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
Nothing Can Separate Us: Finding Peace in God's Promises (#1035 - Elim)
https://www.pastorbencooper.co.uk/In this powerful episode of Reverend Ben Cooper, we dive into the extraordinary privilege of worship and how it shapes our relationship with God. Through Romans 9, we explore how worship is not a burden but a gift that transforms us. Additionally, we hear a compelling testimony from a Messianic Jew who encountered Jesus in the very scriptures he once thought he knew, revealing the life-changing power of God’s Word.
Key Discussion Points:
- The Gift of Worship:
In Romans 9, we see that God “gave them the privilege of worshipping Him.” Worship is a divine gift that allows us to draw closer to God and experience His presence in profound ways. This perspective shifts our view from seeing worship as an obligation to recognizing it as a transformative experience that deepens our faith journey. Worship is not a task but an invitation to be in intimate communion with the Creator. - Unshakeable Assurance in God's Love:
Romans 8:38-39 reminds us of an unshakable truth: “Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons... can separate us from God’s love.” This scripture is a beacon of hope, especially for those struggling with anxiety, depression, and mental health challenges. When faced with these battles, it’s important to understand that they don’t mean God has abandoned us. Instead, these struggles can become the sacred ground where His presence is most deeply felt. God’s love remains constant and unwavering, offering peace and hope even in our darkest moments. - Jesus as the Good Shepherd:
Jesus’ role as the Good Shepherd (John 10:11) gives us an image of sacrificial love. Unlike hired hands who flee in the face of danger, Jesus positions Himself as the gate to protect His flock. This sacrificial love was most profoundly demonstrated on the cross, where He fulfilled Isaiah 53:5, “He was pierced for our transgressions.” This beautiful imagery shows us that Jesus is always with us, even in the most difficult seasons of life, offering protection, guidance, and peace. - The Power of the Holy Spirit:
The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in empowering believers to live out their faith. The baptism of the Holy Spirit equips us with spiritual gifts that not only build up the Church but also extend God’s kingdom on earth. These gifts—when exercised with love—become powerful tools for healing, transformation, and bringing light into a broken world. The Holy Spirit is not just a promise for the past; He is active today, enabling us to live out God’s purposes. - Walking in Peace Amidst Life’s Challenges:
Life can be challenging, but God's peace transcends all understanding. Embracing His promises allows believers to walk through difficulties with unshakable hope and confidence. This peace is a powerful testimony of God's presence in our lives, helping us find stability and joy even amid struggles. By focusing on His faithfulness, we can experience His peace, which guards our hearts and minds.
Conclusion:
This episode is filled with encouragement and practical wisdom for those facing personal struggles, seeking deeper spiritual experiences, or desiring a closer relationship with God. The insights shared remind us that God’s love is unfailing and that His presence in our lives is a source of profound peace and transformation. Whether you are experiencing joy or walking through pain, this episode will help you understand the depth of God’s love an
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Speaker 2:Good morning everyone. It's coffee and prayer this morning. There's no Ben this morning. He's had to go off and you're stuck with myself and Glenn. So it's yeah, what a privilege to be here this morning and a marvellous sunny day here. I don't know what it's like where you are, but it's lovely and sunny. So we're going to enjoy the day, but we're going to enjoy this hour with us, together, as we go into God's word and we pray to our Father.
Speaker 4:Well, what have I got this morning, apart from a relationship with the living God through Jesus Christ? Yeah, yeah, I think we'll start there. We had a really good Sunday. Well, most Sundays are really good. It's pleasing, isn't it? It's so good when the people of God just meet together, and what a privilege it is to go to church.
Speaker 4:But we had a visiting speaker from Chosen People Ministries. Oh, he was. Yeah, he shared his testimony of how, although he was brought up in Israel, although he was brought up in the tradition of the Jews, he did not know his Bible. Now, that was revelation to me. They go by the law of the Jews. He did not know his Bible. Now, that was revelation to me. They go by the law of the Pharisees, they go by the laws the Talmud, but they didn't know the Old Testament.
Speaker 4:And what happened to him? He was in a bit of a pickle and a friend of his, who turned out to be a Christian, got into a discussion with him about the Old Testament. Turned out to be a Christian, got into a discussion with him about the Old Testament, and I'm not sure if I can share his name because he's a missionary over in the Middle East, but he said this Christian, let's call him Dave. His name's not Dave, but Dave's a good name, isn't it? So Dave said to this Christian, he quoted the Old Testament, but wrongly. And the Christian said no, no, that's wrong. The Bible actually says this. He said look, I know my heritage, I know what I am, I'm this, I'm that and we live by this, that and the other. And the Christian said go and check it out. He said I tell you, check it out, read your Bible.
