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
Spiritual Revival Inspired by the Early Church (#1002 - Elim) 30-12-24
Welcome to Reverend Ben Cooper's Podcast, your go-to source for Christian podcast content focused on spiritual growth, biblical wisdom, and practical Christian living. Each episode is designed to help you deepen your faith, with engaging Bible study podcast sessions and insightful discussions on Christian theology and biblical teachings that will challenge and inspire you.
This podcast is a perfect resource for believers looking to strengthen their Christian faith, improve their church leadership, or find fresh inspiration to live out their faith. Whether you're searching for deep Christian sermons, daily devotionals, or guidance on Christian discipleship, Reverend Ben Cooper offers practical tools for spiritual growth and renewal.
We dive into the core of God’s Word, exploring how it can transform your life through prayer and faith. Whether you’re new to Christianity or have been following Christ for years, this podcast helps you apply biblical principles in your everyday life and grow closer to God. With global Christianity as a backdrop, we touch on how the faith is lived out around the world and how we can make a difference locally and globally.
In each episode, you’ll find encouragement, teaching, and a call to deeper spiritual growth through Christ. Christian inspiration is a key part of our mission, as we help you understand how to live boldly in faith and navigate challenges with a Christian worldview. Join us for a fresh perspective on how to integrate biblical truths into all areas of your life.
From Bible study tips to Christian theology discussions and everything in between, Reverend Ben Cooper’s Podcast offers something for everyone who seeks to grow spiritually and live out their faith with purpose. Tune in to hear biblical wisdom, church leadership insights, and encouragement for your Christian journey.
What if the key to a vibrant faith lies in revisiting the roots of the early church? Explore the transformative power of the Book of Acts as we shine a light on the birth of the church and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. As we journey beyond Advent, we reflect on the powerful reminder that Jesus returns not as a child, but as a reigning King and Judge. Together, we unpack the urgency of calling upon Jesus Christ amidst global changes both in personal lives and within the global church.
In our exploration of church dynamics, we confront the contrasting traditions of prayer and worship that echo through Christianity today. With personal anecdotes and reflections, we challenge the notion of performative prayer, advocating instead for intimate, heartfelt communion with Christ. Whether examining the role of gender equality in church prayer or the return to home-based gatherings reminiscent of early Christians, we emphasize the purity and unity of worship, where men and women unite in a spirit of equality and shared devotion.
Unity in diversity emerges as a central theme, as we delve into the importance of inclusivity within the body of Christ. Through the lens of Acts chapter 2, the narrative of Pentecost highlights the call for a church that mirrors the rich tapestry of all cultures and ethnicities. We tackle topics such as the pitfalls of prosperity-focused doctrines and the dangers of celebrity-driven worship, urging a return to foundational teachings centered on the Word and Spirit. Witness how the Holy Spirit breathes life into these teachings, transforming them from mere knowledge into a dynamic, Spirit-led journey.
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. 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 £3, £5, £8, or £10. 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, pe peeps. God bless you wherever you are, in the mighty name of jesus christ, good evening and welcome. You know, as we are just uh, getting through christmas, as we're coming up to the new year, and wherever you are across the world, may god bless you and strengthen you in the mighty name of jesus christ. We're going to turn straight into the book of acts. Um, we was in acts yesterday in the church service and we thank you for so many people online. We thank you for everyone in the Lord's house and everything that goes along with that drumbeat. But we're so blessed that you're with us and remind each and every one of us tomorrow night. We are online tomorrow night for 11 o'clock. We're online for 11 o'clock tomorrow night, just in the studio, not in the house service, but online. But wherever you are, can you jump to the book of Acts? You know we're going to break bread. We're going to take it a cup, as we always do, but we're going to turn to the book of Acts, chapter one. We're going to go to Acts, chapter one, and may God bless you wherever you are, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. As we sit, as we be still, as we rest in the arms of Christ. You know we are living in glorious days. You know there are great things in your lives that are going to happen this year. You know God is stripping back, god is removing, god is dealing, god is healing. You know it is time to really call on the name of Jesus Christ, really time to call on the Savior. You know the King is alive. Jesus Christ saved our lives, he's changed our lives and Jesus Christ is with you wherever you are situated across the world.
Speaker 2:But we're asking you tonight will you turn to the book of acts? Maybe you're, you're commuting, maybe you're traveling, maybe you're just at home working, whatever you may be doing, but but it's good to just have a look at the scriptures. I think it's really important for our eyes to actually see that. Yes, you can hear my voice, but the bible says to test everything, to check everything. So if you've got it on your phone and you're able to follow the scriptures through, that would be great. So we're in the book of acts, chapter one, and we're going to go to the book of acts, chapter two.
