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
You Must Be Born Again: Jesus's Message Confronts Modern Religion (#1031 - Elim)
https://www.pastorbencooper.co.uk/The Profound Distinction Between Religion and True Faith: A Biblical Understanding of Salvation
Understanding the profound distinction between religion and true faith is foundational to grasping the essence of salvation in Christ. While religion often creates systems of rituals, laws, and requirements that bind the soul, Jesus Christ offers something radically different: true redemption through His blood, which sets humanity free from spiritual chains (John 8:36). In this episode, we explore how true salvation is not about outward observance, but a personal relationship with the Savior.
The Four Cups of Passover: Unveiling God’s Redemptive Framework
Our exploration begins with Exodus 6:6-7, where we uncover the four cups of Passover—sanctification, deliverance, redemption, and praise. These four cups represent God’s redemptive plan, established long before modern religious systems or movements. The third cup of redemption holds special significance as it was during the Passover meal that Jesus referenced this cup in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:28), marking a pivotal moment in His sacrificial mission. Jesus' words resonate deeply, for He transforms the Passover meal into a powerful declaration of God’s plan of salvation and redemption.
The Revolutionary Conversation Between Jesus and Nicodemus
In John 3:3, we find one of the most transformative conversations in Scripture, where Jesus tells Nicodemus, a highly respected religious leader, "You must be born again." This conversation challenges the religious framework of the time and exposes the heart of salvation: spiritual rebirth. Nicodemus, representing the religious establishment, struggled to understand what even the simplest believer could grasp through faith—true salvation is a work of the Spirit (John 3:5-6). This exchange between Jesus and Nicodemus highlights the tension between institutionalized religion and the life-changing reality of a relationship with God.
The Three Gardens: A Journey Through Humanity’s Spiritual History
As we continue, we journey through three pivotal gardens in Scripture that mark humanity’s spiritual story: Eden, where humanity first fell (Genesis 3:6), Gethsemane, where Jesus wrestled with His impending sacrifice (Matthew 26:39), and the tomb garden, where salvation was completed (John 19:41-42). Each garden represents a shift in God's redemptive plan—from fall, to struggle, to victory.
In the Garden of Eden, the first disobedience brought spiritual darkness into the world, and in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus took on the weight of humanity’s sin. However, in the tomb garden, the empty tomb signals victory over sin and death, proving that God’s redemptive plan is fully realized through Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).
Egypt: A Paradox of Darkness and Divine Protection
We also explore Egypt, which, throughout Scripture, symbolizes a place of spiritual darkness and oppression. Yet, it is in Egypt that God protected and nurtured the infant Jesus (Matthew 2:13-15). This paradox of divine intervention reveals a beautiful mystery: God can position redemption even in the midst of darkness, demonstrating His sovereignty and power over every circumstance.
Moving Beyond Religious Systems to Embrace th
https://www.pastorbencooper.co.uk/
https://www.rbchristianradio.net/
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. 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. 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.
Speaker 2:Good morning and welcome everybody, wherever you are across the earth and in the Lord's house with us this morning. If you could grab a Bible. If we turn to the book of Exodus, chapter six, exodus, chapter six, verses six through to seven, grab yourself a Bible and please, before I might forget as time goes on, grab yourself a Bible, you know, and take a Bible away with you from church. Today We've got plenty of Bibles. Take Bibles away with you. Give the Bibles out, leave them on the train. You know, I really believe God has laid the mantle on every one of us in this house. You know, to give Bibles away. The mission is just to give the word out. Give the word out. So we're in the Old Testament, in the book of Exodus, chapter 6, verses 6 through 7. We welcome every one of you in the house with us today, everybody online and everybody who's listening through radio, through the world of podcasts, through social media, all them platforms. We're sorry that we get kicked off in certain areas, but it's out of our control. But you can capture everything back through the streaming way that we do. Every service is caught, great, audible. You can listen to every service back on the podcast platform that we use, you know, so you can click the links and you can listen to everything we do. We do apologize for the sound quality. When we're in the church obviously it's not the same as when we're in the studio in the back there, but when we're in here, god by god's grace, we'll be able to upgrade and sort everything out not too far now where we can have really clear, audible sound as well from from the church. You know, it's a very unusual building. This is the way it's shaped, the low ceilings and the sound uh bounces around. But once we get the mic sorted out it will be nice and crisp and clear as well. So I apologize for, uh, the sound quality that comes out from, uh, from here at this moment. May god bless you wherever you are in the mighty name of jesus christ. You know, wherever you are across the here at this moment, may God bless you wherever you are in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
Speaker 2:You know, wherever you are across the world at this moment, you know, especially within the UK, you know religion is pulling all the stops out of the bag for Lent and you know and all that sort of stuff that's going on. But we've got to understand that we don't belong to Lent, we don't belong to religion. We don't need a priest. You don't need me, you don't need anyone to dictate through the wheels of religion to tell us that we can take of the cup. We can't take of the cup. You can take the bread, you can't take of the bread.
Speaker 2:All that rubbish that goes along with Catholicism and the Church of England junk and all that religious stuff that's out there. It is not scripture. We've got to really make sure that we are really well-oiled in the word of God, because we have been blinded for too many years with Lent. Lent, you know, churches together push it like never before. You know and we done a sermon the other day are you a Catholic or a Christian? It's really, really important that we get that and we listen, because we are not Catholics, we are not Church of England. We are not Catholics, we are not Church of England. We are not even caught by the Pentecostal movement. We are Bible-believing believers.
