to faith. He's not calling you to church. He's calling you to faith. He's not calling you to religion. He's calling you to John 3.3. You are born again. Your life is about to change in the eyes of this world. You're about to experience the power of the Holy Spirit. You're about to experience the love of God. Maybe you've been lacking love all your life, but there is love in Jesus Christ. Bless this bread, lord, as we break this and we understand. There is nothing to do with the church, but it's to do with God, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Bless this, wherever we are across the world, in Jesus' name, amen.
Speaker 2:We are across the world in jesus name, amen hallelujah. Thank you, jesus yeah, thank you, father, that um you shed blood for each one of us.
Speaker 1:Amen.
Speaker 2:And we know that whenever we eat this bread and we drink the cup, we drink the cup to proclaim your death until you come again. You're coming again, he's coming. We know that that is true. Yes, Lord so we thank you, Father God, in remembrance of what you did for us by going to the cross and shedding that blood so that we could have life. Thank you, Father Amen.
Speaker 1:Amen. Cleanse us, lord, spirit of the living God. Thank you, jesus.
Speaker 2:I just had a thought. I went to the supermarket yesterday with Margaret An unusual event, I have to say, but Margaret took me to the supermarket and we literally walked around the supermarket and Margaret was pointing out to me that's gone up 50%.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:This has gone up 40%.
Speaker 1:Everything is increasing. This is double what it was months ago.
Speaker 2:Everything is going up.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:So I just wanted to give thanks to God for food banks and for all what they do to minister to those who have no food.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:Lord. We pray Father God that there will be. We pray for churches and Christians all across our land, churches and Christians all across our land. And we pray, father, god, that there will be a heart to minister to the poor. And we know, father, your word also says. It says in Joel everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Speaker 1:Amen. What a beautiful scripture.
Speaker 2:Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. So what a beautiful scripture. It's simpler than that Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. So call on him today.
Speaker 1:Andy, you've got a Bible there.
Speaker 2:And you will find encouraging scriptures in the Bible, and I've got a copy of the New Testament Psalms and Proverbs here and I give this away every week. I always carry one with me, not to read, I have to say, but to actually give it away. So someone else can read it and come into relationship with our Father God through Jesus, who died for you and he didn't leave it there.
Speaker 1:As we've been saying this morning, god sent Holy spirit to come and be with us, to encourage us, to fill us, to give us that guidance in life amen amen, father, we, we thank you for this morning and lord, in these last eight minutes, father of this service, in these moments of closing. Lord, you are the king of kings and you are the Lord of lords and we pray, father, for complete healing, completeness in the name of.
Speaker 1:Jesus. We pray, father, for miracles to abound. Father, we thank you, lord, for everybody online this morning, wherever they're scattered across the world. We pray, lord, for miracles. We believe in miracles, father, for those, lord, for miracles. We believe in miracles, father, for those, lord, that are walking to a food bank, for those that are crying right now because of the circumstances of life, for those that are feeling doubtful and lonely. Father, we pray that the hand of God will lift up, that you will lift us up, lord, according to Psalm 91, that God will command these angels concerning you, that they will lift you up in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against the rock. We pray, father, that this government, lord, will be a government that believes in the Gospels of Jesus Christ. We pray, father, that this government, lord, will seek the hand of the Redeemer. We pray that this government, lord, will move very powerfully in a very fresh, in a very new way. And, lord, if this government isn't going to lead us to the cross, will you please, lord, put someone in post, put leaders in place that will take us to salvation, us to the cross. Will you please, lord, put someone in post, put leaders in place that will take us to salvation, to hope, to freedom. In the name of jesus, sisters and brothers, we've reached the edge and we pray that, wherever you are right now, that you will just call on the name of jesus, that the hand of god will strengthen you and carry you.
Speaker 1:If anybody needs a Bible, andy has made it clear, and he does that week after week, moment after moment. On Sunday morning, people that were in church, we said or I said very, very clearly that if you've got people in your lives that need a Bible, take Bibles from the church seats. And if anybody and Bibles were taken from the church on Sunday and they were given out to wherever they were given out to people that was in the congregation if you need a bible, please just text us in and someone will pick up. The pastoral team will pick up the the messages on the social networks and just ask for a bible. If you've got someone that needs a bible, please, please, please. You know, uh, it's really, really important that we give Bibles out, that we make sure that we give Bibles out. We're giving them out. We might have hit a bit of a slow spot in certain areas, but we're giving them out. People have taken them from church, from Sunday service, and they're giving the Bibles out. It's the greatest gift that you will ever give out.
Speaker 1:We thank you to everybody that joins us on spotify, you know, uh, anyone that joins us on buzzsprout and apple podcast and the world of uh podcasts and all those platforms that we are on across the world. We thank you to everybody that is uh, wherever you are live streaming with us at this moment in time. We apologize for the the bad quality of the visuals. Uh, we got serious internet issues and, uh, we pray for the bad quality of the visuals. We've got serious internet issues and we pray that the Lord will deal with that.
Speaker 1:You know it's quite a stressful thing, as we all know, trying to get all that sorted out when you're dealing with organizations, and we just pray that it will get dealt with and we just ask God that he will just make a way for every one of us, whatever our life looks like, however it is reflecting, we've hit the bar, we're out. In the name of Jesus, we will see you this evening. We will see you this evening at eight o'clock as we go for the Bible study in person and online. So, wherever you are, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. God bless you. Thank you for joining us today in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. God bless you. Thank you for joining us today In the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
Speaker 2:Amen.
Speaker 1:Thank you for listening to Eden Church from this latest podcast.
Speaker 2:You can find us on Buzzsprout.
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