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
Embracing the Cross as the Symbol of Hope (#907 - Elim)
What if the true essence of Christmas isn't what we've been led to believe by commercial figures and holiday marketing? Join us as we explore the profound message of "From the Crib to the Cross," inspired by Isaiah 9:6. This episode offers a fresh perspective on the festive season, emphasizing Jesus Christ's birth and the spiritual awakening it symbolizes, while also shining a light on the plight of persecuted Christians in regions like North Korea, Somalia, Yemen, and Turkey. With listeners from 71 countries, we foster a spirit of solidarity and reflection on the global challenges faced by the Christian community.
The prophetic significance of Isaiah 9:6 comes alive as we connect Old Testament promises to their New Testament fulfillment. Our discussion draws parallels between Isaiah's prophecy and the Gospels, emphasizing the divine nature of Jesus as Emmanuel, God with us. By examining the intersection of spiritual and physical realms through Christ's birth, we underscore the essence of faith—believing in the unseen and preparing for His second coming. The chapter on the power of faith in Christianity invites listeners to confront skepticism and embrace the unseen reality of historical events like Jesus’ resurrection.
In this thought-provoking episode, we explore the intricate relationship between scripture and the message of Jesus Christ, challenging listeners to move beyond idolizing religious leaders and focus solely on the cross as the symbol of salvation. As we approach 2025, there's a call to reflect on faith and commitment to God, finding peace and refuge in Jesus alone. Featuring discussions on biblical prophecy, the necessity of being born again, and questioning certain church traditions, we aim to inspire preparation for Christ's ultimate return as King, urging an embrace of His message of hope and salvation.
The journey from crib to cross encapsulates the essence of Christmas, moving beyond celebration to the deeper implications of Jesus' life and mission. This episode invites listeners to reflect on prophecy, the significance of Christ's dual nature, and calls for recognition of the persecuted church, while challenging traditional views that remain comfortable at the crib instead of embracing the transformative power of the cross.
• Discussion on Isaiah's prophecy of the coming Messiah
• Importance of praying for the persecuted church globally
• Exploration of the dual nature of Christ as God and man
• Challenge of moving from religion to true faith in Jesus
• Urgent call to prepare for the second coming of Christ
• Emphasis on the cross as a symbol of transformation and salvation
True meaning of Christmas, Isaiah prophecy and Jesus, From the Crib to the Cross, faith and salvation in Jesus, prophetic Christmas message, Christian persecution around the world, Jesus Christ Emmanuel, preparing for the second coming, cross and salvation, global Christian solidarity, born again in Christ, hope for persecuted Christians, Christian faith podcast, cross as symbol of redemption, resurrection of Jesus Christ, faith beyond religion, Jesus birth and prophecy, Christian podcast 2025.
https://www.pastorbencooper.co.uk/
everybody across the world, wherever you are, and for those that are joining us in the world of podcasts, for those that are joining us online, the title and those that are in the lord's house. We're going to go to the book of isaiah. Uh, chapter 9, verse 6, and the title of this morning's message is from the crib to the cross. From the crib to the cross, grab yourself a bible. I just want to read out a couple of things very, very quickly before we press on any further, as we just welcome people jumping online. Very, very important that maybe over this festive time, over this time of remembering it, it's about Jesus. It's not about anybody else dressed in a red suit. It's about Jesus Christ. It's about the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. I always and I try to mention this as much as I possibly can when you get a chance, flick on to open doors, ministry open doors. Look at the world watch list. It's critical that we will look at the world watch list and we see about the persecuted church and we we see what's happening to our brothers and sisters 365 million displaced christians around the world. You can find, uh the the top 50 list. The first one is north korea and it goes somalia, libya, air trier, yemen, uh, nigeria, pakistan. Number seven is pakistan. Got to be very, very careful how I say this, pakistan. We've got a certain leader in a certain area of london that loves cameras and, um, he comes from his roots, come from there. And if you have been on the socials and you listen to what he he's been saying and what he's had to do this last couple of weeks, what he's had to say, what he's had to get in the rhythm of because of the certain religion that he follows, you know, if you are a Christian, you want to hear what he says about Christians. Come on church, wake up. And I'm not talking about us in here, I'm talking about those that are listening, you, and here I'm talking about those that are listening. You know we are living in very critical times and that nation sits at number seven. Number eight Sudan, iran, afghanistan. Then it goes on and it goes all the way up and you read all the way through Cuba, morocco, all the way through. It's really important that we read Open doors, the watch list, and sitting at number 50, it does make me smile because many people go out there and get their turkey teeth. They get the lift, the tux. They go to turkey. And do you want to be under a knife of an islamic doctor? Go and get your turkey teeth. Go and get what you want done, but just remember who's opening you up. Number 50, turkey is sitting out there. And all all the holiday destinations Malaysia, indonesia, egypt. Many people are in Egypt now Islamic states not interested in Jesus Christ. I pray that the church in this nation has its eyes open as it crosses over from this year to the next year, because Jesus Christ is coming. Well, the World Watch list you can also. There's a link on there that's really important. You can click it and if you've got any concerns, you can go and speak to the MPs about it, and we pray for the Christian MPs that deal with it.