Speaker 2:What I love about acts, it's all to do with the power of the holy spirit, the birth of the church. You know, the church as we see, the biblical church, not the church within the understanding of the mechanics and what we have within the across the world. Just this, this church that just keeps ticking over. We are talking about this church that we are going to read about that was fueled by the power of the Holy Spirit and there are beautiful churches out there across the world. There are many churches that are filled with the power of the glory of God.
Speaker 2:But I believe in these last days, I really believe in the second coming of Christ, and Christ is on his way. I just pray that, wherever you are at this moment in time, that you will really stretch out to God, because there is power in the greatest name in heaven and earth and Jesus Christ is coming back. Yes, we've had Advent, yes, we've been preparing for Advent. Yes, we've had all the razzmatazz for religion and all that sort of stuff, but we've got to remind ourselves the King is coming and he's not coming back as a child. He's coming back as the savior of the world. He's coming back as ruler and judge. He's coming back as the King of glory and we pray that, wherever you are, in the world of audible, in the world of visual, as you're with us at this hour, that you will just seek Jesus Christ like never before, because there is serious change going on within church, within religion itself. You know, god is stripping, god is molding and god is working in each and every one of our lives and there are great days ahead.
Speaker 2:But let's just have a look at these interesting scriptures. So yesterday in the main uh service, as we was in the main service, we was in the book of acts that we're in at this moment in time, in in chapter one, and I read it from verse nine and it was about the ascension. Christ was taken up and he was hidden and we had about 45 minutes sermon yesterday on that alone, about Jesus Christ. But we're still in the book of Acts tonight. I feel God is leading me and keeping me in the book of Acts, chapter 1, but I want to read from verse 12. There's a lot from verse 12, but by God's grace I hope and pray that we can just dip our holy toes into Acts, chapter 2 from verse 1. But let's just see, let's just pray. Let's just pray a moment. Will you join me in prayer? Will you join us in prayer tonight? Let's just pray, father, in the name of Jesus.
Speaker 2:We understand the season that we are in, but, lord, we don't want to keep talking about Advent. We don't want to talk about baby Jesus. We want to get to the cross, lord, because we thank you that Christ come to this earth as the redeeming King, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, and I pray. I pray that wherever every one of us is this evening, physically and spiritually, lord, that you will draw us closer to the cross of Calvary, lord, that we will fall in love with Jesus Christ, you are worthy of all praise. Lord.
Speaker 2:We believe in healings. We believe in miracles. We believe in the power of the word of God. We believe that the glory of God is moving over this globe. We believe that cancer has gone. We believe sickness has gone. We believe that mental health is being dealt with at the name of Jesus. We believe that the power of God's word is moving over each and every one of us tonight, wherever we are capturing this rodeo, broadcast, this podcast, wherever we are, we believe that bones are being healed. We believe blood disorders are being healed. We believe hearts are being healed, lungs are being renewed. We believe minds are being renewed. We believe in miracles and every one us through audible, through visual, wherever we are across the world. Tonight, lord, we believe in miracles. Come Holy Spirit. We pray that you will open our hearts, lord, and you will draw us closer to you, wherever we are in this world. Bring us closer to the cross of Calvary In Jesus' name, amen. Welcome this evening to this online service, to this podcast, wherever you are across the world.
Speaker 2:And we're in verse 12 of Acts, chapter one. And what I love about this, this is about prayer. This is about prayer, first and foremost. It's about prayer, and we could look at a few things that Jesus tells them to do before he ascended, before he was taken up and he was hidden behind the clouds in Acts, chapter one, that we're're in. But if you just go a little bit further into verse 12 and you see what it says there, I love the fact that the women were already in prayer. I think that's really, really important to understand that there was already praying. And let's read it for ourselves. Let's, let's not ramble on about this, ben, let's, let's crack on with this. And it says when they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives it was a Sabbath day walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the upper room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, john, james, andrew, philip, thomas, bartholomew, matthew James, son of Alphaeus, simon the Zealot, and Judas, son of James. Verse 14, I think this is really really important as we look at verse 14, they all join together. They all join together. They all join together continuously or constantly, depending what translation you're reading from constantly in prayer along with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
Speaker 2:I think it's really important that when we look at this model of a prayer meeting, when we look at the model of this church being birthed, there was no segregation. The men and the women when they were praying together, they were worshipping together, they were together in one place. I think it's really really important that, as we look at these scriptures, there is no separation in the house of the Lord. But we have many cultural churches where the women to the left, the men to the right or vice versa, or the men are at the front of the church and the women are pushed up. The women to the left, the men to the right or vice versa, or the men are at the front of the church and the women are pushed up the back of the church doing all the babysitting and all that razzmatazz. But the Bible says that they were all gathered in one space, that there was no separation and they joined together in prayer.
