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 True Meaning of Christmas: From the Crib to the Cross (#905 - Elim)
What if the true essence of Christmas has been overshadowed by commercial distractions and societal shifts? Join us as we explore the profound spiritual significance of Christmas, focusing on Jesus Christ's journey from the crib to the cross and the promise of redemption. Amidst the festive lights and decorations, we delve into the deeper meaning, highlighting how the birth of Jesus serves as a beacon of hope and salvation, urging us to reflect on our personal relationship with Him."
"As the world becomes increasingly secular, we discuss the challenges faced by Christianity, particularly in the UK, and the need to preserve the Christian roots of this sacred season. By examining the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and the teachings of Jesus, we emphasize the necessity of understanding Christmas beyond the rituals, encouraging believers to embrace the true message of redemption and salvation. Our conversation invites you to consider the contrast between cultural symbols and the profound symbolism of the cross, reminding us of the transformative power of faith."
"Listen in as we celebrate the unparalleled power of redemption and the enduring impact of Jesus Christ's life and mission. Through reflective discussions, we aim to inspire listeners to seek a deeper spiritual connection, recognizing Jesus as the light of the world. As we navigate societal pressures and shifts, this episode serves as a call to honor the birth of Jesus, advocating for a return to the core message of Christmas—peace, hope, and the promise of being 'born again' in faith.
Explore the true essence of Christmas with Reverend Ben Cooper's podcast, where we dive into the profound Christian redemption story and the journey of Jesus Christ from the crib to the cross. Discover the spiritual significance of Christmas as we highlight the birth of Jesus and its powerful message of hope and salvation. This podcast delves deep into Christian faith, exploring the cross and the crib, and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. We also discuss the challenges Christianity faces in secular cultures, especially in the UK, and emphasize the need to preserve the Christian roots of the season. Join us for a reflective conversation on the transformative power of faith, the contrast between cultural symbols and the true message of redemption, and the call to be born again in faith. Tune in for Christmas redemption messages, inspiring faith-based reflections, and a renewed understanding of hope, peace, and the life and mission of Jesus Christ.
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 one, hashtag two and hashtag three 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. 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:Good evening, good evening, relax and enjoy. Thank you so much. Sorry so much. I want to say thank you so much to everybody across the world for those that are on the broadcast. There's so many people online at this moment in time across the world. We thank you so much, wherever you are and I can see stuart is reacting to certain things on the timeline may god bless you and strengthen you all, in the mighty name of jesus christ. Never give up. Never give up. God is with you. And uh. We just want to say uh before we go in any further, as we just look at the Word of God this evening and the title for this podcast, for this service, is we're going to break bread together just in about an hour's time. We're going to take bread and take it a cut. But also the title of what we are looking at is the Promise of Redemption.
Speaker 2:You know we are on Christmas Eve and if you are living within London, if you are living within the UK, you will hear and you will get that clear understanding that Sadiq Khan is not allowing the word Christmas in certain markets within London. It has to be changed. So we have a leader that is very anti-Christ, so we need to make sure that we use the word Christmas. It's really, really important. It is a religious festival, a religious holiday here in the UK, so we have to push that out. It is very, very clear. You understand, ramadan got a terrific amount of money spent on it and other religious festivals got a lot of money through the Mayor of London, spent on that through the year. But through Christmas, it's really sad that we are finding that we have a government that is not for Jesus Christ at all in any way. Which way, shape and form. It's really, really important that we use the word Christmas, you know, and it's not happy holidays and it's not all the crazy things out there, it's not Xmas, it's Christmas, because that's what it's about. This festival is known across the world. This is the only festival, the only religious festival celebration that the world talks about. There's nothing else like it on planet earth. So, wherever you are, we pray that you will share everything out to do with Jesus Christ. He's the savior of the world.
Speaker 2:Even governments, even the UK government, is trying to close christianity down. Even the uk government is trying to close christian uh, christians down. Even the uk government is just trying to remove the word christmas from every area of life. You know, it's really, really interesting what the mayor of london is actually doing. He lifts every other faith, but he doesn't lift up christianity. And if he was on the socials and you ain't got to go too far, you can find what he actually says and what the quran and what other books say about being a christian.
Speaker 2:So, brother and sister, wherever you are, let's uh grab yourself a cup of coffee, grab yourself a cup of tea and, as it's christmas eve, you probably got a bit of mulled wine and some other stuff floating around, but I doubt it. If you've got any stellar art warriors, you would never do a thing like that, would we not? Holy communion night, no, sir, we'd never do a thing like that. But wherever you are, we thank you so much we're going to get straight into the word of god. That's enough of the thank yous and all that that's gone on, but I just want to say one more time. We are in 71 uh countries across the world and we are in over 998, 97 cities around the world. So merry christmas. May god bless you. Wherever you are across the world. Put it across your social networks. If you are on youtube, put it across youtube.
Speaker 2:You know, it's really, really important that you tell the world that this is about the birth of jesus christ. And the title of this evening's study as we just poodle along, as we just take our time and as we just rest at this moment in time the title is the Promise of Redemption, because that is what Christ come to the earth for, because he is the Redeemer, he is the redeeming King, he is the Lord of Lords, he is the Great I Am. And where do we find the first glimmer of redemption? Yes, it's's christmas eve, yes, it's, we are recognizing the birth of the lord jesus christ. But why did christ come to this earth? The lord jesus christ came to this earth for one reason and one reason only, and he came to bring salvation, as in the physical form. So we've got to understand that christ is the incarnation of the physical form of salvation. So what humanity needed, we needed the visualization it needed to see what salvation was. But first we have to understand that redemption has always been around. And where do we find the first glimmer?
Speaker 2:In the bible, from genesis to revelations, where is the first glimmer that we find salvation and redemption? We find it right back in the fall of man, in Genesis, chapter 3, right at the very very beginning In Genesis, chapter 3, we find that God has already got a redemption plan. So it's not just from the cross onwards. So when you look at the Word of God, the Word of God is roughly round about. We're on the timeline. If you take the timeline by scripture, the Word of God is around about 4,000 to 5,000 years old.
Speaker 2:The Word of God is about that sort of time of age, you know, and it has been translated into 3,000 languages. Just hold that a moment. So the word of God is around about three and a half thousand years old. It has been translated into over 3,000 languages. We take the Quran and I always go to the Quran first because it's the next one down on the peg. When you think about the Quran, it has only been translated into a hundred languages. So just think that there's 2,900 languages more that the word of God has been translated into. So the Quran has been translated into only a hundred languages.
Speaker 2:The word of god, the bible, as we know it has been translated into 3 000 plus. The word of god has sold almost 6 billion copies globally. The quran has only reached 2.5 billion. The bible is the greatest book the world has ever seen and we are celebrating christmas and we have a mayor of london, sadiq khan, that is an antichrist. He is not interested in any way, shape or form of pushing christianity out.
Speaker 2:We need, as christians, to tell the world that this is a uk festival of the birth of christ, a global event. You we got to understand that the globe is talking about jesus christ. Governments want to destroy him. You know armies are trying to fight him. When you look at what's happening around the world, he's the only king that never had an earth, earthly throne. They called him healer, but he didn't sell out a pharmaceutical. They called him teacher, but he didn't have a degree. He spoke to the world. The world knows Jesus Christ and we are celebrating on this Christmas Eve the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. We know, we clearly know, we clearly know that Jesus wasn't born on the 25th of December. We know through the chronological word of God, we understand, through the timeline and through the Jewish timeline and everything, that he was birthed a little bit further back. But we are recognizing, we are recognizing here around the world that the 25th of december, that we recognize the lord jesus christ that came to the earth and we see through the fulfillment of the gospel of john. The gospel of john, chapter 1, verse 14, and the word became flesh.
Speaker 2:The bible is the only book you can get healing from. You can't get it from the Quran, you can't get it from any other book in the world. The only book that will save you is the word of God. It is the greatest book the world has ever seen. It is the book that is sold the most. It is the book that is destroyed the most. It is the book that is burnt the most. It is the book that goes into prisons all around the world. The Bible is the greatest book the world has ever seen and ever heard. There is power in the word of God.