Speaker 1:Yemen is at number five. Libya is at number three. Somalia very, very interesting Somalia. What's happening in certain areas of this nation? Somalia and certain things. Certain things are happening across the channel.
Speaker 1:Got to be so, so careful. What's coming over? But number one North Korea. It's always been North Korea at number one. North Korea. It's always been North Korea at number one. That that place is an absolute.
Speaker 1:Yeah, hallelujah, jesus, got to be really careful. Come on, let's get in the word of God. Let's get in the word of God. So, wherever you are across the world, we thank you for joining us this morning. And the last bit of stats before we cross over yes, we've hit 71 countries that we're in at this moment and we've increased, uh, by 998 cities. So we're just too shy of um a thousand cities around the world. God bless you, whatever city you're in, in the name of jesus christ. But let's get in the word of god. Let's get into the scriptures. It's really, really important to look at the world watch list open doors just type in open doors in opendoorsuk. We do some more work. We do a lot of work. We do a lot of podcasting with that and we do so much regarding Open Doors and Release International, barnabas Aid and all that sort of stuff.
Speaker 1:We need to pray for our brothers and sisters that are scattered around the world. You know 365 displaced Christians running for their lives, you know. But we got to buckle down this coming time. We got to really get in the word and get strong. Put on the armor of God. Put on the Ephesians. Put on Ephesians. Get in the word of God. Get laced in the word of God, get in the word. So, wherever you are at this moment in time, I pray in the Lord's house in front of me, across the world, that we will find that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Savior of our lives.
Speaker 1:But let's get straight into the scripture. We're going to the Old Testament, the book of Isaiah, chapter 9, the book of Isaiah, chapter 9, verse 6, verse 6, a very, very interesting prophecy being foretold, probably around about seven or eight hundred years before Christ was even pushed out by his mum, before he even popped out, before he even came out, before he even was wrapped up in swaddling clothes. Now, this is what the church religion is so good at is celebrating and bringing all this stuff out. But there is a massive percentage of religion that doesn't know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. You can have all the nativities, you can have all the fancy dress, do what you like, you know, but you've got to know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. That is critical, because Christ gives us that in the gospel.
Speaker 1:So when we read the book of Isaiah, isaiah verse six, I'll read this verse and then we'll start, and God will start, to unravel the text to each and every one of us. So you've got to remember this great prophet. This great prophet was delivering the word of God, the prophet Isaiah. It says for us, or for to us, a child is born, to us a son is given. The government very important. The government will be on his shoulders and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, prince of Peace.
Speaker 1:If you look at verse six. If you look at verse six, it says up there it says for us a child is born and to us a son is given. Very interesting, we could quite easily skip through that, we could quite easily read over that. But in verse 6, you can see a reference to somewhere else and it says For us, a child is born. We get that and we understand what they're referencing. What are they actually referencing? They're referencing the Gospel of John. They're referencing the gospel of John. They're referencing the gospel of John because for it to happen, he's got to be birthed, he's got to be brought into the world. So when you look at verse six, it says for to us a child is born. There we have John, chapter one, verse 14, and the word became flesh.
Speaker 1:So what we have very, very clearly, very clearly, we have the gospel of Luke, chapter one, verse 31. We have the fulfillment of scripture and in John, the gospel of John, at the very beginning of John, we have the spiritual presenting itself to this physical realm in which we live. So what we have is all the Old Testament talking about the Messiah, getting ready for the Messiah, preparing us for the Messiah, and then suddenly, through the Gospel of John and the synoptic Gospels, we find that Christ is presented to each and every one of us and it says for to us, a child is born. Then he goes on and he says a son is given. What is he referencing? He's referencing John 3, 16. He's talking about salvation. So he's talking about the spiritual realm and he's talking about the realm of salvation Just within a few words. The Old Testament is so powerful. It is so powerful, but religion will just read over, it will not really grasp it. But God is telling us through the Old Testament, years 700, 800 years before Christ was presented to the world. The prophet tells us for to us, a child is born. The gospel of John. He's telling us there very clearly.
Speaker 1:And if you look at the gospel of Luke, chapter 1, verse 31, if you, if you just run your eyes up that a moment. Uh, very interesting what it says there. And we get the Luke, what we're talking about Luke, chapter 1, verse 31, and let me read what it says there. It says for you will be given a child and give birth to a son. So when you look at these scriptures, they just run so close they are interwoven.
Speaker 1:Jesus Christ is the king of kings and the lord of Lords and Mary was given that great favor. But when she was given favor, she was given fear as well at the same point. So when you carry word, remember that running very close to word is fear. Favor and fear run very close together. Favor comes from God, fear comes from our thought power and our mind, just the natural realm in which we live. But when you look at verse 31 31 it says you will be given a child and you will give birth to a son. So what you have there, you have, you have the, you have the spiritual realm being spoken about in the gospel of Luke, chapter 1, verse 31, and you have salvation being spoken about. You will be given a son, you will give birth to a son and he will be known as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, and you're going to give him the name Jesus. He's going to be called Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the savior of the world.