Speaker 2:When you look at these scriptures, it says in verse 14, they all join together continuously in prayer along with the women. The women were already praying. There was already a move of prayer. Prayer is powerful. So when you get prayer and you get the power of the Holy Spirit, the two dynamics that come together suddenly. When you get prayer and you get the power of the Holy Spirit, the two dynamics that come together suddenly, when you get prayer and you get the Holy Spirit moving together, the atmosphere changes. The power of God moves. All things are possible to those who believe.
Speaker 2:But, brothers and sisters, it's really important that we analyze the church within this nation. Sisters, it's really important that we analyze the church within this nation. We are stepping into very powerful and very serious times here within the UK and as we look at the church and the mechanics of the church and religion, there was no separation and there are many of us can think of many churches. There are many of us where we can think of many cultural churches where the women are pushed up the back of the church. You've only got to look at certain other world religions. When you look at the way that the men walk in front of the women, when you look at the women take second place or not even second place, you know, some women are treated worse and they treat their animals in their life. When you look at the church of Jesus Christ, the church that was birthed on the day of Pentecost, no one was greater than anybody else. No one was worthy of holding a higher place than anybody else. The women and the men. They were together and they was praying together. See, prayer is powerful. Prayer changes everything.
Speaker 2:When you look at these scriptures, pick it up in verse 14 of Acts, chapter 1. They all join together continuously in prayer, along with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. And it says in verse 15, in those days, peter stood up among the believers, a group numbering about 120, and they said Brothers, the Scriptures have been fulfilled. I love this part. This is quite an interesting part here. And he says verse 16 of Acts, chapter 1, and said Brothers, the Scriptures have been fulfilled. Which the Holy Spirit spoke Hang on a minute. The Holy Spirit spoke that's really interesting which the Holy Spirit spoke a long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas Now we're entering into another place who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus? He was one of our numbers and we shared in the ministry as we enter into a new day.
Speaker 2:Yes, we're crossing over 24 to 25, and there'll be a load of razzmatazz and all that stuff going on, and I was out and about today in certain geographical places and all I see were posters up talking about the crossover night. This night, the crossover, the watch night, every night under the sun, every night should be a crossover. Every hour is a moment where we should be like watchmen on the wall when we're watching and we're waiting because Jesus Christ is coming and when he comes back, there won't be no chance, no chance whatsoever on the second coming of Jesus Christ. It's really really important, really important, brothers and sisters, that we prepare ourselves for what lies ahead, and what I'm getting at at this moment in time is that we cannot do anything without the Holy Spirit. With the Holy Spirit, the power of the Spirit of God changes the dynamics of everything that we do. Yes, we can be in prayer, but when you get the power of the Holy Spirit coming along with that, you've got prayer, you've got Scripture and then you've got the Holy Spirit. Miracles happen when you start praying the word of god.
Speaker 2:If you're someone that is maybe shy or a bit worried about praying and you're in a church and you feel a bit pressurized to to pray out and all that sort of stuff, you know, just open the bible in the church service and turn to psalm 23 and and because that's prayer, we haven't got to think of these great, long, elongated sentences where we're shouting and we're dancing. You know what? I have been in so many prayer meetings over the years. I've been in so many prayer meetings that are so noisy and so loud. The devil was running the prayer meeting. It was so far, when I think about it, so far away from the holy spirit. There was noise, there was chanting, there was everything going on.
Speaker 2:But when you think about what prayer is, prayer is about just coming before christ and saying jesus, I thank you for this day. You know, I don't know what it is within the world of Pentecostalism. I don't know what it is in the evangelical movement where we've got to make so much noise. The louder we are, the more Jesus is with us. I have been such a twit some days, I have been such a loony tune, because the louder it has been, the more closer I thought I was to god. The louder the church was, the louder the prayer meetings, the, the shouting, all that sort of stuff. You know, I feel ashamed when I, when I think about it. Sometimes now I think, my goodness gracious me. What was ever going on? And that is in Pentecostalism, that is in the evangelical movement and, as we understand that, what we call. Oh, you're a Pentecostal, I believe. What does that mean? I believe in the birth of Pentecost that we're going to look at in chapter 2 at the moment. But what's important is if you are in a church, or if you know people that are in a church that segregates the men and the women. It's very, very dangerous because it's putting certain human beings in front of other human beings, and that's not the scripture.
