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
Guided by Scripture Through Life's Fires (#1009 - Elim) 13-01-2025
What if you could walk through the toughest valleys of life with unshakeable faith and confidence? Imagine facing life’s deepest challenges—whether it’s health problems, financial struggles, or emotional exhaustion—and still finding peace through faith in Christ. In this powerful Christian podcast episode, we explore how the timeless teachings of Psalm 23 offer profound comfort and guidance during life’s hardest moments. Psalm 23 for healing and strength serves as a constant reminder that God is always with you, no matter what trials you face. Whether you are dealing with personal hardships, financial difficulties, or emotional distress, the eternal truths of God’s Word can bring Christian encouragement and peace in every situation.
Faith in God’s promises is the key to walking through the valleys of life with hope. Psalm 23 offers a roadmap for finding peace in God's presence, even when life seems overwhelming. The Good Shepherd leads us beside still waters, restores our souls, and provides guidance through every dark valley. God’s love and support are never-ending, and you can trust that He is with you, providing comfort in your most difficult moments.
In addition to the powerful message from Psalm 23, we delve into the importance of resisting the pressures of conformity and choosing a life grounded in the truth of Scripture. Living by faith—just as Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego stood firm in their refusal to worship the golden idol—teaches us how to live boldly for Christ, even in the face of fierce opposition. These three biblical heroes refused to compromise, and their faith in action led to a miraculous victory. This story is a profound example of how standing firm in your Christian faith can lead to breakthroughs, especially when faced with financial challenges or spiritual warfare.
In this episode, we also share personal testimonies of overcoming fear and financial struggles. God’s Word is a lamp to our feet, guiding us through every obstacle. We reflect on Psalm 119:105, emphasizing how the Bible's guidance can transform your journey. Jesus Christ, the way, the truth, and the life, is our ultimate source of strength. With Him, we can navigate life’s obstacles with unwavering confidence. By keeping our eyes on Christ, we gain a renewed sense of purpose, courage, and spiritual growth.
Living by faith and trusting in God's eternal promises is not just an ideal, but a practical and powerful way to live. The example of Joshua and Caleb in the Bible shows how faith can empower us to overcome even the most challenging circumstances. Just as they trusted in God’s guidance to claim victory in the Promised Land, we can confidently face life’s battles by walking in faith and relying on God’s strength. No matter how daunting the challenge, God’s promises will always lead us through.
In the midst of your struggles, it’s crucial to remember that you are not alone. The Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is at work in your life, empowering you to overcome obstacles. As you walk through life's challenges, trust that God’s strength will be made perfect in your weakness. This is the essence of Christian strength—the ability to rise above life’s trials with the help of God’s love and grace.
This episode isn’t just about surviving life’s difficulties; it’s about thriving through them with unshakable faith and trust in the peace of Christ. When we allow God’s presence to lead us, we experience the freedom and peace that surpasses understanding. The teachings from Psalm 23 remind us that God’s peace is available in every season, and with Him, we can find comfort and hope in the midst of any storm.
We invite you to join us in reflecting on ho
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Speaker 2:Yeah, good evening. Wherever you are this evening, we thank God for your life in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. We're going to jump straight into Psalm 23. We're in Psalm 23 this evening and wherever you are situated across the world, we just pray that the Holy Spirit will lead you. You know, the Word of God will guide you. The Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost, will be with you wherever you are at this moment in time. We just ask each and every one of you if you could just get yourself ready.
Speaker 2:In about 30 minutes' time, we're going to come around the table. We're going to gather around the Passover table and we're going to break bread together. We're going to take a cup together, as we always do in the Lord's house. Whether we're online or whether it's just a couple of us in the studio or there's just a few of us in church or the church has got people in it, we'll always break bread and take of the cup. It's so, so important. But Psalm 23,. This is a really, really powerful psalm. We spent so much time within this psalm over the years. We have really, really spent a lot of time in this psalm, podcasting, sermonizing and all that sort of stuff that rumbles along with that. And the area that I just want to get us to if the Lord will tarry, if we can is round about verse 4. It's round about verse 4, so let's get into Psalm 23,. And we welcome every one of you across the other side of the globe. For those that are live streaming at this moment in time, those that are on visuals, those that are on uh radio with us and those that are in the world of podcasts, that will capture it a little bit later on, but you can uh back, listen to every service that we do. You know. Clear, audible, you know to a certain degree, but for when we're in the main uh church, we've always got a bit of a, a back echo going on there, um, but when we're in the studio, we try and get it as clear as we possibly can. But God bless you wherever you are and we thank you for staying with us and we thank you that the numbers are rising wherever you are across this world. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, the Lord is with each and every one of us. So let's turn to Psalm 23. And we want to spend a little bit of time, if we can, in verse four. So, if you're with us this evening, grab yourself a Bible. Grab yourself a bible. Grab yourself a cup of tea, cup of coffee. Get yourself ready as we break bread together. Wherever you are gathered across this world. We are blessed that you are streaming with us and we are so grateful for the tens of thousands of downloads and you can find us through the advert and everything. You know where we are now and, uh, no doubt the links will come up in just a few moments.
