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
Who's The Daddy? The Joseph & Mary (#1037 - Elim)
https://www.pastorbencooper.co.uk/What happens when God's calling doesn't fit neatly into your life plan? When following Jesus means stepping away from cultural norms and expectations? In this powerful episode, Pastor Ben Cooper explores the profound truth that genuine discipleship doesn’t always align with worldly expectations. If you’ve ever felt misunderstood or out of place, this message offers deep encouragement. Through the story of Mary and Joseph—two ordinary people called to a miraculous purpose—Pastor Ben invites you to see the beauty in embracing the messiness of divine calling.
Key Discussion Points:
- The Unexpected Calling of Mary and Joseph:
At the center of this message is the radical story of Mary and Joseph. Both were ordinary people, yet God’s plan for their lives defied every social norm. A virgin pregnancy, a heavenly conception, and the birth of a Savior—none of this made sense by human standards. In Luke 1:26-38 and Matthew 1:18-25, we see how God’s calling for their lives was messy, controversial, and full of unimaginable challenges. Pastor Ben highlights how their story shows that God's purposes rarely fit within our neatly planned lives. Their obedience changed the course of history, despite societal rejection and misunderstanding. - The Paradox of Kingdom Living:
Pastor Ben emphasizes a key lesson: in God’s Kingdom, the impossible becomes possible. What seems chaotic or broken in human terms can be exactly where God’s power shines through. The journey of discipleship often involves stepping into the unknown, trusting that God’s purpose is greater than any earthly logic. The message draws inspiration from 2 Corinthians 12:9—“But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'” The discomfort of living outside societal norms can be where God’s strength is most visible. - Jesus’ Understanding of Our Struggles:
As Christians, we are not immune to the pain of misunderstanding or the struggle to balance our spiritual calling with everyday life. Jesus Himself experienced deep anguish, particularly in Matthew 26:36-39 during His time in the Garden of Gethsemane. Pastor Ben uses this moment to remind listeners that Jesus intimately understands our fears, doubts, and moments of darkness. When we feel overwhelmed by the chaos around us, we can rest in the truth that Christ is with us, sharing in our struggles. - The Privilege of Embracing God's Plan:
Following God's calling often means facing resistance, not just from society but from close friends and even family members who can't understand why our lives don’t fit into conventional boxes. The story of Joseph’s obedience, despite his confusion and social stigma, reminds us that God’s plan often defies human expectations. Pastor Ben encourages listeners to embrace the beautiful messiness of God's calling, trusting that His purpose far outweighs societal approval.
Conclusion:
Are you feeling out of place or like your calling doesn’t fit into the box that society has created? You’re not alone. Like Mary and Joseph, the journey of faith is often filled with challenges and misunderstandings. However, God’s purpose for your life is far greater than any human expectation. When you feel that your life doesn’t make sense to others, it might just be aligning perfectly with God’s extraordinary plan. Trust Him and embrace the divine calling, knowing that
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. We are so thankful to have so many people around the globe downloading and listening to our podcasts, whether you are on Spotify, apple Podcast, google, alexa, amazon Music and so many other platforms. For more information about our ministry, please find us on pastorbencoopercouk. We would love to hear from you as you partner with us as we reach the world for Jesus Christ. Please send us an email through our contact form on pastorbencoopercouk. Also, you can find our latest books on Amazon under hashtag one, hashtag two and hashtag three under Christian Straight Talk hard-hitting, real-life conversations taken from our podcasts.
Speaker 1:Your financial gifts play a crucial role in supporting our radio ministry, helping us share the gospel through these podcasts and providing free copies of the Gospel of John and Bibles around the globe. Please pray for this ministry as we stretch out beyond the boundaries, as we walk by faith. If you'd like to support our mission, please consider clicking the support button on Spotify, apple Podcasts or Buzzsprout. You can give a one-time gift or set up a regular contribution of three pounds, five pounds, eight pounds or 10 pounds. You can also leave a legacy by clicking in the links within pastorbencoopercouk. Thank you for partnering with us in this ministry as we spread the message of hope far and wide through this radio ministry. So, whether you are on the daily commute or at home listening to our podcast, grab a cup of coffee, sit back, relax and enjoy.