Speaker 2:This denomination Elim does not own you. I do not own you, no one owns you. You have been brought in by God. You've been brought in by the power of the Holy Spirit, by the Word, and, however you look at that sort of stuff. We are not owned by any denomination, we are John 3, 3.
Speaker 2:So when you look at Lent, what is happening at this moment in time, and everything it happened many years. It came out of Rome, it came out of one of the popes. One of the popes put it all in place and out of the council of Rome and all that razzmatazz. And you look at the history of Lent, it has no reflection in the word. Now I know I'm throwing myself under the bus in a few places, in certain areas, but let me tell you this the only place that you can find references is the scriptures that they use 40 days, 40 nights.
Speaker 2:But when you look at Lent, brothers and sisters, it's critical. We snap out of the attitude that I'm not kin to all that religious stuff. I am redeemed. I'm not redeemed by the Pope. I'm not redeemed by the leader of the Church of England, I'm not redeemed by the leader of Elim. I'm not redeemed by the wheels of religion. I am redeemed by the blood of Jesus. And if we go to the book of Exodus, chapter 6, and if we go to the book of Exodus, chapter 6, we have in Exodus, chapter 6, verse 6 and 7, we have a glimmer of the four cups that was on the Passover table. It doesn't mention the cups, but when you get into it you will see what we are about. It's critical that I am redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ.
Speaker 2:When you look at the four cups on the Passover table, what do we have? The first cup, the cup of sanctification, the cup of deliverance. Number two, the third cup, the cup of redemption, and the fourth cup is the cup of praise, but it is tucked. It is tucked, it is hidden, it is woven together in the tapestry of theological study, in the word of God. You know, the Passover table did not come around because of the Church of England, because of Catholicism. The Passover table came around because of the, the scriptures, because of Genesis. It came around. It started in Genesis, chapter 1, verse 3. I will tell you, redemption started in Genesis, chapter 1, verse 3. And then we see an accelerator in Genesis 3, chapter 3, verse 15. And then suddenly we find that God gives this clear commandment about the Passover, which we have today known as the Passover table.
Speaker 2:Why are we waiting? You know, I can't stand this word, easter, I can't stand that pagan word Easter. Why are churches together. Why are the churches still using that word? Easter is not a biblical terminology, it is the Passover, exodus, chapter 12, verse 12. Read what it says for yourself the passing over, not of the Easter bunny, but of God, the angel of destruction, the angel of death itself. He said if the blood is not a sign, there is no Catholicism and there is no Pentecostal movement. There is no mention of church all the way through.
Speaker 2:When God starts to get the world ready for John 3.3, and when God gets the world ready for John 3.16, and God gets the world ready for redemption. Redemption, I tell you, is in Genesis 1.1. And God said let there be light. Yes, we've looked at it, we've studied it, we've undone the fabric of the seam of it chapter 1, verse 1. And God said let there be light. Yes, we've looked at it, we've studied it, we've undone the fabric of the seam of it. But God is saying I am creating light, but there's a light that is coming that will shine greater than the darkness. God says in Genesis. He says very clearly, and he separated the light and the darkness, and and Jesus says I am the light of the world, he is your redeemer.
Speaker 2:We don't belong to Lent. If you are in the Catholic movement, if you're in the Church of England, if you're in the evangelical movement, if you're in a Pentecostal movement, what are you doing in the movements? What is the movement doing for you? Religion will chain you down like a prisoner. Religion will chain you down and make you feel bad. But the kingdom of God will tell you you are redeemed, that you are saved by the blood of Jesus. And we see the start of God preparing the world in Genesis 1, 1, 3, and God said let there be light. Jesus is coming.
Speaker 2:And as you start to see and as you start to look at the scriptures, you start to to understand the power of the word of God. You know the world, even. You know. Look at the world and the Vatican and everywhere around the world and many places now are lifting up the rosary bead. What is all that about? What is all this stuff about? Where is the scripture that supports all this stuff? It is the blood of Jesus. You know. I say this very respectfully. You know religion is biblically illiterate. It has education. Then you can. You can see that for a fact, because Jesus says that to Nicodemus. You're illiterate when it comes to the kingdom. When it comes to spiritual understanding, you're educated, you're educated, but you're missing salvation.
Speaker 2:If you look at John 3, 3, jesus tells that one human being, the greatest sermon the world has ever heard, and it wasn't from a social media platform, it wasn't behind microphones, it wasn't portrayed across the world Jesus and Nicodemus in the twilight of the day. Jesus said Nicodemus, he looked him in the eyes. Imagine being the first human being on earth to hear that Jesus, the creator of heaven and earth, the first human being to hear you must be born again. You must be born again. Imagine what that was like. But what did Nicodemus get from that? What did Nicodemus get from that? He didn't get too much from that, did he? Because when you look at it, when you look at that Nicodemus, what did he actually get from all that? He just got the understanding that he's just telling me I've got to be born again. How can that be? How can that happen? How can that happen when you look at that? You to be born again. How can that be? How can that happen? How can that happen when you look at that? You must be born again. Read that scripture for yourself. It's critical. You must be born again. John 3.3.
Speaker 2:The greatest preacher, jesus Christ, had no social media platform, didn't have a mobile phone in his pocket, but he locked eyes with Nicodemus and he said Nicodemus, you're Israel's teacher, your religion. What have we got today? You know, catholicism, the Church of England, churches will be packed through this season of of of Lent, through Easter and all that Easter, bank, bank, holiday and everything like that. It will be packed. The schools will be doing it, this, that and everything will be going on. But it's not about Lent, it's not about all that stuff. It's about understanding the power, the blood of Jesus, that you've got to be born again.