Speaker 2:So what we are looking at is why did Jesus Christ come to this earth as a baby? We understand through scripture, through Mary, through the gospel of Luke, chapter one, and you read through chapter one and you read the other synoptic gospels, you will find the the factual story of the birth of christ. Then we have to look outside of the word of god. We understand that there is extra biblical knowledge on the outside of what we have, what we call the word of god. And let's just remind ourselves the bible has taken over 1496 years to write the qu496 years to write the Quran, 23 years to write. That's all. The Quran came 623 years after the cross of Calvary. The Bible is over 3,300, 500 years old. It is translated into and over 3,000 languages. The Quran only hits 100 languages.
Speaker 2:Come on, world, don't be fooled by the social network. Don't be fooled by certain leaders in government that are telling us that Christianity is on the back foot. Christianity isn't on the back foot. The kingdom of God is rising. The power of God is rising. The power of God is rising. We are experiencing such a spiritual awakening within the West. God is moving on the body of Christ. Religion is dying, but the kingdom of God is rising.
Speaker 2:We understand what the scripture says. There is a great falling away, but there has to be a great falling away. Why is there a great falling away? So that we be a great falling away. Why is there a great falling away? So that we can see that religion cannot stand, but the kingdom of god can. So, as we look at these scriptures tonight, yes, we're on on the eve of jesus christ, as we recognize that, that he came out of the dressing room of mary and they wrapped him in swaddling clothes and they laid him in a manger.
Speaker 2:We understand all the stuff that goes through the scripture, but why did Jesus Christ come to this earth? He is the savior of the world. He is not coming back as the infant. He's not coming back as a child. He's coming back as the king of kings and the lord of lords. He's coming back as ruler and judge. He's coming back for the body of Christ. He's not coming back for religion and judge. He's coming back for the body of Christ. He's not coming back for religion. He's not coming back for the fine services and the religious activities.
Speaker 2:Like tonight, what is happening all the way through London, all the way through every home county, all the way through every area, religion will put on a great display tonight. Religion will put on a great display, but how many people within them? Religious services are John 3.3? Because that is the criteria. That is the critical thing. You must be born again. If God wanted us to be, if Jesus wanted us to be religious, he would have said to Nicodemus Nicodemus, you must be religious. But he was telling Nicodemus that you are Israel's teacher. You are a religious person, but you have no way into the kingdom unless you can't get in, unless you're born again. You know, there are many beautiful services that are happening tonight in cathedrals, in beautiful churches, with all the grandeur, with all the beautiful singing, with everything going on. There'll be beautiful, you know, chris Ingle services. There'll be beautiful services across this nation, across this world. But it comes down to the fact are we born again? We can have the greatest service. We can have the midnight masses. We can have everything that's going on. We can have the New Year's Eve services, the crossover services. We can have everything that's going on. We can have the New Year's Eve services, the crossover services, we can have absolutely everything. But if we are not the John 3, 3, if we are not born again, hell is waiting.
Speaker 2:So what is this Christmas about? It's about redemption. Christmas, every Christmas, is not just about the birth of Christ. It's not about a baby, but it's about the God that we serve, emmanuel. According to the word of God and you will give him the name Emmanuel, god with us. God came down to set the captives free. Why did God come to this earth? Through the physicality of Christ Jesus.
Speaker 2:If you have a Bible, turn to the book of Colossians. We have to reference this. This is so critical. If you turn to the book of Colossians, 1, verse 15 to 20, it says Christ is the image of the invisible God. God came down to set the captives free. Jesus says I am the way, the truth and the life. So what is Christmas about? It's not about the giving of a pagan uh presence. It's about understanding that the savior, that a child, was given.
Speaker 2:If you have a bible, turn to that beautiful book of the book of isaiah. If you look at isaiah 53, 54. If you look at isaiah, chapter 11. If you look at isaiah uh, chapter 7, you will find that it says that a son is given. There will be a virgin sorry, there will be a virgin and she will give birth to a son and you will give him the name Emmanuel. A son is given. The scripture is so clear. So when you look at the holy word of God, when you look at that Bible and you think about the timeline of it over 3,400, 500 years old, written by 40 different authors, 66 books of a time span of its writing, from Genesis to Revelation, 1,496 years God is coming back for the body of Christ.
Speaker 2:He's not coming back for religion. He's not coming back for the grandeur. He's not coming back for these buildings that we're in. He's not coming back for the equipment that we use. He's not coming back for the fine art. Jesus Christ is coming back for the lost. Jesus Christ is coming back for the believer. Jesus Christ is coming back for the believer. Jesus Christ is coming back for the ones that cry out Abba, father Christ is coming back for the John 3 threes. You must be born again.
Speaker 2:But what is Christmas about? It's about redemption. Christmas is not about the crib, it's about redemption. He is the redeemer, he is the redeeming king, he is the great I am, he is worthy of all praise. Christmas is not about the birth of a baby, and that is it.
Speaker 2:We are watching God coming down the staircase and presenting himself as a child, himself, as a child, the man christ jesus. We are watching the gospel of luke unfold to what the prophet isaiah said 735 years earlier. So when isaiah was prophesying about the king is coming, the savior is coming. When isaiah was prophesying 735 years before jesus Christ came to this world, then suddenly we start to find that the gospel of Luke, chapter 1 starts to unfold. The story starts to unfold just as it was said by that prophet, isaiah. He said the king is coming, a savior will be born, a virgin will be pledged to carry a child and you will give him the name that is greater than any other name, the name of jesus. You will give him the name emmanuel. God with us.
Speaker 2:If you have a bible, turn to psalm 91 and you will read that beautiful psalm 91. And whoever dwells in the shelter of the most high will rest in the shadow of the almighty. But at the back end of that text it says God will show us his salvation. See, god is about salvation. So that word that I started off in about seven minutes ago, maybe even a bit further than 10 minutes ago, christmas is about redemption.
Speaker 2:Christmas is about redemption. Christmas is about recognizing that the Savior came to the earth, that he came to this earth in the physical formation, as a human being. So we understand that when God said in the Old Testament, in Genesis, he said let's make man in our image, let's make man in our image. So when you go to the Gospel of john, chapter 1, verse 14, and you see what it says there, and it says, and the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. Redemption revealed himself in the earth suit of a human being. Even though he's fully sovereign, even though he's fully god, even though he's fully savior, even though he's fully sovereign, even though he's fully God, even though he's fully savior, even though he's fully holy and power and living word, the word presented itself himself to this fleshly world in which we live. So redemption is Christmas. Jesus Christ is redemption. It's not so much Christmas, the label that's on it, it's about the birth of the Savior, the coming of the King.
Speaker 2:It's very, very interesting that the church and religion really recognizes the scriptures that talked about the first coming of Christ, the coming of Jesus as a baby. It's very, very interesting We've said this a lot over the last few weeks Religion and the majority of church recognizing that Jesus Christ came to this earth and he was in a manger. But it's very interesting, the same establishments that believe in the first coming of Christ, the infant, the child, the word became flesh. It's very, very interesting that religion believes and hangs and looks at that, but it doesn't seem to dwell in the scripture where it says Jesus Christ is coming back as the saviour of the world. You know, it's really, really interesting that we are looking at Advent, that we have had the Advent season and we've been looking at Advent and we've been walking through Advent. And religion does such a spectacular job of Advent. It puts on such a show, such a show-stopping area of religion. It brings all the bells, all the whistles, it brings everything out, and there are many people crisscrossing this nation right now going to Chris Engle services, going to midnight masses, going to the grandeur of the buildings and everything that goes along with that. But tell me how many people are born again? It doesn't matter how big the building is, it doesn't matter how loud the bells sound at 12 o'clock, it doesn't matter how loud the choruses are sung, it doesn't matter how far the incense wafts through the corridor of religion.
Speaker 2:The criteria is do you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Do you know Jesus Christ as your Redeemer? Do you know Jesus Christ as the coming King? Are you hanging around the crib or you're hanging around the cross of Calvary? Are you hanging around the straw or are you hanging around the blood of Jesus? Let's get straight into the word of God. Come on, we've got to get in.
Speaker 2:So Christmas is about redemption, because Christ is the redeeming king and he was brought into this world. He was brought to existence for human eyes to see that Jesus Christ is the saviour of the world, that the scriptures was fulfilled. But where did redemption come from? Why do we have Jesus Christ having to go to the cross at Calvary? What is the purpose of Christmas? Is it just so we can sit around a green pagan tree? No, it's not. Is it that we can sit around a dinner table with people that we are not quite sure of? What is Christmas about? What is it about? What is the true meaning of Christmas? The true meaning of Christmas is that the Redeemer. The Redeemer came down the staircase of the spiritual realms and presented himself as the redeeming king. Yes, we recognize him as an infant, but then we've got to move on from the Advent. We can't hang around at Advent.