Speaker 4:And when Dave read his Bible, he realised what he had been brought up in in the tradition contradicted with what the Bible actually said. And he said to the Christian okay, you might be right on that point, but I'm never going to believe in your Jesus. And actually the Christian said okay, well, let's just do Old Testament Bible study together. And as he read the Old Testament, he discovered Jesus in the Old Testament and he's now an evangelist leading many to Christ. It was a great morning with him. He gave his life to Jesus. He now calls himself a Messianic Jew, a Jew who has found the Messiah, jesus Christ, the Chosen One, the Messiah. So yeah, so I'm looking at Romans 9.
Speaker 4:Coincidentally, you know I hadn't planned this, but when it comes to Israel, let's start at one With Christ as my witness. I speak with utter truthfulness and I'm reading from the NLT. My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief For my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed, cut off from Christ, if that would save them Wow, wonderful. And gave them his law. He gave them the privilege of worshipping him and receiving his wonderful promises. Wow, he gave them the privilege of worshipping him.
Speaker 4:You know what it's a privilege to have a relationship with God, an absolute privilege. We, as we know, all of us have gone astray. Everyone has turned to their own ways and turned their back on God. Of us have gone astray. Everyone has turned to their own ways and turned their back on God. But God still loves us and breaks into our lives, reveals himself to us, convicts us of sin and forgives us of all of our sin. What a privilege to worship him.
Speaker 4:Now we do know that the original church was Jewish. The Gentiles came to know the way of salvation at Cornelius' house that's in the book of Acts, when Peter went there. And yeah, god, his original intention was for all tribes, nations, tongues to know him, to have covenant relationship with him. So stand in Romans 9, dropping down to verse 25. Concerning the Gentiles, I'm a Gentile, but I'm more than a Gentile. I've been grafted in, grafted into all the promises, all the promises, and God hasn't forgotten Israel. There will be a time when they will look upon the one they have pierced and mourn for him. When the vow is removed and Israel turns to Jesus, that's a sure sign that he's coming soon. So, concerning the Gentiles, this is me. God says in the prophecy of Hosea those who are not my people, I will now call my people and I will love those whom I did not love before. And that, at the place where they were told you are not my people, there you will be called children of the living God. What a covenant, what a covenant.
Speaker 4:Now we have the privilege of worshipping him, of coming close. Now we have the privilege of worshipping him, of coming close that inner, most holy of holy places, the inner sanctum where only the high priest could go once a year, with a cord around his foot, a rope and bells around his tunic. Because if he did anything incorrectly, god, who lives in absolute holiness, the holiness, would have struck out and killed that high priest dead, because if he did anything incorrectly, god, who lives in absolute holiness the holiness, would have struck out and killed that high priest dead and no one could go in and get him. Now that most holy of holy places is within us. It's within you. God dwells within us by his Holy Spirit. This is the new covenant.
Speaker 4:What a privilege to worship him, to know sin's forgiven, to know conscience cleansed, to know that there is nothing that can separate us from his love, to know that we have become the children of the living God. The children of the living God. This is ESV. But to all who did receive him this is verse 12, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. The right to become children of God. What a privilege. I'm a child of God, I'm his son, who were born not of blood, nor the will of the flesh, nor the will of man, but born of God. You know he chose us, he called us, he knows everything about us, he sees you. As God said to one of the prophets before I formed you in the womb, I knew you completely. To know that complete seeing of God over our lives and to know that he still chose us and called us and gave us the privilege of being his children. I think that's wonderful. In Romans 8, I'll read from verse 26.
Speaker 4:The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness, for example. We don't know what God wants us to pray for, but the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father, who knows the hearts, the Father who knows all hearts, he knows our inner being, knows what the Spirit is saying, For the Spirit pleads for us believers, in harmony with God's own will. Wow, you don't know what to pray this morning. You don't know what your circumstances are like. You're stuck, you're feeling lost, you're wandering about, feeling like you're in a desert. Pray in the spirit and you'll come into alignment with God's own heart, for we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Speaker 4:Isn't it good to have a destiny? Isn't it good to have identity? Isn't it good to have a calling? Every single Christian has a calling. It's got a purpose for us all, for God knew his people in advance. Again, I'm on a journey of finding out who I am. I'm not what I was, Neither am I yet what I will be, but by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been without effect so far. So I know his effectual grace is going to continue to transform me.
Speaker 2:Undeserved favor it's absolutely, absolutely undeserved.
Speaker 4:We were dead in our transgressions. What can a dead person do? We were, by nature objects of wrath. We were blinded by the god of this age, unable to see, unable to respond to god's grace. So God, in his grace and mercy, awakens us by his Holy Spirit, wakes us up to who we are, convicts us of sin, shows us the reality of who we are and then says do you want forgiveness? He says it's already there.