Speaker 2:The scriptures are extremely clear here. This is the birth of the church. This is the birth. This. This is really really important when you look at these scriptures. This is what God told, through Christ to the disciples and the women Wait and, wait and wait. If I go back up to chapter 1, and it says there, where am I? Where am I?
Speaker 2:Chapter 1, verse 1, and it says I wrote about these, what Jesus was about to do, the teaching until the day was fulfilled and was taken up to heaven. After giving instruction to the Holy Spirit to the apostles who he had chose After his suffering, he said he showed himself to the men and those around, giving him proof that he lived. And as I just quickly run my eyes down, and he says there, on one occasion, verse 4, on one occasion, while they was eating together and they was together, he gave this clear command do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my father has promised, which you've heard me speak about. And it says in verse five, for John baptized with water but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Come on Baptism in the Holy Spirit. You know, in the church we talk about water baptism and it's important because Christ was baptized in water. But we talk about water baptism and it's important because Christ was baptized in water.
Speaker 2:But what I love about John the Baptist, john the Baptizer, that he done that to Christ? There was no crowd, there was no one around. But the church loves to put on a show. You know the church, you know the mechanics of church, and church loves to put on a show and we baptize 10, 15, 20, 30, and all that sort of stuff. But you know what, when, when jesus got, uh, baptized by john the baptizer, it was just christ. It was christ and it was john.
Speaker 2:I think it's really, really important that we understand it's not about the crowd, it's not about the crowd, it's about following jesus. It's not about going to these churches, these mega churches, where they're absolutely jammed to the door and all this noise and everything going on. You know, I think we're living in a time now where we've got to almost retract from certain churches and certain areas of church and literally go back to what we call home church. You know, come back to basics, come back to the root. You know, because when you look at the birth of the church of Jesus Christ, christ said to them I want you to wait and to be still in an upper room, approximately 120 of them was just in prayer. And what I find is really fascinating is in Acts, chapter one, verse 14, it's really, really important that we grasp this.
Speaker 2:If you are going to a church and they are segregating the men and the women, that's not scripture, because in verse 14 of acts, chapter 1, it says they all join together constantly in prayer, along with the women and mary, the mother of jesus and his brothers. They was already in prayer. Let me tell you this. The they was already in prayer. Let me tell you this. The women was already in the upper room. The men came along and the men joined the prayer meeting. The men did not start the prayer meeting. The men came along after the service was already moving and there was no segregation between male and female. They was all intertwined in the power of prayer.
Speaker 2:If you go to churches where they separate and they put the women at the back and the men at the front, or left and right and all that sort of stuff, it's not the church of Jesus Christ. Women should be allowed to go to the front of the church, sit at the front of the church. They should be able to go to the left. The right Men should be able to move, sit wherever you want If man is dictating and if there is a group of men there and the men are holding that power over women. That is not a church of Jesus Christ. You've got to be careful. That could be an occult, because when you get into an occult you find that there is segregation. And the Bible says that the men and the women were together in prayer. They was not separated. They was together in the upper room 120 human beings together waiting on the power of the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 2:But if you are in a church that is clearly seeing separation, the men at the front taking priority and the women to the back and you see this in a lot of world religions the way the men uh treat the women, but that is obviously not of christ and you can see that the men are dictators and taking control. That's what we've got to be careful in the church, because in the church of jesus christ you can sit where you want, you can go right down to the front, you can sit on the floor, you know. But there are certain cultural churches of every color, of every size, where the men take priority. Well, that is not scripture here, because this was the birth of the church, and the birth of the church says that men and women were together in prayer. And so often what you find in a lot of churches is that the men are down the front and the poor women are pushed to the back and the left and the right looking after the children and getting lost, and it's just like the, the mums, suddenly become this babysitting service so the men can get down the front and be holy and mighty. But let me tell you this, women, if you're online tonight, if you are in a church where you feel that you're segregated and pushed to the back, I would leave that church because that is not scriptural. Yes, there might be a few scriptures that someone could bring to me, but I could counteract that very clearly how God is very, very clear on what he says about the power of prayer and the women and the men together.
Speaker 2:We are talking about the birth of the church of Jesus Christ. There is no segregation. It doesn't. Man does not take the priority in the upper room. It says the men join the others, the others were the women and suddenly, when they was together in unity in prayer, something happens. See, when you got segregation, it is disruptive. When you have segregation, there is disorder and it's not according to the word of god. So if you are in a church where, as a woman or or a young, a young person, and you feel that you are being ostracized because you are a woman and and you are being put to the back, I would really tell you to leave that church.