Speaker 2:The church and religion is so good at just hanging around in the straw and hanging around in the barn and hanging around in religion and hanging around at Advent. The church has got to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, and I'm not referring about the birth, I'm talking about the second coming, because, let me tell you this, jesus Christ is coming to this earth, the savior of the world is coming back for the bible, believing spirit filled, blessed and highly favored believers that are going out and trusting him, that are living their lives by faith. Do you realize that church won't get you into heaven. Religion won't get you into heaven. Jesus Christ won't get you into heaven. Jesus Christ, the greatest preacher the world has ever seen, the greatest orator the world has ever seen, the greatest one that would give the greatest message. Where was this message? What is the greatest gospel message the world has ever heard?
Speaker 2:It was between Jesus Christ and it was between Nicodemus, in the dead of night, just between two human beings. Yes, jesus is and he was a human being, because the Bible says the man Christ Jesus, as we've unpacked it, as we've studied it, as we've podcasted over it, as we've looked at the fabric of the text, where it says Jesus says to Nicodemus you must be born again. That is all we need to worry about, lord. How do I become this born again? If Jesus wanted us to hang around in church all day, he would have said you must be a churchgoer. He said you must be born again. Church will get you in trouble. Religion will hold you at the stipend of life. Religion will keep you actually at the crib. Jesus Christ will take you to the cross, because that's what it's about. That is about. That is Christmas. Christmas is about the cross of Calvary.
Speaker 2:Christmas is about salvation. Yes, we recognize Advent. Yes, we recognize the birth of this infant. Yes, we recognize the birth of the Savior. But it is more than that redemption. Do you realize that you are redeemed in this Advent time?
Speaker 2:Right now, across this nation and across the world, there are certain areas of life and religion that are putting on beautiful, spectacular chris engel services, putting on unbelievable shows for the world to look at the grandeur of religion. But if it stays in the Nicodemus lap, you won't get into heaven. So Christmas is not about religion. It is not about hanging around the straw and the crib. It is about understanding that you've got to be born again. And how does a human being reach that understanding that? How can I be born? How can this be? The Bible says very, very clearly you've got to be born from above. It can't be done through natural realms, it can't be done through religion, it can't be done through the natural process of church, through ministry. God chooses and God has chosen you. You might be just dropping onto these social networks. We can see we've got a lot of people around the world online this evening or this morning. Merry Christmas, brothers and sisters.
Speaker 2:It's really important that we keep the word Christmas alive in your workplace. We've got a mayor of London that is an absolute antichrist, and we've got to tell the world about Jesus Christ. We've got to tell the world about the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. It is critical, wherever we are across the world, to keep the word Christmas at and on the top of our lips. Jesus Christ is the coming King. We are celebrating Christmas here in the UK and there are certain markets that have been told that you cannot call this a Christmas market. It has got to be called a winter community. Come on UK, come on church, wake up. Where is the church? Where are these leaders? Where are these preachers? Where are the gospel preachers? Because we need to be extremely careful, because we have a government that is anti-christ like we've never seen before.
Speaker 2:It is time now, brothers and sisters, to stand on the word of god we are going right into. Yes, it is christmas. It is the greatest festival the world. We need to use the word festival. Come on, you understand what the word festival means. We are not talking about a music event that you see happening across the world. We are talking about a moment of celebrating because when, in the Old Testament, pharaoh would not let the Israelites go and celebrate the festival, they went we need to go in, we need to go into the desert for three days and to celebrate, we need to go. And we need to go into the desert for three days and to celebrate, we need to go and celebrate this festival. So the word festival isn't a new word where you're blowing whistles and and uh, having a reefer or two and all the stuff that goes on and everything like that. The word festival comes straight out of the word of god and we have a government that is not allowing christians to celebrate the birth of Christ in the true meaning. We need to shout in the name of Jesus.
Speaker 2:Do you want to be classed as a religious person or do you want to be remembered as a Bible-believing, braggadocious warrior for the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords? He is the great I am, he is the redeeminging king, and let's get right into the book of genesis. So where do we see the first glimmers? Where do we see the glimmers of redemption? Is it in the new testament? Is it right up at across the calvary? No, redemption is first brought into existence very clearly after the fall of humanity.
Speaker 2:If you have a bible, grab yourself a bible. Go to genesis, chapter 3, and you have a look at what the bible says in genesis, chapter 3, verse 15. Just take a moment and read them scriptures for yourselves. Genesis, chapter 3, verse 15, speaks under the fabric of the text. You will find that god is speaking about the redemption plan and it says I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and hers. He will crash your head and you will and, sorry, and you will strike his heel. It's really, really important that we grasp what the word enmity actually means.
Speaker 2:When you look in the Gospels and you look about salvation yes, we are at Christmas Eve and we have to talk about Christmas. When you go back to school, when you go back to education, when you go back to work, do not let your HR department tell you that you can't talk about Christmas. When I worked in a certain establishment, I got pulled into an office as the chaplain of that organization and said you can't use the word God bless. Come on, what are you talking about? We got to stand up for our belief. We got to stand up for what we believe. We have a mayor of London that invests in Ramadan and he does not give a blink to Christmas.
Speaker 2:You need to tell the world that Jesus Christ is the coming king. He is the redeeming king, and redemption is what we are celebrating. We are not just celebrating and looking at a manger. We are looking at the cross. We are talking about redemption, because Christ came as the Lamb of God. He came into this world as the redeeming king. He did not come in to stay as a baby. If God wanted and Christ wanted himself to stay as a baby he would have kept him in the manger, but he lived 30 years before his ministry.
Speaker 2:Think about this when you do a bit of christology, when you study christ, you think that christ lived 30 years the majority is 30 years off the radar, off the radar of life and then suddenly he hits 30, and for three years. There has never been a ministry so small and so short that has changed the world. There has never been a preacher that only preached for three years and done marvelous things for three years, and the whole world is talking about him. Jesus christ never had a social media account, he never had tiktok, he never had cameras, he never had a team following him around, he never had a camera crew. And he spoke and he gave the best message the world has ever heard, and that was the John 3, two human beings in a tiny room that was lit by a basic candlelight At night.
Speaker 2:Jesus says through the scripture in the gospel of John, it says that Nicodemus came to Christ at night. And Jesus said in John 3, 3, you must be born again. But when you look at the scripture, that we're in so we are on the eve of the redeeming king. We can't hang around the crib, we can't hang around the straw, we can't keep embracing the swaddling clothes. What we've got to do is we've got to look at the cross of Calvary, because Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. He is the redeeming King, he is the great I Am. If you are looking for hope tonight, go to the cross of Calvary. If you are looking for healing tonight, go to the cross of Calvary. If you are an atheist and you're stumbling through life, I would tell you now, grab yourself a Bible.
Speaker 2:It is the greatest book the world has ever seen. It is the greatest book across the whole globe. It has sold over 5.5, touching 6 billion copies. It is translated into 3,000 languages. It is the book that took 1,496 years to write. It has been written by 40 authors. There are 66 chapters. It is history, it is war, it is love, it is poetry, it is redemption, it is hope, it is absolutely everything. It is creation and it is salvation.
Speaker 2:Jesus Christ came to this earth not to stay in swaddling clothes. He came to this earth to go to the cross of Calvary. He just presented himself as a child. He'd done that. He'd done that. He'd done that. He presented himself to this world very simply, as a child, and that child grew up. The Bible says, as a child. And that child grew up, the bible says, as a tender shoot. There was nothing about him that, his majesty, you could look at. He is the king above all kings. He's the only king that come to this earth that doesn't own an earthly throne. He is the only king that never had an earthly palace. He is the only one sorry has healed people, that has never given anybody a pharmaceutical. They called him healer. They called him teacher. They called him master. They called him king. They called him the great I am. They called him the magic man. They called him the man of mystery. Jesus Christ is the savior of the world. He is the great. I am Excuse me, my voice is going. You know, Jesus Christ is the saviour of the world.
Speaker 2:So when we celebrate Christmas and we got to tell the world that we are celebrating Christmas let's remind ourselves. We have a mayor of London that does not push Christianity. He is telling certain market traders across the London areas you can't call this a Christmas market, it is a winter community. This government does not want Jesus Christ to be lifted up. This government wants a weak and a woke church. This government doesn't want Jesus Christ on the throne. This government is trying to do everything it can to take away Christmas.