Speaker 4:Through Jesus Christ, who was crushed for our iniquities, who was pierced for our transgressions, he convicts us to bring us close, to deal with it. For God knew his people in advance and he chose them to become like his son, so that his son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. What a privilege, people of God.
Speaker 4:We are the children of God, co-heirs with Jesus standing in his story. His testimony is our testimony and our testimony is his. We're part of the great story at the end of book of acts, it should say to be continued, because it is being continued today in our generation. Our standing in God is his children, loved, oh, indescribably, absolutely loved through and through by him, his children. He's working all things out for good for us. But what about the hard things? Tough world, isn't it Anyone going through trouble today? Today, yeah, get in the queue. But he's working in that, have you found? It's in the desert times, it's in the hardship that we hear his voice clearer. Verse 18 of romans 8. Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. Jesus, I want to thank you that knowing us completely, completely. Your foreknowledge over us is not just who we once were or who we are today, but also who we are tomorrow. Lord, in your foreknowledge, you're never surprised by our actions.
Speaker 4:You're never disappointed with our failures. Instead, lord, you raise us up with you, you dust us off, you tell us to confess our sin, to be cleansed again and again and again and to draw close. Thank you, lord, that you know us completely and you love us completely, and we thank you, lord, that you have dealt with us completely. As you said about Mary Magdalene as she washed your feet with her hair, and Stephen, that Pharisee was frowning and said if only this man, if he was a prophet, knew who that was wiping his feet. And you said, stephen, do you see this woman? Because you saw her. And you said, stephen, do you see this woman Because you saw her? And you said, though her sins are many, she's forgiven. And you say that over us and Jesus, you said those who have been forgiven much will love much. I want to thank you that your forgiveness is complete. You hold nothing against us and you called us to draw close. I love you, lord, because you first loved me, amen.
Speaker 2:Amen, amen, amen. Yeah, just you being in Chapter 8 of Romans Glenn, verse 31, really sort of speaks to me. What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? It's always a verse that's been a great help and a comfort to me that God is for us. Who can be against us? There are many things out there in this life that interrupt us, that knock us sideways, but God is always there. That's the promise. He is always there. That's the promise he is always there. I've been looking through John, I might have said before, and the I am's in John you know, and I was looking at.
Speaker 2:I am the good shepherd. This was only just last week. I am the good shepherd. This was only just last week. I am the good shepherd and it gives a picture of the Middle East and Far East of how a shepherd works. And it always fascinated me that the sheep follow the shepherd. Yeah, they're not rounded up by a sheep dog and uh, you have to sort of control them because sheep are pretty dumb, I understand, and uh, just like us sometimes it's not a compliment they need to be, um, rounded up. But in the middle East and Far East the shepherd knows each of his sheep by name and he can call them and they follow him, which is, I find, quite astonishing.
Speaker 2:The sheep follow the shepherd and that's our relationship with Jesus. Isn't it that we follow Jesus because he is the good shepherd? Isn't it that we follow jesus because he is the good shepherd? And john 10 goes on to say that the shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He will do anything to protect his sheep. If a wolf comes and I understand lions can come as well in those days, lions, bears anything could come and the shepherd would fight them off and, if necessary, lay down their life for them because he was the shepherd. He wasn't as John says, he wasn't a hired hand who would run off and leave the sheep to be devastated. But Jesus is our shepherd and he laid down his life for us. He went to the cross for us so that we could have life. And I really, really suggest that you get into God's word, absolutely Get into.
Speaker 3:God's word you need to.
Speaker 2:God's word. You need to open this book and I've said this before. You know it's a book that changes lives. When you read God's word, it actually speaks to your inner, your knower as some words often said your knower it really speaks to you. So I challenge anyone listening today to get more into God's word, more into God's word. And you mentioned Chosen People Ministries. I tune in every Tuesday evening to their podcast. I tune in every Tuesday evening.
Speaker 4:Oh yeah, you do, don't you To their podcast.
Speaker 2:And I was listening last night and Fiona leads the podcast usually and we were into Isaiah and, of course, what amazing prophecies are in there. But it's again, what a book. And I was reminded as Fiona was talking about Isaiah, about the people wandering around in the wilderness, you know, for 40 years. Yeah, I know, the people were absolutely crazy and they went off and did things.
Speaker 4:These were the people of God. They were the ones who walked through the Red Sea on dry ground.
Speaker 2:Not only that, later on, they walked through a Jordan.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And God had been with them and had provided food for them, had protected them, had held up, as you say, the seas to hold them back so they could escape from the Egyptian armies drifted away from.