Speaker 2:Psalm 23, beautiful psalm, powerful psalm. You know this psalm of David. It's beautiful and if you're struggling for prayer, if you're struggling in life, if you've got issues going on and you don't feel well and you feel quite run down and you feel exhausted in life and you're uncertain of things that's going on, it's really, really important that you grab this psalm, psalm 23,. It's six verses. It's so powerful, it's jammed, it's rammed pack, you know, with the Holy Spirit and the glory of God. So it's a great psalm to have for a prayer backup. It's a great psalm to have right in your pocket. You know when things are not looking too good If you're facing the doctor, if you've got financial issues, if you're on a commute into work and things are not too good, or if you're just at home and you're not feeling too well. You know, this psalm 23 is the one that will really lift you and carry you and help you in your life. You know, just in the daily commute of your life we've got a bit of noise there it's me with a microphone, so I apologize about that. Wherever you are at this moment in time, you never give up. You give up. God is with you and the power of the Holy Spirit is with each and every one of us.
Speaker 2:Psalm 23. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his namesake. 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 before me 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, as I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Speaker 2:You know, this psalm is a beautiful psalm. It gives peace, it gives joy. It gives peace, it gives joy, it gives hope. You know, the Lord is our shepherd. He's telling us there really, really clear. But let's just take our eyes straight the way down to verse four. And it says even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we want to encourage you tonight. If life as we've crossed over from 24 to 25, if it looks like it's not no better than what it was in 24, we pray tonight. We pray that the fire of god, the presence of the holy spirit, the love of jesus christ will be wrapped around each and every one of you tonight and you will feel his very presence.
Speaker 2:But this verse, uh, verse four, is quite interesting because this feels like everyday life, this feels like everyday scenarios, this just feels like an everyday situation. And it says even though I walk through, we've got to remind ourselves that we're walking through this world. We're walking through this life. Yes, we've got some terrible things happening around the world. The Bible is so on point, so on time. But the Bible says, even though I walk through the valley of, we've got to remind ourselves. It's just a valley of, a valley of the shadow of you know, we've spent many hours in this coffee and prayer. We've spent time, you know, chewing over the fat of this scripture. We've looked at, we've sermonized through it and the word of god never, never grows old. The word of god never, never grows in in a way of oh dear me. I've that Because every time we go back to the text, every time we go back to the Word of God, every time we get back to the Scripture, every time our eyes link into what the Word says, god's Word feeds us, god's Word strengthens us.
Speaker 2:If you have a Bible in front of you tonight, if you're commuting or wherever you are across the world and may God bless you right now but grab a Bible, grab even if you've got your smart device, your phone. Just quickly go up Stuart's online. He will ping this up. If you just have a quick look at Psalms 119, 105. It's a beautiful Psalm, it's a long Psalm, but Psalm 119, 105 says your word is a lamp unto my feet, a light for my path. So there are indicators through the word, across the word, around the word, that that we are going to journey through pretty dark areas. The bible also talks about, uh, the, the, the journey, the pilgrimage that we're on. So, psalm 119, 105 your word is a lamp unto my feet, a light for my path.
Speaker 2:So, when you look at these scriptures, jesus says I am the light of the world and, brothers and sisters, wherever you are, we pray that you will not be fearful, you will not be doubtful. You might be walking through a valley that replicates pain. You might have pain in your body tonight. You might have fear in your body. There might be bills, financial areas that are impossible to meet at this moment in time. There may be some areas with your mind, your cognitive processing. You might be really anxious tonight. You may be really fearful tonight. You may be very unsteady on your feet tonight you may be very uncertain about life and life itself. But we want to encourage you wherever you are across the world that we are walking through at this moment in time. Life is just a walk through. We are walking through the bible says the just shall live by faith, and it might look dark, it might look bleak, it might be, might look worrisome and certain areas of life, and we want to encourage you right now.
Speaker 2:Your word is a lamp unto my feet, a light for my path. You know, when you look at that scripture it's come up on the timeline there and as you have a look at that, your word, you know your word is what do we mean by the word? We understand through scripture, through the word of god, through theological understanding, really, really clear that the word of god is christ. Christ is the living word. So when you look at that scripture, and that scripture alone, your word is a lamp. You know it's covering so much.
