Reverend Ben Cooper's Podcast
Reverend Ben Coopers podcast, offers an inviting space for listeners to explore Christianity and spiritual growth with wisdom, humor, and a deep commitment to biblical truth. Through Rev. Ben's engaging conversations with guests, the podcast not only explores the timeless wisdom of the Bible but also tackles the pressing issues of life, faith, and hope in a way that is accessible, thought-provoking, and enriching. Whether you’re seeking spiritual nourishment, answers to life’s big questions, or simply a place to reflect on your faith, the Rev Ben podcast is a valuable resource on your journey.
In each episode, Rev. Ben guides listeners through profound theological reflections, personal stories, and practical insights drawn from the Bible and the broader Christian tradition.
Reverend Ben Cooper's Podcast
Resilient Journeys with Jesus (#803 Elim) CST
What if your life's purpose is hidden behind the noise of motivational speeches and worldly aspirations? Tune in as we uncover the transformative power of faith, urging you to ground your journey in the Word of God and embrace the radical adventure of following Jesus. Through heartfelt discussions, we explore how aligning with Jesus, as seen in 2 Corinthians 5:17, reshapes us into more loving, bold, and resilient beings. Discover how the path of faith surpasses superficial achievements and learn why true fulfillment comes from prioritizing a personal, spiritual connection over attending church activities.
We challenge the modern reliance on technology, cautioning against substituting genuine faith engagement with artificial intelligence. In a world teetering on distractions, the call to seek God's Kingdom first is more pressing than ever. Hear our thoughts on balancing life’s priorities — God, family, work, and ministry — and the importance of fully surrendering to Jesus. This conversation serves as a reminder that true peace and direction flow from aligning one's life with divine will, rather than the shifting sands of technological trends.
Inspired by the trials faced by Paul in Macedonia, we delve into the modern church's challenges and the invaluable growth that stems from enduring adversity. The importance of genuine discipleship, discipline, and engaging with the scripture away from digital distractions becomes evident as we discuss spiritual resilience. Through the powerful stories of biblical figures like Joshua and Caleb, we call upon the remnant of strong believers to stand firm in the faith, ready to equip themselves for spiritual battles. Let the truth set you free as you embody the gospel in a world desperate for authenticity and strength.
Reverend Ben Cooper's podcast offers transformative Christian insights, focusing on spiritual growth, biblical wisdom, and the radical journey of faith through Jesus Christ. In this powerful podcast, listeners are called to prioritize their walk with God over worldly pursuits, grounding their lives in the Word of God as inspired by 2 Corinthians 5:17. Discover how aligning with Jesus transforms believers into bold, loving, and resilient individuals, providing true fulfillment that surpasses fleeting achievements. Engaging discussions challenge the modern reliance on technology, highlighting the importance of genuine discipleship, scripture engagement, and spiritual resilience amidst today’s distractions. With biblical inspiration from figures like Paul, Joshua, and Caleb, the podcast equips Christians worldwide to stand firm in their faith and embrace the adventure of following Jesus wholeheartedly. Join Reverend Ben Cooper as he navigates topics like surrender, discipline, spiritual battles, and the pursuit of God’s Kingdom in a world desperate for authentic Christian living.
"Christian podcast," "faith journey," "Word of God," "following Jesus," "biblical insights," "discipleship," "spiritual growth," "2 Corinthians 5:17," "Christian resilience," "God’s Kingdom," "scripture engagement," "gospel truth," "authentic faith," "modern church challenges," "Jesus-centered life," "faith over technology," "spiritual fulfillment."
https://www.pastorbencooper.co.uk/
brothers and sisters, we are back in part two. The title of today's uh podcast is equipped. Are we equipped for purpose? Are we ready for what is happening around the world? Is your church equipping you? Are your leaders equipping you in the word of God? They're probably giving you rucksacks and suitcases full of material that's not fit for purpose, but are you equipped? Are you ready for the last days?
Speaker 2:Yeah, are. Do you? Do you truly know jesus as your, as your lord, as well as your savior? You know, are you truly a new creation in christ? You know, 2 corinthians 5 17 tells us that anyone who's in christ is a new creation. So are you truly that new creation? Because let me tell you this, ladies and gentlemen out there, you knowing you will get you nowhere. You knowing you getting nowhere. You knowing the great motivational speaker, tony Robbins will get you nowhere. David Goggins, all these Zig Ziglar, all these motivational speakers won't get you very far but it gets them rich though, doesn't it?
Speaker 2:it makes them very wealthy, it makes them very wealthy and it makes me poor but you knowing Jesus will get you everywhere, won't?