Speaker 1:So, religion, the last Sunday of this, before we celebrate the 25th, and we get really stuck into pagan Christmas, when we really enjoy the pagan side of it and all that sort of stuff that goes with it, because we do love to mix the two together Come on, we do, we do, we do. But when you look at the scriptures, we've got to go straight down the line because the tide that is coming, there's a tsunami that's coming across this nation, a spiritual tsunami. We've got to be ready, You've got to be steadfast, we've got to understand really, really clearly that our salvation comes from God and God alone. He is the savior of the world. So, all the nativity action that's going on at this moment, all the plays, everything that's being rolled out, we've got to be careful not to get absorbed by everything that happens through that and realize that, yes, he came to the world as a child, as an infant. He came, he presented himself. And when you read the text about Jesus Christ, you're reading about God, god with us. That's why he's got the name Emmanuel, god with us.
Speaker 1:So when you look at the gospel of John, chapter 1, verse 1, read that. Now have a look at what it says. It tells us that God and Christ are interwoven, that they run seamlessly together. You cannot separate the two, the triune Godhead, the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit. But what the scripture does at certain points, in certain areas, as we read it tells us, it gets us ready for certain areas of Christ, of God, of the Holy Spirit. So when you read the book of Isaiah, it tells us that a son, a son, and as you have a look very, very clearly and as you run these two together, verse six of Isaiah, chapter nine, for to us a child is born. He is referencing John, chapter one, verse 14, and the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. And then he goes on and says to us, a son is given.
Speaker 1:If you have a Bible, if you turn to John 3, 16, and you see what John 3, 16 says, let's read it for ourselves. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whosoever shall believe in him shall not perish but have eternal life. But you can't believe until you've been given the greatest gift the world has ever seen. You can't believe in front of Christ coming to you. Christ comes to you before we realize that Christ is real.
Speaker 1:Again, I mentioned the persecuted church. You will read, read story after story. You will read account after account where people have been in other world, occults and world religions and suddenly the whole household has gone to bed as Islam, as Buddha, whoever you know, and suddenly they wake up in the morning understanding that Jesus Christ is the savior of the world. You can read uncountable accounts where people have gone to bed at night not knowing Jesus Christ and waking up in the morning a born again Christian. So what happens?
Speaker 1:It tells us something so clear that God, through Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, always presents himself first. It's him first, it's not belief first. Yes, as I always say, you've got to be careful of the altar call. We thank God for the altar call, but an altar call is just the realization of your autonomy, your physicality, recognizing that Jesus Christ is alive. But Jesus Christ presented himself to every one of you before you knew who Jesus was. We know what the scripture says before the very foundation of the world. I knew you and there's a Jeremiah 29 over your life. There's a plan over your life. It might not look like it at the moment, it might look obscured, it might look like we've gone backwards, to the left, to the right, but God has a plan for your life. God has a plan for your life. But when you look at these scriptures that we are reading very, very clear in the book of Isaiah, in the Old Testament, 700, 800 years before, this is prophecy. This is a prophet telling the world the Savior is coming. And the same scripture is telling us the first coming of Jesus is telling us about what? The second coming.
Speaker 1:The church loves to get the first Religion loves to talk about the first because it's about a baby and it's all lovely and it's all wonderful and it's all nativity and it's all that. But it's not talking about the rapture, it's not talking about the coming of the king. He's not going to come out of the uh the skies in a push chair, in a crib. He's coming out on a horse. He's coming on a horse, faithful and true, the inscription, the writing on him carrying a sword. He's coming on a horse. But the religious order loves to hang around the crib. I don't want to be found at the crib when he's coming. I want to be found at the cross because the crib will hold me there. The cross will take me to a different place, the crib will keep me in religion and and religion is doing a great job. The religious schools have done so much the nativity and this and that, everything going on, and it's still doing it through Advent.
Speaker 1:But we've got to be prepared for the second coming of Jesus. Are we prepared for the second coming? No, we're preparing for next Advent, we're preparing for this, we're preparing for that and we are not preparing for the coming of Jesus Christ on a horse. He's not going to be coming into Jerusalem on an old donkey, he's coming on a horse. That's faithful and true. And when he enters this atmosphere and he comes back as the savior of the, you are going to hear a sound that your ears have never heard before. He is going to have uncountable angels following him and the world will be shaken on the access. He's coming.
Speaker 1:The church recognises him as the baby, but they don't recognise him as the king. Thank you, ernest. The church religion recognises little baby Jesus because we can cope with a baby, because we don't have to surrender to a baby, we take charge of a baby, but to a king, we've got to surrender. That's the difference. Religion loves a crib. Surrender. That's the difference. Religion loves a crib because it can't surrender. But a Bible believing believer not a Justin Bieber, by the way, I nearly said it, but I might as well get that out as a Bible believing believer I've lost my train of thought.
Speaker 1:Jesus, what are you doing to me today as a Bible believing believer? Right, we don't hang around the crib. Where do you find us? At the cross. You find us at the cross because the crib, the crib, will hold you in that place. The crib will keep you at Advent. The crib will just hold you in that place, but the cross will do something else. The crib makes you want to take charge of Jesus, but the cross, he takes charge of us. So you can hang around religion at the crib and you can fluff it up and you can have all your Advent services under the sun.