Speaker 2:You know, the Bible is extremely clear. As we're in prayer, be still and know that I'm God. I pray that, as we're just in the stillness, in the stillness of the service, I pray that you will just find a place to be still in your heart. There is so much around the world at this moment in time regarding mental health, well-being, all those lines that is being used everywhere. You know, I'll let you know that when Jesus Christ was in the Garden of Gethsemane it's not preached about, it's not really spoken about I actually believe with all my heart that he went in there, because the scripture tells me that he went into the garden as the man, christ Jesus. And Jesus hit points in his life where I'm going to say it and I'm not frightened to say it, that Jesus hit extremities of his mind and we would call that Jesus had a time in his life where his well-being of his mind, he was unstable. That's a big thing to say and I will stand by what I say. Because Jesus was looking for escapism. That's fact. Because he said, if it's possible, so Jesus knows what it's like to be fearful to the point. It's got to be another way. I don't want it. Imagine the extremities that he went through as a man and as we're in prayer we're going to pray in a minute for all of our minds, all of our hearts, our complete being, and when you think about Jesus as well, when he lost his earthly father, joseph, young age, 24, 25 years old. Jesus knows what it's like to go through bereavement. We've got to understand and it's a rhetorical, but I'm just speaking out that Jesus knows what it's like. We look at him as fully God, fully King. We look at him. The church lifts him up, and so rightly so, and does what it does. But we need to ask Jesus Lord, will you undo the fabric, go beyond that and show me what Jesus experienced, because the way I feel doesn't click with the church.
Speaker 2:Jesus hit points in his life where his mind was shot. I will use that because it's the easiest way for us to understand. Jesus hit points in his life in the Garden of Gethsemane when he lost his dad, joseph, bereavement. He felt the pain, he felt the anguish. He's gone for everything and I'm not frightened of saying that and people can challenge me, you can ask me the questions. We've got to be real that Jesus hit points of anguish.
Speaker 2:The Bible tells us that Hit points of extreme fear beyond what we could ever imagine. So we will look at that today as mental health issues, and I'm not frightened of saying that across the table of the airways. I'm not frightened of telling you that, because the Bible says what we've experienced, he's experienced what we've gone through. He's gone through In such a level we will never grasp it. So let's pray, father, if it's us, if there's people around us, if situations are so strong that it's making our mind go crazy, father, I pray, lord, that you will give us strength now, in the name of Jesus, that this will be the day, the turning point in our lives, where our mental health, our thinking, the brain fog, the cognitive process, and it's just gone. It's just, we can't concentrate, we can't even put our socks on, can't do our shoes up, don't want to get out of bed too, I don't even want to go. I can't even think about the Garden of Gethsemane, I don't want to go in there, I want to sit on the edge, like the three that just fell asleep. So, lord, if we're struggling with life and whatever old, whatever age sorry whatever colour, whoever we are, I pray for minds today, that minds will be stable Just to breathe. So, lord, help us to breathe. Help us to breathe to gather our thoughts, but to look at the cross and say he went to that cross fully God, fully man, fully deity, fully king. And we've got to remember from Jesus's birth his back was against the wall every second, every day, every, every moment, every thought, every situation. The system was against Jesus Straight away. When his mom gave birth to him, as soon as he was wrapped in swaddling clothes, the authoritarians wanted him, herod wanted to kill. Where is this? And God took him, joseph and Mary, into Egypt, to them, in a very satanic land. Don't get fooled by Egypt. It's very dark. It was, it is and it always will be, according to the word. So God took them, child, mum and dad. Maybe that's how you feel today I'm in a place that's very heavy. Give us strength, lord, in Jesus name, amen, good morning, good afternoon, whatever your time zone is across the, and God bless everybody in the Lord's house. May God strengthen you.
Speaker 2:We're going to turn to the New Testament. We've got two reference points today. We're going to go to the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 1. The Gospel of Matthew, chapter 1. If anybody needs a Bible, grab a Bible. We're going to go to the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 1, verse 18, through through to 25. Then we're going to dip our toes in Luke, chapter 1, verse 26 to 38. There's no reference point from reading it backwards, frontwards, inside out. You know we can start wherever we need to, but we're in a very, very interesting scripture today, and I know what you're saying. Every scripture is interesting, yeah, but it's very, very relevant for where we live. And before we go any further, you're saying Every scripture is interesting, yeah, but it's very, very relevant for where we live.
Speaker 2:And before we go, one will take you to listen to the radio 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Then the second one, down with the microphone on it, will take you straight away to the website and then, and as you go down, it'll take to the socials. You know, we really feel. We really feel from the bottom of our heart, and I've got to let you know from the outset that this is part of the church ministry, but it is not linked to the church, the church isn't funding it and in its shape or form, it's me myself and I you know, but that's the vision that god dropped in, so I want to let you know that the vision and the dream for the radio is to get the gospel of jesus christ out across the world. That is it. That is that simple through music, through podcasts, through some church services, for all that sort of stuff. Just through real life podcast people being interviewed.