Speaker 2:Are Catholics born again? Are the Church of England born again? Are they carrying the gifts of the Spirit? Are we born again? It doesn't matter, you might be in the greatest Pentecostal movement on earth. It doesn't matter what movement you're in, it's who you're following. It's who you are following. Who are you following? Are you following Jesus or are you following the Pope? Are you following the leader of Elim? Are you following the leader of Hillsongs? Are you following the leader Bill Johnson? Who are you following? At the end of the day, where is your name stamped? Is your name just purely on an email list, on a news feed that comes through, or is your name stamped in the Lamb's book of life? Heaven is real and hell is real. And Christ said to Nicodemus you must be born again.
Speaker 2:And everything, everything the Old Testament was getting ready for the Passover table. The Passover table was and is critical for each and every one of us to understand. To understand the first cup, the cup of sanctification, the cup of deliverance, the cup of redemption. That is the cup that Jesus is referring to in the Garden of Gethsemane. If it's possible, remove this cup. He doesn't say the four cups, he doesn't mention the four cups on the table at the Passover meal. He mentions the third cup.
Speaker 2:The third cup is referring and reflecting. You know, jesus was looking at impending death. Christ was looking at impending death. Christ was looking at death. He said, if it's possible, in the garden of Gethsemane, if there is another way, do we believe that Jesus was fearful? I really don't, because the Bible tells me. Do you believe that Jesus actually sweated droplets of blood? Yes, science and the world of education and everything tells us very clearly that a human being can sweat. So in the times of extremities, in the time of extreme stress, that any human being under that tension and that anxiety will sweat droplets of blood. It is a condition that is recognized by the medical field. When Jesus went into the garden of Gethsemane, he didn't say, if it's possible, remove the fourth cup, the second cup, the first cup, because these cups were in progress, they was happening the cup of praise, the cup of sanctification, the cup of deliverance.
Speaker 2:And as we read this scripture, let's read this scripture before we go any further. Exodus, chapter 6. Think how many thousands of years ago this was before the Church of England, before the Elim movement, before the Pentecostal movements, before all that stuff, before Catholicism, before all this stuff has been birthed out of man. When you look at denominations, it has all been birthed out of man, primarily first out of the book of Acts, the birth of the church of Jesus Christ. But does the church reflect the Savior of the world? So when we read Exodus 6, verse 6, therefore say to the Israelites I am the Lord and I will bring you up out of the hand of the yoke of the Egyptians, I will free you from slavery, from them, and I will redeem you. Look at what that says. I will redeem you, I will redeem you with an outstretched arm, with a mighty axe of judgment. I will take you as my people and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord, your God, who brought you up out under the yoke of the Egyptians.
Speaker 2:The Bible speaks a lot about Egypt. Egypt today is a very satanic and a very dark and a very spiritual place. You've got the pyramids. The world flocks to go and see the pyramids. The world flocks goes to see all the tombs and all the stuff that's going on. Egypt is a very key place, but Egypt is a very dark, spiritual place. As it is mentioned in the Bible, jesus, we know, was taken back by his mom, mary, and by Joseph, his earthly father, because God said I want you to go into Egypt. God buried the word deep in the fabric of Egypt until that crazy one died. And when he died it says and God said out of Egypt I will draw my son. Egypt is very significant.
Speaker 2:Where do we find Egypt? Again, if you turn to the book of Exodus, chapter 12,. As we're in Egypt, as we're in Exodus, chapter 12, let's turn Exodus sorry, chapter six. You know my brain is racing this morning. Exodus, chapter 12, verse 12. On that same night I will pass throughout Egypt. Egypt is key.
Speaker 2:Now, god could have picked any other nation, but he picked Egypt because of certain criteria, certain theological stuff, because it has been written about and it has been prophesied about. Logical stuff, because it has been written about and it has been prophesied about. So, when you look at Egypt, egypt is a very spiritual, very dark, satanic place serving foreign gods. When you understand who they serve, who they follow Pharaoh, all that sort of stuff the Egyptians are very steeped in everything that went on through the history. But God hid what God hid the Passover lamb.
Speaker 2:Now we have just read from Exodus 6, verse 6 through to 7. It talks very clearly and he says through them scriptures, I will bring you up from the burdens of the Egyptians. He's talking about sanctification. He's bringing you out of Egypt. Sanctification is coming out of Egypt. He says I will rescue you from their bondage. The cup of deliverance, the second cup where God is bringing you, will be my people. I will be your God. You will worship me and me only.
Speaker 2:The Egyptians worship so much under the fabric of that place. You've only got to look at the pyramids. You've only got to look at the way, the triangles and the way triangles are used and every area of worshiping foreign gods. Egypt is the heartbed, the bedrock of satanic worship. It is the bedrock.
Speaker 2:But God took the living word, jesus Christ. The gospel says that the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us and God said at this time go into Egypt. They went into Egypt. The living word was right in the face of the devil's work. God is so powerful and God hid the living word under such satanic oppression. Egyptian has so much satanic oppression you will never grasp it. You can feel the tension. You can feel the devil worshipping the pharaohs, the gods, the sun gods, every god, everything.
Speaker 2:It's probably the highest area across the world where the occult is lifted up so strong and so blatantly in your face and people pay good money and go out there and look and are intrigued but won't find Jesus. Pay good money, I'll go to Egypt, I'll go to the land of the gods, through the valleys, valleys, and I'll find these foreign gods. But what about Jesus? What about the savior of the world that was, that was bedded right in, right in the throes of it. So when we are looking in exodus 6, 6 and 7, the cup of sanctification, the scripture that ascertains to that I. I will bring you up out of the hand and under the hand of the burdens of the Egyptians, I will sanctify you, I will bring you through the cup of deliverance, I will rescue you from their bondage. You know, they are so good at making the slave trade, they are so good from day dot to now. You know all that oppression, all that stuff that's going on, you know.