Speaker 2:We can so often through crises, through fears, through doubts, through worries, through trepidation, just through areas of our lives, we can hit points of anxiety, we can hit points of fear, we can hit points of doubt. Financial pressures We've just come out of a commercialized Christmas. You know everything that goes on like that and trying to keep up with next door and throwing money around like a man with five arms as if we've got it everywhere. You know it's got to be. We've got to be really, really careful. You know we've got to be absolutely careful that we don't get drawn, that we don't get taken into what the world is.
Speaker 2:The Bible is very, very clear. It says do not conform to the pattern of the world. That's really critical for us as believers, that we do not conform to the pattern of the world. What is the world doing at this moment in time? What is the world around us? What is the criteria of the world happening in work, in life, in family, in situation? What is the world doing? Whatever the world is doing, we cannot conform, we cannot lie down, we cannot lay in, we cannot walk with, we cannot move in Whatever the world is doing. We need to do a turnaround and walk the opposite direction. We cannot afford to walk with the crowd of life. If we walk with the crowd of life, we will just be literally just pulled along and we understand that's herding and that's what the government wants. The government loves to herd people, it loves to control us by fear and doubt.
Speaker 2:So when we're looking at psalm 23, if you look at psalm 23 and it's a beautiful psalm, as I've read out it's a simple psalm. It's the psalm of david. It's got power, it's got authority. But if you are with me tonight and have a look at verse four, so we've got on the screen and we've had up there earlier on that our brother, uh, stewart, put up for us you know psalm 23 that we're in at this moment, but he also we've actually put up there. We put up psalm 119, 105.
Speaker 2:Your word is a lamp unto my feet, a light for my path. Your word is we understand that through scripture, that Jesus Christ is the living word. Your word is Jesus is the way he says within the New Testament. He says I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. So everything is possible through Jesus. So when we go through Christ, all things are accessible. Everything is accessible. Everything is possible. You know, all things are possible to those who believe. So I've got to live by faith and when we live by faith, our lives just transfers and our lives just as we pray, as we believe, as we stand on the word of God.
Speaker 2:Are you in pain tonight? Are you in fear tonight? Are you worried? Are you not sleeping very well? Are there issues in your life? You got financial pressure on you? Have you got marital issues? Are you going through a divorce? Are you worried about work? Are you worried about the situations with the children? It's just an array of things that goes on in life. So we can reflect that through this scripture that we're in psalm 23.
Speaker 2:As you look at psalm 23, verse 4. It's just come up on the screen there. You know, have a look at what it says there. You know, follow that link that's just gone up there. Psalm 23, verse 4. Even though I walk through, we want to encourage you tonight that you are walking through and as you look at that scripture, we've spent many, many hours. We have literally spent hours unpacking, racking back, opening up the envelope. You know, looking at the fluidity of this scripture, you know, looking at the depth of it. And it is timeless.
Speaker 2:The word of God is timeless. It has no end, you know, even it has no beginning. What do you mean? It has no end, you know, even it has no beginning. What do you mean? It has no beginning because jesus says I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.
Speaker 2:So when you think about that, jesus christ has no beginning. He has always been, the father has always been, the holy spirit has always been, god has always been. It's just, it's it's time itself that has had a reference and a starting point. The earth, the geographics of the earth, the makeup of the earth, creation had a starting point, but jesus christ and the father and the holy spirit. There was no time when, suddenly, out of nowhere, jesus, the holy ghost and god appears. You know, they was before time, they created time and it's very difficult for the mind and the human being, for the cognitive processing, for the way of life, just through reasoning, through science, through logic, trying to work out that how can God be before all this world that we see. So there was a time and that the word time is very, very different to to us as it is to god. There was a time when time did not exist as we understand that.
Speaker 2:So when you look at the word of god, christ has always been before we could ever think, before creation was ever spoken into existence. The word was always here. And that is so difficult for human beings to grasp because it's outside of the realms, it's outside of this knowledge, it's outside of the brain, it's outside of thinking, it's outside of logic, it's outside of the test tube of life, it's outside of science, it is beyond, and that is the God that we serve, and we want to encourage you tonight that the God that you serve is walking with you. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. You know, as you walk through life, you know Psalm 23, verse 4, even though I walk through the valley of, you know you might be in a valley tonight. You may be in trouble tonight, you might be in fear tonight, you might be struggling, sleeping, you might be feeling unwell in your body, you might be absolutely exhausted and completely run down. We want to encourage you through the word of God Just keep walking. Just keep walking, just keep moving, in the name of Jesus. If you're in pain, keep walking. If you're in fear, keep walking. If you're in fear, keep walking. If you're in doubt, keep walking. If you're in trouble, just keep walking. Just keep moving.