Speaker 1:But let me tell you this that the Savior of the world, he's not coming back as a baby, he's coming back as the Savior under the sun. But let me tell you this that the Savior of the world, he's not coming back as a baby. He's coming back as the Savior of the world. He's coming back. Isn't it interesting that we get the scriptures we believe, everything up to the crib. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:And then religion won't go any further. It will stay at the crib, it will stay in Advent, it will stay in all that stuff, but it won't allow itself to go to the cross. Because if religion goes to the cross, it has to surrender its fine art. It has to realize that the pope is only a man. It has to realize that there's no power in praying and using mary and rubbing the rosary beads. It comes to a point in the realization that the priests are no one. It comes to the realization that it is empty, that the fine art on the cathedrals will be left when Jesus Christ comes and shakes this earth.
Speaker 1:The church generally is preparing us for Advent, but it hasn't prepared us for the second coming. And, as the scripture says, there for to us, a child is born. Then he goes on and says something so profound a son has given. So he's telling us that the word will become flesh, but that flesh will go to the cross of Calvary. That flesh will die. Jesus Christ died. He died, he experienced death as a human being. But he was in charge of death because the Bible says that he gave up his spirit. So that's when the scripture comes in oh death, where is thy sting? The Bible says in the gave up his spirit. So that's when the scripture comes in oh death, where is thy sting? The Bible says in the book of Romans, chapter eight if you are worried about your loved one's life itself, what happens?
Speaker 1:The Bible says nothing can separate us from the love of God, nothing. And we don't realize how many of our loved ones actually love God. Just because they're not in church, just because they don't talk about it, doesn't mean to say that they don't believe. Because when everyone's back is against the wall, let me tell you it's very interesting that suddenly, out of nowhere, jesus becomes real. When someone hits a point in their life and they don't know what to do to themselves, just because they don't talk about it in the family, home or at work, or at school or university or wherever you don't find them in church doesn't mean to say that they don't believe in Jesus. There'll be some, some surprises when people get called home to glory. You'd be surprised because the bible says nothing can separate us and we don't quite know who the us is. We look around the chairs and we think that it's us, but the us is bigger than us. You're going to be surprised that you're going to see when you get called to glory.
Speaker 1:When you look at the scripture, it says for to us, a child is born, to us a son given, given, and the government will be upon his shoulders and he will be called wonderful counselor, holy spirit. Straight on the text, the holy ghost is on the text wonderful counselor, mighty god. You can't separate the triune godhead, father, son, holy Spirit. Look with those beautiful eyes that God gave you. Look at the text. It says everlasting Father, prince of Peace. But hang on, go back to verse six at the top. A child will be born. So when we look at this front part of the text, we realize that baby Jesus, I love him. Little baby Jesus is coming to the world and the Advent service will ring out for the cathedrals and we will wrap him up every year.
Speaker 1:What we don't realize is what the prophet is saying. The word is coming to the world, the king is coming, but he's got to present himself as a human being, because Jesus was a human being. How can you say that? Because the Bible says the word became flesh. One clue. Then the Bible says the man, christ Jesus, fully got fully man, fully, fully deity. So what we have in this book of isaiah, we have something that makes my eyes spin in my head. I have the triune godhead, I have the living word, I have the power of the Holy Spirit wrapped up in one verse. Look at what it says. To us, a child is born. John, chapter 1, verse 14. The word presents himself to the world. Then John 3, 16. To us, a son is given. God said I'm giving you my son. So we have a child, so the human beings can see that the word became flesh.
Speaker 1:Because we struggle, don't we, should we be honest today? We struggle to believe anything that we can't see. We struggle, don't we? I'm here, I'm real because you see me. You're real because see you, the chair. Everything is real because we live the majority of our lives by sight, but the bible says you've got to live by faith. What keeps you in your seat this morning? Not the kebab I ate last night, not the mcdonald's, all this, but a word that science recognizes gravity. Do you believe that you're sitting in your chair this morning because science tells you that gravity is holding you.
Speaker 1:Do you believe in gravity? Of course I do, but you can't see it, ben. But you believe in it. The only reason you're standing on this earth is because of the pull of gravity is keeping you here. You believe it because you've been told it. Of course I do. I understand it's here.
Speaker 1:Do you believe that trees move, the clouds move, by the power of the wind? Of course I do. So you believe in the power of the weather structure that you cannot see? Of course I do. The church believes in it. Religion has to believe in gravity and it has to believe in the wind that's outside it. It watches the wind move the trees. It watches the storms come in. The only reason that we got storms is because of the power of the wind behind it. The only reason that the grass moves left to right is because of the wind behind it. The only reason that the grass moves left to right is because of the wind moves it. The only reason that the clouds zip around the world and everything happens? Because the wind, the jet streams that we cannot see, that we are told exist, move everything around.