Speaker 2:God and, as a result of that, instead of crossing over into the promised land, they went on a tour for 40 years, went on this tour for 40 years, and this was something that God really intended, because all those who went away from him, they never got to see the promised land, all the men and women of that age, they died in that 40 years.
Speaker 4:A whole generation. A whole generation died, including Moses.
Speaker 2:Yeah, including Moses, their leader, who was a fantastic leader and really chosen by God. But, as I seem to remember, is that Moses got to see, didn't he?
Speaker 4:He looked across, he looked across yeah, but could not enter under the law.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 4:Under the law, because Moses basically disgraced himself before the people by losing his temper. Yeah, and God said you're great. Yeah, but Moses did enter the Promised Land.
Speaker 2:Yes, he was taken across.
Speaker 4:Well, in the New Testament, when Jesus was transfigured, in the Promised Land. He was one of the two people with him there was.
Speaker 4:Elijah and Moses. Yeah, in the Promised Land, yeah, he was one of the two people with him. There was Elijah and Moses. So in the covenant of grace, moses stands there, but in the covenant of law, you see, jesus made a new covenant. He didn't rehash the old, he fulfilled the old through himself. He fulfilled the law, all the things that we could not accomplish, even Moses, the lawgiver, and he was the most humble man who ever lived. The word says that he was the greatest leader, fleshly wise, who could ever live. But even him, even Moses himself, could not fulfill the law. All the law does is show us our faults. Again, it says that in Romans, all the law can do is make sin to be truly sinful. But there was one. The word became flesh, absolutely Emptied himself of God, taken on the nature of a servant, submitted himself to the will of the Father, even to death, and death on a cross. He fulfilled all things and gave up his very life so that we could come into a new covenant.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 4:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Back to the shepherd just to say that also the other I am here in chapter 10 is I am the gate. Yeah, I am the gate for the sheep. It says in verse 7, all who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out and find pasture. So whoever enters by the gate, and again, taking the sort of the figure of speech of the gate, the shepherd, to protect his sheep, would lie across the gate in the evening time so that no one, no enemy or wild animal, could come in and take the sheep.
Speaker 2:So again we look at this and see that God Jesus is our protector. He will always protect us. And he says I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not. The shepherd does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming he abandons the sheep and runs away. But we have a good shepherd, we have jesus who, it says clearly here, laid down his life for the sheep. And Jesus went to the cross. And we're not far from Easter, are we?
Speaker 5:No, we're not.
Speaker 2:We're only a few weeks away Easter Sunday, 20th of April I think and Jesus went to the cross for each one of us. He died in our place. We're all going to die. That's our place. We're all going to die. That's a fact. We've all got to die, but it's what happens after. That is the crucial point, and Glenn knows where he's going.
Speaker 4:I do indeed.
Speaker 2:I know where I'm going and I challenge everyone listening do you know where you're going when the time comes? Do you know? And you need to just have that confidence, that confidence, something well, we call it faith. Don't we Faith in Jesus that he actually died for you? Individually, you can have, which, again, is astonishing. That's the difference, isn't it from the Old and the New Testament that God is so holy that you couldn't stand in his presence. You could not stand in his presence. You couldn't look on his presence. Even Moses couldn't look on his presence. He had to put a great big stone in between.
Speaker 4:He saw the Lord's back.
Speaker 2:Yeah, he saw his back.
Speaker 4:Yeah, but we can come into relationship through Jesus and then his face shone so much when he came down from the mountain he had to wear the veil because the people were terrified. Yeah, and when God wanted to speak to his people this is at the bottom of Sinai. God wanted to speak one-to-one with his people, but they cried out please, moses, speak on God's behalf. Yeah, because they were scared they were going to drop dead. Yeah, god's awesome. It's a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:Because of his holiness and his purity, and without jesus, we do not stand a chance. No, yeah, thanks be to god for jesus. Yeah, so he sent his son um to to die in our place and, uh, we're going to have a great time. I wonder what heaven is going to be like. Quite often, yeah, how it all works out and how we all get in, but it's going to be.
Speaker 4:More than what we can ask or imagine. Yeah, If ever you've encountered the Lord's presence, well, heaven's going to be that Whenever. I still remember that I was about 14 and I went to a Catholic school. I was not a Christian in any way, shape or form. I was only allowed in a third of the school because my behaviour was not good.
Speaker 5:No, it wasn't good.
Speaker 4:Well, it led to me getting arrested at gunpoint at 19. My behaviour was not good.
Speaker 5:But anyway.
Speaker 4:I remember we went to an Ellsford Priory.
Speaker 3:Oh yeah.
Speaker 4:Yeah, and I experienced something there and it was the presence of Jesus. I couldn't work out what it was and I turned around to one of my friends and I said I feel like being good. He went you. He laughed and, although it didn't last long, five minutes later I was causing mayhem, as usual, but it haunted me. Yeah, I thought what was that? What was it? It was so good. It was so good. Then it was years later when Jesus really met with me sovereignly and turned my life upside down and changed me and showed me who he is.