Speaker 2:If you are a Bible-believing believer, you need to get a bit of chalk right now. You need to get a bit of spray paint and spray it up the side of your house and tell the world that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, he is the redeeming King and he is not in the manger. And the problem with advent within religion. It hangs around advent and it needs to preach redemption and hope and salvation. We are living in the last days.
Speaker 2:Jesus christ is coming back.
Speaker 2:He is the savior of the world. He is the great I am. He is the seven I ams, he is the. He is the one that called the things are not as though they are. He is the god that sits above all gods. He is the king above all kings. He is the redeeming king.
Speaker 2:Coming back to the word of god, let's get back to genesis, because this is what it's about. Genesis is about redemption. Jesus is the redeemer. So where do we find these glimmers, these awakening moments? Where do we find these? Where do we find the words of redemption? Wherever you see god, wherever you see christ, wherever you see the holy spirit being mentioned, you are looking at the savior of the world. You are looking at the redeemer. Jesus christ is the redemption king. He come to this world. He came to this world, rather, to bring redemption. He did not come to bring religion. He did not come to this earth to bring an Advent service where it would just stay in Advent.
Speaker 2:The church is hanging around the straw and hanging around the crib. Get yourself around brothers and sisters that will stay at the cross of Calvary. Find brothers and sisters that will preach the word of God. Find brothers and sisters that believe in the scriptures. We are pretty well biblically illiterate in this nation. The leaders are so weak and so woke through the word of God. We have leaders within the realms of religion and church that are doing great services tonight great Chris Ingle services, masses happening right across the cathedrals of life.
Speaker 2:But the criteria is, as Jesus said, religion. Nicodemus, you're just an educator. You'll never see the kingdom of God. You have to be born again. So why are we celebrating the birth of Christ? What is Christmas about?
Speaker 2:Christmas, yes, is recognizing that the Savior came to this earth. When you look at the Gospel of John, chapter 1, verse 14, the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us really important. I understand what that means that jesus presented himself from the spiritual realms, the heavenly glories, that he came to this earth. And he came to this place and he revealed himself in an earth suit and he popped out of the dressing room of Mary and he presented himself to the world. Because the world needs to see, because the world struggles to go by faith. The Bible says the just shall live by faith the majority of our lives that we struggle to actually live in faith. The Bible says the just shall live by faith, the majority of our lives that we struggle to actually live in faith. We live the majority of our lives in fear and in negativity when we should be living in complete faith, living in the word of God. So wherever you are this evening and you are looking at a Christmas tree in your front room, in your office, in your world, wherever you are, if you look at that Christmas tree, just remind yourself that comes from paganism. So as you look at that Christmas tree, you will not find a Christmas tree in the Word of God. So as you look at that Christmas tree, look through that tree and you will find a cross. The greatest tree the world has ever seen is the cross, the greatest tree they hung him on. The Bible says they stretched him high and they stretched him wide.
Speaker 2:You know it's very, very interesting. I doubt if there's any children listening to this. So I can say a few things about you know, that little red fella that comes out tonight. Sky News will probably be putting it across there. He's only 40 minutes away from the UK Santa's on his way. You know, that is the biggest lie that we spin to our children. It is the biggest lie that a parent will spin to their children year in, year out, along with the tooth fairy, along with the tooth fairy, it the two fairy. It'll be really, really interesting, won't it? Let's just take this as an analogy. Let's just take this a moment.
Speaker 2:Right, you can imagine that jesus christ walks into a church and as he walks into a church and all christians are looking at jesus, the children, the family, everybody is looking at Jesus. The children, the family, everybody is looking at Jesus. And then beside Jesus is Father Christmas. If your life depended and the next part of your life, go and stand behind the one that you recognize more than anyone. I can tell you now, the one wearing the red suit will get the biggest cue behind him. The majority of people would go and stand. Children will go and stand behind father christmas. But where would you stand, as a parent, if your life depended on it? Would you stand behind jesus or would you stand behind father christmas? It's really really interesting.
Speaker 2:You know, we spin the lie year in, year out, year in, year out, and then, when the kids find out that he doesn't exist, they throw a wobbler. The biggest liar that we ever spin children is, very simply, santa's on his way. But I've got to tell you this you've got to change your line. Jesus Christ is on his way Because Santa doesn't exist and Jesus Christ does exist. Father Christmas doesn't exist. I'm sorry, kids, but Jesus Christ exists. Santa's not coming because he doesn't exist.
Speaker 2:Let me tell you this jesus christ is coming because he exists, because he is the redeeming king and he came. He's come to this earth once and he left his mark. And the whole world is talking about Jesus. Governments can't stand him, atheists despise him, world religions can't grasp him. He is Jesus Christ, he is the savior of the world and he is spoken about in Genesis, chapter three, the first scripture that we come to.
Speaker 2:So what is Christmasmas? Christmas is celebrating the birth of the king. Christmas is celebrating the birth of the redeemer. Christmas is recognizing that salvation came to this earth. But religion will hang around the straw and the advent. Religion will make greater services about the birth of jesus rather than the cross of the savior of the world, because the manger, the manger itself, has no power. It has no real influence because we don't look at the manger and what we look at the manger. When we look at the manger and what we look at the manger, when we look at the manger and the straw and everything that goes along with the nativity, we look at that and we go, oh, how lovely our lovely little baby jesus is. But when you look at the cross of calvary, when you look at the cross, there is something different about the cross to the manger, different about the cross to the manger, because it is the cross where he died and he was brought into this world to die because he is the lamb of god, the lamb that was slain. He is the redemption king. So when we celebrate christmas, we are not celebrating just the birth of baby Jesus, we are celebrating God coming down. The chronological text of Matthew and the Bible says they gave him the name, the name of Jesus, and also they said what are we going to call this child? And the angel said you're going to call him Emmanuel, god with us.
Speaker 2:So in the fall of humanity, in Genesis, chapter three, we have a very interesting word called enmity. When you look at that word in Genesis, chapter three, verse 15, and I will put enmity. What do you mean God? That is a word will put enmity. What do you mean god? That is a word that we don't really hear much about. It is a word that we don't look much about. But in genesis, chapter 3, when, when you look at that scripture, it's really, really interesting that when you look and study the fall of humanity, when you study and look why we're in such a mess, when you see and and you understand why there is while we are in a fallen state, you understand a little bit more about salvation. Jesus christ is the savior of the world. He is the coming king.
Speaker 2:But if you unpack that word entity and you look at that a little bit further and you was to break that down what does that word actually mean? It means hostile. It means hostile. It means a battle, it means spiritual conflict. So God has already said there is going to be spiritual conflict between the devil and the human being, the devil and the human being. So enmity is a very serious word, but you don't really hear the church preaching about that word. You hear it talking about the manger. You hear the church talking about that word. You hear it talking about the manger. You hear the church. Talking on religion. You know, as I said, right across this nation, across the world, there'll be unbelievable spectacular shows going on about the birth of Jesus. It will be absolutely rolled out. It will be spectacular. They will do a better job than what Hollywood could ever do. There'll be people right now queuing up in cathedrals waiting to go in to these enormous Chris Ingle services. But if you are not born again, if you are not a child of the living God, if you are not saved, so what I'm saying is it doesn't matter about going to church, it is simply saying Jesus, help me.
Speaker 2:Have you got anxious thoughts tonight? Are you worried about life? Are you doubtful tonight? Are you hurting? Is there historical stuff in your life, in your situations, that you don't know what to do? Is there stuff in your life that is weighing you down? Come to the cross of Calvary, come to the cross of Calvary, but religion is going to the crib. Religion will stay at the crib. It will stay at the crib. It will stay at the straw. It will hang around the free, the wise men. It will hang around the shepherds. It will hang around the nativity. We cannot be found at the nativity.
Speaker 2:When jesus christ comes back. He's going to look for those that went to the cross. He's not worried for religion that will hang around on the advent service. He's wanting to know the ones that cry out. God, will you help me? God, I need you tonight.
Speaker 2:Lord, I've got anxious thoughts. Lord, I feel suicidal. Lord, I feel scared, I feel doubtful. Lord, I don't want, dear God, to have Christmas. I'm too worried about life itself. Lord, I'm into everything but you. But, lord, will you help me? Is there anybody out there tonight that will just give Jesus a try? It's very interesting what I said there about giving Jesus a try, because he's already on your case, he's already in your life, he's already walking with you. And now we're going to explore some scriptures. I've got to accelerate as quick as I possibly can because I've been rambling for so long and the first scripture that we started in it is about redemption.