Speaker 1:I Know in Jesus, when you look at Jesus, if you want to see radical change, if you want to be the best man or the best woman that you can be and I can't stand using that terminology, you know but what I mean by that, not in the motivational speech, but I'm talking about when they say the best version of you. I don't want to be the best version of me, because I must decrease so that he increases. But when I get that the right way around, yes, I become a much better individual because christ is leading me, christ is discipling me, christ is shaping me, christ is equipping me. So suddenly I become bolder, I become stronger, I become more loving, I become equipped with the right stuff in my life. I can deal with things correctly. I don't get prideful, I don't get angry, I don't get frustrated because I'm a Jesus follower the hardest thing you'll ever do in your life, simon isn't it?
Speaker 2:I think what you said there is correct. I think if you want a challenge out there, don't worry about climbing a mountain or jumping out of an aircraft or riding a bike with a razor blade saddle. No, what you need to do is follow Jesus, because that will be the most radical, exciting thing that you, that you'll ever do in your life. And and and the thing has been. You know, in jesus you start to know the truth and, as we said before, the truth will set you free and and you'll start to know. When you know jesus and you know the word, then you'll start to know.
Speaker 2:When you know Jesus and you know the word, then you'll start to know what is right and what is wrong and you'll be able to see all this nonsense that's coming at you. So you know, for an example, you know the FBI in the States have got a counterfeit currency department and you'd think they'd study counterfeit currency, or they know they studied the truth all day. They studied the real note all day, so that as soon as they see a counterfeit currency, they'll know it immediately. And so many people out there ben because of false teaching, for the wrong teaching, whatever, are not knowing the truth, because they don't know the word yeah, that's correct.
Speaker 1:That is so true in the western church, isn't it that there are so many preachers, there are so many different ways, there are so many different ministries, there are so much stuff. That is just so wayward, you know. But there is something within matthew, isn't there? 633 seek ye, first the kingdom. It's the kingdom.
Speaker 2:It's a short scripture, but it's everything, isn't it?
Speaker 1:It's everything. So it erases all what Simon is saying, all the rubbish that's out there. When you seek the kingdom, you seek the truth. When you seek the truth, you seek Jesus, because I am the way, the truth and the life. And then suddenly you find that the temple curtain has been torn in two because of the cross and you've got what You've got access through Jesus Christ to God. I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. So if you want to see radical change in your lives, follow the most beautiful, gentlest, powerfulest human being known as Jesus Christ, because the Bible says he was a man, jesus.
Speaker 2:Ben, we both meet people every day that say listen, you know, I go to church but my life's a train wreck. Well, you know, what time are you giving to the Lord? What priorities? Tell me about your priorities and you'll find very quickly that these people are not giving the Lord too much time.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And if you don't give the Lord too much time, then Matthew 6.33, don't click in.
Speaker 1:does it?
Speaker 2:No, it doesn't, Because it says seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I thought a lot of churches have that as but seek you first, the king, the pastor's kingdom, and Sunday morning, you know. But I would give this advice to everybody now don't go to church for a while. Don't go to church for a while and prioritise that time, sitting down with your Bible in a quiet space, even if you've got to go out in your car or your van or go and sit in a field and just seek Jesus, because it's very difficult to find Jesus in church and the clutter of the world, the clutter of the mechanism of religion If you've given your life to Christ and you've made him your Lord and Saviour, then the Bible tells us the Holy Spirit comes and lives inside of us.
Speaker 2:Yes, so you know all these people that pray and come Holy Spirit. Well, the Holy Spirit's already inside.
Speaker 1:He's already there Because he's omnipresent. He's omnipotent.
Speaker 2:But what blocks our spirit connecting with the Spirit is all the clutter that we've got in the way.
Speaker 1:It's the busyness of life and church.
Speaker 2:And Ben's brought up a great point you need, if you just give some quiet time, a quiet place, somewhere where you can just do business with the Lord. And let me tell you this when you do business with our Heavenly Father something's going to change. It's going to and it ain't going to be God. God ain't going to change. You know, I'm praying all these prayers to change God when actually he's going Ben the prayer should be change me. Change you son.
Speaker 1:I'm the same yesterday, today and forevermore. But if you just give church a rest for a while, go to your pastors and your leaders and just say Ben has said that I need time out. Go and take time out of ministry, Come out and climb out of the pulpit for a while. Don't do all that stuff, because Jesus is calling you.
Speaker 2:And the thing is, when you do that, don't take that time to sit on your mobile phone.
