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
The Impact of Jesus and the Spirit of Redemption (#909 - Elim)
Is it possible for Christianity to flourish under governmental opposition? In this episode of the Reverend Ben Cooper Podcast, we explore the extraordinary growth of the Christian faith in areas like Iran, where following Jesus requires immense courage and conviction. We reflect on the timeless impact of Jesus Christ and examine how Christianity endures even amidst adversity. Drawing from the profound themes of the Gospel of John, we invite you to reflect on faith’s significance in our modern world and the transformative power of Christ’s teachings. Journey with us from Genesis through the New Testament, as we uncover the redemptive story of Jesus Christ, offering hope and spiritual renewal to believers, regardless of wealth or earthly power.
In this episode, we also connect Jesus’ teachings to the leadership lessons of biblical figures like King David and challenge the commercialization of Christmas, urging listeners to focus on its true message of redemption and spiritual rebirth. Our exploration goes deeper, delving into the rich symbolism of Christian sacraments, the meaning of free will, and the personal nature of communion. With a focus on Jesus' simple yet profound instructions during the Last Supper, we reflect on the fulfillment of ancient prophecies and invite you to embrace a more personal relationship with Jesus.
As we approach the Christmas season, we encourage you to step beyond organized religion and experience healing and peace directly through your faith in Christ. Subscribe, share, and join us in this transformative journey of faith, spiritual awakening, and personal reflection.
Is it possible for Christianity to flourish under governmental opposition? Join us as we reflect on the extraordinary growth of faith, particularly in areas like Iran, and the unique nature of choosing to follow Jesus amidst such challenges. Our discussion spans the timeless impact of Jesus Christ, highlighting the endurance of Christianity even in the face of adversity. We'll explore the profound themes presented in the Gospel of John, inviting personal reflection on faith's significance in our modern world.
From Genesis to the New Testament, we uncover the redemptive journey of Jesus Christ and its implications for personal and spiritual transformation. Discover how Jesus, without wealth or earthly power, reshaped history and offered hope to countless believers. We examine the connections between Jesus' teachings and the enduring messages of biblical figures like King David, drawing lessons of faith and leadership that transcend time. As the Christmas season approaches, we challenge the commercialization of the holiday, focusing instead on its core message of redemption and spiritual rebirth.
Our exploration doesn't stop there. We delve into the symbolic richness of Christian sacraments, the meaning of free will, and the personal nature of communion. Consider the impact of Jesus' simple instructions during the Last Supper and reflect on the fulfillment of ancient prophecies. We also invite you to support our global radio ministry, whether through prayer, financial contributions, or sharing your thoughts. This episode offers an invitation to embrace a direct relationship with Jesus, finding peace and healing beyond the confines of organized religion.
https://www.pastorbencooper.co.uk/
Welcome to Reverend Ben Cooper's podcast. We are a radio and podcast ministry based here within the UK. Your support is vital through prayer and through sowing a seed of faith. We are so thankful to have so many people around the globe downloading and listening to our podcasts, whether you are on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Google, Alexa, Amazon Music and so many other platforms. For more information about our ministry, please find us on pastorbencoopercouk. We would love to hear from you as you partner with us as we reach the world for Jesus Christ. Please send us an email through our contact form on pastorbencoopercouk. Also, you can find our latest books on Amazon under hashtag 1, hashtag 2 and hashtag 3 under Christian Straight Talk hard-hitting, real-life conversations taken from our podcasts.
Speaker 1:Your financial gifts play a crucial role in supporting our radio ministry, helping us share the gospel through these podcasts and providing free copies of the Gospel of John and Bibles around the globe. Please pray for this ministry as we stretch out beyond the boundaries, as we walk by faith. If you'd like to support our mission, please consider clicking the support button on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or Buzzsprout. You can give a one-time gift or set up a regular contribution of three pounds, five pounds, eight pounds or 10 pounds. You can also leave a legacy by clicking in the links within pastorbencoopercouk. Thank you for partnering with us in this ministry as we spread the message of hope far and wide through this radio ministry. So, whether you are on the daily commute or at home listening to our podcast, grab a cup of coffee, sit back, relax and enjoy.
Speaker 2:Please be seated in the Lord's house this morning. You know, thank you for joining us this morning, for all those that are with us in the service this morning and for those that are online, wherever you are scattered across the world. You know, it's important that I keep mentioning the online church, you know, because they're scattered across the world and last night's service we had a record number right across the world and today the same, but there's many people away today. Obviously, people are visiting families and sitting around tables and throwing chicken bones at each other when they get a little bit fed up. But let's just gather for prayer just for a moment. Let's just come before the Lord and just rest in the in the Lord's house, as we be still and know that he's God. And wherever you are this morning across the world, whatever is going on in your life, whatever is happening, let's just take a moment out and just sit and maybe look at the cross, just focus at the cross, just just gather your thoughts as we just come before God and just rest.
Speaker 2:This morning, the whole world is talking about Jesus. What do you mean? The whole world is talking about Jesus. If the governments are silent, it's because they're scared of him. We have governments around the world that are closing churches. We have governments around the world that are closing churches. We have governments around the world that are trying to shut christianity down.