Speaker 2:And then the next one, the third cup, the cup of redemption. When God says in the book of Exodus I will redeem you with an outstretched arm. What did God do when David was in the slimy pit? A forerunner, it says. And God stretched out his right hand, his right arm, and he pulled David out of the slimy pit and he gave him a firm place to stand. The arm of God, the arm of redemption, the hope and the justification, the cup of redemption, it is all the way through the Old and the New Testament.
Speaker 2:It has nothing to do with what we call Lent, because, if you look at the religious understanding that's happening today, they have taken all what we call the Passover, they've labeled it, they've called it Holy Communion, they've done this, they've done this, they've moved this. They've shifted this and you've got to have criteria for you to take the bread and the wine. In Catholicism, you've got to jump through loads of hoops and pay good money and your children have got to go to the school. You've got to do so much. But what does Jesus say Come to me, all of you that are weary and heavy laden, I will give you rest. And Jesus says, around the Passover table, as often as you come together, do this in remembrance of me, not in religion.
Speaker 2:And Jesus was preaching to religion in John 3.3. You must be born again. And Nicodemus threw his hands in the air. What are you going on about? Jesus said you're Israel's teacher. The greatest sermon that I said earlier, the greatest sermon, was preached and the world has never heard another sermon like it and it will never hear another sermon like it was in that twilight place when Jesus was facing Nicodemus and he said Nicodemus, you can't see the kingdom and you can't enter the kingdom. What does that tell us? Two areas of major criteria that the kingdom of God is outside of education, outside of religion, outside of that, it sits in the area that always was, because the spiritual world was before Genesis, chapter 1, verse 3 and God said because when God said, suddenly the physical realm came and was spoken into existence out of the invisible world. There is an invisible world that is accessible to you and to me, as Christians. It is accessible. This world that is, and and Christ made it accessible. How did Christ make it accessible? What happened, what was that major time when Jesus was on the cross and the Bible says that he bowed his head, he gave up his spirit, he said it is finished. And what happened after that? What was the event that happened that everyone see and heard and the temple curtain was torn into. What was that? That was smashing the face of religion. That was tearing heaven open for who.
Speaker 2:Jesus says I am the way, the truth, the life. No one comes to the Father except through Mary. He didn't say that I am the way, the truth, the life. No one comes to me except through Eliam. He didn't say that. He said I am the way, the truth, the life. No one comes to me except through Helium. He didn't say that. He said I am the way, the truth, the life. No one comes to me, comes to the Father except through me. It is through Jesus. I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can access the Father except through me. I'm the gate, I'm the bread of life, am the good shepherd. I am that I am.
Speaker 2:When he quoted the I am, when he said I am that I am, he was referring to the, to the god of israel, his father. But himself, when he spoke to moses, moses says I'm not going nowhere until I find out who's sending me. What am I going to tell that lot down there? Who's sending me? If it was left to the church, it would be an apostolic word. It would have a mighty title over it. It would have a great big long everything to be over it. But God just said I, I am, I am sending you. Moses went. That's enough when you think about that. And then Jesus starts to reference the I am, I am that I am. And they went crazy. They went crazy. They wanted to stone Jesus. In the New Testament.
Speaker 2:I am when you look at the scripture. So when we are looking at this Passover table, it has nothing to do. There are two, there is always two, there is always two. There is the real light of the world and there is the devil that tries to be the light of the world. That's why God said that he separated light from darkness. That's why he said to Nicodemus you've got to be born again. Because Jesus was separating salvation from religion. Because you can't get saved in religion, you will get chains on your feet, you'll get tied up for years. It'll be completely driving you mad.
Speaker 2:But do you want to be free? The Catholic movement? Do you want to be free? The Church of England, do you want to be free? Do we want to be free in this church today? Do we want to be free? Do we want to be free or do you want to be chained to the system of church?
Speaker 2:22,000 and increasing every moment. Denominations across the world, 22,000. So that makes there must be 22,000 Jesuses. No way. There's only one Jesus. There's only one King, there's only one Father, and he's the head of the church, not the Pope. We don't know how much the Pope has got much. All he's got left in his tank.
Speaker 2:Now is the Pope born again? When the Pope dies, is he going to go to hell or is he going to go to heaven? When the leader of every movement, whenever these leaders die? When I die, where am I going to go? Where am I destined for? Heaven or hell? When congregations die, where are we destined for? Are we going to understand the flavor of the redemption cup? The cup of redemption was taken for you. Jesus Christ is the redeeming king, but when the Pope dies, where's he going? When the leader of the Church of England dies, where are they going? When the bishops, the pastors, the congregations, where are we all going?
Speaker 2:Because if we are not saved and the religion can't get you saved, lent is not going to get you saved. It is only God that will get you saved. Lent and church is an educational process, and the educational process and academics and academia has taken us away from the word of God. Jesus said to Nicodemus, the most well-oiled, the most educated man. He said you're Israel's teacher and you don't know. Jesus is telling religion right now. You don't know how to be born again. It's no good rubbing the rosary beads. It's no good jumping into that and confessing your stuff to another man. It's no good going to that movement. It's no good going to the TikTok church. It's no good going to the Facebook church. It's no good going to them churches. It's no good going to the large Pentecostal movements because they're brimming over with people. You've got to get to jesus christ, because if you don't get to jesus, hell is waiting.