Speaker 2:You know, with high extreme, uh, adversities in life, you know. But may god bless you. There's cards at the back. Grab a card, take it with you, keep it, click into it 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You'll you'll have to give us um a a few weeks to find our feet, because there'll be some strange things happening and it'll disappear, it'll come, it'll be late. All the things are going to happen because we're finding and we're just working our way through everything, working extremely hard behind the scenes. So thank God for the team that's involved in that. May God bless them and strengthen them in the name of Jesus Christ. But we're in the scripture today and we're going to the gospel of Matthew, chapter 1, verse 18 to 25, luke, chapter 1, verse 26 to 38.
Speaker 2:And for those that are making no line, and wherever you are across the world, it doesn't line up. That's the title of today's message. It doesn't line up. And we're going to look at two characters. We're going to look at two characters, two characters that had a mission, two characters that was given a mission in life and the mission they was given didn't line up with culture, didn't line up with life, didn't line up with family, didn't line up with work, didn't line up, it didn't line up.
Speaker 2:And I want to let you know that if your life lines up, it shouldn't. If your life doesn't line up, if your life is all over the place inside out and you've got all this stuff going on, it's lining up because you're in God's plan. You know the harder it is, the harder it is. God is moving. You know it's not an easy journey. We got to lay it out on the table.
Speaker 2:You know, being a Christian, being a Bible-believing believer, being the John 3, 3, you must be born again. Extract yourself from church and religion and all that. But being a follower of Jesus is dangerous. I'm telling you, it is the most dangerous thing in the world to be a Bible believer. If you go to Egypt, you go to Pakistan, you go to Sudan, you go to all these areas, they are beheading people. They are you've only got, you know, being a Bible-believing believer and standing on a. You can be a churchgoer, you can float in and out, but if you put this, if you allow yourself to be stamped by the blood of Jesus. Let me tell you this allow yourself to be stamped by the blood of Jesus. Let me tell you this you're wanted by governments, you're wanted by HR offices. You're wanted by the system, kirstama. You're wanted by people around you because the system is wrapped up in religion and the monarchy. It's a satanic triangle. It goes together. Let me tell you this the system won't like you if you are a Christian. Let me tell you this the system won't like you if you are a Christian. If you are a Bible-believing believer, the system will try everything in life to stop you following Jesus Christ.
Speaker 2:The educational system at school is so dangerous, the way it doesn't speak about Jesus. It is so dangerous to the children. We've got generations of kids now just gaming, watching and playing and being involved in the most satanic games on earth. You can do anything on those games. You can become it, the virtual reality of it. Put the goggles on all that sort of stuff. We know what we're talking about and you become part of that world that doesn't exist, but you believe it exists. So you become that person.
Speaker 2:We have a generation that doesn't know Jesus, a young generation because of school, because of the tech, the way tech has been created. They're telling kids how to do atrocity and young adults under the sun. They're telling kids how to do atrocity and young adults under the sun. So, if you are a Christian and it's not about lifestyle being correct, because the more you want him, the more you realize how unholy I am I'm talking about me now, no one else, because I'm the worst one on planet Earth. The more you want Jesus, the more bad I feel. The more you want to be holy, the more bad I feel. The more you want to be holy, the more bad I feel, the more I want to see the world. I don't get it because it doesn't fit with the human being. It doesn't fit.
Speaker 2:Now we're going to enter into the scriptures. I'm going to read text straight off. We're going to start in Matthew. We're going to start in Matthew, chapter 1. Let's start in Matthew. We're going to start in Matthew, chapter 1. Let's start in Matthew, chapter 1. And we're going to read from verse 18 to 25. You know this doesn't fit. It doesn't fit, it is completely against everything. But it's the greatest story, the greatest story the world has ever heard. And the church only brings it out of the bag at Christmas, but it's an everyday story.
Speaker 2:Religion now is just talking about lent and all the the plastic stuff that goes along with lent. You know, put lent in front of the fireman, line it and melt as quick as a plastic teapot. It can't stand the fire. The only way you've you, you are here today, is because God has a plan for your life, and every second, every day, every moment can feel worse. The more we want him, the further he feels away. But that is not correct. That's how we feel in our minds work.
Speaker 2:So when you look at this text now, this is a really interesting text. It's all interesting. The Bible is really, really interesting. But right now this is very relevant because we have two young people in the text, a man and a woman that have been and had a word dropped in their spirit, and I believe there are many, many, many uncountable people in congregations today that have been given gifts and been given a word from God and had visions and dreams, and the church leadership have stamped it down and tried to stop it moving.
Speaker 2:But let me tell you this God will get that vision and that dream done, because this goes against everything you could ever imagine, because it's the story of Mary and Joseph. It's the story of Mary and Joseph. It's not a Christmas story, it's an everyday fact. Because it ain't really a story as we understand the story. It's fact. Governments know it happened, atheists knows that it happened. The world knows it happened. Think about it. Before Christ, after Christ, the timeline of everything. Everything in this world focuses around Jesus.