Speaker 2:I have to mention iran, very, very important. Yes, it's christmas morning. I've got to be careful and thank god that they we've lifted the bat, not we, but the youtube have lifted the ban for us so we can get back to where we was. But iran is a very interesting nation to watch at this moment in time, very, very interesting because it is governed by by Islam, very oppressive, very, very heavy in the world of Islamic pressure. But what they don't tell you it's one of the countries around the world that is growing in Christianity faster than anything else. You find that that the mosques are emptying and you find that they are being filled with Christians.
Speaker 2:It's important that you understand. We understand what's going on, because we see the social networks, we see everything that's happening within the UK and we're told that Christianity is dying and Islam and Hinduism and everything else is overtaken. Well, it isn't. The only reason that Islam is rising is, numerically, because if you're a boy, you're just called Mohammed and that's the end of it, and so statistically. Other religions are growing statistically because of the way they measure everything, but there is something so different about Christianity.
Speaker 2:You choose to follow Jesus. You choose to follow Jesus in a roundabout way because we don't have time to unpack it all and talk about predestination and about how God drops salvation on you first, on me first, and God calls us before. We don't just decide to come to church. We might be in church today because it's Christmas and all that stuff, but it was predestined and that's a big word that every human being will wrestle with. Because I've got free choice, I've got free will, so let's just pray. It's very, very important to understand that the world is talking about Jesus Christ. If the governments are really quiet, they're scared. They lift up all the other religions across the world, they lift up everything else, but they don't lift up Jesus Christ. It's really, really important, as we come before the God and the King that we serve, to realize that he is the creator of heaven and earth.
Speaker 2:But let's just take a moment. Let's just take a moment before we stretch ourselves into the word this morning For those who want to follow the word of God. We're in the gospel of John, but where do we start on this Christmas morning? Where do we home in on? We're probably exhausted of the crib messages and, oh baby Jesus, we're probably tired and we're probably bored of all that and all that sort of stuff. But let let's just pray. We're going to go to the gospel of john and, for those that will want to reference, we're going to the gospel of john, chapter one, verse one, in just a few moments. But let's just just pray, just take time out to be still.
Speaker 2:Father, we come before you this morning and the world is talking about jesus christ one way or another. Science is trying to disprove him in many areas through the test tube of the lab, but nature shouts out that Jesus is alive. Governments around the world are trying to destroy Christianity, but the church of Christ is growing faster than anything that we've seen the acceleration. So, father, we thank you this morning that there is such an acceleration in the kingdom of God, known as church and Lord. As we come to you this morning, lord, whether in faith, out of faith, just watching online, just because it's Christmas morning, just because we're in church, just because it's the reason for the season, but for whatever reason, however, we think that we got it, you're already in front of us.
Speaker 2:So, lord, I pray for everybody in the Lord's house, everybody online, all those that are visiting families, all those that are traveling, everyone that's missing from this house of the Lord this morning, and for those that are with us, and for each one of us here today and for the vast numbers across the world. May God bless you and touch your heart. If you're going through worry, fear, if you're lost in the world, if you're trying to find your identity, if the family is pressurizing you, if work is too much, if education is boring and you're fed up with life life has become boring I pray that you will find the real purpose for living and you will feel the fire of God in your spirit, your mind, your heart. So, father, bless us today. Come, god, reveal yourself to this world more and more. Reveal yourself to this government. We pray, lord, for Keir Starmer. We pray, dear God, for Sadiq Khan, that you'll bless them today, that they will know that this is the Lord's day and they cannot escape it. So, lord, we pray that you'll touch their lives, their families, everything about their work, their space, that they walk around in Lord, their political agenda.
Speaker 2:Father, we just thank you that we don't belong to politics, we belong to the kingdom of God. We thank you, lord. It's not where we put the cross, but it's who went to the cross. It's not about putting our mark, the cross, on the ballot paper. It's about realizing that Jesus Christ went to the greatest cross the world has ever spoken about the cross of Calvary and Father, we pray Lord for redemption today, because that's what Christmas is about redemption. We have been brought back. So, lord, bless the church today, across the platform of the world where people are lifting up in the name of Jesus, where the world is celebrating the King and where atheists are trying to disprove the King even came to this earth. We pray for every other religion. We pray, lord, for those that are caught in the occult world. We thank you that there is power in the name of Jesus. But bless this nation today. Draw this nation to the cross In Jesus' name, amen.
Speaker 2:Good morning everybody in the Lord's house. We're going to break bread, we're going to take communion just in a little while's time. I've got to be quick today. We are literally on the clock, you know, because it's a certain reason for the season. So we're going to jump straight into the gospel of John, chapter one. Thank you to everybody that was with us last night online. Yes, I know it was an hour and 40 minute service, but it was a special time that we could just gather. You know, online and wherever you are at this moment and I'm very respectful We've got people in the house today. Good morning everybody, and everybody online. We're just going to turn straight into the Gospel of John.
Speaker 2:The Gospel of John is a very interesting part of the Word of God, very, very interesting. It talks about the love of God, talks about the love of Christ, but there's a verse that's very, very powerful and that's verse 14. It's verse 14 because it sums Christmas up, because we say to ourselves what is Christmas about? Is it about the giving of gifts? What is Christmas about?