Speaker 2:So when you look at the church across the globe, yes, we're celebrating Christmas. And if you are a Christian and you understand what Christmas means, you've got to tell your workplace that you are celebrating Christmas when you go back to work. Don't call it a happy holiday, don't call it all that rubbish. It is Christmas. Christ presented himself to this world. We have a government that is trying to crush Christianity. We have a government that is trying to push out Christmas. We have a mayor of London that isn't even using that word, that mayor of London. He spends uncountable taxpayers' money on religious activity. But, as we are a Christian nation, this nation doesn't belong to Hinduism. This nation doesn't belong to the Quran. It doesn't belong to atheists, it doesn't belong to the agnostic. This nation known as the UK, england, is a Christian nation. Don't get caught in the tide of propaganda out of the news channels and out of media. You hear me good right now. You hear me good. This nation is a Bible-believing nation. This nation belongs to God.
Speaker 2:The social networks are putting out there that Christianity is dying off. The networks are telling us out there that Islam is increasing. The only reason that Islam increasing. And why is that increasing? It is increasing numerically, simply because every time a child is born into Islam, straight away, before it can even eat a Farliz Rusk, it is a Muslim. It is just statistics. It means absolutely nothing. There is nothing more powerful than the word of God. Let me tell you again the Bible has been translated into 3,000 languages. The Quran has only been translated into 100 languages. So the Bible is 2,900 languages in front of the Quran. The Bible has sold 5.5 billion books across the world. The Quran has only stretched 2.4, 2.5. The Bible is doubling. The Bible is accelerating. The Bible is increasing, but what they won't tell you.
Speaker 2:In Iran, christianity is rising in Iran. It is rising so fast is rising in Iran. It is rising so fast. The mosques are emptying and the Christians are going into the mosques and worshipping the God of Israel. The mosques are being turned into houses of God, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Christianity is rising. The word of God is moving so fast it can't be controlled by man.
Speaker 2:Islam, hinduism, sikhism, atheism, you know, all that sort of stuff is controlled, it is measured, but you cannot measure the power of the holy God, you cannot measure the king of kings, you cannot measure the glory. It is the only book where you will find healing. It is the greatest book the world has ever seen and it is about redemption. The Bible is about hope. Do you need hope tonight? Wherever you are across the world, just stretch out tonight. Just say God, if you're real, god, if you're real, visit me tonight. God, if you're real, prove yourself to me, because I'm tired and I'm weary. I'm tired and I'm exhausted. God, if you're real, come down and reveal yourself to me.
Speaker 2:Thomas, in the New Testament he said something so powerful. He said to the group, he said to the disciples, he said to everybody around him don't tell me any more about this, jesus. I don't want secondhand knowledge, I want to see Jesus. Is there anyone bold enough out there to say God, reveal yourself. Because Thomas said to the churchgoers, to the disciples I do not want to hear any more about him, I need to see him. I don't want to hear any more about him, I want to see this king.
Speaker 2:And the Bible says that Jesus Christ came through and he stepped through the wall. The windows were locked, the doors were bolted down for the fear of the Jews, for the fear of every yeah the Jews, for the fear of the Romans, for the fear of the leaders outside of that establishment. They was in lockdown and Jesus Christ presented himself to Thomas and Jesus said to Thomas, as he says to anyone tonight peace be with you. We are all looking for peace. Money won't bring you peace, it'll make you greedy Notoriety won. Looking for peace. Money won't bring you peace, it'll make you greedy. Notoriety won't bring peace, it'll make you prideful. Religion won't bring peace, it will bring war. There is only one place you will find peace and that is through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Speaker 2:So as we look at that word enmity, it is talking about the redemption plan. The book of Genesis, chapter 3, verse 15, is the first time that humanity sees that there is a plan in redemption. But what we've got to remind ourselves is that God brought this redemption plan in Genesis, chapter 3, verse 15. It is clear it's about salvation, it's about hope, it's about spiritual warfare, because God said between Lucifer and humanity there will be the biggest battle between good and evil. Between good and evil, it is the hardest. There is conflict, there is hostility. It is spiritually powerful because of the fall of humanity in the Garden of Eden. So when you look at that word enmity, it is the start of God saying I'm sending the redeeming king.
Speaker 2:Genesis, chapter 3, verse 15, is the glimmer, a glimmer of hope, a glimmer of new beginnings, a glimmer of good news. Because when you break all that down, when you break it right down, and you look at what the scripture says in Genesis, chapter 3, verse 15, what is it talking about? It's talking about the first gospel. Hold me a minute, hear me out. It is referring to the first gospel. You've got to look at it. It is referring to good news because when you break it all down, it is referring to the coming of Jesus Christ. So when you look at that scripture that scripture in Genesis, chapter 3, verse 15, is around about 3,000 years old before we find ourselves looking at the baby Jesus. So there was a redemption plan that took 3,000 years before it was birthed.
Speaker 2:When you read the old scripture, it is really clear to see that Jesus Christ came to this earth as the truth, as the saviour of the world. He came to this earth as the king of kings and the lord of lords. We are not lifting up and worshipping a baby. We are lifting up and worshipping the King because that baby has grown up. That baby lived 33 years. That baby suddenly become a child. That child suddenly become a young adult. That young adult suddenly became an adult. That adult suddenly walked into three years of ministry. How can that ever be that this savior of the world has turned the world upside down in three years? He preached, he teached, he healed the sick, he rebuked the demonic forces. He came against Herod, he came against Pilate. He turned the world upside down in three years. In three years, jesus Christ turned the world upside down and inside out.
Speaker 2:The whole world is talking about Jesus. The whole world realizes now that Christians are celebrating the birth of the, the king. What are we going to do? We're going to hang around the crib? Or are we going to get to the cross of calvary? Because in the book of genesis genesis chapter 3, verse 15, read what it says. I'll read it out, and then we're going to accelerate further forward.
Speaker 2:I will put enmity between you and the woman. He's referring to the serpent and humanity. I will put spiritual battles. I will put between you as the serpent. I will put hostility and conflict, but then he says, between you and your offspring and hers, he will crush your head and you will strike his heel. He is talking about redemption.
Speaker 2:So where do we find this redemption? We find it 3,000 years later. You find it 3,000 years later through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the saviour of the world. He's the redeeming king. Where is Jesus at this moment in time? The Bible says that he's seated at the right hand of the father, interceding for all the saints. He's not in the crib, he's not on the cross, he's not in the grave. He's seated at the right hand of the father. He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. He is the great I Am. He is worthy of all praise. He is the seven I Ams.
Speaker 2:When Jesus said I Am, he was referring to himself 1,300 years back, when Moses was face to face. When Moses said who am I going to tell that lot down that mountain? Who is sending us? He said I am. He is the I am. He is the savior of the world. And redemption is in Genesis, chapter 3, verse 15.
Speaker 2:And then, 3,000 years after the fall of humanity, suddenly we find this virgin carrying a miracle. Suddenly we find this virgin to be bearing child. Suddenly we find the gospel of luke. If you have a bible, turn into the gospel of luke, chapter one, and read what it says about the, the coming king, that the savior's birth. Read what it says. If you look in the book of isaiah, chapter 11 and verse and, and chapter 7, you will find that it says a virgin in isaiah, chapter 7. It says a virgin will be given a child. She will carry the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
Speaker 2:Isaiah 53,. Isaiah 54 tells us about the majesty, about the King of kings and the Lord of lords, that Jesus Christ was birthed. He was given as a sacrifice John 3, 16, for God so loved the world that whosoever shall believe in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. A son has been given, according to the prophets. So when the prophet Isaiah was speaking, 735 years before, mary pushed Jesus out of her dressing room, before Jesus was pushed out, when she gave that last push and she popped the king out and Joseph caught him like a rugby ball and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes, popped him in a manger, before the innkeeper said there's no room for you. That's religion, that's governments. This day there's no room at the inn. So Jesus is left on the side with his mom and his earthly father, joseph. We find that they wrap him up in swaddling clothes. We find that god sends the heavenly host and he says to joseph take the newborn. Take the newborn back into egypt, go back into egypt.
Speaker 2:Scripture, scripture, scripture. There is nothing like the word of God. Suddenly we find Herod wanting to kill the king. How many governments, how many authoritarians want to kill Christmas tonight. How many authoritarians want to take Christmas out of London? How many people want to destroy Christianity across the globe? When you look at the persecuted church 365 million displaced Christians running for their lives because of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The world cannot control him.