Speaker 2:Even though I walk through, we've got to understand that we've got to walk through every second, every moment. The greatest walkthrough that we have just experienced was from New Year's Eve, from 24 to 25. Each and every one of us are on a walkthrough, as the clock is ticking on this large screen that you can't see in front of us. You know we are walking through and we are walking into destiny and we are walking from history. So as we walk forward, we are creating and we are moving forward to the destinational point that christ has, and as we walk forward in every second and every moment and every millisecond of life, and as we move forward in every second and every moment and every millisecond of life, and as we move forward and there's that enormous clock on the screen that I'm looking at as that is ticking we are walking into destiny, but as we walk in we are leaving history. Every second, every moment, every breath, every thought, everything drops rapidly into history. But we cannot live in history. We've got to live what is in front of us.
Speaker 2:So we need to understand that I might be walking through the valley of the shadow of uncertainty, I might be walking through the valley of fear. I might be walking through the valley of doubt. I might be walking through the valley of financial pressure, I might be walking through the valley of family issues, that there may be many valleys and sometimes it feels like this valley, this life, this continuation of just life, of sickness, disease, fear, the pressure of the children, the pressure of mortgage, the pressure of rent, the pressure of living, the pressure of breathing. You know, life is just like walking through a valley. We want to encourage you tonight to keep walking and, if you can remember what I've just said a moment ago through the Word of God your word is a lamp unto my feet, a light for my path. Your word is completely outstandingly true. Your word is a lamp. You know Jesus says I am the light of the world.
Speaker 2:So when you look at the Old Testament and you bring a correlation and you bring the new with the old, you find cross-references. You know the crisscross of the word of God. It is crisscrossing from old to new. You can't separate it. Yes, we've got a gap between the Old Testament and the New Testament. We have a silent area where God was completely quiet. But the word of God, it doesn't matter about the quietness. That's irrelevant to the distance that that was from the Old to the New Testament. But what we've got to remember is God is the same yesterday, today and forevermore, and his ways are just.
Speaker 2:But wherever you are, we want to encourage you to keep walking, even if your financial situation doesn't stack up. Don't allow the figures on the bank statement, the credit card bill, the gas, the electric. Don't allow all that area of life to control you. Don't allow the worry of the lack of money. Start speaking over your life and saying, father, I thank you right now that you shall supply all my needs according to thy riches in glory. Psalm 23, verse 4 even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, shall fear no sickness, I shall fear no disease, I shall fear no lack of finance, I shall fear no areas of life. Because when you walk with Christ, what we've got to understand is that Christ has already gone before us. Your word is a lamp, so God's word is already making a way where there seems to be no way.
Speaker 2:The Bible says in three areas, three areas of scriptures. It says the just shall live by faith. There is something powerful about living by faith. What is living by faith? How do we bring this to an understanding? Without sermonizing, without unpacking it, without unwrapping it and doing all that sort of stuff, we grab the word of God and we're in Psalm 23.
Speaker 2:So let's take Psalm 23 as this example, and it says the Lord is my shepherd. I'm going to believe. I'm going to believe that the Lord is the shepherd, and the Lord over my life. If he is the good shepherd, he knows exactly what I need, as the sheep. And the Bible says in the analogy of that God tells us through the scriptures that you know.
Speaker 2:When one sheep disappears off the stray, you know Christ stops and says I'm going to go and get the one. You know we are down, we are missing someone. God cares for the one, the individual. God cares for you and it might feel like we've slipped off the wayside, it may feel like that we've gone off the path, but God is with each and every one of us and it says there the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. That is such an interesting scripture Verse one.
Speaker 2:When you look at verse one, you know I shall not be in want. Now. That takes, uh, an area of faith. I shall not be in want. Now. You can bet your bottom dollar through the month of january. We will all find ourselves in financial want somewhere along the drumbeat of life. So we're all waiting for this to come through. We're waiting for the postman to run down the pathway, give us the lovely credit card bill. You know looking frightened, look online at your statements and all that sort of stuff. You know what we're going to remind ourselves of is something that's really, really important that God sees all things. God is about all things. God created all things. God is in all things. He's omnipresent, he's omnipotent and God sees all the pressures, all the worries, all the fears, every area of your life. God sees it.