Speaker 2:And the four cups that are mentioned nestled under the fabric of the text in exodus, chapter 6, 6 to 7 the cup of sanctification, the cup of deliverance, the cup of redemption and the cup of praise. Religion can't praise because it's not free. So there is an order them cups have to be taken one, two, three and four. You can praise this morning because you are redeemed. You can shout in the name of Jesus because you are redeemed. Yes, our earthly bodies are tired, our earthly bodies are weary. Our earthly bodies are getting ready for the grave. But that's the body, that is the physical realm. Every one of us will die, every one of us will have a funeral. Every one of us will die. Every one of us will have a funeral. Every one of us will do whatever the system will do at that particular point. We are going to die. But where do I go after? My eyes are closed.
Speaker 2:The thief on the cross. The book of Luke, chapter 23. Read about that thief. He didn't do anything to do with church. Read it for yourself.
Speaker 2:The two thieves, luke, chapter 23,. Roundabout, verse 42. The two thieves on the cross One was going to get redeemed and one was on his way to hell and one was on his way to hell and Jesus in the middle, jesus Christ in the middle. The crucifixion was brutal, was barbaric, was beyond human understanding, beyond the concept of life. But in Exodus, chapter 6, what we've been reading about, we have got ready for redemption because the Bible says I will redeem you, I will redeem you from the Egyptians. The Egyptians were narcissists, the Egyptians were slave drivers, the Egyptians were devil worshippers and they are still worshipping Lucifer now. The pyramids, the sun gods. It's a dark place but Jesus was drawn out of Egypt. Out of Egypt I will draw my son.
Speaker 2:So when you look at the gospel of Luke, chapter 23, and you read about and you look about and you read about the thief on the cross, this is the physical work of redemption before our very eyes. But redemption was in existence spiritually before the physical realm was brought into what we have, because the spiritual realm, as I said, was always in existence. Father, son, holy spirit, holy Spirit, god was before time, he is time, he is space, time and matter. God is everything. God was not created. He is the creator, he has created everything else under the sun and he knows every satanic activity under the sun. He knows every demonic activity. He knows everything good, bad, ugly, he knows absolutely everything. He knows who is serving foreign gods. He knows where they was created. He knows how they was created and who created them. He knows everything about religion and he's a jealous guy and he won't be mocked. And Jesus Christ is coming, the second coming of Jesus.
Speaker 2:But in the new testament we see this pinnacle. We see the old testament pressing towards the three crosses. You're watching everything coming to a, coming to a full stop. And not just a full stop, but a, a completion, a tick to say yes, the old testament was right, because all the prophecies was bearing at the cross, all the old testament, the law of the Torah was bearing at the cross, and the old testament would not be fulfilled until Jesus said it is finished. The only way the Old Testament would be completed is when the creator of the Old Testament, the creator of heaven and earth, would put a full stop, and the full stop was it is finished. So the law got busted, all the sacrifice got busted, everything got broken and tore down and laid at the foot of the cross. And when he said it is finished, that thief on the cross.
Speaker 2:When you look at that, suddenly humanity starts to have the gift of something, the gift of salvation. Because the gift of salvation wasn't in existence as we understand it, because Jesus Christ is the way. So salvation was not on the earth until Christ said it is finished. Because we are looking at sanctification, we're looking at deliverance, we're looking at redemption and we're looking at praise. So what we have to shout out and completely understand is that when Jesus said it is finished, the old testament in its entirety bowed its head to the creator of the old testament.
Speaker 2:The author of the old testament was hanging on the cross of calvary. The author of the old testament was on the cross of calvary and he is the author. And when he said it is finished, the prophecies, everything was fulfilled. And then, as he said it is finished, within the next move the temple curtain was torn from top to bottom and access become possible. So salvation suddenly transfers from this impossible because the sacrificials, the sacrifices, the lambs, the heifers, the goats, the bulls, it wasn't enough. Because the Bible says one sacrifice once and for all, one who is the cornerstone, one who is the head of the church, not the Pope, not the Church of England, not the leader of Elim. No one is the head of the Church of Jesus Christ. They are heads of movements, they are heads of man-made organizations dressed up as church, but what one actually reflects the Church of Jesus Christ? That is the question. So, as for Lent, am I following Lent and giving up chocolate? Because that's what they're doing at work? And I'd love to be a fly on the wall in many schools at this moment in time, what they're doing for Lent, and I heard something the other day that I've got to be careful how I present it and I'll try and present it.
Speaker 2:In a church school, the Muslim children were allowed to pray, but when they wanted to talk about Jesus and what was the purpose of Lent in a church school, we don't talk about Jesus here. Think about that for a minute. Think about that for a minute. Lent allowing Islam to be accelerated, but hang on a minute. But I thought you said this is a church school, this is a church school and we follow the wills of this and that and we're not allowed to talk about Jesus. You're not allowed to talk about Jesus in front of Muslims. You're not allowed to talk about Jesus in front of Muslims. You're not allowed to talk about Jesus in front of Sikhs. You're not allowed to talk about Jesus in front of Jehovah Witnesses. You're not allowed to talk about Jesus in front of the Mormons. You're not allowed to talk about Jesus. In the face of the Seventh-day Adventists, you're not allowed to talk about Jesus.