Speaker 2:We look at it. You know paganism is everywhere. You know, when you look at it, the green tree, the lights, everything that has got nothing to do whatsoever with Christianity. It has got to be very, very careful how we celebrate Christmas. Yes, we have a tree up there, yes, we have lights on it, but when I look at that tree, I don't see a green tree, I see the cross of Calvary. I look through that and it's really, really important that we understand that there is only one tree and it's called the cross. It's called the cross and it's the greatest symbol the world has ever seen. It's not the Christmas tree, it's the cross. The cross is the greatest symbol the world has ever known. It is the greatest. I will use the word religion I don't even like to use that word but for the quickness of language this morning. It is the greatest symbol in the world of religion. It is the greatest place that you could ever get to is the cross. But what is Christmas about? What is could ever get to is the cross. But what is Christmas about? What is Christmas about?
Speaker 2:Christmas is about redemption. We look at the manger, we hang around the straw and the little baby Jesus. For too long, the world of church hangs around in Advent when it's got to get to the cross, because at the cross it tells you everything. At the crib, you just stay at the crib and it's just time and time again. But there is this scripture that we are in this morning. I'm being very mindful. I've got to be careful what I say, because we've just been back, we got back onto YouTube, so I've got to be really, really careful.
Speaker 2:You know, in verse 14, you know John, chapter 1, verse 14, and it it says the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. Just a little scripture just dropped in there. The word became flesh. Then we say to ourselves, well, what is the word? What does the scripture mean? What is it? It's talking about Christ. Christ is the living word. He is the great I am.
Speaker 2:When you, when you look at this scripture, it says in verse 14, the word became flesh, we we find ourselves looking at redemption all the way through. You know where is the first time that redemption is mentioned? If you have a bible and you turn to to the book of genesis, chapter 3, verse 15, you will find where god is is very angry, very, very angry at the fall of humanity. But as he's having that dialogue and that conversation with the human beings and lucifer at, but as he's having that dialogue and that conversation with the human beings and Lucifer at that particular point, he's talking about redemption. Now that redemption plan was put in over 3,000 years ago. It is documented all the way through.
Speaker 2:The Bible that we have in front of us is the greatest book the world has ever seen. It's laced with history, wars, rumors of wars, kings, prophetic language, love stories, battlefields, redemption and hope. It is the greatest book in the world and I've got to tell you the whole world is talking about Jesus. The whole world is talking about Jesus Christ. As I said, governments are trying to ignore it, education is trying to push it out, science is trying to tip him out the test tube.
Speaker 2:You can't disprove Jesus Christ If someone comes to you and they say to you prove to me that Jesus is alive. I don't need to prove anything about Jesus. Just look around the world. Look at nature. Understand how your body works. Look at the way your body reacts. Look at your body, your mind, your spirit, your soul. Look at the way the world. Look at nature. Just look at the world. Understand the world. When you understand the world and nature and when you see how the world moves together and the human being, the power within the human being, christ, is real. So if anyone comes to you and says, prove to me that that gee I don't need to you, prove that he doesn't exist, that will be the hardest job anyone will ever have in the world and you will find by the end of their journey I will guarantee my life that they will suddenly say he's alive Because Christ is alive.
Speaker 2:So when we look in the Gospel of John, when we look in the Gospel of John, chapter 1, verse 14, it says there the world became flesh and made his dwelling among us. Is it talking about Christmas? There was no pagan worship, there was no tree, there was no lights, there was no internet. At this particular point, it was just a child. The scriptures were being fulfilled. What we've got to remind ourselves is that we have thousands of years of prophetic language coming to the fulfillment.
Speaker 2:In the gospels of Jesus Christ, from the gospel of Luke, the gospel of Mark and and Matthew and the gospel of John, we have the prophetic language coming into completion when, when the new testament writer, he writes so clearly the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. Then he goes on and he says we have seen his glory, the glory of the one who came from the father, full of grace and full of truth. We understand. Also, in the gospel of John, jesus says I am the way, the truth, the life. No one comes to the father except through me. It is the only book that you will find healing. It is the only book that you will find a way. It is the only book that you will find hope. It is the only book where there is no dictator but there is a king.
Speaker 2:You know, when you look, when you study Christ, christology, when you look at Jesus, when you look at the character of Christ, when you look at this man because the Bible says the man, christ, jesus, fully God, fully man, fully king, fully savior of the world, as we always say, he's the only king that walked this earth, the only king that has been recognized that never had an earthly palace. They called him healer, but he never gave anyone a pharmaceutical. They called him master, they called him lord, they called him the king above all kings. He just had sandals and a rope. He's the only king that had a crown pressed on his skull that took him to the cross. He's the only king that never had an army but conquered the world. He's the only king that had 12 renegades. He's the only king that had 12 renegades wayward men lost in society, fishermen, doctors, tax collectors. He had 12 disciples and he turned the world upside down. He's the greatest preacher the world has ever seen.
Speaker 2:And if you have a Bible, if you turn to the Gospel of John, chapter 3, verse 3, you must be born again. The greatest message the world laughs at that. Oh, you're a born-again Christian. Oh yeah, you're one of them, wacky ones, you're off your rocker. Whatever you smoke at church, I'll have some of that. You're crazy, you're a born-again Christian. You're a born again Christian. You're a Christian.