Speaker 2:And if you are with us tonight, we are in Psalm 23, verse 1. And as we look at verse 1, it says I shall not be in want. Do we realize that faith will take us to a different area of life? We live our lives by our natural perception. We live our lives by smell, touch and the senses, the basic senses of the human being. But the Bible says the just shall live by faith. So when we live by faith, we're living outside of the natural realm of the physicality of the human being and what we are doing. We are living by faith from the word of God that is on the tablet of our heart. So if you look at Psalm 23, verse verse 1, very simply, as we kick off there, it says the lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. Do we realize that god has promises for each and every one of us? God has promises for us. There might be many rivers to cross. There might be many river jordans to cross, there might be red seas to get through, there might be jerichos to come down, but it is by faith.
Speaker 2:When you look at the story of the israelites, joshua and caleb, when they was walking around jericho, that is such a beautiful text that that story, joshua and caleb and the israelites when they walked around, uh, jericho. But if I take us back a moment, see when they was being prepared at the river jordan, before they could cross over, they had to wait three days. They had to get themselves ready for what God had for them. And then suddenly we understand that God told the priests, the Levitical priesthood, to go and stand in the River Jordan. They stood in the River Jordan. We understand through Scripture, by faith, that the waters were held back many, many miles back and they walked through on dry ground, were held back many, many miles back and they walked through on dry ground. But when they got onto the plains of Jericho, what was looking in front of them was Jericho itself.
Speaker 2:So so often we come through waters of trials, of tribulations. We come through one trial, we come through one stretching, we come through one area of life, life. And then suddenly we get onto the plains of Jericho and then in the distance we see this enormous fortified city. But it is by faith, and God gave them instruction for the walls of Jericho to fall. We understand what that scripture was was to be quiet, to walk around, and when you follow instruction from the word of God, it doesn't matter how big the Jericho is, it doesn't matter how big the Goli God, it doesn't matter how big the Jericho is, it doesn't matter how big the Goliath is, it doesn't matter how big the river is, it doesn't matter how big the Red Sea is. That is irrelevant by faith, because all things are possible to those who believe.
Speaker 2:So, as we do a circle and we come back to the simple text that we're in tonight Psalm 23, verse 1, the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want Do we realize that there is a world out there that we don't really tap into, and that is that spiritual world, that is that world of faith, if you have a Bible with you tonight, turn to Hebrews 11, verse 1. We've spent many hours, you know, in this scripture. It's fascinating, it's profound, it is very, very powerful. We're in Hebrews 11,. You know in this scripture. It's fascinating, it's profound, it is very, very powerful. We're in Hebrews 11, verse 1, and it says now faith. So when you look at that scripture, that command. It says now. What does now mean, ben? We understand. It means right now, now, faith.
Speaker 2:And how do I trigger this faith that God has dropped into my spirit as small as a mustard seed? The Bible says faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of God. So my faith will grow, my faith will rise, my belief will rise. It will rise outside of this earth suit that I walk in, because faith is bigger than the earth suit. Faith is bigger in sickness and disease. Faith is bigger than any Gliath in our life.
Speaker 2:When we realize how powerful faith is and what do you mean by faith? Is faith in the eternal god. He says I am the way, the truth, the life. No one comes to the father except through me. So christ has made access to the father. When you realize who the father is, when you understand how powerful the word is, when you realize that you are carrying father, son, holy spirit, uh, the triune, godhead that we serve, all things are possible to those who believe.
Speaker 2:So as we bring this circle of of scripture together, as we, as we bring this parallel with scripture, psalm 23, verse 1 the lord is shepherd, I shall not be in want. So now we accelerate, as I've just said, these thousands of years back from Psalm 23, right up as we take ourselves up into Hebrews 11, verse 1, now faith is Now faith right now. Now faith is the evidence of things hoped for See. Hope is an analogy of faith. When you unpack that and you try to quickly look at the word faith and hope, they are inseparable, they go together like hand in glove. You can't separate that. So now faith is in hoping for the stuff, basically, that is out there in the promised land. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. So my faith, where is this faith? Where is this seed of faith that God has deposited in this earth suit that I walk? It's living with inside of me and this faith will never decrease. This faith will never grow me and this faith will never decrease. This faith will never grow but, sorry, it will never decrease and it will never be taken away, but it will grow when I allow the word of god to lead me. Now.
Speaker 2:The bible says faith and actions go together. We have to put one foot in front of the other foot to make progression in our lives, to walk forward in everyday life. So we get in cars and we drive cars and we got faith in that car. You might be driving at 80, 90 mile an hour around the N25. You've got faith in that vehicle. You sit on the train. You got faith in the train. You've got faith in so many things and areas of life. We got faith in certain things. We've got faith in the phone. We trust, we trust that. But but beyond that we have to get into.