Speaker 2:Well, let me tell the world I serve the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. I serve the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, and just that has been taken off of the socials and everything. Where was those Christian men beheaded recently? Egypt? What were them, christian men, doing? Serving Jesus? Where were they beheaded? Egypt? But the BBC, sky News won't tell you all that, won't tell you what's happening to Christians, martyrs. When you look at Matthew, mark, luke and John, the martyrs of the faith, whatever one it was, he got skinned alive. Think about that a moment. He was skinned alive because of the gospel, crucified upside down, skinned alive. When you look at the way the disciples left the earth, it's pretty ugly. It's pretty ugly the way they left the earth.
Speaker 2:So when you look at these scriptures, here we are being prepared for what Persecution? Persecution. We're seeing it in education. Christians are being persecuted. Young children are being persecuted as Christians. If you are working in the industry, if you are working in the ivory towers, you will be persecuted as a Christian. In education, in business, in life, you will go and you will have to go a long way to find someone that allows you in the organization to pray and to worship and to read your Bible at your desk. If you have that, you are in a blessed place of work. But if you've got a prayer mat and you roll it out X time a day, four, five, six times a day, you're more than welcome. Actually, we get a hoover out and we're hoovering a mat off for you and make it comfy for you.
Speaker 2:Because the HR of life, human resources is exactly what it says human resources. It has no spiritual power. Human resources is so dangerous. Gdpr is so dangerous. Policies are so dangerous because they've been created in a space to lock out what Christianity. Every policy that you will find coming out of government, coming out of the EU, coming out and across the channel, coming out of Strasbourg and all them places, every area of political stuff is against Christianity. Education is against Christianity, hr is against Christianity. So much is against this book. But you tell the world around you. This book is holy dynamite. This book is about redemption holy dynamite. This book is about redemption. This book is about salvation. This book is about healing. This book is about the cup of redemption.
Speaker 2:And as Lent celebrates what it wants to celebrate dancing around with a cross of ash on its head and swinging all the incense and doing all the paraphernalia, what God are you serving? What God are you following? Are you following the God of religion or are you following the God that said let there be light? Are you following the God that came down the staircase? 15 generations came all the way down, right the way through the fabric of the text, all the way through. Read the genealogy of Jesus, from heaven to earth. Read how Christ and where he came through. And suddenly he was birthed and the word became flesh he was destined to die.
Speaker 2:So, as we come to the table, we're not coming to the table of Lent, we're not coming to the table of Cephalism, we're not coming to the table of all that stuff. We're not coming to the table of all that. We're coming to the table of the Passover table, the table that is mentioned. Nothing to do with the Church of England, nothing to do with Cofacillum Can't say it, my tongues are getting all tied up Nothing to do with the Pentecostal movements. All to do with redemption, the cup of redemption, because that's what we're under the cup of redemption, not of the cup of religion. The cup of redemption. You know, brothers and sisters, wherever you are across the world, you are redeemed. You've been set free from bondage. You've been set free by the power of sanctification. You've been set free by the cup of redemption. You've been set free by the cup of praise.
Speaker 2:Jesus in the garden, he said if it is possible, take this cup. And what was that cup representing as we come to the table? The cup of redemption. And what was in that cup? It was the blood that represented redemption. And Jesus said if it's possible, take this cup from me. If it's possible, take this from me in anguish and fear and trembling. The Bible says that. Jesus says in the New Testament he said watch and pray with me Three times. He says this three times. He came backwards and forwards. Three nows three days. He was in the tomb. Three nows, three days he was in the tomb. Three is significant. Three gardens what do you mean? Three gardens? Adam and Eve, humanity lost it. They lost it in the garden of Eden.
Speaker 2:In Genesis, jesus Christ, in the 50-50 garden, in the garden of Gethsemane, was looking for a place to escape. Jesus was wanting to escape. Yes, he was 50-50,. Do I do it or do I walk? And that is what is called the garden of Gethsemane.
Speaker 2:But then in a third garden that's not really preached about, that's not really spoken about, the not really spoken about the garden that had the boratum. Three gardens, three nows, three crosses the first garden humanity lost it. The middle garden, the garden, the second garden Jesus is going. Hang on a minute. Hang on a minute. I'm not sure about this.
Speaker 2:If it's possible Now for Jesus to drop a line, if it's possible, he's looking for an escape. Yes, jesus was looking for another way. Can I escape? Can I swerve this cup? He doesn't mention the cross. He talks about the cup. He doesn't mention the cross, he talks about the cup.
Speaker 2:If it's possible, take this cup, because that third cup has history, has prophetic future in it. That third cup has so much to do with the future of me and you and Jesus was in the garden sweating droplets of blood and Jesus had impending death on him. He was hours away from going out of the world in a barbaric way. So, jesus, in the 50-50 garden, if it's possible, it says that he was overwhelmed to the point of sorrow I can't, I can't do this, I can't. But your will, what is your will? Your will is that my people, my sons, my daughters, the human race will be redeemed. So Jesus Christ, in the 50-50 garden, in the garden of Gethsemane, knew that there was another garden waiting for him and for him to get to the third garden, he had to go through a route that was barbaric and he said, if it's possible, take it from me, but not my will. Thy will be done. And the will that he was speaking was the will that he put in place in Genesis, chapter 1. Genesis, chapter 1, verse 1, genesis, chapter 3, verse 15, and then Exodus 6.