Speaker 2:You believe in Jesus? Let me tell you, well, the greatest thing, the hardest thing you'll ever do, is be a Jesus follower. He will take you to the wire of life. He will take you to the river Jordan. He will make you think things you never thought possible. He will give you dreams that you could never accomplish on your own. He will speak to you in the dead of night, when your head is in the pillow, when you're crying and you have lost your soul and you can't find a way forward. He is the King of Kings, he is the Lord of Lords, he is the Good Shepherd.
Speaker 2:Again, turn to Psalm 23,. You know that beautiful Psalm, the Psalm of David. You know, the greatest king that probably ever walked this earth is King David. In the words of humanity, king David. The kings that we have today, all they're interested in is oil and money notoriety. When you look at the king of this nation, where is the king? What does the king do? What does the king do is good for revenue, that's all you can say. It's good for the keeper of the purse. When you look at the monarchies around the world, when you look at the thrones, it's about oil, it's about power, it's about manipulation and it's about control.
Speaker 2:But Jesus never controlled anyone. He gave you a free will. Jesus never said that if you don't, you can't. Jesus said come to me, all of you that are weary and heavy laden, I will give you rest. If you're looking for hope in your life, if you're trying to find the understanding of what is Christmas about, what is this life about?
Speaker 2:It is wrapped up in the gospel of John, chapter 1, verse 14, and the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. What we have in front of our very eyes? We have all the Torah, all the Old Testament coming into completion and if you look at the gospel of Luke, chapter 1, you will find that that amazing but crazy story of how Mary, this virgin, carried this child without any of the biological process I'm being really careful this morning you will find a story that is so obscured, it is out of science, it is crazy, it is mad. It can't have happened, but it did. The world talks about this, this birth. How how can this be? Joseph was looking to do? To divorce her quietly on the sidelines because he thought this, can this be? Joseph was looking to divorce her quietly on the sidelines because he thought this can't be.
Speaker 2:When you look at the story of Mary and Joseph, this young family that had nothing, and the innkeeper said there's no room at the inn, that's what the world is saying now about Jesus. We've got no room for Jesus, we've got no room for him in our lives. But it's really, really interesting in the world that I worked when someone is bereaving their last, it doesn't matter if you're an atheist, it doesn't matter if you're Hindu, doesn't matter wherever you come from, doesn't matter if your God was Islam. Let me tell you this, the greatest line that people told me and spoke to me when I would stay with them in the world of palliative care for the eight, nine years that I worked tell me about the Jesus you serve. It's interesting that world religions, witches, witch doctors, black magic, white magic all that stuff recognizes Jesus Christ when you look at that great book of Genesis, creation.
Speaker 2:When you look at the book of creation, when you understand what God was saying in Genesis, chapter 3, about the fall of humanity, and when you read verse 15, he talks about enmity. He talks about the spiritual power that is put between Lucifer and humanity. When you understand what enmity means, when you get a grasp, what is God saying? He's saying I'm going to redeem you from the fall that you have just created. I will redeem you, but there is something that you've got to do. But, god, what have I got to do? What have I got to do?
Speaker 2:You know my family don't go to church. Education doesn't respect Christ. You know the world doesn't God. What do I do, lord? I feel like a fool if I'm telling the world I'm going to church. You're a Jesus follower. I want to tell the world this morning that I love Jesus Christ with all my heart and I don't give a monkeys what people say about me.
Speaker 2:Face bothered no, not bothered the slightest. I believe in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. I believe in the power of God. I believe in miracles. I believe in the sovereignty of God. I believe in this book that we have in front of our very eyes. You can call me all the names under the sun. I'm not worried. I'm not worried what the world says, but I'm just worried about what God says. What does God say about you?
Speaker 2:We have lost our identity. We have lost our way. The nation, the world has lost track of itself. Men and women, boys and girls. We have lost our identity in culture that we live in. We've lost our identity in work. We have become work robots. We have become numb to the spiritual world that is outside of this very plastic world in which we live. When the fire gets hot, isn't it interesting that the plastic people disappear? Do not put all your weight on social media. Do not put all your life on social media. There is so much more than social media. There is so much more to this world than getting up and working and being a slave to number 10 Downing Street.
Speaker 2:Do you want to give your life to the devils at number 10? Or do you want to give your life to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords? Do you want to be known as a Jesus follower, or do you want to give your life to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords? Do you want to be known as a Jesus follower or do you want to be known as someone that is just lost in the crowd of life? Do you want to be known as a braggadocious follower of the word of God?
Speaker 2:Because I'm bored of church, I'm bored and fed up of religion and it does nothing for me Because it is just bricks and mortar. But there is something greater outside of the bricks and mortar and the religion, and his name is Jesus. The bible says, it is the cornerstone, he is the head of the church, he is the great I am, he is the, the great high priest. It isn't the pope, it isn't the church of England, it is an elim. No denomination can control the king of kings. They control religion and they measure everything, but there is a kingdom that is out there and the kingdom is within. Jesus Christ is the saviour of the world.