Speaker 2:It is the greatest book the world has ever seen. It is the book that is sold the most. It is the book that is burnt the most. It is the book that is spoken about the most. It is the greatest book in the world. It is the only book where people's lives are transformed. It is the only book where you will find history. It is the book that has the timeline. It is the book that has the history of the world. It is the only book that carries so much data and so much fact. It is the book that science is trying to disprove. It is the book that governments are trying to destroy. It is the book that Sadiq Khan cannot read because it goes against his understanding.
Speaker 2:Sadiq Khan wants Christmas erased out of the UK. He wants that word Christmas not to be going out in London. He wants everything else. He spent uncountable money on Ramadan, but when it was St George's Day, what happened then? What happens now? Where is Christmas? Where is Sadiq Khan? Is he in St Paul's Cathedral tonight lifting up the name of Jesus? No, he's not. You won't find him lifting up the name of Jesus. He will lift up foreign gods, but he cannot lift up the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.
Speaker 2:When you look at the scripture, it talks about perseverance and it talks about perseverance, perseverance and it talks about persecution. We are in times of persecution. We are watching the return of christ coming. We are listening right now to services across this nation lifting up, lifting up the crib. When we got to lift up the cross, you got to lift up Jesus Christ. So who is this Jesus? Who is he and where is he? How did he come into this world? He came as an infant, he came as a child.
Speaker 2:There is so much extra biblical knowledge outside of the word of God that tells us about Jesus Christ. There is so much out there in extra biblical knowledge. Josephus, other scholars, other writers, other historians that are atheists have clear documentation that Mary gave birth to the miracle child, that Mary gave birth to the miracle child. When you look at the scriptures, when you look at the word of God, it is the greatest book in the world. Again, let's remind ourselves on this Christmas Eve. It has been translated over 3,000 languages. 3,000 languages. The Quran has only been translated into a hundred. How can this book be translated across the world? People are hungry for it.
Speaker 2:People of other faith are going to sleep at night worshipping foreign gods, never been in a church, never heard of the word Jesus, and as they wake in the morning they're telling their families that Jesus Christ is the saviour of the world. They are worshipping the God of Israel, they are lifting up the King of Kings. They are coming out of atheism. They are coming out of humanism. They are coming out of humanism, they are coming out of being an agnostic, they're coming out of a Buddha, they're coming out of Sikhism, they're coming out of Hinduism, they're coming out of Islam. And they are Christians, bible-believing believers.
Speaker 2:It reminds me of the cross of Calvary, when the thief was hanging on the cross. Two thieves on the cross, jesus Christ in the center, and the thief said to him Jesus Christ, will you remember me when you come into your kingdom? Jesus said within a twinkling of an eye. You'll be with me in paradise. You've heard me say this a thousand times. You've heard me sermonize. You've heard me podcast, you've heard me debate it. You've heard me stretch it, pull it and poke it apart. When that faith? When you look at that faith.
Speaker 2:He never went on an alpha course. He never went to a Chris Ingle service. He never went on an alpha course. He never went to a Chris Ingle service. He never went to a Carol service. He never went and done a discipleship course. He never went to church. He never went and got baptized. He never spoke in tongues. He never read the Bible, because the Bible was being written at that very moment in time.
Speaker 2:And he hung on the cross and he said Jesus, jesus, I've done terrible things. I'm a cutthroat, I'm a murderer, I'm a thief. I've never been to church, I've never been baptized, I've never spoken tongues, I've never sang a hill song, I've never worshipped, I've never said a prayer, I've never been baptized in the Holy Spirit, I have never given my life to Jesus Christ. What is next for me? And Jesus said son, within a twinkling of an eye you'll be with me in paradise. See, jesus erases everything else because he wants your heart. Jesus has your heart because he's the redeeming king. So when you celebrate Christmas and when you think about Christmas. It is not about a baby, it is about redemption. If you were with me still with me tonight, and I can see there's many online and there are many across the world If you go up to the New Testament, if you go up to Romans, chapter three, verse 21, you will read about redemption.
Speaker 2:If you go to the book of ephesians, chapter 1, verse 4, you'll read about redemption. You'll read about the blood of jesus christ, because that's what it's about. That's what christmas is about. It's about being a jesus follower. It's not about being religious, it's about being a jesus follower. Let me read what it says for you in Romans. I know you're tired, I know you're weary. You've been getting everything ready, you're exhausted.
Speaker 2:Romans, chapter 3, verse 21. And it says something so beautiful. But now the righteousness of God, apart from the law, has been known, to which the law and the prophets testify. This righteousness of God comes through faith. It doesn't come through religion. Let's see what it says in verse 22. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There we have John 3.16. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. I love that scripture, for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, but are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ. When you have a look at that text, when you just run your eyes over verse 23 of Romans, chapter 3, romans, chapter 3, verse 23,. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ.
Speaker 2:So what are we celebrating? What is Christmas? The coming of Jesus Christ. Who is this Jesus? He is the Redeemer. What is redemption? What does redemption mean? What does it mean to be redeemed? It means to be brought back, to be rescued.
Speaker 2:There are many people tonight with mental health, with anxiety, with fears, with doubt, with the worry of life, with, with many illnesses, with sicknesses and diseases, and god is redeeming you. But redemption comes to you. It comes to you first and God has been working on your life before the very foundation of the world, because that's what we call predestined, predestined, predestinational. There is a purpose for your life and God has predestined salvation over you. You might be kicking the covers off tonight. You might be throwing stuff at the screen going how dare can that reverend say that that I'm going to be saved no matter what, because you can't resist Jesus. He lets us play ping pong tennis for a little while with him. He lets us think that we've got control over ourselves.
Speaker 2:But Jesus Christ is in full control and our lives can look hayward, they can look wild, they can look crazy. It can look wild. They can look crazy, it can look dangerous, it can look fearful, but God is in the midst of fear. Jesus is in the midst of trouble. He is the great I am. He is the way, the truth and the life. He says that no one can come to the Father except through me. See when Christ died on the cross at Calvary and when he said to the thief, the cutthroat, the murderer within a twinkling of an eye, you'll be with me in paradise. And when the bible says that jesus gave up his spirit, that tells us something very, very clearly that jesus christ is in control of it, in charge of death. The bible Bible says O death, where is thy sting? And when Jesus Christ said it is finished, the world shook. The heavens became dark, thunder, lightning.
Speaker 2:There was such a spiritual reaction we have seen two major spiritual eruptions in this earth when God said let there be light, god spoke this world into being in genesis uh, chapter one, verse three. And god said let there be light. He wasn't just referring to the light, the residual light. He wasn't just referring to the light from the sun, the moon, the stars. He wasn't just referring to the light that we see around the world that gives us the daylight to do what we have to do. He was speaking deeper than the physical realm. He was speaking about the spiritual realm that sits in front of the physical. So what he was saying is and God said let there be light.
Speaker 2:Jesus said I am the light of the world. He's saying Jesus Christ is coming, the redemption king is coming. I'm giving you light. God told us straight out of the bat. The first thing that God ever told the world was I'm giving you light. God told us straight out of the bat. The first thing that god ever told the world was I'm giving you light. Why are you giving me light, god? Why did you say? God said let there be light. The first, the very first thing that god created was light. He could have created anything else. He could have created a tree. He could have created the sun, the moon, the stars. He could have created anything he wanted to first, but he chose the word light. Because jesus says I am the light of the world, because light is greater than darkness. We understand through science, through the test tube of of science. We understand through reasoning, through physics. We understand through the lecture halls of life. We understand that darkness only exists because of the absence of something. Darkness only exists because of the absence of light. Science will tell you that. And God said at the very beginning of time let there be light, because light is greater than darkness. And that light is rescuing you now, wherever you are, from that dark thought that you're having. That light is shining in your innermost being when your lights are out in the room and you're diving under the duvet because you can't face Christmas Day because of anxious thoughts, because of the what-ifs, the buts and the maybes. God said let there be, let there be light. And as soon as he spoke, light came into being. Jesus said I am the light of the world. God has given us light. God has given us Christ. God has given us Christ. He is the saviour of the world.