Speaker 2:Let me, let me try and explain this, because time is is escaping each and every one of us. So faith is the invisible substance that no one can see, but it lives within our hearts, our minds, our bodies, our souls. It is this gateway. It is the gateway to seeing the kingdom of God being fulfilled in our lives. So this faith is invisible. It's not tangible, it's not touchable. It's not like the phone, it's not like the communion, it's not like this glass, it's not like this word of God, this paper-back back form of the word of god that I can touch, that I can feel. So it's that was in my potential, my sensual perception, I should say so, that is within my grasp as a human being. I perceive it, I see it, I believe it. That is there.
Speaker 2:So faith is believing that God is going to take us into the spiritual realm, and that realm is what God has for you. That is the Jeremiah 29. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. You know we need to tap into the Spirit of God, the Holy Ghost, because God has something in store for each and every one of you that is literally outside of the natural realm, outside of the mind, outside of the test tube of life, outside of these scriptures that I'm reading. What do you mean? Outside of the scriptures?
Speaker 2:When you look at the word of God, it says God will take you to a place that you never thought you'd ever get to in your life. God will make a way where there is no way psalm 23, verse 1,. You know, as you look at that, I shall not be in want. You know, if we are in want, what we got to say is lord. Will you remove this fear and this anxiety that is holding me back? It's like a ball and chain. It is, uh, like a chain around your, your leg that is tied to this table, that if I try and walk away from this table I won't be able to walk because I am kin to, I am joint to, I am connected to, and there are many of us that has chains to our history and there are many people connected on them chains. There are many situations connected to them chains.
Speaker 2:It is like the umbilical cord. We have to cut the umbilical cord. When you look at the power of birth and creation, when you look at when a woman gives birth to a child, every child is connected by the umbilical cord. But there comes a point when the umbilical cord is not fit for purpose. When the umbilical cord but there comes a point when the umbilical cord is not fit for purpose, when the umbilical cord is cut, that child starts to live and breathe and move and feed and live and walk in a way that it never could do all the time it was in the womb. And there are many of us that are still living in that area where we are relying on the umbilical cord because we can be frightened of the sever of the cord.
Speaker 2:You know, the Bible is extremely clear we have to cut certain things off. And how do we cut these things? We actually physically can't cut certain things off. In certain situations we need to ask God, god, will you remove, lord? Will you sever, will you cut, lord? Will you sever, will you cut, lord? Will you remove that right now? In the name of Jesus. There are many people carrying history because the umbilical cord and the chains of adversity are holding them back. And we've got to pray. Father, I believe, by faith, that you've cut the chain to history. I believe that you've cut the umbilical cord, lord. I believe that I'm able to stand on my own. I believe I'm able to feed myself.
Speaker 2:When you look at an eagle, if you take an eagle for an example, it's really interesting how an eagle flies. You know, an eagle can fly at such high altitude. It is the bird that can only fly at that extreme height. And how does it fly? It doesn't actually flap its wings like we actually realize. What happens is it rises off the thermal value. What do you mean, ben? Come on talking english, will you? I've got to speak extremely quick because the clock is moving. The bird actually flies off of the thermal values. What do you mean? It actually soars higher when the intensity of the sun rays get hotter. So when the sun hits the earth and it projects the heat, the bird actually flies off of the thermal values. The hotter it is, the higher it can fly, and that is the same for each and every one of us. That's why the scripture says we shall soar like eagles wings. We shall soar just like that. We shall just be able to fly above the storm. We're able to fly high above because the hotter it gets, it's the opposite to the world the hotter, the flame.
Speaker 2:Look at Meshach Shamrach and Abednego. What happened when those top-end soldiers took those three Jewish boys down to the fiery furnace? The scripture says the ones that took Meshach Shamrach and Abednego, they lost their lives, their lives, and the king said turn the fire up. When the fire is turned up, the Christian doesn't fail. What actually happens is the Christian soars on the thermal value, the heat of the fire that the world is bringing to you. So the hotter it is, the higher the flames, the more intense it can be, without really understanding that the Christian, the flames, the the more intense it can be, without really understanding that the, the christian, the bible, believe in spirit filled, born again. John 33 shall soar on wings as of eagles.
Speaker 2:So when you look at these scriptures very simply tonight, I want to tell you. We can never fail. That is the scripture tonight. We can never fail because God makes a way where there is no way. There are many believers that have been thrown into the fiery furnace of life. And you're looking, and you've looked at the flames of history and we think to ourselves how in the world did I survive the fire, how did I survive that time of my life?