Speaker 2:If you decide to be a Christian, if you decide to say I'm going to follow Jesus, let me tell you you did not decide, but he decided. At that moment in time, when your thought pattern, when your autonomy, when your body, when the physicality, when your chemicals, your mind, connected with Christ, I'm going to go to church today, no one decides to go to church. Let me put that out there. That's a conversation to have maybe another time. Because God draws, god draws. God draws every one of us.
Speaker 2:We talk about the power of free will. The power of free will comes in after we recognize that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. There are many closet Christians around the world than we've ever seen before, frightened of stepping out and saying I don't go to church. But I actually I believe I don't go to church, but I actually believe there's got to be more to this life. You know, we are living in a time when governments have lost full understanding. We are living in a time when education is wild and crazy and the kids are not being educated, they're being bullied. I believe, in so many areas of education, education is more of a bullying system and a controlling system rather than education system. The Bible says bring a child up in the way that it should go. We are living in a time when we have a government in number 10 Downing Street that is using situational ethics like never before in its life. It's changing like the wind. It's changing like the weather system it's yes for one minute, it's no for the next minute. It's changing, it's moving in and out.
Speaker 2:When you look at Israel itself, when you look at Israel, it's interesting that the church has stopped talking about Israel. Denominations didn't even really talk about Israel when it was all kicking off, when everything was happening and we got Palestinian flags all over the place. And you can't carry a cross in London, you can't carry the star of David, you can't carry the flag, you can't do that. But a Palestinian flag you can put that wherever you want, you can dangle it off the Tower of London and you'll have security guards protecting you when you read out the prayers across the Thames. But if you are a Christian, if you are a Christian, you can't even say to the HR department at work I'm going to pray. If you're a Muslim, if you're a Sikh, if you're a Hindu, they give you your prayer mat, they give you your own space, they give you all the time in the world.
Speaker 2:But if you tell the world I am a Christian, I am a Christian, I am a Bible-believing believer. I believe in the Word of God. I believe what the Bible says, that the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only who came from the Father. If you have a Bible, turn to a beautiful book called Corinthians One. Corinthians, written by a great apostle. He didn't write this New Testament in a comfy office. He didn't write it in the pleasure of a beautiful cathedral setting. He wrote it while he was in prison, while he was homeless. The Bible has been written in some obscured places. He was homeless. The Bible has been written in some obscured places when the writers and the authors were being beaten and chased out of the villages, out of the towns.
Speaker 2:In the Old Testament, the prophets would be seen to be crazy and off your head. You're mad. What are you doing prophesying? If you was to read, if you took Isaiah, for instance, isaiah and you went to Isaiah 7 and Isaiah 11, where the prophet is speaking 735 years before the birth of Christ, and he says there's going to be a virgin and she's going to carry a child and you're going to give him the name and the world is going to be given a son and he's going to be the savior of the world 735 years before jesus came into the world. And then, suddenly, the gospels are the fulfillment of what the prophet said, the prophet isaiah, the prophet hosea, when he was talking about a son, will be given. What are you talking about? Hosea, 500 years before the birth of Christ. Isaiah, 735 years. These ancient writings are so clear. History is before your eyes. And then you accelerate up to the gospel of Luke, chapter 1, and you read about this obscured story, about this birth of this child.
Speaker 2:Isn't it interesting that when he popped out into the world and his mom caught him like a rugby ball, she wrapped him up in swaddling clothes and they placed him in the manger, what I find absolutely fascinating? Suddenly, out of nowhere, the star appeared, the greatest star in the world. Astrology is trying to find that star, but it's been documented everywhere. Suddenly, wise men leave what they're doing. Suddenly the shepherds, suddenly the world stops and they follow this star. This is not just a happy clappy, oh, it's a message from the Bible. It's fact, it's been documented outside of the Bible through history, through time, through different leaders of the world.
Speaker 2:And then suddenly you had that crazy leader, herod, and he lied to the wise men. He lied and he said tell me where this Jesus is. Why was Herod wanting to take Jesus out of the equation? Because, simply so simple, because he knew the Torah, he knew what Isaiah, he knew what Hosea said, he knew what the old scripture said, has just come to being on his watch. Hang on a minute. The whole world, at this particular point, has been spun on its axis, has been turned upside down.
Speaker 2:Suddenly, herod, suddenly Pilate, suddenly the Romans are suddenly seeing the Torah, the law, coming in to the physical realm. This word became flesh the Gospel of John, chapter 1, verse 14. We are looking at redemption. Suddenly, the redeeming king that the Bible spoke about hundreds and thousands of years is before Herod, before the wise men. And you've got to remember that these are not Christians, because Christianity did not exist. The church was not there at that particular point.
Speaker 2:When you look at salvation, salvation is outside of the framework of religion and church. Salvation is about being called and about being redeemed. You don't receive salvation because of the building. You receive salvation because of Jesus Christ as your Lord and your Savior. So when you look at Herod, when you look at those leaders, those authoritarians outside of what we call Christ, when you look at the outside of that, they wanted to tear Jesus down. Why? Because they realized they was watching prophecy coming to life, that this virgin had given birth. Suddenly, the star appears. Suddenly, wise men are going. Suddenly, shepherds are leaving the fields and going and finding Jesus. Suddenly, the world is different and Herod comes to a point in his life, with Pilate and the soldiers.