Speaker 2:Because when you look at the birth of the church, let's read it for ourselves verse 12 of acts, chapter 1 they returned to jerusalem from the hill called mount of olives a sabbath day walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were the men. It says peter, john, james, andrew, thomas, bartholomew, matthew, james, simon the zealot, judas, son of james, and it says they all joint together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. In those days, peter stood up among the believers, a group numbering around about 120, and he said Brothers, the scriptures have been fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas.
Speaker 2:This is really, really important when you look at these scriptures here. The Holy Spirit, through the power of God and through Jesus Christ, is not segregating women. If you are in a church when there's segregation, I will tell you now to leave that church. If you are a woman and you are being pushed to the back, to the left, the right, and you feel that you can't go down the front and sit at the front and it's dominated by the men of the church, there's every possibility that they are following occultic practices, the occult world. In the church of Jesus Christ, there is no separation. Mary, the mother of Jesus and his brothers they was together in prayer. No one took priority. Really, really important. But I think this is important as well, this scripture, as we dip our toes and we move a little bit further on, in verse 16, and it says and brothers, the scriptures have been fulfilled through the power of the Holy Spirit, which he spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as a guide to those who arrested Jesus. He was one of the number who shared in this ministry.
Speaker 2:Sisters and brothers, you've got to be very careful of certain characters that you could call a Judas Now. I've got to be careful because I don't want to push that drum too much tonight, because we're talking about the birth of the church, but what the scripture is telling us, just because they are in a ministerial position, just because they're in the church, be careful of what their agenda might be, be careful of what they might do according to the cash, according to money, because that is what Judas done. He was tempted to sell Jesus and he sold Jesus, but the money was given back. But what I want to get back to tonight is, if you're with me tonight, turn to the book of Acts. And we're still in the book of Acts. So what we get from the book of Acts, chapter 1, verse 12, down to about 16, it says that the men joined the women in the upper room under the instruction of Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, and then, as they was waiting and as they was just sitting, and as they was praying, as they was worshipping Christ, suddenly their lives were transformed. In the book of Acts, chapter 2. So if you just run your eyes over and it says when the day of Pentecost came, they were all together, very, very important, it says they was all together.
Speaker 2:So unity is critical within the body of Christ you will find that a good church, a scriptural church, a church that is pushing the drum of Jesus Christ, there won't be no segregation and there won't be one tribe, so to speak. I've got to be careful what we're saying here, when you look if you've got one culture in a church, if you've got one colour in a church, if you've got one, and the church of Jesus Christ is a mixed bag of humanity, but if you are going to a church where it is completely people of all A and then you go to another church and it's people of completely B, you know it's not healthy. It's not healthy having these churches that are primarily a certain color, from a certain culture, from a certain ethnicity, from a certain understanding that becomes an occultic way. You need to find a church which is all sorts and I'm not talking about licorice, all sorts, I'm talking about every human being. You know, it's really, really important to understand that a healthy, biblical church is mixed up of all types of people, of all types of human beings, with all types of colours, with all types of language, of all types of tongue, of all types of language, of all types of tongue, of all types of cultural differences, because it just shows you that when you are together, what happens is the Holy Spirit brings you all together. But if you are in a church that is just of one color, of one culture, and the doors are locked and it doesn't allow anybody in. And when that person comes in to that church from a different land or a different color or a different culture and you start to feel very uncomfortable, you should be able to walk into a church of any size, of any color, of any culture and you should feel the presence of God, drawing you into your brothers and sisters.
Speaker 2:Because when you look at these scriptures, really really clear to see, because when you look at these scriptures, really really clear to see, very clear to see that there was no separation of male and female. It says they was together in one place and they was obedient to the scriptures and they was in prayer and they was waiting and then suddenly, as they was waiting, through the obedience of what Christ told them, through the power of instruction, I find that what we, what we experience now, is that when they were together and they were all together in one place that is really, really important In verse 1 of Acts, chapter 2, when the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. They were together. There was no line in the sand, there was no distance between the men at the front, three empty rows, and then the women and the children were at the back trying to find a way forward. What I find is really, really interesting that Christ welcomes everybody in. He never rejects anybody. You've only got to look at the miracles that he done the feeding of the 5,000, the loaves and the fish.