Speaker 2:But governments, if you are a Bible-believing believer, wherever you are at this moment in time, if you are that follower, it's about you know what you're going to have the hardest run of your life, but you're going to have the most exciting run of your life. What do you mean by that? Because you've got to go by faith, because there is no other way. Money ain't going to make it happen. People around you ain't going to make it happen. If anything, money and people around us try to stop the fulfillment of what God has for us.
Speaker 2:Because this is what happened to Mary and Joseph. They had to, and God had to, get them out, to allow them to grow in a very satanic part known as Egypt. Egypt is dark. It always was, it always will be. It always was, it always will be. I'm sorry for those that are out there right now. You know it is filled with a cultic activity, but God took his son, jesus, and he hid him. God has shown us something through that In the most satanic, most darkest place in the world, you can grow and you will grow, and when it's time, as God did to his son, he gave the word to Joseph. It's time now. God will bring you out. God will bring you out when his timing is correct. But it will look very dark, it will look very bleak. You will see all that stuff around you worshipping foreign gods. Everything is going against everything is going against what you've been called to, what is happening in your life, what is happening around you. But don't allow the outside environment to affect what's going on within you. Seek Jesus.
Speaker 2:Let's read we're in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 1, verse 18. And we'll finish at 25. And then we're going to go straight to the Gospel of Luke, and it says as follows this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came together. His mother was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph's husband was a righteous man, he did not want to expose her to public disgrace. He had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you, uh and and it says there and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save people from all of their sins. All of this took place to fulfill what was written through the prophet A virgin will give birth to a child and give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel, which means God with us. When Joseph woke up, he did exactly what the angel told him to do, as he was commanded, and he took Mary home as his wife, but he had no union until the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, and gave him the name Jesus. Let's turn into the scriptures, let's carry on, let's go up now and let's go to the Gospel of Luke, chapter 1 Luke, chapter 1, verse 26, 26, let's pick it up. This is Mary's side of the coin. It says In the sixth month, god sent an angel, gabriel, to Nazareth, to a town of Galilee, to a virgin to be pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David.
Speaker 2:The virgin's name was Mary. He said to her and said Greetings to you, who are highly favored. Let that sit in your spirit. Greetings to you, who are highly favored. The Lord is with you. Mary was greatly troubled at the words and wondered what type of greeting might this be? But the angel said to her remember what I'm going to say now.
Speaker 2:Do not be afraid what was said to Joseph.
Speaker 2:Do not be afraid.
Speaker 2:Do not be afraid what was said to Joseph.
Speaker 2:Do not be afraid.
Speaker 2:Very, very important, you know.
Speaker 2:Do not be afraid. Do not be afraid, mary. You have found favor with God and you will be with child and you will give birth to a son and you are to give him the name Jesus, and it says he will be great and he will be called the son of the most high. The Lord will give him, given him, the throne of David and he will reign over the house of the most high, the lord will give him, given him the throne of david, and he will run over the rain, over the house of jacob forever. His kingdom will never end, hallelujah, last part of the text. And it says uh, how will this be? Mary, asked the angel, since I am a virgin. The angel answered the holy spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God and Elizabeth, your relative, is going to have a child in her old age. Be careful, girls. And she said to whom? Who is barren in her for the six months? For nothing is impossible with one servant. Mary answered may it be today, as it is said. And the angel left her.
Speaker 2:So the title of this morning's message podcast wherever you are across the world, it doesn't line up. Now, if I was really bad, I would give it a different title and I was so close to telling up who's the daddy, but that will be absolutely, completely not the right thing to say. But the question is who's the dad? So what you have here in the text? You've got to look at the text, the reality of the scripture, look at it from both eyewitness accounts and it's really, really interesting that Mary and Joseph don't have a massive conversation. It's very, very thin on the page of the text.
Speaker 2:But what I'm getting to is that when God gives you a mission, when God gives you a calling, when God gives you something to carry, now what was Mary carrying? She was carrying Jesus. What is Jesus? If you ever look at the gospel of John, chapter 1, you will find out who Jesus is. We know who Jesus is. In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God John 1, chapter 14 and the word became flesh. We understand through the word of God that Jesus is the living word and she was given that great gift to carry Jesus. But now we look at that. So she was carrying word.
Speaker 2:Now, every one of you on radio, here in the house, wherever you are capturing this service online you have been given a mission to carry word, and to carry word carries an enormous criteria. What are you talking about? To carry word, you've got to have favor in the eyes of the Savior. We don't realize that we got favor in the eyes of the Savior even in the most darkest time. Now this story doesn't compute with humanity. This went against everything. Joseph said this doesn't line up, this isn't right.
