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
Break Free from Religion, Find Jesus - (#1048 -Elim)
Title: Religion vs. Relationship – Rediscovering the Authority of God’s Word
In this passionate and prophetic episode, Pastor Ben Cooper delivers a message that shakes the foundations of modern Christianity and calls us back to what truly matters: the authority of God’s Word. It’s not about religious tradition, routine attendance, or man-made systems—it’s about relationship, obedience, and the living truth of Scripture.
Drawing from powerful passages in Deuteronomy, Proverbs, and Joshua, Pastor Ben urges believers to evaluate the roots of their faith. “Be careful to follow every command I give you today, so that you may live and increase” (Deuteronomy 8:1). These words are more than ancient instructions—they’re a call to action for today’s church. Are we building on the Word of God or the expectations of religious culture?
Pastor Ben boldly confronts the spiritual famine plaguing many believers. With clarity and compassion, he exposes the hollowness of performance-driven religion: “Religion is plastic and fake.” It looks polished on the outside but cracks under pressure. In contrast, a life rooted in Scripture is resilient, real, and rooted in divine power.
This episode explores how many churches today prioritize systems over Scripture. The result? Shallow faith and spiritual burnout. But there is hope. Pastor Ben challenges listeners to grab their Bibles, reconnect with truth, and reclaim their identity as followers of Jesus—not just attendees of services.
One of the most moving moments in this episode is the global communion experience, where listeners across nations gather around the presence of God—not in buildings, but in spirit and in truth. “We are a church without walls,” Pastor Ben declares, reminding us that the true Church is built on the unshakable Word of God.
Whether you’re disillusioned by religion, hungry for truth, or longing for deeper connection, this episode is for you. Let go of the fake, the forced, and the formulaic. Return to the simplicity and power of the Gospel. Open your Bible, listen for God’s voice, and follow Jesus with everything you’ve got.
“Don’t go to church just for the sake of going to church,” Pastor Ben says. “Grab yourself a Bible.” The time has come for the Church to rise—not in ritual, but in truth.
Christian podcast about faith and obedience, Deuteronomy 8:1 explained, overcoming religious tradition, real relationship with Jesus Christ, Scripture over religion message, Pastor Ben Cooper teaching, global communion service, modern church revival, Bible-based spiritual growth, church without walls movement, living faith vs fake religion, Gospel-centered discipleship
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 £3, £5, £8 or £10. You can also leave a legacy by clicking in the links within pastorbencoopercouk. Thank you for partnering with us in this ministry, as we spread the message of hope far and wide through this radio ministry. So, whether you are on the daily commute or at home listening to our podcast, grab a cup of coffee, sit back, relax and enjoy.
Speaker 2:God bless you wherever you are.
Speaker 2:We are in and we welcome everybody, people that may be on radio this evening, people that are on podcasts, people that are on the social networks, but wherever you are joining us, we are so blessed that you are with us on the other side of the world and we want to say thank you very much from the very bottom of our hearts. And whoever you are and wherever you are there. There has been a terrific amount of downloads over the last week in the world of the podcast that we do on Buzzsprout. We get the stats come through and we just want to say thank you to everybody, wherever you are, and we believe it's the acceleration through the radio that's given us this increase at this moment in time, because it's absolutely crazy and we've gone up quite a number of cities, quite a number of cities, quite a number of countries as well. It's just absolutely increasing and we are so blessed that people are downloading these podcasts, these services, that we are doing so, wherever you are across the world, we praise god for your life and may god strengthen you and bless you, and you can find us on rb, christian radionet, and just please, you know it'd be great to send us some comments. We've had some beautiful comments on there already and it's absolutely amazing and you must bear with us at this moment in time and for those that are joining us in the world of podcasts. We thank you so much for those that have stayed with us and for those that have really downloaded so many podcasts, and wherever you are across the world, it's really important for me to say thank you.
Speaker 2:The rest of the team, alex, is not with us this evening. He's got a day off. I'm on my own in the studio, but all is well in the name of Jesus Christ, and we really, really want to say thank you to everybody, wherever you are across this world and everybody on live stream. We can see you on live stream. There's a lot of people on live streams on the visuals at this moment in time, scattered across the globe. God bless you and we thank you. We must put the message out as well as you can see on the social networks. I'm afraid to say that YouTube has literally cut the channel away. We have no channel, no more on YouTube. That's what you get for preaching the truth, the gospel of Jesus Christ. They cut us Sunday and we won't be getting that back, but we're not worried. You know we're on social networks, we've got some other things coming along.
Speaker 2:We're on the radio and that's really, really important. We thank God for the power of radio and the word of God is getting out across the radio and it's just absolutely phenomenal for us to see what God is doing. You know just from this little studio what God can do and we want to encourage every one of you. Never give up in your dreams, dream radical. You know the stats are flying, the podcasts are being downloaded, people are linking in from all around the world listening to radio. You know it's 24 hours, seven days a week. That's RB, christian radio. You can find us. It's online radio. We're in the very early, early doors. It's only been four weeks that we've launched the radio. It's been a long time coming and we just want to say thank you to everybody. We're going to get the app. The app will be built, hopefully in three months. We will be on alexa and we are pushing the boundaries from this place. May god bless you.