Speaker 1:Or watch Netflix.
Speaker 2:Or watch.
Speaker 1:Netflix, literally.
Speaker 2:Take that time, switch your phone Put your phone somewhere, switch everything off, just take that time just to connect with the Lord and just take time and I think what a lot of people do, ben, especially with prayer, prayer is vital to being equipped. What a lot of people do is they'll just babble, like the Bible says Pagans babbling.
Speaker 1:They won't take time to listen. What is the?
Speaker 2:Lord saying to me. What is he saying? How can you have peace when you're non-stop machine gunning to the Lord and we've all been- in it, but then you're finished.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but I'm speaking in tongues and you can hear God going you're speaking in the devil's tongue. You're not speaking in the gift of the Holy Spirit. So it's a lot for me to learn as a human being and as a position that I hold. You know, I've got to seek the kingdom. I've got to seek the kingdom, I've got to seek his.
Speaker 2:When you seek the kingdom like that, ben, I believe that the priority is formed in place. So the priority is our heavenly father. It's God is first, he has to be first, but family is next.
Speaker 1:Yes, completely work is next and ministry is next. Now we've all got it mixed up from this, all in the washing machine.
Speaker 2:Many of us have put ministry before and family before the lord and and but it's. It's really pushing into the Lord. First, because then, once you give yourself to Jesus, surrender to him, get on the floor, just surrender completely to him. Once he stands at the door and knock and you open the door, you let him in, then everything will go right with your family Because, you're right, you just call him into it. He's already into the arena with you.
Speaker 1:That's correct. That's so true. It's like verse 33 of Matthew 6 says but seek first the kingdom, his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you or given to you, depending on what you're reading from. So if I just focus on Jesus, please, god, help me. Please, god, lord, will you strip me back? Lord, I'm arrogant, remove.
Speaker 1:And you go through the list of all the stuff and you take time out of church and you take time out of ministry and you take time out and you, you sit in the field or you sit in your conservatory or you just say to the people around you look, can you just give me 30 minutes, can you just give me 30 minutes? I've just got to go and sit in the shed, I'm just going to go, I'm just going to go for a walk around the block and I just want to use that time. I just, I just want to. I want to call out to god and seek his kingdom, because his kingdom is everywhere. The kingdom of God is within. It's that quiet space. Church is not fit for purpose, but God is, god is, and when you seek him, everything in your life will start to move the right direction. Yeah, he says it drops into place.
Speaker 2:It's really you know, know. None of this stuff is complicated. You don't have to know the bible in hebrew, greek or latin no, you just, you just need to know the word of god, what he says, and and then once, once them priorities get in in and you've given your life to, to, to jesus, totally fully, because you know here's the situation.
Speaker 1:You can't be 95%.
Speaker 2:Faithful to your wife. No no, not at all. I'm faithful, but no, no. So Jesus is not a part-time hobby. That you call in from time to time when you need a bit of help. He wants the whole of your life.
Speaker 1:Every millimetre, every area, every part of you, because he already knows it anyway. He already knows it, he already sees it, he already knows what we're doing and he wants us to be honest and open and give our lives to him solely and fully and when you do that and you've alluded to it already Ben, then you know you know your identity in Christ.
Speaker 1:Wow Now that comes back to that pulpit story I just said. You know, there are so many people in pulpits that are dressed differently. There are so many people in pulpits that are dressed differently. They're not dressed the way God wants us to be dressed. We are not equipped the way God wants us to be equipped. We're taking artificial AI into pulpits. We're using AI for Bible studies. We're using AI for so many things in life generally. It's out there, it's easy, it takes away stress and it gives us more time to do nothing. And when you've got time on your hands and you're doing nothing, but actually we're all busy, that's dangerous.
Speaker 2:See, ben, you know we come back to the old enemy again, don't we? So the enemy, he really don't care how many times you go to church.
Speaker 1:No, he loves it, care how many times you go to church? No, he loves it.
Speaker 2:It's probably rather you didn't, but he don't care if you go to church, he don't care how many times you go to a Bible study or go on a Zoom call to this or go on this course, or go to this curry night or this men's breakfast or this great conference where people are going to tell you a word that no one's ever heard before, which is nonsense. None of that worries him, because it's a complete distraction, because you're still struggling with stuff inside of you that he put in there from when you was little right. But it's when you know who you are in Christ, who am I, then you become a dangerous Christian.
Speaker 1:Galatians 2.20, ben I, a dangerous Christian. Galatians 2.20, ben I'm born again.