Speaker 2:The scripture says that everybody was together. The men and the women and the children were together. There was unity, there was no segregation. There wasn't the women chucked over, right over in the backfield and the men were at the front getting priority. The Bible says that the disciples distributed the food and everybody ate together and there was unity. That is a healthy church. That is so, so critical.
Speaker 2:But if you are a church that is just of one tribe, of one color, of one culture, you really have to question. And then when you look at the men of the church and the women of the church, they all look the same. You understand what I'm saying. It doesn't matter what cultural differences they come from, it doesn't matter where they are in the world. You know there are certain areas where churches don't mix because we're of this tribe, we're of that color, we're of this belief, we're of that belief. There is so much discord within the world of church we are starting to find there are a lot of issues going on, but you need to find a church where everybody is welcome, of every color, of every age, of every ethnicity, of every certain circumstance of life. Everybody is welcome in the kingdom of God.
Speaker 2:And the scripture has made it very clear already in Acts chapter 1 and Acts chapter 2, that the Bible says that they were together, that there was a togetherness, that there was no separation, that there was no one color, one tribe, one cultural understanding. The Bible is extremely clear that they were together. See, when you're together, what happens? The power of the Holy Spirit moves. When there's separation, there's discord. According to the word of God, and the Bible is extremely clear On the day of Pentecost. What was the day of Pentecost? What was that? It was the birth of the church of Jesus Christ, not the birth of Elim, not the birth of AOG, not the birth of the Church of England or Catholicism, not the birth of the church, of any cultural church, not the birth of anything, but the birth of the Scripture Church, the Church of Jesus Christ.
Speaker 2:Jesus Christ is the head of the church, and if Jesus Christ isn't the head of the church that you go to, if Jesus Christ isn't the Lord and Savior of that church, you need to exit that church and that denomination. If the church isn't preaching the Gospels of Jesus Christ, if it isn't preaching the blood, the fundamental points of Christianity and the doctrines of grace, if the doctrines are not correct, what have you got? You've got discord. When you've got discord, you've got man. When you've got man in the pulpit, you've got trouble, you've got segregation and you've got man's way of doing things.
Speaker 2:Sisters and brothers, I believe it's a time to really analyze the church that we go to and look at the church that we go to. Is this church all about money? Is this church all about prosperity? Is this church all about segregation? Is there segregation in the congregation? Are the women kept to the back and the men all the front? Is it one color? Is it pushing money all the time? Do they preach about the cross? Do they talk about real life situations, real life situations as a human being? Do they talk about the blood of Jesus? Are they taking the bread and the wine?
Speaker 2:Every time a church gathers together, whether it's one or two, whether it's thousands, it doesn't matter how many members are in the congregation, the bible says, through jesus christ as often as you gather together, do this in remembrance of me. It doesn't matter how big the church is. We should be breaking bread together. Every time we walk into the house of the Lord, every time we go live, even online, if I'm here on my own or if there's one or two, three or four, we always break bread and take the cup, because Jesus gave us instruction. So if you are in a church that is of one color, that's very dangerous. If you're in a church where man is taking priority down the front, that's very dangerous. If you're in a church where women are pushed to the back and separated with lines of chairs almost, and you know that there is a, there is a division, that is a dangerous church.
Speaker 2:If you're a church where they're not talking about the gospel of jesus christ, if you are a church where they're putting more emphasis on worship and not on word, because word came first, how do you know that? Well, if you have a Bible in front of you, if you look at the Gospel of John, chapter 1, it's very clear. It says in the beginning was the word See. It is the word that is critical. It is the word of God. That is absolutely critical for everything. When the word is given and the word is received, then worship can begin. See, we can't have worship without the word. You know, you've got to have word.
Speaker 2:But what you have to understand there are many churches out there that will put so much emphasis on worship over the scripture and you will find that they will. They might have an amazing array of of musicians and it sounds great and it's powerful and it's moving. But what are you moving in? Are you moving in emotions? Are you moving in the Spirit? And then, when it comes to the scriptures, you might as well listen to a puppet up the front, because there are a lot of celebrity churches that are so boring.
Speaker 2:When it comes to the message, you've got to go to church and you've got to be challenged. We've got to be challenged by the scripture. We need to hear messages that challenge us in our everyday walk with Jesus Christ. But what we got is an upside down church where the worship is banging and ripping across the church, not necessarily the worship of God, the worship of man and those that write the songs that we sing. But what's important is that suddenly you've had all that worship. You've had all the noise, the bells, the whistles, the smoke machines, all the fireworks, the dancing around in the corner of prophetic art, running around with flags, jumping around shouting hallelujah, and then suddenly the preacher gets up and you might as well go and watch eastenders because it is so boring.