Speaker 2:Then Exodus, very clear. Exodus, chapter 12, about the Passover table. The Passover, the blood, will be a sign. God was telling us that this lamb that you have sacrificed is a forerunner of me, of my son. He is the redeeming king, he is the coming king. He is the coming king, he is the great I am. When you look at that scripture clearly in exodus, chapter 12. Exodus, chapter 12, 12 and 13 tells us so clearly, tells us so clearly this is the lamb. This is the forerunner, this is the forerunner, this is the forerunner, but I tell your world what will be the sign the blood will be a sign. So redemption is about being redeemed and about being brought back. Redemption is about coming back. Redemption is about being brought back. Redemption is about the blood of Jesus.
Speaker 2:So, are you following Lent, a false God, or are you following the God that created everything? Are you following the Catholic faith? Are you following the Church of England? Are you following the Muslims? Are you following secular Christianity? Are you following the TikTok church? Are you following the Facebook church? What are you following?
Speaker 2:Because the greatest message across the world was delivered. There will be no other preacher like Jesus Christ in that twilight space, as he looked at the eyes of Nicodemus you must be born again. That is the greatest message. And he didn't have a social media account, there was no camera, there was no one pushing the word. And that message is the greatest message that governments can't stand, that other faiths can't stand. You must be born again. It is the message that we need to tell the world. It is a message that the preachers need to preach. You must be born again. Nothing to do with prosperity. Forget the money. It's salvation. Because when we die, where are we going? Are we going to hell with religion and the world, or are we going to heaven?
Speaker 2:Is your name stamped in the Lamb's book of life with the blood of Jesus? It is the blood of Jesus, that is the redemption blood. And as we come to take of this carp, as we take of the bread now, as Jesus was in the 50-50 garden, the second garden in Scripture, if it is possible, because I can't do this, because once I hold this cup, take this cup from me. So that is critical. So Jesus Christ was referencing the Passover table with the four cups, the four cups that I mentioned, the third cup, the cup of redemption. Jesus doesn't mention the cross, because the cross is the physical for us to see, because it is the blood. There is no power in the timber and the structure of the cross. It's what it represents. It is not the cross that will get you saved. It's what it represents. It is not the cross that will get you saved. It is the one that planted the seed of the wood that became the cross that will get you saved.
Speaker 2:When God said let there be light, and when he spoke nature into existence, he knew that somewhere in Jerusalem, somewhere on the fringe of the Middle East, somewhere that he would plant a seed, and that seed would grow into a tree. People would just bypass the tree, people would not even take care and notice of the tree. But one day a carpenter would go to that tree and be ordered cut that tree down because we're going to make a crucifix. And they didn't know that that seed in the ground, oh my god, they did not know that that seed in that ground was planted by the one that was going to take his son to that cross. So when it grew into that tree, the carpenters cut it down, they shaped it, they formed it, and then jesus carried the tree that he planted, the word of God, over 63,000 cross references. He planted the seed. The seed grew into a tree. The seed ended up being the greatest tree in the world, because on the tree of Calvary he said it is finished, the Old Testament was finished, everything come to a completion. He bowed his head and with that he gave up his spirit. The temple curtain was torn from top to bottom and then suddenly, salvation thundered around the globe because of the blood of Jesus was shed at the cross of Calvary. Not because of the cross. The timber structure had the power. It is the blood that has the power.
Speaker 2:But the whole world is talking about Jesus. This government can't stand Jesus. Islam can't stand Jesus. Secularization can't stand Jesus. Humanists can't stand Jesus. Religion can't stand Jesus. Sikh movements don't understand, can't stand. Worshiping Buddha can't stand. No one can stand the name of Jesus. There is power in the name of Jesus. The blood was shed. We're coming to the table. We're coming to the table and we're not coming to the table of Lent because that's religion.
Speaker 2:What are your children being taught at school? Why are you sending your children to school? What are they being taught? Are the boys being taught how to be girls? They are. The girls are being taught how to be boys. Why are you sending your children to school? Are they being taught Jesus Christ? Are they being taught all other world religions? What is the purpose of education? Education is a pharaoh system. It's a pharaoh system is a pharaoh system because it wants to hold the children from reaching the full potential. Because if we can brainwash the children with education, if we can brainwash them if we can over occupy their mind and then we'll give them all the accolades. They'll wear the hat on graduation day, they'll get this, they'll get that, they'll get a certificate. But there are no jobs. They're fighting for jobs.
Speaker 2:If you want to live a life that is so powerful outside of education. If you want to live a life that is radical, if you want to stand out amongst the crowd, don't get a doctorate get saved. If you want to stand out amongst the crowd, don't get a doctorate get saved. If you want to stand out in the world around you, don't become a businessman or a businesswoman. Become a Bible-believing believer. If you want the world to take notice of you, you tell the world on your social networks.
Speaker 2:I am a Bible-believing, blood-washed, sanctified child of the living God. I believe in creation. I believe in the birth, the death, the resurrection of jesus christ. I believe the word of god is without error. I believe that jesus christ is the coming king. I believe that the earth is only 6 500 years old. Children, go and tell that to your science teacher tomorrow. They'll have a baby. They can't. They won't grasp.
Speaker 2:You're telling me that you believe the bible is only that the earth is six thousand five now I'm talking about the earth, not talking about god. I'm talking about when god said let there be six thousand five hundred years old or thereabouts, according to the maths, according to the, the chronological way. The bible talks children. The earth did not come in by a big bang. That is the biggest junk.
Speaker 2:The education system has led them down the line of how the world was created. Do you believe in the string theory? Do you believe in Darwinism? The government practiced Darwinism. They trample on the survival of the fittest. Darwinism is rubbish. It's a theory. The Big Bang is rubbish. It's a theory.