Speaker 2:Galatians 2.20. It's not I that live, but Christ who lives in me. So when I realize, that… I've been crucified with Christ.
Speaker 1:When I realize that I have been crucified, I am a new creation. That is not I that live, but he that liveth. And when I decrease, he increases Suddenly. Look at Gideon. May God you're calling me a warrior. I'm just treading grapes. I'm just treading this life. I'm using something. When you look at Gideon, he was using something that wasn't fit for purpose because he was hiding from the enemy, and when we hide from the enemy, we pick up stuff that isn't fit for purpose.
Speaker 2:And we come back to where we came in Ben is that when you know who you are in Christ, you don't have to be this pumped up, muscle-bound man or woman. You don't have to have this armour on and this big sword. No, you don't need any of that, like David didn't need any of that.
Speaker 1:He didn't need none of that.
Speaker 2:He didn't need none of that, because what you've got you're calling our heavenly fire by calling Jesus into the battle, yeah, and when you call Jesus into the room, everything changes.
Speaker 1:Everything changes. The enemy flees. In the name of Jesus.
Speaker 2:If you're being bullied by someone, if you was being bullied by someone at work, then you get someone bigger to bully them, to kick them up the backside, and we've got the ultimate. We have got the ultimate. So when you know you are in Christ, you know your authority.
Speaker 2:Authority is a big word. I come back to. I come back. I was on a Zoom with a lot of Afro-Caribbean fellas and one fella said he was getting so much going on with being attacked through his family and whatever, and he just turned around and he goes. Do you know who my father is?
Speaker 1:And he said all of a sudden.
Speaker 2:you know things just got clearer. He makes a way Because you know things just got clearer and then he's left at peace, because you know you've got that authority.
Speaker 1:Ben, yeah. When you understand who jesus is, when you understand the authority that christ has, when you understand that you are grafted in and no weapon forged against us shall prosper, when you understand that god's love is so strong and so powerful over your life that nothing can separate us from the love of God, that is when you realize that these scriptures are so powerful and life-changing, and when I actually come to an understanding that God can't lie. Something that God can't do is that he can't lie. What do you mean? So whatever God says in his word about you, you can't do. It's fact because God cannot lie. So if God says you're blessed and highly favoured, guess what? You're blessed and highly favoured. If God says I'm with you and I won't leave you as orphans, and I'm going to give you a guess what? So if you look that God cannot lie, then believe it.
Speaker 2:Believe it. Believe it Because the Bible tells us unbelief is like witchcraft. So we've got to believe these scriptures. This is who you are in Christ, but absolutely you're nothing without him.
Speaker 1:I'm nothing without him.
Speaker 2:Believe that as well, but you've got to be there, you've got to you know, and then you'll understand that it's not all unicorns and lollipops and clouds and Santa Claus. Being a Christian, it's tough. It's a tough life, oh my goodness, but it's a victorious life. It's going to cost you everything.
Speaker 1:I can't remember where that scripture is, son. What you're just saying is it's in 2 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians 7, 8. Paul goes into Macedonia. He says my body is tired, I've got harassment on this side, I've got conflict on that side, I've got fear within. And then, a little bit further, in chapter eight, he talks about the macedonian church and he says out of severe trials, severe trials, out of severe poverty, they rose. There is something about trials and tribulations, because that is a point where you are in complete surrender. When you look at the church today, the church is business. It's an organisation. How many churches have a charitable number? We're owned by the government.
Speaker 2:How many churches tell you about the trials? Look you know James. James 1 says oh, come on, here we go. My brethren, count it all. Joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that a testing of your faith produces patience. But let the patience have its perfect work that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing, if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives it liberally. Then he goes on on 12, to say Blessed is the man who endures temptation and trials, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown for which the Lord has promised to those that love him.
Speaker 1:Wow come on.
Speaker 2:So you know there's trials coming up. You know and what you also need so you're equipped. You know there's trials coming up. You know and what you also need so you're equipped. You know who you are in Christ. You know your priorities, you know your authority Amen. You know the cost. You're going to have to pay the price. The price Because you know coming to Jesus costs you nothing, but following him will cost you everything. But then you've got to be disciplined, ben. Oh goodness, hang on, you've got to be disciplined, hang on. And you've got to have discipleship. Oh, and we know the first discipleship is with Jesus.
Speaker 1:Yeah, the only way that this is all going to work out is when I'm Christ-centered, christ-focused. Jesus has to be the center of everything. He has to be the first, the last, he is everything. When I get into this, I become a better human being, not because of me, but because Christ that liveth in me.