Speaker 4:But I've been in places. I've been in a church that was in revival back in the 90s, where you just walked in the building and the presence of God was so manifest. One you didn't want to walk in, it was so scary, but the other, you didn't want to be anywhere else. No, that's right. He is so good, knowing that he knows you completely and his love is totally for you. All it can do is bring you to your knees in worship. He is awesome, beauty beyond compare, and he's for us. If he's for us, who can be against us? Yeah, actually, I'm looking at that Again, going back to Romans 8.
Speaker 4:Yeah, I'm going to read from 31 again. What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for for us, who can be against us, since he did not spare even his own son, but gave him up for us? I hope you realize that he gave his own son up for you, such as his love for you. Won't he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? Apparently, this is Mental Health Week, and the things that cause trouble, perplexing thoughts, intrusive thoughts, storms in the mind are mainly accusations. A lot of times, it's because of bad self-image and an acceptance of lies over your life. Who dares accuse us, whom God has chosen for his own, when you get these accusations in your head? When you get these accusations in your head, when you get these lying voices that say you are worthless, that is not from god. Who dares accuse us whom god has chosen for his own? No one, for god himself has given us right standing with himself, not by works, not by deeds, but because of his one and only son, for god himself has given us right standing with himself. Who, then, will condemn us? No one.
Speaker 4:If you're a christian, if you've got a personal savior called jesus yeshua. He is your saviour. He has taken your place. It's not about you. It's about the sacrifice that's been paid for you. Is he enough? Yes, he is. Did he pay enough? Yes, he did.
Speaker 4:The cross shows that so does the resurrection, for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honour at God's right hand pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted or hungry or destitute or in danger or threatened with death? As the scripture says for your? We're killed every day. We're being slaughtered like sheep. No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ Jesus, who loved us. No one can bring a charge against us. Why? Because of him and what he has paid. I am convinced this is what Paul writes in verse paid. I am convinced this is what Paul writes in verse 38. I'm convinced. Not I need convincing, I am convinced. I'm absolutely convinced. And he said a minute ago do I know where I go when I die?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'm going to heaven.
Speaker 4:Oh, but do you deserve it? No, but can anyone take away what Jesus has done? No, he is my assurance of salvation, not me. It's not down to Glenn. It's down to Glenn believing in what Jesus has done.
Speaker 4:And I am convinced, like Paul, and he's convinced like Paul, that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Nothing, neither death nor life. So as long as I'm alive, nothing's going to separate me. And when I die, even death won't separate me, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today and our worries about tomorrow. They ain't going to separate you.
Speaker 4:Not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. And even the powers of hell cannot stop the church from growing. Jesus said I will build my church Absolutely, yep. And hell itself cannot prevail against her. The church is here eternally and it's going to be redeemed and made new through the power of christ. Not even the powers of hell can separate us from god's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below. Indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of god that is revealed in christ jesus, our lord. Everything outside of God is created. There's nothing in everything outside of God that can separate us from God's love.
Speaker 4:Andy can't separate me, I can't separate him. We can't separate each other. I can't separate myself. I'm created because of what Jesus has done. So when it comes to mental health, paul writes in Philippians 4, starting at verse 4, rejoice in the Lord always. This is a privilege of worshipping him. I started with that in Romans 9, verse 4. He gave us the privilege of worshipping him. Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand. Do not be anxious about anything.
Speaker 3:What should?
Speaker 4:we be anxious about Nothing. That's hard, isn't it? Yeah, because I know chronic anxiety is crippling. Yeah, and I know Christians feel guilty because they suffer anxiety. Okay, is that going to separate you from God's love? No, no, no, god allows us to be broken so that through our brokenness, we can know him. So don't be anxious about your anxiety.
Speaker 4:It's something God's allowed into your life to show you more of him. And it's often the worst, best place you can be, because he causes us or makes us lie down in green pastures. He makes us be still in green pastures and still waters. Why? So that he can restore our souls. He restores us from the inside out. So he will put healing balm in the things that cause these deep anxieties and your relationship with him will grow in those places and I'm prophesying that over people and I'm speaking it into life, over you.
Speaker 4:Can these dry bones live again? No, this is hopeless. No, the answer is yes, lord, you know, only you know. Then prophesy son of man over these dead places. So we prophesy peace and stillness over these anxious troubles, for the Lord is at hand. The Lord is at hand.
Speaker 4:Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything. Now, this is for us to do over ourselves, in these things that we think are going to destroy us. No, god's at work in all things for good. He's actually going to use it as balm and strength and deep foundations in your life. But in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God. Thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God and the peace of God.