Speaker 2:We're about to hit 12 o'clock UK time. We're about to cross over into Christmas day in any moment, in any second. We're about to cross over into Christmas day and we serve a government. We have a government, we have a leader within the UK that wants to destroy Christmas. He wants to remove the word Christmas. We have an educational system that is not talking about Christmas, talking about happy holidays. It's talking about Xmas. It's talking about all them crazy words out there.
Speaker 2:You tell the world that this is Christmas. You tell the world that this is about the birth of Jesus. This is the birth of the King. This is the birth of light. This is the birth of redemption. This is the birth of hope. This is the birth of new beginnings. This is the birth of salvation. This is the birth of the living. This is the birth of salvation. This is the birth of the living word. John, chapter 1, verse 14. And the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. You are carrying light, you are carrying power, you are carrying authority, you are carrying the king of kings, you are carrying the lord of lords.
Speaker 2:So when humanity fell, god said in genesis, chapter one, verse three and let there be light from creation of all of existence. And then suddenly god creates man. Let's make man in our image, we understand, and then he brings the woman from from his side, from the dust of the earth and from from his rib. We understand about creation of humanity. We understand that god created the heavens and the earth and the earth was beautiful. So when I was just speaking about two spiritual impacts, the first impact was when the two human beings fell in the Garden of Eden, because God created a world that was perfect. So we have the first spiritual catastrophic move across the universe.
Speaker 2:When humanity fell in the Garden of Eden, a tale was taken across the nation, across the world, across every area, across the universe. The world shook, the world became dark and it ripped right the way through the solar system of life. It ripped right the way through the world as we know it, beyond human eyes, beyond what we can imagine. It's stretched out and it caused devastation in the heavenly realms. And then the second tear that we've we've seen and experienced as a globe, as a world. When jesus christ said those beautiful lines, it is finished. The heavens erupted, the world split, volcanoes erupted, the dead came out of the graves, the heavenly hosts, everything happened, the earth was turned on its axis. Things happened that we cannot explain, but something extremely significant happened. The temple curtain was torn in two, religion was broke, religion was torn in two and something happened the Old Testament was fulfilled at the cross of Calvary. The Old Testament was fulfilled at the cross of Calvary.
Speaker 2:You go back over 3,000 years to when we first read in Genesis, chapter 3, in verse 15, about the redemption plan. 3,400, 500 years, suddenly, the Old Testament had been fulfilled because Jesus Christ said it is finished. 3,400, 500 years of Torah, of power, of word, of scripture, of prophecies, of history, of kings, of everything, of wars, of Old Testament scriptures came into completion. And suddenly something happened at the cross. Religion was torn and the New Testament began. When Jesus was sitting around the Passover table, he said take this cup, because this cup is a new covenant, because this cup is a new covenant. And what was that cup that Jesus Christ took at the Passover table? It wasn't cup one, it wasn't cup two, it wasn't cup four, it was cup three. He took the redemption cup.
Speaker 2:What does Genesis, chapter 3, verse 15, talk about Enmity? It talks about spiritual battles. It talks about redemption. Jesus, 3,400, 500 years later, suddenly, has been accelerated right up to the gospel of Luke, chapter 1, suddenly, 734, 35 years from the prophet Isaiah, hosea, 500 years, another prophet, all these scriptures are being fulfilled because Mary is carrying child. And then suddenly we find that this child has been brought into existence and we see the fulfillment of the gospel of john, chapter 1, verse 14, and the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. Suddenly we see isaiah. Suddenly we see the gospel of luke, suddenly we see all those scriptures up to that point, the word being presented, salvation coming into the world. Suddenly, now we have salvation in physical form on this earth and the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. The savior stretched out in physical form. Suddenly the spiritual world entered into this physical world. So suddenly we have the redeeming king. And then, all of a sudden, herod and pilot.
Speaker 2:Suddenly all these, these dictators wanted to get jesus. Suddenly the, the religious leaders needed to get Christ out the way. Suddenly, when he was born, suddenly he came out like a rugby ball and his dad or his mom caught him, wrapped him up in swaddling clothes, plonked him in a manger. Suddenly, out of nowhere, his star appeared. Suddenly, they're following the star. Suddenly, they're following the star. Suddenly, out of nowhere, the Savior is alive. Suddenly, wise men, suddenly shepherds, suddenly Herod wants to destroy, and suddenly there's a star in the sky over a little town of Bethlehem, where there's this young mum, this young dad, that are lost, that they don't know what's going to happen to them. Suddenly, the star appears, suddenly the wise men, suddenly the shepherds appear to them, suddenly all this stuff is happening Frankincense sorry, myrrh and aloes, and everything is brought to Jesus Christ. The greatest gift the world has ever seen is salvation. The Savior presented himself Redemption 3,400, 500 years, presents himself as a child.
Speaker 2:Advent is celebrated tonight. Right across the globe. Now, cathedrals are packed Listening to religion. Recite and you'll struggle to see a cross, but you'll see the manger, you'll see the shepherds, you'll see the crib, you'll see a little baby Jesus, you'll see the greatest nativity play unfold before your very eyes. But then it'll wrap up the nativity, it'll wrap up the straw, it'll put the wise men back in the cupboard, it'll take down all the activities of Advent, but really it's got to be talking about the cross. Tonight is the night where the globe should be talking about salvation, because we're not celebrating the birth of a child, we are celebrating the birth of salvation. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
Speaker 2:John, chapter 1, verse 14. 1. Verse 1 in the beginning was the word, and the word was with god. He was with god in the beginning. When you look at these scriptures I'm just going to read these out we're going to come to the table not too far off. We're going to come to the table not too far off. We're going to come to the table. I'm going to reference Romans, chapter 3, verse 21.
Speaker 2:But now a righteousness of God, apart from the law, has been known, to which the law and the prophets testify. Verse 22 of Romans, chapter 3. This righteousness from God comes through faith, comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. Do you believe tonight? Do you believe in Jesus Christ? Don't worry, if you ain't been, you ain't gone to church, just say I believe Jesus, I believe, I believe in your word, I believe in you, I believe in the scripture, I believe you are the coming king, I believe that you are the living word. And it says to all those who believe there is no different, for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of god and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption.
Speaker 2:Here we have genesis, chapter 3, 15. Through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ. John 3, 16,. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only begotten son that whosoever shall believe in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. Verse 25 of Romans, chapter 3. God presented him. God presented him as a sacrifice of an atonement through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in the forbearance he had left sin committed beforehand unpunished. See, jesus Christ come to set the sinner free. Jesus Christ came to this earth to give hope, to give freedom, to give life, to give new beginnings. It can't be done through the individual. We're coming to the end of this service really, really soon.
Speaker 2:Turn to the book of ephesians. Grab yourself the book of ephesians, chapter one, and it says in verse four for he chose us in him before the creation of the world, to be holy, to be blameless in his sight. In love, he predestined to us to the adoption of his sons through jesus christ, in accordance with his good pleasure in his will, to the praise of his grace. Verse 7 of Ephesians, chapter 1. This is really really important for me tonight. This is really really important for you tonight, because it's talking about redemption. Verse 7 of ephesians, chapter 1.
Speaker 2:In him we have redemption. How do I have this redemption? Let me read this out ephesians, chapter 1, verse 7. In him we have redemption through his blood for the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he is lavishly laid on us with all wisdom and understanding. You are redeemed.
Speaker 2:As we celebrate Christmas, the birth of Christ, but who is this Jesus? He is the redeeming King. He is the great I Am. He is the great I Am. He is the Saviour of the world. He is the bright morning star. He is the lily of the valley, he is the living word. He is the God of Israel. He is the Holy Spirit. He is your redemption, is your redemption.
Speaker 2:So, as we celebrate, as we are 12 minutes in to Christmas Day here in the UK, I want to tell you that we're not hanging around a crib and looking at straw. We're looking at a cross, because Jesus went to the cross. Will you come to the cross with me tonight, wherever you are across the world? Yes, this is a long service, this is a long podcast. Tonight we're an hour and 25 minutes in already. We're going to back out very, very soon, but, brothers and sisters, wherever you are across the world, let's give ourselves three or four minutes to grab ourselves a bit of bread.
Speaker 2:I know you're tired. I know you're weary. I know you're exhausted because of the commercialization of, of of christmas. I know you're weary. You're tired because money isn't existence anymore. You've got to get everything ready for a few hours. But let me tell you, the church is looking at Advent tonight and it's going to miss the return of Jesus. It's going to miss him.