Speaker 2:You listen to the messages the majority of messages that come out of pulpits. Pulpits are not challenging. We need messages that come out of pulpits are not challenging. We need messages that are talking about the doctrine, the second coming of Christ. We need messages that will take us to the cross and hold us at the cross, and we need messages of the power of the Holy Spirit. We don't need messages to blow smoke up our own chimneys, we need the power of the word of God. It's critical.
Speaker 2:So when you look at the gospel of John, chapter one, verse one, it says in the beginning was the word. If God wanted us to worship before the word, what would he have said? He would have said something so, so easy, wouldn't he? In the gospel of John, chapter one, it says in verse one in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. In verse 1, in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. In the beginning was the Word. If God wanted worship first, he would have made that clear. You can't have church without the Word of God. You cannot have revival, you cannot have healing just through worship alone. It's critical because we got to be careful about worship. Why we got to be careful about worship?
Speaker 2:Why was Lucifer kicked out of heaven? God gave him one job, and one job alone. He was the lead of worship. He was the top of the tree, he was the lead Let me use this terminology he was the lead musician. He was absolutely beyond human understanding. He was so gifted in that way of music. But what happened? Pride came in, pride came in. Pride is in worship in. Pride came in, pride is in worship. You will find very, very clearly that there are many worship leaders across the world that are very what Spirit filled, filled with the word, filled with pride. Because when you start getting people patting you on the back, going, oh, that's a great song, wonderful, you do're wonderful, you're wonderful, wonderful. What happens? Pride enters in. Why did lucifer satan? Why did he get kicked out of heaven? Because he wanted to be worshipped. He wanted to be worshipped.
Speaker 2:So it's really, really important that first and primarily comes. It has to be Word, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When you look at this scripture here, very clear if you look at the book of Acts, that we're in chapter 2, verse 14, and it says when Peter stood up with the eleven, he raised his voice and he addressed the crowd. And what happens? He is preaching. What is he doing? He's preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. If God wanted us to have worship before the word, the scriptures would be extremely different. But it says that he delivered a message. He delivered a message, that he delivered a message. He delivered a message.
Speaker 2:It's so important to understand that when I go to a church, I need to hear the word of God. If it's just worship and it's just testimony and it's just notices and it's just that it's religion, you're better off to find a church that is preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, because worship comes out of scripture, worship comes out of word. Word has to be in the house of the Lord for worship to take us to the Holy Spirit. So when you look at this scripture here and prayer is critical, prayer is the foundation of a church. Prayer is so, so, so important. When you look at the church, you're at ask how many prayer meetings are there in the church itself? And it's not about the amount of people that go to the prayer meetings, it's do you have a prayer meeting? Do you have a gathering where you are praying together in the lord's house? Do you have regular prayer? And even at the prayer meetings, what should be taking place? Scripture should be read the breaking of bread and the taking of the cup. Because this is what happens. This is the birth of the church of jesus christ.
Speaker 2:In acts, chapter 2, verse 1. When the day of Jesus Christ In Acts, chapter 2, verse 1, when the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly, the sound like a blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire separated, and came and rested on each of them. Did we get that? This is a rhetorical question. The bible says that the power of god, a sound from heaven blowing like a mighty wind, came out of noah and filled the house where they were sitting, and it seemed to be like tongues of fire, one spirit, one flame come down and it says there they saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that had separated and came and rested on each of them. Someone tell me what verse four says? All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Speaker 2:That tells you so much there that when you look at these scriptures, if you are in a church that is of one color, of one tribe, of one culture, that could be a very dangerous scenario. Yes, I know there are pockets and it has to happen in certain parts of the world, but if you are in the West and you are in a church, if you're in the UK, that is just primarily of one shape, of one color, of one understanding, of one look, we have to question is that the church of Jesus Christ? Because the scriptures that I have taken us through this evening by the power of the Holy Spirit tells us very clearly and the last part we're coming to the table in two minutes, we just got two minutes just to get to the table and in Acts, chapter two, it tells us that a flame came down and it separated and it rested on each and every one of them, even the mother of Jesus. Don't you find that interesting that she gave birth to the living word? She gave birth to the living word and it wasn't until she was in the upper room that she got filled with the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 2:Think about that for a moment. She was carrying the God above all gods. She was carrying the God above all gods. She was carrying the king above all kings. She was carrying the great I am. She was carrying word. This tells you a lot. This tells you so much.