Speaker 2:All that stuff in education about creation is a lie from the gates of hell. If you want to know kids parents where you have come from, read the gates of hell. If you want to know kids parents where you have come from, read the word of God. I haven't got to prove to you that God exists. You've got to prove to me that he doesn't. And I tell you now, when you finish the journey of science through the word of mathematics and physics and quantum physics, you'll be telling me Jesus is alive. You tell the world around you that Jesus is alive. Father, we break bread together right now and we believe not in Lent.
Speaker 2:We don't believe in religion, we believe in the Passover table and we understand what the scripture says about the Passover table. And Jesus sat at the Passover table and he touched all those cups, but the cup that he lifted up to Judas Iscariot wasn't the cup of praise, not the fourth one, not the cup of sanctification, not the cup of release. It was the third cup, the cup of redemption. The cup that he was holding in scripture was the third cup, the cup of redemption. The cup that he was holding in scripture was the third cup, the cup of redemption, the cup that he spoke about hours before, if it's possible, if it's possible, at the table, after the table, when he went. Actually, when he went after that, the cup that he held before he went to the older stuff and everything was going on is he's holding the cup, talking about cup, because he knew that cup was representing impending death. He's going to have to wait. So as he lifted up that cup at the Passover table and he said I'm about to go to the cross, I'm about to go to a place that no one can go except me, so now I understand, in the garden when he said, if it's possible. But he took the cup. We're coming to a close in just a few minutes, bear with me.
Speaker 2:And when he took the cup, jesus looked in the eyeballs of Nicodemus in John 3.3, and he preached the greatest message you must be born again. The most powerful message, the shortest message was delivered in three minutes and it was a given. And the world is talking about it. The world forgets about what I preach, but it never forgets what Jesus said you must be born again. So Jesus locks eyes with Nicodemus in John 3.3. Then he locks eyes again in the courtyard. We know he locks eyes with the disciple in the courtyard and about the disowning, and their eyes are locking. And then also Jesus locks eyes again the third time. He locks eyes with Judas Iscariot. What's the worry with that? But also, what he was locking eyes with was Lucifer. So he was locking eyes with a human being.
Speaker 2:And the Bible says as soon as Jesus dipped the bread in the cup, the Bible says that Satan entered into the body and Satan took of the bread Theological depths. Here it wasn't just Judas Iscariot, satan entered into the body. And at that moment, at that breaking, at that point, satan was given the blood on the bread and Jesus said what you're about to do, do quickly. And as Jesus looked in the eyes, he looked in the eyes and in the retina of Judas Iscariot, but he looked deeper in the eyes and he was saying to Satan you're finished. You're finished Because the blood that you've just tasted through human physics is going to save everybody, sisters and brothers.
Speaker 2:What's really really interesting is that God separated and God said let there be light. And there was was. And he separated light from darkness. And Jesus Christ, around the Passover table, looked at darkness and he said darkness will never prevail because it is the blood that has destroyed all darkness. The scriptures are beyond human reasoning. So, father, bless this bread as we take this in jesus name, amen. The bible says. In the same way, he took the cup after supper and he said this cup is a new covenant, this is the new testament, this is what I've been preparing all the way from genesis, one before time. Take this in your own time, father. In the name of Jesus, I ask you that you will cleanse me from the crown of my head to the sole of my feet, and remember this what's really, really important is if you've been under the Catholic faith, the Church of England.
Speaker 2:You can't walk into them, den of iniquities, and take of the cup. You've got to dance through hoops and the priests will reject you if you don't hit A, b, c and D in their religion. But who was sitting again? Who was sitting at the Passover table? The betrayer. Jesus don't reject anybody. There is no sin that can stop you taking another cup, because it is the cup that redeems, it is the cup that washes, it is the cup that buys us back. But the priesthood will go, ben, you're not taking of it. You ain't paid me 50 quid this week. Why are we going into the den of an? Why are we going into satanic houses of worship and being told by Satan himself you can't take of the cup. When Jesus held the cup and the bread to the lips of a human being that had the devil in him, jesus don't reject no one Religion does. So what are you doing at Lent today? Why are you doing Lent? The greatest thing that you'll ever give up for.
Speaker 2:Lent is Lent itself, because it's religious and it's not about the blood of Jesus. Cleanse us from the crown of our head to the sole of our feet, in Jesus' name. Amen. Brothers and sisters, we've run over time, but it's critical. It's critical that we get the word of God in our spirit.
Speaker 2:It's not Lent that saved us, it is the blood of Jesus. It is not a preacher that has saved you. It is the blood of Jesus. It is not a preacher that has saved you, it is the word of God. God has saved you. You are redeemed. Let's pray, father, in the name of Jesus. We are redeemed by the Redeemer. We have been brought back by the one that went in and drew us out. We are free, because who the Son sets free is free. Indeed, spirit of the living God, I pray that you will anoint every one of us in the house and everyone online that you will anoint us so strong. Today we feel the anointing of God, the anointing of the Holy Spirit. We thank you that we are saved. There is nothing in this world, there is no preacher that can remove salvation from us. Bless us.
Speaker 1:We pray in Jesus' name, thank you for listening to us today on Reverend Ben Cooper's podcast. We hope you found inspiration and guidance in today's audio. Remember the journey of faith is a continuous one and your questions and thoughts are important. You can send us a text or an email and we will get back to you. So, wherever you are around the world, thank you for listening to our podcasts and radio ministry. For more information about our ministry, please find us on pastorbencoopercouk. Please support us with prayer. Also, you can sow a financial seed into this ministry. You can also leave us a legacy to support and continue the work of this radio ministry. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and share it with others who might benefit. Until next time, stay blessed.