Speaker 2:Because if you was to study Meshach Shamrach and Abednego, as the king looked over the edge, he said who's the fourth one? And they went hang on a minute. There can't be a fourth one because we only put three in there Meshach, shamrach and Abednego. He said who's the fourth one? Let me tell you that the word of God is walking in the fire of trouble. Let me tell you that the God of Israel is with you tonight. Let me tell you, if you are weary and tired and exhausted and worn out and burnt out and broken out and fearful of the future, your god, the creator of heaven and earth, is with you. So when we come to psalm uh 23, verse 4, we come into the table in just a few moments. I'm looking at that clock and it's ticking extremely quick. We're in psalm 23 and we're in verse 4 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 know God is comforting you right now.
Speaker 2:You might be walking through the valley. You might be having a valley experience. You might feel lost in the valley of life. You might feel extremely exhausted. You might be going through trauma. You might be going through trauma. You might be going through loss. You might be going through bereavement. You might be worried about finances, children, life, relationships, schools, education, whatever it is. You might be worried just for literally breathing and living. But let me tell you this God will never fail you. The Holy Spirit foul you. The holy spirit is your counselor, the holy spirit is your lead.
Speaker 2:You know, the bible says in psalm 119, 105 your word is a lamp unto my feet, a light for my path. Now, what did god say in genesis? Genesis, chapter 1, verse 3 god said let there be light. So light, light is critical in our Christian walk. So God in the book of Genesis, in creation, in Genesis, chapter one, verse three, and it says and God said let there be light. Jesus said I am the light of the world. The Psalmist writes in Psalm 119, 105, your word is a lamp to my feet, a light for my path. When you look at what the psalmist says in Psalm 119, 105, he says your word is, if you have a Bible, turn to the New Testament, turn to the Gospel of John, john, chapter 1, you're very familiar. I bark on and I rabbit on about this all the time Because it is critical, it is a fundamental point of Christianity and we've got to remind ourselves that this living word became flesh. The gospel of John, chapter one, verse 14, and the word became the word, became flesh and made his dwelling among us and at the very beginning of that text. If you look in the gospel of John, chapter one, verse one, in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God, he was with God. In the gospel of john, chapter 1, 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.
Speaker 2:You cannot separate father, son, holy spirit. If you go back to genesis, I'm sorry that we're bouncing in the old, out the old in the new, backwards and forwards, but you cannot separate, you cannot sever. You cannot sever father son, holy spirit. When you look at the deity, you look at father son, holy ghost, and each three have their distinction and their distinctive way that they move through scripture as we read and as we look and as we learn. But what we cannot do is we cannot separate father son, holy spirit.
Speaker 2:The word of god is power. The word of god is life. The word of god is completely filled with promises and even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of god is power. The word of god is life. The word of god is completely filled with promises and even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your word is a lamp unto my feet, a light for my path. Light is critical. I've said this more times than I've had mcdonald's and, trust me, that's a lot, I can assure you. When you look at these scriptures, when you look at these scriptures, when you look at the depth and the beauty of the word and the power of the word, the word will never foul you. The word will never let you down. Jesus will never foul you. The Holy Ghost will never foul you. God will never let you down.
Speaker 2:We're coming to the table. We've got about 54 seconds and we're coming to the table in just a few moments. Will you break bread with us tonight? Will you break bread and take it a cup, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, wherever you are across the world? And we thank God for your life and thank God that you're streaming with us so many online tonight, so many downloading the podcast and everything through the world of radio, through the world of podcast ministry, on the online broadcast that we do. God is with you. The Holy Spirit is with you. God will never leave you. The Bible says I will not leave you as orphans. I will not leave you as an orphan. You have the fire of God, you have the presence of God and you have the love of Christ and wherever you are situated tonight, I pray that you will bread with us in about 10 seconds. We're going to come to the table in about 10 seconds. You know this is such a powerful time of the service where we break bread together. If you're on your own on the other side of the world, you know, just take a moment out of life. If you're with your family, your friends, whatever's going on in your life, it is critical that we break bread together and, as I always say, whatever church you are in, at every service we should be breaking bread and taking of the cup.
Speaker 2:Why do you say that, pastor Ben? Simply because Jesus tells us as often as you gather together in my name, if you are in a church, you know. I'm not repeating myself for the sake of repetition. I'm repeating myself because the sake of repetition. I'm repeating myself because the Bible says and this is what Jesus says, he makes this really clear as often as you gather together in my name, I understand many churches won't break bread and take the cup because they're not gathering in the name of Jesus, they're gathering in the self of religion. They're gathering in the name of celebrity status. They're gathering in the self of religion. They're gathering in the name of celebrity status. They're gathering in religion.