Speaker 2:But the angel, the messenger, came down and he said listen, don't be afraid. What did he say to Mary? Don't be afraid To the two young people. He gave that message to them. Don't be afraid. Now. The message is clear and loud to each and every one of us today.
Speaker 2:Don't be afraid, because what you are carrying goes against culture, goes against your family in many ways, goes against work, goes against everything in the world, goes against your family in many ways, goes against work, goes against everything in the world, goes against government. This UK government cannot stand Jesus Christ. This UK government doesn't like Jesus. The percentage of education does like Jesus and, as for religion, can't stand him because it was religion that took Jesus Christ to the cross. So religion is performing plastic stuff at this moment because it's not real. It's not real.
Speaker 2:But you're carrying words, you're carrying power, you're carrying authority, you're carrying dynamite and what you're carrying will go against everything and it doesn't line up, because Joseph and Mary's life did not line up. Everything was against everything and when you walk with Jesus, it doesn't line up. The more you want him, the further he seems away, the more you want to live a holy life, the more you feel mucky. The more you want to read the word social media and life gets in the way, the more you want to pray holy life, the more you feel mucky. The more you want to read the word social media and life gets in the way, the more you want to pray. You're too tired to pray, you fall asleep and I can't be bothered because I'm tired. Jesus, what's the point? But just like Joseph, he had a message Don't be afraid, just carry on the journey, whatever you are doing, however it looks like in your eyes, carry on the journey because it doesn't line up, because we can't get it to line up.
Speaker 2:So when God deposited Jesus Christ into the womb of Mary and then suddenly Mary said Joseph, I'm really sorry, you know, as he's watching the football on a Saturday afternoon, joseph, I've got something to tell you. That's all right. Yeah, go on. What is it girl? Tell me what it is. I'm carrying child. His socks fell off. The TV probably cracked. What are you talking about? How can that be? It changed his viewpoint on Mary, but then suddenly he had to have an angel of the Lord to say she's all right.
Speaker 2:Don't judge, because what you're thinking don't line up, because what you think, joseph, is not actually the fact of the situation. So what the devil does to us because it don't line up, we blow something up out before we actually know the truth. So when you've been dropped a gift and a calling, and many of us don't realize we've been given a gift and a calling, because we look at color, we look at age, we look at geographics, we look at postcode, we look at money, we look at education, because we look at that, it don't line up. I'm never going to be able to deliver what I, what I'd, this dream's been dropped in me. I'm never going to be able to do it because everything is against me. Joseph had everything against him, mary had everything against her. But when you favor, how do I know? I got favor? Because Jesus Christ went to the cross of Calvary. It's that simple.
Speaker 2:So life doesn't line up. If we are expecting life to line up, we need to have a rain check who we're following, because the church and religion will, but it don't fit. Following Jesus is the most hardest, the most enduring. Going to church is easy For us to come into church and we're not talking to anybody here, I'm just laying it out there. Going to church is easy For us to come into church and we're not talking to anybody here, I'm talking to just laying it out there. Going to church is easy, but actually saying and putting it out across your social networks, putting it across the airways I'm a John 3, 3, and going into work and college and university and saying teacher, I don't actually believe in the Darwin theory. And as an adult, I will never and I have never believed in the Darwin theory. And as an adult, I will never and I have never believed in the Darwin theory. It's rubbish, it's a lie, it's from hell. It doesn't line up.
Speaker 2:Darwinism is from the devil. The string theories are not from Jesus Christ. Let me tell you this, kids and adults Jesus Christ, through the power of God, said let there be light. And there was. If you want to know how the world was created, you don't look through the encyclopedia written by devils. You read the word written by Holy Spirit, filled blessed and highly favored men and women that wrote the word of God. How can Darwinism line up? It's a theory. And what did he basically say at the end of his life? What did I do there? So he actually admitted he didn't want it to do what it was. He was angry. Isn't it interesting? When we're angry, we like to get back at God. So he comes up with a theory that doesn't line up anywhere, but basically it does line up in the world. Because I'll tell you how Darwinism lines up Trample on whoever you're going to trample on to get what you want, as they call survival of the fittest.
Speaker 2:That's the devil's teaching. Jesus says everything you do, you do out of love. Everything you do, you give, you give and you give and you give. Darwinism is the opposite. You trample on anyone and the fittest survive. Teachers, come on, come on, someone put me in a classroom. Someone try and help me understand. Darwinism is a liar. The string theory is a liar. It doesn't add up, but that's what the devil does so well. He puts in us, just like Joseph. What are you going to do, joseph? Are you going to follow that or are you going to leave her? What are you going to do, joseph? I'm going to disappear quietly.