Speaker 4:Lord, we prophesy the peace. Jesus, you said my peace, I leave you, my peace I give you. I don't give as the world gives, but you give your Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit speak deep unto deep in people's lives, in their souls, in their minds, in their hearts, and the peace of God, which surpasses, which transcends, which is above all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds. In Christ Jesus, I want to thank you, lord. I've experienced that myself from you, lord, the damage that was done in my brain through years of drug abuse, lord, and dark spiritual entities, and you cleared them all away and gave me your peace through the gift of your Holy Spirit.
Speaker 4:Lord, I pray that over listeners now, what they think was going to destroy them is actually going to bring life. For that's what you do, lord. You turn the enemy on himself and the weapons that he thought would destroy us. You cause to be the things that make us For. You are at work in all things for good, and your banner and your word over us is love and peace. And here's the battle of the mind that we do. This is how we are renewed, by the transformation of our minds.
Speaker 4:Whatever is true, I've just spoke, truth, the word of God is truth when God says nothing can snatch you out of my hand. God cannot lie. He's telling you the truth. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there's anything worthy of praise, think about such things, start quoting over the lies that satan tells you the truth, and the truth will set you free, not might set you free, will set you free, and then you will know the truth. Where's the truth in the word? How will you know the truth? Read the word yeah, know the truth.
Speaker 5:Where's the truth In the word.
Speaker 4:How will you know the truth? Read the word. And the truth will set you free. What you have learned oh, actually, it says I'll finish this If there's anything excellent, if there's anything worthy of praise, think about such things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Speaker 3:Lord.
Speaker 2:I want to thank you for your promise you will be with us.
Speaker 4:I want to thank you for the definites of your word. You say the truth will set you free. You say, lord, that the peace of God will reign. You say, lord, that we are transformed by the renewing of our minds. Therefore, our minds can be renewed by your grace and your mercy and your goodness, holy Spirit. For those who are crippled with anxiety today, we speak shalom, peace, peace, peace In Jesus' name. Be still and, lord, I pray that hope will rise in the hearts of many, that they will see that these things that they thought were against them are nothing compared to the great love and calling and goodness that comes from you. Thank you, Lord, that we have the privilege of being your children today and for always.
Speaker 2:Amen, amen, amen, amen. I have a verse here from 2 Corinthians, chapter 4. This verse was given to me many years ago when I was filled with the Spirit. I, and some would call it, baptised in the Spirit.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:I started Discover my Own Giftings and I did a course at a church many years ago in central London and this verse was given to me. It says therefore since through God's mercy, we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Yeah, and that's always been with me, that no matter what hits you, no matter what comes you know, sideswipes you, we have a ministry. All those who are born again are going to have a ministry. They're going to be a witness for Jesus and we're all witnesses for Jesus and we can interact with people in our own special way, because God promises that he will send his Holy Spirit and that includes his spiritual gifts. We've all got a gift. We all have a gift. Some have more than one gift. That's in 1 Corinthians 12, spiritual gifts, and you can read that. But it goes on also that these gifts are a complete waste of time if you don't have love.
Speaker 2:In 1 Corinthians 13. And this is such a well-known verse that I think we were discussing a couple of weeks ago only that there was I think it was Benny who was taking a wedding when he used this scripture from 1 Corinthians 13. You know, we all know this. I think love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud, it does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easy angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails and it goes on to say, where there are prophecies, these will cease, and so on.
Speaker 2:So that's amazing how Jesus loves like that and it's a standard that we live up to sometimes and or try to reach there. But Jesus is so faithful to us. When we sort of fail to get there, we can say sorry to him. He wipes the slate clean and we carry on. And, as that, 2 Corinthians, chapter 4 says, we don't give up. We don't give up because God is for us. And who can be against us? And you know, when you are filled with the Spirit, you're going to exercise those gifts. And you know, just read chapter 12 of 1 Corinthians. Read chapter 12. And if you say, well, I don't know what my gift is, read chapter 12 and ask God to show you, pray about it, and this will be revealed to you. I'm pretty sure that that's what will happen and I just want to pray now.
Speaker 2:Father, god, we ask you to come by your spirit. Come. We ask you to come by your spirit. Come and for all those who are listening and who will listen later, by your power, now fill us up to overflowing. Let us be your powerful witnesses because, jesus, you died for each one of us. You came to this earth to save us and we thank you that we can be in relationship with you.