Speaker 1:We believe in the invisible atmosphere we believe in, but we struggle to believe in the invisible God that created the jet streams that crisscrossed the globe. Yet we believe in science. We believe in the science that we are here because gravity is holding us. We watch the weightlessness of the astronauts. When they hit that certain measure, they start to float because there is no gravity. But we believe what we see. But why does religion struggle with Jesus? So it hangs around the crib because it sees it. But what it can't grasp is the second coming, and it will believe it when the door's shut, because when he comes it's game over, it's finished. We've reached the point. The king is coming. The church schools believe in science. They teach science. They teach about gravity, they teach all about this stuff economic. They teach about all the weather structure, it, it tells you all about all this and it, but it doesn't believe in the savior of the world because it's invisible. I'm not sure until I see what was that great, that great man?
Speaker 1:In the New Testament he was labeled the doubter Doubting Thomas and he said listen you lot, you've watched him, you've danced with him. He's revealed himself to you. The Bible says he revealed himself to over 500 people. They see Jesus Christ in a new body. The Bible says he revealed himself to over 500 people. They see Jesus Christ in a new body they believed.
Speaker 1:Historians outside of faith have clear documentation that Jesus Christ raised and was raised and came back from the dead. It turned people upside down inside out. There's clear documentation that he was risen and he is risen and he was raised and he came back and Jesus Christ is alive and he presented himself to over 500 people and more. But then we get one known as Thomas Doubting. Thomas that said to his church friends, don't talk to me anymore about Jesus, I don't want to know anymore. Why, thomas? What is wrong with you today? Because I haven't seen him. There is something that our eyes and our eyes do, something to us that brings confusion. If it's not visible, it can't be real. So Thomas see Christ at the cross. He witnessed Christ at the cross. He knew that Christ went to the cross. He knew that he was taken down from the cross and he knew that he went to the tomb. He knew that he was taken down from the cross and he knew that he went to the tomb and he knew that he was dead, but his faith would not allow him to believe that Jesus was alive.
Speaker 1:And so often our faith and church, church, can be dangerous Because it can become weak and woke and really boring. I'm bored of Benny. He keeps barking on all the time. I'm fed up with the church. I'm going to Lakeside, the Valley of the Shadow of Death. I'm going to really go and saturate myself in pagan worship. I'm really going to go and find happiness. The church is boring. The church is boring, religion is boring, but the kingdom of God is power and life, but it takes faith to belief.
Speaker 1:So now, if we take ourselves back 700 years and we were standing with the prophet, have you heard him? He said a child is coming, a son is going to be given. What is that man smoking? What is he on? He is absolutely off his noggin. He is complete. What is he talking about? 10 years go by and nothing happens. 100 years, 200, nothing happens, nothing happens. Nothing happens. 500 years, nothing. Do you remember what he said? Do you remember what he said back then? He was completely wacko. What is he going on about? That prophet, that one that said he was from God, said that a child was going to be given, a son was going to be born, the saviour of the world, wonderful counsellor, 600 years, 650 years, 700 years, 725, 750 approaching.
Speaker 1:Suddenly, an angel appears out of nowhere, speaks to a young woman and says behold, I've got a great message for you, merry Christmas. You're carrying child. What are you talking about? Fear entered her body. What that man spoke about suddenly was brought into fulfillment for humanity to see, 725, 750, 770, whatever it may be through the timeline of life. Suddenly, we see the word of faith coming to life.
Speaker 1:Imagine the eruptions around Mary. She's carrying child. What are you talking about? Do you remember that old prophet? Do you remember that crazy one? Do you remember what he kept saying? Do you remember what he said? I remember. Well, there's rumors down the back end of that little place in Jerusalem. There's rumors around there that there is someone carrying a child. That has had a visitation from an angel. Don't believe all that old rubbish. Get back on TikTok and enjoy yourself. Don't believe all that old rubbish. What are you talking about?
Speaker 1:Suddenly, out of nowhere, the child is birthed. Suddenly, out of nowhere, herod goes. That boy's got to go. Suddenly, wise men stop doing what they're doing. Suddenly, shepherds go hang on a minute. Suddenly, heavenly hosts start singing. Suddenly, a star appears in the heavenly realms.
Speaker 1:Suddenly, the Old Testament becomes real, what they prophesied back then. Imagine being around at that time, listening to all that stuff and then suddenly going she's dropped him, she's pushed him out. There is a boy. Guess what they called him? Never, no, jesus. They called him Jesus. No, you're joking me. You're having a laugh, ain't you? No way, I don't believe it.
Speaker 1:Suddenly, it goes quiet again, because Jesus is taken back to Egypt. Jesus is snuggled back into Egypt, where he's hidden for many years, just for a few years, where he's hidden in Egypt, as we said and as we've looked at, as we've done what we have done. Suddenly, remember what comes to life. The Old Testament again, bang the Old Testament. What is happening? Jesus is the Lamb of God, he is the Passover Lamb.
Speaker 1:Suddenly, jesus is right back to where it started, a thousand years approximately, when God said to the Israelites in Egypt in Egypt, get yourself a lamb. Suddenly, you find this boy, this child is back in Egypt as the visualization, the verbalization of prophecy coming into being. God told the Israelites a thousand years before he said get yourself a lamb, sacrifice the lamb. He was preparing them for what was to come. And God took his son, took himself back into Egypt. And the Bible says God said out of Egypt I will draw my son. The son is the living word. The son is the king of kings. The son is who?