Speaker 2:You can't look at the straw, you can't look at the crib. You've got to look at the king. You've got to look at Jesus. Do you need healing tonight? Look to Jesus. Do you need peace tonight? Look to Jesus. Do you need peace tonight? Look to Jesus. Do you need freedom tonight from your mind? Look to Jesus. Are you tired of life? Are you weary and exhausted? Look to Jesus. Have you had enough? Have you literally just had enough of life itself? Enough? Have you literally just had enough of life itself? God is calling you. God is calling you to redemption. God is calling you to salvation.
Speaker 2:Stop whatever you're doing across the world and just take a moment and let's pray this prayer. Father, in the name of Jesus, lord, I ask you, father, in the name of Jesus. Lord, I ask you, I'm not sure who you are. I'm not sure about this Christmas, lord, I'm not sure about myself. I've actually lost my identity in the rhythm of life.
Speaker 2:Lord, I've been at church many, many years but, lord, I want my name stamped in the Lamb's Book of Life. Lord, I've got no money and I'm fearful, I'm doubtful. I've lost my identity. I'm not sure of the skin that I walk in anymore. Lord, I'm tired of my work, I'm tired of my life. My life is very obscured and strange. Lord, I'm hungry for peace and I can't find it.
Speaker 2:Lord, will you enter into my life tonight? Lord, will you heal me tonight? God, will you set me free because, lord, I've got chains around my ankles? Will you undo the shackles? Do you want the shackles undone tonight? Do you want to be free tonight? Do you want to see the glory, the power on the holy spirit? Do you realize your name is stamped in the lamb's book of life, that jesus christ is your redemption, because that's what christmas is about. It's about being redeemed.
Speaker 2:It's not about hanging around the straw in a crib. It's about recognizing, through the pagan way of worshiping, through the paganistic way through the occult at this moment in time, through religion as it's lifting up all the stuff, the bells and the whistles. We've got to lift up Jesus. We've got to lift up the king, because he's not in the crib, he's not on the cross, he's not in the grave, he's seated at the right hand of the Father, interceding for all the saints. We're going to come to the table. Will you come to the table with me? We're just going to take a moment. We're going to take a moment to gather our thoughts. We're going to gather everything. Gather our thoughts. We're going to gather everything.
Speaker 2:Yes, we are in to Christmas Day, we are in to recognizing that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. But through this Advent, through this moment, through this time, maybe you've been in church a long time, maybe you've been in ministry, maybe you've been backwards and forwards through church over your life, through your years. Maybe this is an hour just to take a moment out and just say Jesus, I want you in my life like never before. I want you to reveal yourself so powerfully to me tonight. If it's the morning, say Lord, reveal yourself to me this morning, the afternoon, midday, wherever you are, whatever your time zone is just call out to Jesus, because it's about redemption. And that is what we're about to remind ourselves of as we come to the table and, as I said and as we reflect at Christ, when he was in the garden of Gethsemane, he said, if it is possible, take this cup from me. He was referring to the redemption cup. If it's possible, god, can you take the cross from me? Because the cross is symbolic of redemption. You know, he came to this world to redeem you. He came to this world to set you free. He came to this world to give you a hope, to give you a future. He came to this world to free you from troubles, from fears, from doubts.
Speaker 2:Come to the table with us tonight. Grab a bit of bread, grab a bit of Christmas cake, a bit of Stella Artuoris, whatever you've got, just use it as a symbol. Get a crisp, get a cracker, just grab a bit of water, because it's about the blood of Jesus. And when you look at Exodus Exodus, chapter 12, when you look at Exodus, chapter 12, verse 12, god says the blood will be a sign. The blood will be a sign You're covered in the blood of Jesus, you are redeemed, you are blood washed. You are saved. You are sealed with the Holy Spirit. Don't worry. Don't let worry get hold of you. Let faith rise in your spirit. Let the glory and the power of the Holy Spirit lift you tonight. Wherever you are across the world, come to the redemption table. Wherever you are across the world, come to the redemption table. Come to the table. You are redeemed.
Speaker 2:Jesus in the garden, he said if it is possible, if it's possible, take this cup from me, but not thy will, not my will. Thy will be done. Sorry, come to the table with us tonight, father, we thank you that this bread symbolizes the body of Christ, the lamb that was slain, the body of Jesus that was broken from the garden of Gethsemane to the cross. And when Jesus said it is finished, something happened.
Speaker 2:Humanity had access because the temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom. And he gave access because Jesus said I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me. The curtain is torn. You have access to god through jesus christ, through the living word. So, father, bless this bread in jesus name, amen, name, amen. You're redeemed because you're blood washed. You're alive because the word is alive. You're alive because the word is alive. You are free in the name of Jesus, not because of the infant but because of the king. Not because of the manger but because of the cross. You're on your way to heaven because he chose to save you.
Speaker 2:So, father, we ask you right now, wherever you are across this world, as Christmas is being celebrated, we pray for Kirstama, we pray for Sadiq Khan, that they will become blood-washed, sanctified believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ, believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and Sadiq Khan will say Jesus Christ is my redeeming King. Come to the table, father, we thank you for this cup that symbolizes the blood of Jesus. Cleanse us from the crown of our head to the sole of our feet in Jesus name. Amen. To the sole of our feet. In Jesus' name. Amen. He's alive, the King is alive. He's the Saviour of the world.
Speaker 2:Let's just pray, father, in the name of Jesus. We come to you right now, lord, and we say God, will you move in our lives tonight? Will you set us free tonight, lord, because of redemption? We are alive, because the Saviour came to save, because the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, because you are sealed with the Holy Spirit. And all this is outside of your hands. It's in the hands of God.
Speaker 2:If you have a Bible, turn to Psalm 23. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff. They comfort me. You prepare a table in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runneth over Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Because of redemption. You're on your way to heaven Because of the living word. Jesus is with you Wherever you are tonight. Give your life to Christ. Wherever you are tonight, give your life to Christ.
Speaker 2:If you need healing, let's pray for it. Father, we believe in healing. We believe that you are the healing king. We believe all healing hands are out tonight, lord, and the healing hands are on us tonight, in the name of Jesus, and we're healed and we're set free. Cancer has gone, sickness has gone, fear has gone, adhd has gone, bone wasting diseases are being reversed, lungs are being healed, hearts are being restored, minds are being set free, doubt has been erased.
Speaker 2:At the name of Jesus, father, we rise out of wheelchairs, lord. We walk in the name of Jesus. We stand on the word of God because of redemption, because of the living word of God, because of the word has set us free. You will know the truth and the truth has set you free. You're free tonight. Take the pain, take the fear, god, take the doubt. Lord, touch our hearts, father. Come, lord, bring redemption, bring hope, bring power, bring your word, bring your glory. Lord, bring your strength to us.
Speaker 2:Tonight, across the world, every city, every town, every tribe, every tongue, lord, let us lift up the name of Jesus because at this Christmas time, the Savior is alive, that no government can crush him, no army can destroy him, no occult can stop him, because the kingdom of god, the kingdom of god, is within. You are carrying word, you are carrying hope, you are carrying salvation, you are carrying jesus christ as your lord and savior. May god bless at this hour. May you see the glory of the redemption King in your life. And as you gather for Christmas, wherever you are, just remind yourself that no earthly government can stop the kingdom of God. They're in charge of religion. They can have religion but worship jesus christ.
Speaker 2:Let's pray, father, as we come to a close. We ask you right now, lord, that you will set the captives free from religion and unbelief, and you will stir us so powerfully. Mighty, mighty God, mighty Saviour, redeeming King, we thank you, lord. Lord, we pray for those that do not sleep well. That their sleep will be sweet. We pray for those that are in pain tonight. That pain will be gone. In the name of Jesus, we pray for those that have mental health issues. That they will be healed. We pray for those that are scared of living, for those that are scared of dying, for those that are just scared for the sake of unseen circumstances. Come Holy Spirit, stir us. We pray in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. God bless you wherever you are across the world. We will see you tomorrow morning. We will see you this morning. We will see you this morning, bright and early, bushy, toweled, at 10 am in the church and online.
Speaker 2:Brothers and sisters, do not be in fear about saying merry christmas. Do not use the word xmas. You have to use the word X-mas. You have to use the word Christmas. Christ is alive. God bless every one of you. In Jesus' name. We will see you really, really soon. See you in the morning. Take care, god bless.
Speaker 2:God bless God bless.
Speaker 1:Thank you for listening to us today on Reverend Ben Cooper's podcast. 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.