Speaker 2:What we have heard through the Torah, what we have heard all these thousands of years of these ancient scriptures, these writings and you've got to remember that these men did not believe in Jesus as we believe in Jesus. They believed that he was trouble, but suddenly they believed that the writings that had been written thousands of years by these prophets, these biblical truths, are before our very eyes. Herod said we've got to destroy every child, from one down. We've got to take them out. And he sent the soldiers out. Horrific story, just trying to find one. You know that podcast and that sermon we've done not too long ago the battle of two kings, herod and Jesus. Herod lost. See, jesus is the only king that doesn't need to fight.
Speaker 2:When you study the man Christ, when you look at him, he never swore, he never punched, he never disrespected any human being on the earth. You know, we've got men across the world, we've got young men, We've got young women growing up looking for role models. Who do I follow? And the majority I won't say the majority. A big area of social media will point to Andrew Tate and to other people. But who wants to be like that? Who really wants to be like that?
Speaker 2:If you want to be a real man, you study Jesus Calm, full of love, full of joy, gave his life, served others, respected his mum beyond human understanding. When you understand that Jesus respected women in his life beyond human comprehension, his mum was first and foremost in his life. When he died on the cross of Calvary, the world stopped spinning. Why? Because of his mum. And he looked at the New Testament writer. He looked at John and he said I'm paraphrasing he said John, take care of my mum. Mum, that is your new son.
Speaker 2:Christ's respect for women was off the scale. He didn't strike one woman, he didn't curse one woman. He protected women. He went out of his way to make sure that the vile men in the cultures around the women. He protected women. And then suddenly many people want to aspire to be these masculine dogs online. Why do you want to be like a dog when you can be like the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, if you want to be a great woman and achieve in business, in life, and be a great mom or a sister or whoever you are as a woman.
Speaker 2:You follow Jesus. You study Jesus because he will show you how to be a great young woman, old woman, whatever your culture, your color, your creed. He will tell you, he will show you. If you study Jesus, whether you're a man or a woman, he will bring the best out of you. He will show you how to be the best mom on the earth. He will show you how to be the best woman, the best mom on the earth. He will show you how to be the best woman, the best man on the earth. The world can't stand Jesus because he's untouchable. He's untouchable, he's. He's the untouchable king. Death had no power, sickness couldn't take him out.
Speaker 2:The beautiful line in the scripture where, where he hung on the cross of Calvary and his mum is in front of him and he stopped everything. What we got to remind ourselves is when Christ was on the cross, we have the fulfillment of the law coming up. So not only did the world around him recognize that this child is as the old scripture said, so suddenly we got to crucify him, but suddenly they realized we are crucifying him just as Isaiah said. We are crucifying just as they told we would. So as he died on the cross of Calvary. And Jesus Christ died and we got to remind ourselves what the scripture says he's not the king of the Palestinians, he's the king of the Jews. Jesus Christ was a Jew.
Speaker 2:So when you look at these scriptures, the prophetic language, and as we are looking at and time is escaping us at this moment so when you look at the cross, the whole world stopped and Jesus had a conversation with his mum and the disciple John. He stopped everything to make sure his mum was all right when his body was torn, when skin was no longer on him anymore, when every ounce of energy had been stripped out of his body. When they pressed the crown, isn't it interesting when you watch the coronations and you watch everything that goes on? Everything is dripping in gold and everything is all what it is the bells and the whistles. But when they crowned Jesus, what did they crown him with? They crowned him with thorns and as they pressed the crown on, he didn't get a clap. Crucify him. Crucify him, the only king that went to the cross, the only king that gave his life so that we might live.
Speaker 2:The whole world is talking about Jesus, but religion and church is hanging around the crib and it loves straw and it loves the hay and it loves the crib, it loves baby Jesus. We've got to come away from baby Jesus. We've got to look at the cross and understand. The Christmas message is not about the crib. We got to look at the cross and understand. The Christmas message is not about the crib, it's not about the straw, it's about redemption, because he's the redeeming king.
Speaker 2:Genesis Genesis, chapter three, verse 15 talks about redemption. Redemption is coming, god said. When he said in the beginning of time, let there be light. When he spoke about light and the beauty and the power of light, when you pull back the fabric, when you look beyond the envelope, when you look at the tapestry of the scripture in Genesis, chapter 1, verse 3, he said let there be light. He was talking about Jesus Christ. I'm coming. He decided to create this world.
Speaker 2:Scholars are studying him, theologians are hunting him down, the church in many areas is mocking him. But there are people out there that love Jesus, not interested in the church, ain't got time for religion. Thank God for that. So when you look at that scripture, verse 14 of John, chapter 1, the word became flesh. It didn't become Christmas, it didn't become tinsel, it didn't become mulled wine, it became the savior of the world. Christmas did not exist.
Speaker 2:As we look at Christmas now, because the bible doesn't talk about Christmas, it talks about the Savior, the Savior of the world. It talks about God. And the angel said you're going to call him Emmanuel, god with us. We've got 16 minutes and everyone can rush and smash your way through your turkeys and your nut roasts. Make sure it ain't this, that everything, oh God. We've hit a world where we're frightened of eating anything this day and age. We've hit a place where we're oh dear, oh God, I can't touch it. Can't touch it. The world is mad. The world has lost complete the plot of life.