Speaker 1:John? Now, if you have time to read it, read it. If you read the gospel of the God sorry, if you read about John in the gospel of Luke, you read about his father, that great prophet who you read about, and his mom, who she gave birth to. Who did she give birth to this John that we're talking about? And John, yeah, locusts and honey. He was an obscured character. Don't get near him, kids. He's a. He's a loony chain. Don't go near him. He's a crackpot. He lives in the wilderness. He eats wild locusts. He eats honey. Don't, don't get near him.
Speaker 1:Suddenly, john is by a river, out of nowhere. Jesus pops around the corner. What does John say? It comes to church. No, he says here comes the Lamb of God. What is he speaking about? My head is about to pop. He's speaking about Exodus, chapter 12. Get yourself a lamb, a Passover lamb. What was Jesus? He is the Passover. Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God.
Speaker 1:So when you look at these scriptures. How can any church tell you that the Old Testament is irrelevant Rubbish? The Old Testament is as live as the new. The new as the old Testament is as live as the new, the new as the old. It is interwoven.
Speaker 1:But religion is hanging around. Pagan Christianity, pagan Christmas, it's dressing Jesus up in a little crib. I serve a king, not a baby. I serve the saviour of the world, not a baby. I serve the saviour of the world. So you have the Old Testament speaking loud and clear. So we're going back to where we started the prophecies.
Speaker 1:So now onto the second coming. The Bible says he's coming, but religion, no, we ain't having none of that. We're going to go and rub our rosary beads. I'll jump in a little box and I'll speak to a man and tell him all my little dirty secrets and he'll sit there and blah, blah, blah and all that old rubbish, non-scriptural, completely hang on. Let's go and pray to a human being. Let's go and do that.
Speaker 1:Completely occultic activity. 90% of the church that we know is an occult Is an occult Through many threads of many denominations. If pastor is being lifted up, if the leaders are being lifted up higher than Jesus, get your towel out of that church, because we're all sinners saved by grace. Yes, I understand the fivefold ministry. Yes, I understand that I get that. But, brother and sister, there should be no human being being lifted up higher than Jesus Christ. He is the high priest, not the Pope.
Speaker 1:The Bible says that Jesus Christ is the high priest. He is the head of the church, he is the cornerstone. He is the savior of the world. He did come into the world as a child, as an infant. He was taken back into Egypt. As an infant. He was taken back into Egypt. He was drawn out of Egypt because he is the sacrificial lamb. He did die on the cross. The Calvary, the prophets, every word that then prophets spoke about came into being. But religion can't grasp the second coming. Why can't it grasp the second coming? Because it doesn't know John 3, 3. You must be born again. Religion will stay in Advent all the time. A Bible-believing believer will go yeah, hallelujah, thank you Jesus. Yeah, I recognize the little baby. Give me another mince pie. Bang bang, bang bosh. They will recognize that Jesus Christ is the savior of the world and he went to the cross. He went to the cross of Calvary because that's why he was given.
Speaker 1:John 3, 16,. Have a look for yourself. What does it say? John 3, 16. So clear, so powerful, 16. So clear, so powerful John 3, 16. Let's have a read, for God so loved the world that he gave. What have we been reading? A son will be given. Scriptures going right back clear documentation of this event is going to happen. This event is recorded. This event that we are looking at this season, that we are looking at the whole world.
Speaker 1:Governments can't stand the name of Jesus. Governments are trying to flatten churches, governments even this government is trying to crush Christmas, the shops and and retail. It's all about commercialization. It's not anymore about what it was.
Speaker 1:So, as a bible believing believer, what have I to do? I've got to tell the world that Jesus is alive. Have your nativity, do what you want to do, but let me tell you this he's the saviour of the world. He's the only king that didn't have an earthly palace or an earthly throne. He's the only king that other kings don't like. He's the greatest saviour of the world. He's the only one that gave his life for the whole world.
Speaker 1:You will find other religious leaders not mentioning Islam, because I wouldn't be that foolish to say that. But Islam tells you to give your life and he rocks it with loads of young girls. But you've got to go and give your life. But Jesus says I'll give my life so that you will have life. It's the only man in the world that carried his cross until he couldn't carry it anymore. And then he came along, that man, and he gave it to that man. And that other man carried that cross. What are we referring to when Jesus says pick up your cross daily.
Speaker 1:See, you can't separate the scriptures. They are interwoven. The fabric of the text, it flows so beautifully. So all other world religions, the leaders, will tell you to give your life. But Jesus says I'm giving my life so that you will have life, and life in abundance. The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy, but I have come that you would have life in abundance.
Speaker 1:So when you look at this scripture, when you look at what we have before our very eyes John 3, 16, the greatest Christmas message preachers could ever preach. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, isaiah, chapter 9, verse 6. We have before our very eyes, for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whosoever shall believe in him shall not perish but have eternal life. You've got to be born again. So, wrapped up in John 3.16 is John 3.3. You've got to be born again, and you can only be born again not through religious understandings, not through the world of church, but you can only be born again from above.
Speaker 1:Let me tell you this Jesus Christ has saved your life. You might not feel like it, you might feel wayward and completely off the rails. You might feel that no one can control you, you are a lost cause, that your mind is all over the place. Let me tell you this that Jesus Christ loves you, he knows your mind, he knows everything about you, because he created you before the fabric of the world. Let me tell you this that Jesus Christ went to the cross of Calvary and he gave his life, but the word had to become flesh so humanity would believe.