Speaker 2:You, the son of god, and you are holy, but we can come into your presence. We can come into your presence. We thank you, jesus. Help us to be your powerful witnesses in this world, which is a difficult place to live now as a Christian. We know that things are not always right. We ask you, father God, to forgive us when we go wrong, when we forget you, when we go against you. We ask you to come now and wipe the slate clean so that we can start again and be your loved ones. You called us your children and that's why we get things wrong sometimes, because we behave like children. But, um, you know us personally. How amazing that is. You, the son of god, know us personally. We thank you. We thank you that we can have this privilege of being in relationship with you. So thank you, father, for sending your son, and thank you, holy spirit, for being with us and fulfilling us and equipping us. In your name, we pray Amen, amen.
Speaker 4:You said if you could say baptise of the Holy Spirit, well, why not? Why not say that, john?
Speaker 2:the.
Speaker 4:Baptist did. Yeah, john the Baptist said in Mark 1, verse 7. No, sorry, verse 8. I baptise you with water, but he, jesus, will baptise you with the Holy Spirit. And in Matthew 3, 11, I think, he says I baptise with water, he will baptise with the Holy Spirit and with fire, fire, fire, baptism of the Holy Spirit. When you read through the book of acts, when pentecost comes, actually jesus said stay until you receive the promise, the promise, the holy spirit. Don't do anything until you've received him. We're supposed to be led by the spirit of god, says in moments eight. Those are led by the spirit of god or the children of God. How are you led by the Holy Spirit? By being filled with the Holy Spirit. Baptism of the Holy.
Speaker 5:Spirit.
Speaker 4:After they received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, just a few chapters more. When they're being persecuted, they cry out why do the nations put in vain against your people and your chosen one? And then they were again filled with the Holy Spirit when Peter went to Samaria and found some believers in the book of acts. He said did you receive the holy spirit when?
Speaker 4:you believed they said no, they were believers. They prayed for them to be filled with the spirit and they were. Later on, um paul and I think it's john, they find some believers and said did you receive the holy spirit when you believed? He said we've not even heard. There is a spirit.
Speaker 4:Joel's prophecy in the last days, not in the last day, not in the last month, in the last days, I will pour out my spirit on all people. Your sons, your daughters will prophesy, have dreams and visions. It says this promise, the promise, the promise of the Holy Spirit is for you and for your children and all who are far off and everyone who the Lord, our God, will call.
Speaker 4:Until when, until teleos. Again, read 1 Corinthians 13,. When perfection comes, perfection is teleos. It's not biblio, it's not graph, it's not litho, it's not about the word, it's teleos. Teleos means the completion of all things. When we see him face to face, when the end has come, when Jesus comes again, we will not need gifts of the holy spirit anymore because everything's made complete. But until then, as it starts in 1 corinthians 14, eagerly desire gifts of the spirit, especially the gift of prophecy. It's his promise, it's how we are transformed, it's how we are empowered.
Speaker 4:The peace of god is the presence of jesus. The presence of jesus is the manifest presence through his holy spirit, and it's for everyone. He is for everyone. That's why, said it's for your goods that I go. If I do not go, I cannot send him. But if I do go, I will send him the Holy Spirit. And when he comes, he convicts of sin. When he comes, he reminds us of everything Jesus said. He is the spirit of truth, he's the spirit of the Father and he is the spirit of the Son. He's the spirit of the Father and he is the spirit of the Son. He's the one who speaks directly to our hearts, as we said from Romans 8 earlier. Isn't he good?
Speaker 2:Absolutely.
Speaker 4:We're the temple of the living God. Yeah, what a privilege to know him, for this is eternal life that we would know him, not know about him, not have religion, not have gates that bar us from coming into the presence of God, but instead being filled with the presence of God and empowered by him and led by him. What a gospel. It is Andy. You look like you've got a scripture there. No, no.
Speaker 2:I was just looking, you went through to 1 Corinthians again. No, no, I was just looking, you went through to 1 Corinthians again. But I'm looking at the confirmation about the resurrection of Christ, 1 Corinthians 15. Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. We have to make our stand yeah, each one of us has to make our stand and by this gospel you are saved if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you.
Speaker 2:Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance that christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day, according to the scriptures, and that he appeared to seafast and then to the 12 after that. He appeared to more than 500 of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living. So this is, uh, the word. Paul is saying that these are believers and they are still alive, and more than 500.
Speaker 3:Yeah, at one time.
Speaker 2:At one time saw Jesus being raised from the dead, and this gospel has gone around the world. There are millions, millions upon millions of believers now, and this is something that we need to repeat and reiterate to our societies, to our communities that Jesus was raised from the dead.
Speaker 4:He is alive. The resurrection is so important because if you believe, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you'll be saved. What's so important about him being raised from the dead? The wages of sin is death. It says that in Romans. That's the wages of sin death. So Jesus was killed on the cross. We're going to communion, I think, off the back of this.