Speaker 2:Jesus is the reason for the season. If you was to look through the supermarket windows now, you'll probably find there'll be no Christmas trees. Everything's stripped down, everything's getting ready for the January sows. There'll be people going to bed now once they've had their turkey getting ready to get the blue water in the morning, three o'clock, sleeping in the car to save a couple of quid Filled up with turkey running to next, running into Zara, running everywhere give me, give me, give me, give me, give me Materialism. You won't find happiness in materialism. You'll find peace and happiness in God, but do you know, to follow Jesus will be the toughest call of your life. It will be the toughest call of your life. Let's pray, father, in the name of Jesus, help us to understand that Christmas is about redemption, and redemption means to be brought back, but redemption also means to have a new beginning. So, lord, I pray for all those that want a new beginning, but we don't know how to say help me, jesus.
Speaker 2:Maybe because of embarrassment, maybe because of fear maybe because of culture, maybe because of the people around me, maybe because of work life, maybe because the time that I've been brought into this world maybe I can't talk about Jesus in my house, maybe I can't talk about my work at school, at life. Just take a moment out, wherever you are across the world, in the Lord's house, and just say, dear God and Heavenly Father, if you're real and I say that with a smile come into my life, lord, because I'm tired of church and I'm tired of the world, and I've heard about church and the church just seems to be very odd. I want to walk with Jesus, the greatest man that walked this earth, the greatest man. The world is trying to remove Jesus out of the existence of life. So, father, we thank you for this morning. We thank you that the message of Christmas is redemption, that we have been redeemed not by the baby but by the King. We have eternal life not because of the baby but because of the Messiah. We are healed not because of baby Jesus but because of King Jesus. We have eternal life not because of the crib but because of the cross. Because of the cross of Calvary we have eternal life.
Speaker 2:I'll put a challenge out there to anyone across the world. I challenge you to follow Jesus. I challenge you to follow Jesus. It will take you on a journey that you never thought possible. He will take you to places that you would never get to with all the money in your pocket. He will put you in certain circles of life and you will find yourself doing amazing things. He will heal your heart. He will take you to a place where you'll find peace and rest. He will heal all the years, all the moments of pain and worry and fear.
Speaker 2:But it's not about coming to church when the clock strikes 12, new Year's Eve. Make this your New Year's resolution. I'm giving up religion and church. I can hear the world saying he's crazy. I'm giving up religion and I'm giving up church, but I'm going to follow Jesus. I'm going to tell the world at 12 o'clock I'm going to make a public declaration across the social networks. I am going to follow Jesus. I'm putting church on the back burner, I'm leaving religion behind and I'm asking God to cut the umbilical cord to religion and church, because it's boring and nothing happens. Really, what I want is that I'm giving myself to the King of Kings and I'm going to follow Jesus and I want the world to know, at 12 o'clock, when the fireworks are going off, when people are wobbling all over the place. I want the world to know that I'm a Jesus follower, that I follow the greatest King the world has ever seen, and I'm not frightened to tell the world that I love Jesus.
Speaker 2:Holy Spirit, we thank you for time in your presence today. And, lord, as we come to a close, as we break bread together, brothers and sisters, it's very different this morning. If you've got the energy, run to the back of the church. Grab the bread, grab the wine, take it yourself. If you don't want to, you don't have to. But if anybody wants to take it, it's over there. I'm going to take it. We've got to click out. We've got 13 minutes before the 50p runs out. 13 minutes. Come on. Come on, world. You don't have to take the bread, you don't have to take the wine. Do not worry. Do not worry, but what we have to remember, what we have to remember that this is not a religious, symbolic way that we are doing. This is scripture. This bread symbolizes the body of Christ and it's okay.
Speaker 2:Maybe you're online today, maybe you're in between the festive fun going on and you're clicking and you're thinking what's going on? What am I listening to? Wherever you are across the world, I want to. Wherever you are across the world, I want to tell you that this has not been brought into existence by the church. This has been brought into existence by the old testament, in the book of exodus, chapter 12, and God tells us about this coming, this coming redeemer, because he's already talking about what we call Christmas, because Jesus is the redeeming king. He's the lamb of God that was slain. So in Exodus, chapter 12, I've got to speed my lips up in Exodus, chapter 12, we will find that powerful text about the birth of what we're about to do. This has nothing to do with Catholicism. The Church of England and religion, priests and the church have taken this out of context and they have taken this away from the real meaning of the understanding of it.
Speaker 2:God said in Exodus, chapter 12, 1,400, 600 years ago grab yourself a lamb, get the lamb, sacrifice the lamb because the lamb what is the lamb? The lamb is representing my son. Lamb is representing my son. The lamb is the savior of the world. And when you cook the lamb, roast the lamb, do what you got to do the lamb and all the full instruction he tells us.
Speaker 2:And that was the beginning of what we call the passover, not easter. The church and religion celebrates easter. It's more interested in the Easter bunny than it is the cross of Calvary, but Easter I will use that word. You won't find the word Easter in the Bible. It's not written in the word. It's called the Passover. What does the Passover mean? The Passover of God? He said the blood will be a sign. See, redemption already started. The scriptures are getting us ready. Three thousand four hundred years before Christ said it is finished, god was preparing the world for the lamb.