Speaker 1:So we believe in gravity. We believe that what drives the grass and the fields. We believe what drives out there, the trees. We believe in the. We believe that what drives the grass and the fields. We believe what drives out there, the trees. We believe in the wind of nature. We believe in gravity, but religion will never believe in the coming of the king.
Speaker 1:Because to understand about the coming of the king it takes surrender, and we cannot surrender on our own. It's impossible for a human being to surrender. The only way we surrender is when Christ touches your life. And even when Christ touches your life, we're still wrestling with the word surrender. We're still wrestling with his sovereignty. We're still telling Jesus this is what I want, jesus.
Speaker 1:But Jesus is telling the world today come to me, all of you that are weary and heavy laden, I will give you rest. Do you need rest? You might say, ben, I've been to Jesus more times and I still got no rest. Keep running to Jesus, but how do I run to this invisible God? How do I run to this triune Godhead? How do I get to this place? It's the cross that gives me the visualization. We don't lift up the cross, we don't worship the cross, but what the cross does? The cross, but what the cross does? It helps us to rest. See, jesus Christ came into the earth in the old testament. We're coming to the table in just a few moments. We're coming to the table in just a few moments.
Speaker 1:What we got to realize is that when God spoke for the first time, when his voice rang out across the universe, when God said let there be light, jesus said I am the light of the world. The scriptures run together so beautifully. God said let there be light. And science and religion. And we all think God is telling us about the great creation that he created over those days, over those six days. We see it and we understand it, but behind the fabric of his voice he's saying I'm coming to you. God said let there be light. He could have said anything else first, but the reason he didn't? Because he was letting the world know that I am the creator of salvation. I am the light of the world. I am the God of Israel, the father of Isaac, jacob and Abraham. I am the God that created every angelic heavenly host. I knew that when I created the most beautiful angel in heaven, I knew that pride would enter into him and I still created him. And I knew that he would be known as Lucifer and Satan, but I still chose to create Mind-blowing, chose to create Mind-blowing.
Speaker 1:So many people think that the devil just popped out of nowhere. So many people don't realize his roots, where he came from. You will find that God referenced him as the most beautiful, angelic, heavenly host that heaven has ever seen. But then, when the greatest sin entered in pride, I want to be like you, and I'm not singing from Jungle Book. Lucifer said I want to be worshipped, I want to be worshipped, I want to be worshipped.
Speaker 1:Everything the Bible says is true and factual. Science cannot disprove that he's not real. Science cannot prove. He is the saviour of the world. He is the king of kings and the lord of lords. He is the king of kings and the lord of lords. So, just as the scriptures spoke about advent and he is coming and jesus is the baby, the scriptures are speaking loud and clear he's a coming king. So we need to leave advent in the hands of religion and you need to prepare the people around you in your life that Jesus Christ is the coming king, he's the savior of the world. We need to tell and prepare everyone around us listen to Jesus. He's the coming king. Let's pray, father, in the name of Jesus. There is power in the word of God. So what we find as we come to the table, as our brother's going to serve us in just a few moments, what we find in the Gospel of John, chapter 1, verse 14, what we find is the spiritual revealing himself to the physical. What we find in the gospel of Luke, chapter 1, verse 31, we find the fulfillment of the old testament, prophet Isaiah, chapter 9, verse 6. So what we find through Scripture, that the word of God is true. So whatever God tells and whatever God speaks about, it comes in to be in. From the crib to the cross has happened. From the crib to the grave to the cross has happened. From the crib to the grave to the cross to the throne on Ascension Day. It has happened.
Speaker 1:So the church in the UK needs to be preaching John 3.3. You must be born again and the second coming. But it just wants to hang around Advent. If you are in a church that puts more strength on Advent than the cross, get yourself out. We need to be in churches that are preaching the cross and the second coming of Jesus and the blood of Christ. We need to be under the voice of preachers that will preach John 3.3. You must be born again.
Speaker 1:I don't want to hear a message of a motivational message. I don't want to hear a message of a weak message of a celebrity preacher. I want to hear a message of someone that has gone to hell and has been rescued from the very gates and God has brought them back. And they tell us from the front Jesus Christ is real, he saved my life, he set me free, he gave me a hope and a future. And everything that the Bible tells you is true, it's fact. God is real, as real as gravity is holding you to the earth.
Speaker 1:Jesus Christ is coming back. Father, as we come to the table, as we come to the table, we thank you that the crib is over and finished. We thank you for the cross of Calvary, because when I look at the cross, I'm reminded of myself that I'm saved. When I get that understanding of the grave, I understand that you conquered death itself, because death has no power over God. And then, on Ascension Day, 40 days, then the Bible tells me that he ascended. I believe it, but now it's time to start believing in what the book of Revelation says he's coming back.
Speaker 1:He's coming back. There is an urgency like we've never had before to tell the world that Jesus Christ is coming. So, father, through this time, through these moments, so, father, through this time, through these moments, through this Christmas time, through this Advent, through this tinsel joke that goes on. Lord, as we look at the Christmas tree, can we see the cross of Calvary right in the middle of the pagan tree? God is bigger than any pagan festival. God is bigger than any demonic activity.