Speaker 2:You can carry word, but without the spirit. There's something missing, something very, very interesting that's going along in these scriptures. She carried word, she gave birth to the living word, but she didn't get the fulfilling of the Holy Spirit until the scripture that we are in the Bible says in Acts, chapter 1, verse 1, all of them were together. And it says in verse 14, they all joined together continuously in prayer, along with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. Isn't that interesting that she carried word? She carried the authority of scripture, but she changed when the holy spirit dropped on her. She did not speak in any other tongue. She did not speak in any other language until the power of the holy spirit rested upon her. And it says in verse 4 all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Speaker 2:See, the Word and Spirit they go together. See, you can have knowledge, but without the Holy Spirit it is just knowledge. But when you've got Word and you've got Spirit, it becomes something different. What happens? It becomes revelational knowledge because the spirit reveals the word of God. But no man can get Christ, the full or just a grain of an understanding of Jesus, unless the Holy Spirit is in their lives. It can look like an education. That is the problem with religion. Religion has the word, has this understanding, has this academic way of looking at it, but without the Holy Spirit it's not going to come to much. Not because there is not power in the word and the word alone, because we've seen that. But this is the safeguard. This is the precious jewel in the crown, and the word alone because we've seen that. But this is the safeguard, this is the, the precious jewel in the crown of the word of god. This is what's so important about the word of god when the word and the spirit collide, when the word and the spirit are running through the fabric and the tapestry is together, there is power. There is power in the name of jesus.
Speaker 2:Brothers and sisters, we're seconds away. We're seconds away. We're seconds away from the table. So, wherever you are, will you join me right now? We've only got five minutes of this service, so I pray that, wherever you are right now, that as we gather at the table now, in the mighty name of Jesus, father, we come to you and we thank you that through the power of the word, and we thank you that through the power of the word, and we thank you that through the power of the Holy Spirit. So, lord, I pray that we will have the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 2:Will you join us at the table? Grab yourself some bread, grab yourself a bit of grape juice, and we're going to break this bread. Father, we thank you for this bread that symbolizes the body of Christ and right now, lord, as we break this bread together, we believe in the power of the Holy Spirit. We believe that, through the scripture of Jesus Christ, that the men and the women were together in prayer, that there was no segregation. The women were together at the forefront of the ministry of Jesus Christ and the men. They were all interwoven, the tapestry of men and women, together in prayer, because prayer is worship. So, father, we thank you for this bread that symbolizes the body of Christ, and as we break this bread, I thank you, father, that, wherever we are across the world, that Jesus Christ is our Redeemer, the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
Speaker 2:Come, holy Spirit, carry us to the cross in jesus name amen, spirit of the living God, we come to you right now in the name of Jesus. We thank you for the power of God and, lord, we pray for an outpouring of your spirit as we gather around the word. We believe that the word and the spirit and the father go together the father, the son, the holy spirit. So, lord, we pray for whatever church we go to, that every time we have time together in the Lord's house, we break bread and we take it a cut. And, lord, if we are at a church where the women are put at the back of the service, at the back of the church, we will leave that church. Lord, if it's of one color, of one tribe, of one look, of one understanding, lord, we will get our towels out of there, in the name of Jesus, and we will go to a church where there's men, lord, we will get our towels out of there, in the name of Jesus, and we will go to a church where there's men, women, children, cats, dogs, whatever it may be, we're all together in the name of Jesus. It looks like Noah's Ark. So, father, in the name of Jesus, I pray that if we are in a church that is driven by culture, we will leave. If we are in a church that is driven by culture, we will leave. If we are in a church that is driven by colour, we will leave. Lord, I pray that we will all find a church that is driven by the word, not by pastor, not by the leaders, but by the spirit of the living God Because, lord, as we enter into 2025, I pray that we will be filled to the full measure of your glory. In Jesus' name, bless this cup. Amen.
Speaker 2:Sisters and brothers, we're coming to a close. We've got one minute and 23 seconds left before we are out of here, before the electric man cuts off the electric. Brothers and sisters, as we just come to a close of this, may God bless you and touch your hearts. We will be back here tomorrow at 11 o'clock for online service only, but please check the church that you're in. Are you breaking bread together at every service? If the men are at the front and there's division and the women at the back, leave the church. If you're a church that is of one color, leave the church. If you're at the church and all they're asking for is money, money, money, money, money. Leave the church. Find yourself a church that is preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, the blood of the Redeemer. You are redeemed, you are blessed. You are a child of the living God. May God bless you and strengthen you. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, we're out of here. We will see you tomorrow night. God bless, take care.
Speaker 1:Thank 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. 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, thank you.