Speaker 2:So we've got to be careful, to the churches that we go to, scattered across the world, that we should be breaking bread together in the Lord's house, at home, wherever we are, in your van, in your car, sitting at home, wherever you are, in your workspace, wherever you are, if there's two Christians, even wherever you are, in your workspace, wherever you are, if there's two christians, even if you're on your own, it doesn't matter if we're in a mega church, a mega church filled to to the rafters, there is no excuse. If we are clearly in a christian church, we should be breaking bread and taking of the cup, because Jesus Christ gives us this instruction. As often as you gather together in my name, if you are gathering in the name of Jesus, this is a given. So, father, we're at the table. Come to the table with us in the name of Jesus, and as we gather, as we break bread, as we take of this cup, as we take time out of the craziness of life, I pray that, wherever you are in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, that you will feel the power of the Holy Spirit. Let's break bread, father. We thank you for this.
Speaker 2:Bread symbolizes the body of Christ and right now, lord, scattered across the world, across the globe, we stand together as Bible believing believers and we pray tonight, lord, that you will strengthen us. And, father, we thank you that we don't need church, we need Jesus. So, lord, wherever people are, if they're at home, if they're bed bound in hospice, in hospitals, not well, father, we thank you that we don't need church to get us saved, because salvation comes from the God of Israel. It comes from the God of Israel, nowhere else, from no human being, not from any preacher, not from any theological understanding, not from any pulpit. Salvation comes from above. I pray that you will experience the power of God tonight.
Speaker 2:If you're unwell, as we break bread together right now, just lay your hand on your chest or on top of your head and say, father, I pray for healing tonight. In the name of jesus, I pray for breakthrough, but I break bread with my brothers and sisters in the global church, because that's what we are. We're a global church because that we are not chained by postcode. We are not worried about this building that we're in. It just keeps the rain out because we belong to a kingdom and the kingdom is across the world and the kingdom is living within. So, father, we believe in healing, we believe in the power of the Word of God, we believe in the bread that is symbolic to the body of Christ. Bless this bread in Jesus' name.
Speaker 2:Amen, father, in the name of Jesus, we take the redemption cup now, lord, and we believe cancer is gone, we believe fear is gone. We believe doubt has gone. We believe the lack of has gone. We believe in the power of the healing word of God. We believe in the great I am. You are worthy of all praise. Spirit of the living God. We declare healing over our lives. We declare miracles before our feet. We declare that the word of god is sharper than a double-edged sword, that your word is yes and amen, that we are spirit filled, that we are blessed and highly favored, that we have been chosen by the very heart of god and nothing can separate us from the love of god that is in christ jesus. No one can take you out of the hands of God. No one can lose their salvation. It is impossible to lose salvation. So, father, bless this cup, as we understand that it represents the blood of Jesus. Cleanse us from the crown of our head to the soul of our feet in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
Speaker 2:Right now, in Jesus name, amen. He's the King of glory, he is the great I am. He is Jesus Christ. He is the Alpha, the Omega. He is Jehovah Jireh, jehovah Nissi, jehovah Shalom. He is the creator of heaven and earth and he's living inside of you. He's in your house tonight. He's in your car tonight. He's in your car tonight. He's in your van, he's on the train.
Speaker 2:Wherever you are, god is with you and the power of the Holy Spirit is with you as we come to the close of this service we've literally just got a few moments before the 50p runs out and the gas man is going to flick us off and wherever you are across the world, we pray that the fire of God will strengthen you tonight. We pray that the Holy Spirit will lead you tonight. We believe that you will receive your healing in the name of Jesus Christ. Father, we believe in miracles. We believe that our God is yes and amen.
Speaker 2:We believe that sickness bows. We believe that every demonic force runs at the name of Jesus. We believe that Goliath falls. We believe that the Red Sea opens. We believe that the River Jordan parts. We believe, right now, that every Jericho, right now, shall fall at the name of Jesus. So, lord, I pray that our faith will rise, the word will rise within our spirit and, at the name of Jesus Christ, your fire and your glory will bless every one of us, wherever we are scattered across this globe, lord, as we, lord, stretch out to brothers and sisters across the world, wherever you are. We thank you for the tens of thousands of downloads on the podcast for you across the world that listen through radio, that watch through streaming. Whatever way it may be, may God bless you and strengthen you. We're out of here in the name of Jesus Christ. May God strengthen you and carry you in Jesus' precious name.
Speaker 1:Amen, god bless. Thank you. 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.