Speaker 2:So you'll give as being the disciplined disciple. You'll give the Lord prayer time. You'll give the Lord prayer time. You'll give the Lord Bible time. You'll get into your Bible and you'll read it with revelation, with the Holy Spirit. Otherwise it's just information.
Speaker 1:Yes, how many people go to church on a Sunday You're talking about Bible without a Bible? Yeah, how many of us, how many of us, how many of us leaders don't carry a bible in the car and when we travel? How many leaders don't even carry a bible in the church anymore? How many people come to the church carrying the bible app? When I'm on a bible app, I get distracted. Whatsapp's pinging, social media, everything's going, you know, I, I, I believe that we need to be disciplined and when we go into church, turn the phones off and actually pick a Bible up, pick a word up, carry a word. Be disciplined to make sure that you've got a paperback version, because the devil loves an app.
Speaker 2:Because while you're looking at that, somebody will ping on your WhatsApp and all of a sudden you're off down another route that you shouldn't be. It's important we have fellowship right. It's important we have fellowship with other Christians because iron does sharpen iron Ben.
Speaker 1:But you said something important with believers With believers, yeah, with people that are really going through the ringer, that are really struggling, but they know who they are because they're born again. We have fellowship with born again.
Speaker 2:Yeah, the fellowship. When you're having friendship with believers, it's called fellowship as a born again believer. If you've got friendship with people who aren't Christians, that's called ministry.
Speaker 1:Exactly. Because you are ministering to them, you're ministering to them, or?
Speaker 2:you should be ministering to them by your actions as well as your words. So iron sharpens iron, but, Ben, we alluded to this earlier, and it is the truth that sometimes, Ben, we're on our own, ain't we?
Speaker 1:Sometimes we're on our own, and for the likes of you and me, a lot of time we we're on the journey is the journey is very, very lonely and I'm afraid to say, simon, your family won't get it. No, your family don't get it. They won't get it. They can be the worst ones in the arena of 100 of your calling yeah 100.
Speaker 2:So so if, um, if your wife goes, oh, I want to change the color of, uh, of this room, that's fine, but if she says, no, I don't want you to do that, or I don't want you to do this, and you know it's what Jesus called you to do, I'm afraid she takes second choice to that. But sometimes we look and we're not getting as many likes or many thumbs up and all that sort of stuff. So we look to David, don't we? Ben David In that situation, when it was 1 Samuel 36, when he was on his own and everyone he was at Ziklak and everyone looked like they wanted to stone him, wanted to kill him, and it said he encouraged himself. When the Lord is God, yeah.
Speaker 1:So that's what we do.
Speaker 2:That's what we do Encourage ourselves in the Lord is God. So that's what we do, encourage ourselves in the Lord, our God.
Speaker 1:How many people, simon, that are literally in our lives that almost want to stone us? How many people, when the situation turns, want to stone us? Well, not as in rocks and boulders, but with what? With texts, with emails and with wording.
Speaker 2:There's that old song in the Barney OJs called the Backstabbers, and there's more in the Christian world than I think there is anywhere else.
Speaker 1:We've got to strengthen ourselves, sisters and brothers.
Speaker 2:And we have to remember, ben, that you and God are in the majority, completely so. When we're struggling and they're coming at us from all sides, we're called you know, Strengthen yourself we have Jesus, strengthen yourself in the Lord, your God. As we're coming to land on this Ben, I think for believers who really want a challenge and want to know who they are in Christ and want to move forward, I think it's time to make a stand, ben.
Speaker 1:I think you're 100%. I think God is speaking loud and clear. Today We've got to make a stand. For who?
Speaker 2:Jesus, yeah, we can't sit on the fence we can't no more. We've really got to. It hurts a little bit.
Speaker 1:It's pushing in. We've really got to stand up and stand strong, like Joshua's and Caleb's. Our God is able. Our God is able, our.
Speaker 2:God is able. It says in Isaiah that when the enemy comes in like a flood, he raises a standard, and I believe that there's men and women listening to this podcast out there today who will be encouraged to stand up and be part of what God's calling.
Speaker 2:He's calling a remnant right now. True, so you know. Are you going to make a stand? This is the challenge to you today. Are you going to be equipped for the battle? Are you going to be the fifth gospel, because most people out there won't read the other four Ben no they won't, but they'll see.
Speaker 1:You Eyeballs are on you. Yeah, it'll be on you.
Speaker 2:Are you going to have a go for Jesus? Come on.
Speaker 1:Are you going to know the truth, ben, and the truth.
Speaker 2:Will set you free. Will set you free, amen and amen.