Speaker 2:So this bit of bread symbolizes the body of Christ. And just take a moment, wherever you are across the world, and just say Jesus, I just ask you to help me in my life. Will you help me get through? Will you help me with the pain, with the worry, with the fear? Will you help me with the financial pressure? Will you help me with relationships? Just God. But at this moment I don't actually know what I'm doing, but I'm breaking bread for the first time, maybe in my life. I believe what the Bible says. I don't believe what the church says, because the church lies, but I believe what the Bible says. I believe that this is symbolic to the body of the king, and your body was broken. And Jesus said in the Testaments as often as you gather together, do this in my name. And he took bread and he broke the bread and he dipped it in the cup and that bread became sop and he gave it over to the disciples and he said just do this in remembrance of me. That's all he said.
Speaker 2:But religion has made it this great pomp and ceremonial thing that becomes weird. Have you ever been in them, big churches, where it becomes really weird? And they got big acts and big staffs and they're, they're chanting and they're swinging from the chandeliers. Jesus just sat around the table with 12 renegades that probably had their feet up on the table. One of them went what's he talking about? Down the other end of the table. What was he talking about? He was talking about Exodus, chapter 12, when God said this is a sign of me coming. So bless this bread in Jesus' name, amen.
Speaker 2:And as we're going to take this cup, the Bible is so clear. It's symbolic to the blood of Jesus. It ain't magic. You ain't going to turn orange. You ain't going to scream and suddenly go. I'm a born again Christian. Oh, my goodness gracious, what's happened to me? It's just recognizing. You might not even think to yourself across the world or wherever you are, I don't know much about this. But as you look at that cup I do not have no more time the turkeys are screaming. The nut roast is ready. Everything's bubbling away when you look at this cup. When you look at this cup. This cup is known as the nut roast is ready. Everything's bubbling away when you look at this cup. When you look at this cup. This cup is known as the cup of redemption. Redemption. There was four cups on the Passover table.
Speaker 2:The Passover in the world of religion is known as Easter. There was four cups when Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane and he said if it is possible, take this cup from me. He hadn't even touched that cup because he wasn't in the Passover time at that particular point. He was referring to the cup, the cup of what? The third cup on the table is the cup of redemption. He said if it's possible, take this from me, take this cup. Do your own study on the Passover. He didn't want to go to the cross. This is Jesus, he said. Let it swerve out of my way, he said, but not my will. Thy will be done so when we hold this cup.
Speaker 2:It's got nothing to do with healing. It's got nothing to do with Pentecostalism. It's got nothing to do with healing. It's got nothing to do with Pentecostalism. It's got nothing to do with the Catholic Church. It's got nothing to do with the Church of England. They just take it and they manipulate it and they shape it into their own ceremonial stuff. It is biblical fact. And Jesus sat around the Passover table.
Speaker 2:That was spoken about in Exodus, chapter 12, when God said take a lamb, lamb. And he said when you sacrifice the lamb, the blood will be a sign. And he said if the blood is over the doorpost in the lintel of your house, you will live. All those thousands of years before church came into existence, god was bringing in the Passover cup, the cup of redemption. Christmas is not about tinsel, it is not about the green tree, it's about redemption. This is symbolic. You won't go pink, you won't go strange, you won't go weird. Lord bless this cup in the name of Jesus, amen. Let me tell you one more time Jesus is alive. The world is talking about him. The world is talking about redemption.
Speaker 2:Let's pray, father, in the name of Jesus, lord, we're out of here. Father, in the name of Jesus, lord, we're out of here. In the name of Jesus, lord, we thank you. When we're gone, you're still with us. Wherever the sole of our foot shall tread upon this earth, you're with us.
Speaker 2:Lord, for those that are lost, for those that are weary, those that are tired, those that are just bored. Holy Spirit, will you draw us to the redeeming King? Lord, if we're in church and we're always in church, lord, take us out of church. So when the clock strikes 12 o'clock, lord, I pray that you will empty all the churches for the next few Sundays and everyone that comes to church. Lord, I pray that the churches will be empty and all those that go to church. We will be just out on the streets telling the world about Jesus. So, lord, I pray that you will empty this church. I want to see this congregation out telling the world about Jesus Because, lord, it's not about church, it's about telling the world about the King.
Speaker 2:Bless everybody on this christmas morning, because the savior come to the world. God bless every one of you in jesus name, amen. We got one more, one more song. We're out of here. God bless you, we're. Oh, before we go, before we click out, there is an online service tonight. I forgot there's an online service at 10 o'clock, online only tonight. We are online tonight. Please push that around the socials. I should have mentioned that earlier. We are online at 10 o'clock this evening. God bless, have a great day and remember it's about redemption.
Speaker 1:God bless you. We hope you found inspiration and guidance in today's audio. Remember the journey of faith is a continuous one and your questions and thoughts are important. You can send us a text or an email and we will get back to you. So, wherever you are around the world, thank you for listening to our podcasts and radio ministry. For more information about our ministry, please find us on pastorbencoopercouk. Please support us with prayer. Also, you can sow a financial seed into this ministry. You can also leave us a legacy to support and continue the work of this radio ministry. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and share it with others who might benefit. Until next time, stay blessed.