Speaker 2:But while he was sleeping, a word dropped in his spirit. While he was sleeping, a vision came from heaven. While he was in extreme trouble because, I'm telling you now, joseph had a few obscured thoughts. What in the world is all this about? What is going on in my life? It doesn't line up. If your life doesn't line up, you want to give Jesus a shout in the name of Jesus, because the Bible says in the book of Jeremiah for I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord Plans to prosper you, to give you hope and a future.
Speaker 2:And Mary, in this situation, both of these two human beings were told something very loud and clear Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid, because what you are carrying Now, let's bring it up to the cross. No one, no one carried the word except Mary, word except Mary. But after the cross of Calvary, every one of us was given faith to carry the word, not in child form, but in the living word form, because it can only happen once the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. That happened, that was prophesied, that happened, the visualization of Scripture being fulfilled to humanity across the world. As the prophet said and as we read in the New Testament, it was foretold through Isaiah 720 years, 30 years before, a virgin will give birth to the creator of heaven and on his shoulders the government, the power, everything will rest upon him. 700 years before and the prophet was shouting that out and it didn't line up. And they said have you heard that crazy old prophet down there? Have you heard what he's saying? Have you heard? It didn't line up.
Speaker 2:So when you look at the scriptures, the people that God chooses it doesn't line up. You look at the mega churches, you look at the mega ministries, you look at the. I will use the organizations that have got cash to back them. I've said this a thousand times and I'll carry on to say you can go and plant the church wherever you want to plant the church, you can hire a whole, you can call it whatever you want to call it when you've got money backing you. But when you ain't got a bean in your pocket and it don't line up, there's a challenge. The biggest challenge we'll ever have in our lives is to be a Jesus follower, not because we're sinners, because we're sinners saved by grace, but because society and the world don't line up with the gospel. It goes against everything.
Speaker 2:When they cornered Judas Iscariot, they said we want Jesus Because if this Jesus gets in our synagogues and in our temples, if this Jesus gets into religion, if this Jesus gets into the skin of Nicodemus, if this Jesus gets in, he's going to take number one place and we don't want him in our religious area because we are in charge. We are the pastors this is my church. We are the bishops this is my ministry. We are the preachers this is my area. We are Elim this is us. This is our territory. We are Kufa this is us. We are the Church of England. We are the state church.
Speaker 2:You've got that right. You are a state. You're in a massive state. You're in a mess. Every church is in a mess. Every church is upside down inside out. There's no such thing as a perfect church, but there's a perfect kingdom. Because the kingdom is so far removed from church, because religion and church wanted to nail him to the cross of Calvary, and it wasn't the Roman soldiers. The authoritarians were only doing what religion told them to do. So religion don't like Jesus, but Jesus loves her. Religion won't like you.
Speaker 2:If you are a Bible-believing believer, if you bounce into a religious setting and you tell them Jesus Christ loves you, stop worshipping Mary, stop lifting up the Pope, stop lifting up this. They'll get you out. You'll have security guards on your arm, you'll be refused communion. If you are not under Catholicism, you cannot have holy communion. Thank God I don't follow that cult. Thank God that I'm a Jesus follower. Thank God I'm not caught in the mechanisms of religion. But I wanted to Because that's what I thought it was. But Jesus says you're individuals.
Speaker 2:I called you by name. I didn't call you by denomination. I called you by your name. It wasn't your parents that named you. It wasn't anyone in your life that named you. I named you. I knew you before the fabric of the world. We are looking at the savior of the world and his name is Jesus.
Speaker 2:And Jesus was birthed into the most obscured situation you could ever have in your life. He was dropped into a situation that the town spoke about. Have you heard about, are you or do you know what might've gone on around that area? But Joseph and Mary were solid to their calling, because when you're solid to your calling, you ain't worried about the back biters on the outside of town. When you're solid to your calling, you ain't worried about what they say, because when God calls you it doesn't line up, but when God calls you it lines up to his word.
Speaker 2:So when God calls you, be prepared for it to look really odd on the outside when you're a Jesus follower. Everything's going to look odd, everything's going to look bleak. Sometimes it's going to look so unusual. It doesn't fit to the house, it doesn't fit to the education, it doesn't fit to church, it doesn't fit to no situation, to the education, it doesn't fit to church. It doesn't fit to no situation, because Joseph and Mary's story did not fit. It could not fit, it was impossible to fit, because it didn't line up with society and culture.
Speaker 2:Maybe our lives don't line up with society and culture and with what this government is trying to do to human beings in this nation is actually clone us and literally make us into robots. It wants us to be robots. It wants us to pay the money to the keeper of the purse. It's all it's interested in. We've got a national insurance number.
Speaker 2:As soon as you was dropped out of the act bang, you got a number. As soon as you come into the world the act, bang, you got a number. As soon as you come into the world bang, you got a number. There's your national insurance number. There you are as soon as you. As soon as you, you get your passport numbers.