Speaker 1:So, as we break bread together, this has not been put into action by the church. This has been put into action by the God of Israel, back in the Old Testament, exodus, chapter 12. So when we reference that, joseph was told by the heavenly host take your son, take your child, take your wife, go to Egypt. We was waiting for the Old Testament to ring out again when God said out of Egypt, I will bring my son. And when we look at the Gospels and we read about John, when he was at the river Jordan and he said behold the Lamb of God, he was referencing the Passover. This is what we're doing, this is what we are celebrating the Passover, because God said the blood will be a sign. The blood is over you. Your name is stamped in the Lamb's book of life. Jesus Christ is your saviour.
Speaker 1:Give up church and follow Jesus. Give up religion and follow Jesus. Give up waiting for me to give you an answer. Listen to Jesus. Give up chasing pastors and leaders, give up all the chasing of the ministries and chase Jesus Christ as your Lord and saviour. Yeah, it's good to have them, it's good to listen, it's good, but Jesus Christ is the head of the church, he's the great high priest, he is the sacrificial lamb, he is the one that his side was punctured and blood and water flowed together. Father, bless this bread in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. That represents the body of Christ. This is not religion, jesus. This is the body of Christ. This is not religion, jesus. This is the body of the Lamb of God. Let me tell you again Jesus Christ is coming. Get yourselves ready, bless this bread, amen.
Speaker 1:Then I hear every one of us say this how do I get myself ready? Well, the answer to that is we can't. So what do you mean then? I mean run to the cross, stay in the word, and God will get us ready, because we do not have the capabilities in the human skin that we walk in to get ourselves ready, because he prepares us. Keep in the word, and when you think you've had enough of the word, get back in the word. And when you think you've read the word, when you've done your 365 readings for the year. Get back in the word. Keep the word in your spirit, keep the word in your spirit, keep the word in your heart, keep the word on your lips, keep the word in your innermost being, keep your word, keep the word, keep the word. It is the word, because what does the word represent? Jesus? And the word became flesh. Father, will you bless this cup? Will you bless this cup that symbolizes the blood of Jesus?
Speaker 1:I pray that every one of us will give church up. That will be the sound coming from your lips on New Year's Eve. I'm giving church up. I'm giving religion up. I'm giving up all the chains that it binds me to and I am going to be found in the kingdom of God. I'm going to belong to the church of Jesus Christ. Give up church as we know it, give up religion as we know it and when that clock strikes, let the world know I'm free because I realize my identity.
Speaker 1:I am a Bible-believing believer. I am a John 3.3. I am saved. I am blood-washed. I am a child of the Most High. He's coming back for me and you and every one of us, cleanse me from the crown of my head to the sole of my feet In Jesus' name, amen. Cleanse me from the crown of my head to the sole of my feet in Jesus name, amen. As we bring a pause, as we hold it for a moment, it's very, very important to really grasp. The scriptures have, and always have been fulfilled. Every word that the prophets have spoken about have come into existence. If you are struggling to believe, go to extra biblical knowledge. Historians that were atheists at the time of Christ. They have documented and they will tell you that Jesus Christ, he, was real.
Speaker 1:If you are in a church across the world, wherever you are, be very, very careful, be very careful. Don't follow any pastors, don't follow leaders, don't follow ministries to that level where they become a god. It's extremely important because we are going to go into 2025 and the world will be dancing and saying, next year, this and that and this and that, but jesus christ is. So when the clock strikes, when you're drinking your Ribena and you haven't got a can of Stella Artorias in your hand because I know you won't do that and when you're laid back reading your Bible at 12 o'clock New Year's Eve, when you're in prayer at 12 o'clock, new Year's Eve, just say to Jesus this year.
Speaker 1:Now I want the world around me to realise that I'm a believer in God. That's all I want. All I want on my gravestone is that he believed in God. That's all I want. He believed in God. He got it wrong many times, but he believed in God. God bless you. I pray that you'll have a wonderful, wonderful ho, ho, ho, and God will be with you and you will recognize.
Speaker 1:It's about the cross. It's not about the birth. It really is about the cross. It's about salvation. And just to let you know, yes, we've got a Christmas Day service in person and online, 10 o'clock, christmas Day, 10 o'clock in the Lord's house and online. And also Christmas Eve, we've got a 10.30 online only, online only. So 10.30 online.
Speaker 1:So I pray that at this season, at this time of year, you will take a Bible and we will give Bibles out and tell the world that Jesus Christ loves you, because that's what the world is looking for. That's what it's looking for. It's looking for love, it's looking for hope, it's looking for peace, it's looking for a place that it can rest. If you've got family and people in your life that are struggling, as we always say, go to Psalm 91. Under his wings, under him, I'll find refuge. If you're looking for refuge, you won't find it in me. You won't find it in Elon. You won't find it in the building. You won't find it in the Pope. You won't find it in the Church of England. You won't find it in religion. You'll find everything in Jesus Christ. God bless you. In Jesus' name, amen.