Speaker 4:He was killed, he died. To prove that he was dead, they stuck a spear right into his lungs and both water and blood flowed. An autopsy would tell you that can only happen after death. He was dead. The wages of sin is death.
Speaker 4:The sinless one died, but he hadn't earned the wage. How could he have died? But he did. But death could not hold him. Why? Because he hadn't sinned. Death had to release him. It had no hold on him. And yet the sinless one died and then was raised to life. He conquered death and walked out the tomb and, as you've already said, appeared to 500 at one time and all the disciples, and still appears to people today. But mainly he meets with us through his Holy Spirit.
Speaker 4:But because he paid that price of sin because he died the sinless one. The punishment that he paid was not for his own sins, it was for whose? Wow, anyone, anyone, anyone. It's a legal transaction. So Isaiah 53, the forbidden verse In all the synagogues. They have to go through Isaiah during this season, but they will not read Isaiah 53, the forbidden verse In all the synagogues. They have to go through Isaiah during this season, but they will not read Isaiah 53.
Speaker 4:They go from Isaiah 52 to Isaiah 54 because it's too powerful, speaking about Yeshua, the Saviour, jesus Christ, from verse 4. Surely he has borne our grief and carried our sorrow. Yet we esteemed him, stricken, smitten by God and afflicted Terminology here but he was pierced. Pierced by the nails, pierced by the spear. He was pierced for our transgressions. He was pierced for our sins, transgressions for our deliberate sins, for our things that we did and the things we failed to do. He was pierced for those.
Speaker 4:And he was also crushed for our iniquities. Iniquities literally means weakness of mind, mental health, week, weakness of stature, weakness of character, our failings. We all, like sheep, have gone astray. We were made in the image of God, but we all fall short of that image. We're broken and he was crushed for that as well. Upon him was the punishment that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, we've turned away everyone to his own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Speaker 4:Jesus, I want to thank you, and it's time to take the bread and wine together as I pray. Go and get some bread, get yourself juice or wine, and let's remember our salvation is assured because God laid on Jesus the iniquity of us all. Because God laid on Jesus the iniquity of us all, he was nailed to a tree, nailed to that cross. Every head turned away from him, abuse was hurled at him and his body was broken. For you and me, he has literally paid the price of all of our sin and our failings. Thank you, jesus, for dying for me.
Speaker 2:Let's take the bread together in remembrance of that, amen yeah, father, we thank you for jesus, and it says, as glenn already said, we are like sheep who've gone astray. Each of us has turned her own way and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us. All Our sins have been borne by Jesus on the cross and he shed his blood at that time, and we take this wine now in remembrance that you are our saviour and we thank you amen amen let us pray.
Speaker 3:We came before you, lifting up who are struggling with mental health challenges. You are the God of peace, love and restaurance. In the moments of anxiety, depression and overcoming your thoughts, may your word bring comfort and hope. Your servant Paul reminds us in Romans 12,. Romans 12, verse 2, Do not conform to the pattern of the world, but be transformed by renewing your mind. Then you will be able to test and improve what God's will is. He is God's pleasant and perfect. Will is God's pleasant and perfect will. Lord, we ask for your renewal in our minds. When there is heaviness brings light. When there is confusion brings charity. When there is fear, brings faith. Please give us all a faith and a romance. We pray for healing, peace and strength over our minds. May your love be sealed against every anxiety. Every power of you Please keep us healing from everything that's going on in this world. In Jesus' name, Amen, Amen.
Speaker 4:Amen, andy, have we been talking about God's word?
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, this is. I've got a real good gift here and it's a New Testament in Psalms and Proverbs. If anyone would like a copy, I can get this to you if you message us and we can take care of that. This is the book that you need to get into. It's so powerful that it changes lives. And do take advantage, or you can. You know, whatever you need to do, get hold of a copy of the Bible if you haven't got one. You can't do without it. You can't do without it. And once you've got it, don't just put it on the shelf, open it.
Speaker 2:It's sharper than a double-edged sword yeah. Well, it is sharper than a double-edged sword, as it says in Hebrews.
Speaker 4:Is it Timothy One or the other Hebrews? Yeah.
Speaker 3:Would you two gentlemen, like to do the Lord's Prayer with us?
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:I've got Maisie on a drink that she's done for us.
Speaker 4:Okay, and.
Speaker 3:I think that we should all do it all together. Yeah, yeah, okay, is that okay with you?
Speaker 2:too, Traditional.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah, I'll take it over to Maisie and then we'll see you in Bible study at 8.15, in church and online. Any last moments, any last words, no Farewell. Farewell yeah, we'll be back next week.
Speaker 5:I invite you to say the Lord's Prayer with me, our Father, who art in heaven. Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us of our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever are important.
Speaker 1: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. Stay blessed.