Speaker 2:As soon as everything is done by numbers, we are labeled with numbers. They don't know your name. Kirsten ain't bothered about you, sadiq khan just wants your money for driving in. They are are not bothered, they don't care. But Jesus Christ cares. Religion doesn't care.
Speaker 2:Religion doesn't believe in Jesus Christ because it took him to the cross of Calvary and there was one breakaway. There was one breakaway from religion, and what was his name? Nicodemus. He was a break, a breakaway. See, anyone can break away from religion. And he had to go to Jesus by night. Why? Because it didn't line up. It didn't line up because if you went by the light of day, the ones in religion would have gone.
Speaker 2:Where you going, I'm gonna see Jesus. We want to take him to, we want him out of town, because that's what the authoritarian said in the world, god. And they said to judas, iscariot, the one that sold him for 30 pieces of silver. Isn't it interesting? Religion tries to do everything with silver, with money. Religion can only do it with money.
Speaker 2:So that's why we have an explosion of the mega churches, because they are making so much money out of secular worship. And it's not the preaching that's making the dosh, because the preaching is very weak. It is the music that is being sold across the globe that is bringing in such high revenue. When you look and you go and look at mega ministries, they have done and they are able to do everything off the back end of music because the whole world almost is buying the music and the music is putting money in the pocket to plant a church anywhere. I can go and hire the theatre in London if the sister church, the mega church behind me, is multi-dollar rich and it is overflowing. Anyone can go and hire the Dominion Theatre if you've got money, but go and do that same calling. If you ain't got a dollar in your pocket, if you ain't got a British pound in your pocket, go and plant it. It doesn't line up. So what we have? We have an explosion of celebrity status, mega church.
Speaker 2:But when you look at what is running the mega church, it is the finance. Take the finance out, everything will collapse. The pastors won't do what they're called to do because they're not called to do what they should be doing, because they're drafted in because of their CV. Church runs on CV, religion runs on CV. Pastors are put in place by their business acumen, by their skill, by this, by that, I want to be under a preacher that can't spell.
Speaker 2:I want to be under a preacher that ain't got a pound in his pocket. I want to listen to someone that's gone to hell and back, because that's reality. I don't want to listen to someone that's gone to hell and back, because that's reality. I don't want to listen to someone that is getting extortion amount of money the parishioners that have been told to give. I want to hear a message from someone that's gone to the gates of hell. I want to hear a message from someone that is struggling with life themselves, that has to get a bus to church, that can't afford everything that goes on. I want to hear a message that is full of power. So if it lines up and you are making it line up it doesn't sit in the kingdom. It can only sit in the kingdom if it doesn't line up.
Speaker 2:If you are tired, if you are weary, if you are exhausted, if you've had enough, if you're done for, if you're broke, if you're exhausted, if you feel like going, I've had it, welcome to following Jesus. If you've got it wrapped up, brimming over with wedge, you've got property here, there and everywhere, you're making little nest eggs just in case Jesus doesn't come back. I want to protect myself for retirement. I've got to do this, I've got to do that. But, pastor Ben, that's what's called being stewards of good money. That's called being greedy.
Speaker 2:Jesus says drop your purse. The first thing he says to the disciples on the shoreline. Drop your purse, come and follow me, because where I'm taking you to, your money can't buy what I've got for you. Come and follow me with nothing. Drop your nets. But those nets, jesus, I've got to catch fish. I've got something better for you than the business that you are wanting. Drop your nets, come and follow me. But, lord, these nets are everything I own own. Drop everything and come and follow me. But, lord, these nets are everything I own. Drop everything and come and follow me. Because the Bible then says seek ye first, the kingdom of God and everything else shall be added. But religion says I'll give you 30 pieces of silver.
Speaker 2:Religion says we're going to go and plant a church down the road and we're going to fill it up on the first Sunday, not because God's there, but because we've taken money, not because God's in the building. Let me tell you, god's everywhere. God's to the person right now that's sitting in the van parked up, that is crying. God is with the person walking now that is just broken and lost. God is in the person right now that is at church. That is saying church don't lost. God is in the person right now that is at church. That is saying church don't line up. God is with the person that is going. I'm fed up with Pastor Ben. I'm out of here. God is with you. God is with every one of you because you are Bible-believing, spirit-filled, blessed and highly favoured.
Speaker 2:Brothers and sisters for Christ Jesus, we're coming to the table in two minutes. Two minutes. We will be at the table. But if it lines up, take a rain, check on it, analyze it. If it doesn't line up, thank you Jesus. If it looks impossible, because what does the scripture said that we read out? For what is impossible with man is possible with God. So Joseph for Mary. This story didn't line up. Joseph story didn't line up and I love that the scripture writer drops on the text that we read Joseph took Jesus as his own.
Speaker 2:What a man, what a man. Jesus was taken under the umbrella by Joseph A carpenter, not a celebrity preacher, by a man that had his mind smashed to pieces. And the Bible said take Jesus as your own son. And Joseph picked Mary up, got hold of Jesus and he said let's have it, we're out of here. It we're out of here.
Speaker 2:So important for me to understand that Joseph took care of Jesus. What a privilege when you really think about that a man taking care of the Living Word. He brought him up as his own Because that's my son, and that makes me cry, because that's what the Bible said. And then Jesus reversed it back to every one of us and went you're my daughters and you're my sons. Joseph had the greatest privilege that a man could ever have in this world was to carry and look after the word we have as human beings, as men and women.
Speaker 2:Mary carried the word first internally. Joseph cared and made sure the word was protected after the birth. Now preachers and church need to protect the word, not because Jesus is weak, because heaven said protect the word. The church has been given a mandate going to all the world. Religion hasn't protected the word. It has manipulated the word, it has tried to change the word, it has reshaped the word and it hasn't carried the word. Because we're supposed to carry the word.
Speaker 2:And why was he given the mission to carry the word? Because it's got to be visible. The word was carried first not seen to the human eye, but then it was visible. Let your light shine, dear God and heavenly father.
Speaker 2:We're at the table right now. Lord, we come before you right now in the name of Jesus, and we thank you for the table. Lord, we thank you for the Passover table, not the Easter table, nothing to do with Easter, but to do with the living word, to do with the power of the word of God. And, lord, I pray right now, where we are in the church, wherever we are across the world, I pray that the fire of God will descend in our hearts and as we carry the word internally, externally, as we speak the word, as we come to the table right now, father, I pray. I pray right now, in the name of Jesus, that the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit, will bring these dry bones to life, that the Holy Spirit will give us revelation, that the Holy Spirit will open our innermost. So, lord, I thank you for the bread that symbolizes the body of Christ.
Speaker 2:And remind yourself, we've all been in religious settings and this is not a religious setting. You are free to take the bread whenever you want to, because it's your heart we've got. It's your heart we've got. Take your eyes off me, online and in the house, and focus on Jesus. So you take it when you're ready. And I just pray a prayer like this, father, as I break bread. Lord, I'm just a human being, I'm just a man, a sinner, saved by grace, but I recognize this bread as the body, as a symbol to the body of Jesus. Lord, help me to understand more. Amen, amen. Lord, help me to understand more. Amen.
Speaker 2:As we come to the cup, we take the cup right now. Father, we thank you for this cup, this cup of redemption, and tell yourself you're redeemed. Tell the world around you you're redeemed. Tell the system in your life you're redeemed. Tell everyone you are redeemed. You, the system in your life, you're redeemed. Tell everyone you are redeemed. You are a child of the living God. Dear God, will you cleanse me from the crown of my head to the sole of my feet? Lord, I understand that this is just grape juice in itself, but what it symbolizes is a redemption of Jesus. Cleanse me from the crown of my head to the sole of my feet In Jesus' name, amen.
Speaker 2:It's about heart and this morning's message is it don't line up. If it don't line up, start a smile. If it don't line up, god's with you. If it lines up, God help us. If it works, because we've made it work, stop. If it don't line up, keep walking. May God bless every one of you in the house with me today. May God bless you online wherever you are. May the hand of god strengthen you and lead you, and I pray that you will go deeper into that.
Speaker 2:The scriptures you know, because their story didn't line up. My story don't line up. Your story don't line up, it can't line up. That is what is so powerful about God it can't line up, it will never line up. But it is perfect with Jesus Because it's his story. It's his story and you're the vessel he is revealing his glory to in the world, because it's not your story, it's his story and you are the instrument that he has chosen to show the world.
Speaker 2:I'm working and your family are telling you it don't line up. The work is telling you it don't line up. Everything is social media. It don't line up, it doesn't fit. Jesus goes. I didn't bring you in to fit because that's conforming.
Speaker 2:The Bible says do not conform to the pattern of the world, because you're not created to conform. You're not created to fit in. You were created to shine. Shine in the darkness. Tell the world that Jesus Christ is the saviour of the world. When you go to school, give a Bible to the teacher, if she gives you issues, say Pastor Ben said God loves you. Have a Bible, read it and you've got to be saved. You've got to be blood washed. Go into work, give it to your work colleagues and tell them Jesus loves you. Tell your family, tell your friends, tell everyone that Jesus Christ is the saviour of the world. And it's not about the Easter bunny, it's about the cross, it's about the blood. God bless you in the name of Jesus, wherever you are across the world. As we always say, may God strengthen you and carry you. On radio, on visuals, in the house On Reverend Ben Cooper's podcast.
Speaker 1: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.