Speaker 2:I'm a bit um, not short for breath. I'm a bit taken back, to be honest with you. You you know, tonight is a very powerful night and I just want to say thank you to everybody. I've just been reading some lovely comments from people across the world. I've been looking at the stats and you know it's got me quite teary, to be fair, you know, and nothing really keeps me quiet, but honestly, it's kept me quiet tonight. I've got to get a grip on myself because we've got to get in the word of God and I want to thank every beautiful person out there, every one of you that clicks in, that watches, and those that are with us all the time, and those that dip in and out, and we just want to say I can't say thank you enough. I really mean that from the bottom of our heart. So, wherever you are tonight, may God bless you and strengthen you in Jesus' name. We're going to get straight into the word of God, but I feel it's really, really important that I mentioned that loud and clear.
Speaker 2:You know to say thank you to everybody, everyone, those that are downloading there are literally hundreds of clicks of the podcast. We are so blessed. So many people are with us tonight online. I can see it across the networks. Sorry to those that usually watch on YouTube. We hope and pray, but it will be pretty obvious because our channel isn't even there. It's just literally been taken down, so we're not even there.
Speaker 2:But also we're on X as well, and X is really good. It's not censored in any way, but the radio is the way to go and I've got to be honest, there was nothing that was said that was a really cutting edge. You know, on Sunday is nothing. I've been pretty clean and pretty tidy, and you know what I mean by clean. You know I'm being careful with our word things and it can be very difficult to get the truth over when you're trying to be careful, what you've got to relay over. But God will get his word through. So everybody that is listening podcast. I know I've been rammed on a lot tonight, you know, but it's a different night. It's Monday night, live stream night, and wherever you are across the world, may God bless you.
Speaker 2:Let's get straight into the word of God. Let's go to the book of Deuteronomy, chapter eight. We're going to go to Deuteronomy, chapter eight and, for those that are taking notes, taking notes, we're reading from verse 1 and we're going to go down to the end of. We're going to go down to the end of verse 9. So grab yourself a Bible, grab yourself a cup of coffee, grab yourself a cup of tea, even, but get yourself ready for communion.
Speaker 2:I really believe it's important for every one of us that we take communion together, that we break bread. I really feel so strongly about that. I feel so strong that we break bread together and, wherever we are across the world, that we just gather, because we are a global church, we are a church without walls and that's what's really important that where we sit and I've got to say it again, I'm so sorry for mentioning this, but it's really on my heart tonight A massive thank you to everybody, whether you're with me now, whether you're listening to me later, whether you're on the radio, wherever you are, and whatever is happening. I really must emphasize that we are blessed here in this ministry, every one of us. We thank you from the very bottom of our heart. You know, and there's a lot of work and there's a lot of effort that goes on behind the scenes to bring these services and, as you can see that we also have the internet now we've got fiber, everything that we do in this studio is a real struggle, honestly, you know we're fighting everything you know to get these services out. But they're out there and we just want to say thank you from the very depth, from the very bottom, the richness of our heart. Tonight I am really overwhelmed. I've got to get in the word of God and I've just been reading some beautiful messages. Just watching the stats, listening and seeing, it's absolutely unbelievable. But I just want to tell you, wherever you are, never give up, never give up.
Speaker 2:So let's dive straight into the scripture we are in. As I said earlier, we are in the book of deuteronomy, chapter 8, verse 1, and we're going to go down to the end of verse 9. I love this text. It says be careful to follow every command that I give you today so that you may live and increase and may enter the promised land that the lord promised on oath to your forefathers.
Speaker 2:Remember how the lord, your god, led you in all the ways of the desert for 40 years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger, and then look at what the scripture says. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which you never saw. Your father forefathers would have known to teach you that man does not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of the lord, your clothes did not wear out, your feet did not swell during the 40 years. The this is, uh, to know what is on your heart, that man's disciplines and his tongue needs to be disciplined too.
Speaker 2:So the Lord, your God, will just discipline you also as well, and it says there, verse 6, observe the commands of the Lord, your God, walk in his ways, revering him, for the Lord, thy God, is bringing you into a land that is good, and it is streams and pools and springs flowing in the valleys and the hills. A land with wheat and barley uh, it says, vines and uh, fig grapes and uh, pomegranates, olive oil and honey. A land with bread will not be scarce and you will not lack nothing. The land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills. What a text that is. Wherever you are, you know this is a very powerful text. We are living in the end days.
Speaker 2:Jesus Christ is the coming King. He's coming back for each and every one of us. He's the savior of the world and God loves you and God is with you in every situation of your life and we want to encourage you from this studio tonight to be a Jesus follower. I would encourage you to ditch church, I would encourage you to ditch religion and I would encourage you to grab yourself a Bible. If you need a Bible this evening, please catch us on the socials, put a message online. We will get a Bible to you. You know, god has blessed us with Bibles. Bibles come into this ministry, bibles come into this church and we are really, really blessed to be able to to push bibles out across the world. So if you need a bible, wherever you are this evening, whether you're on visuals, whether you're on radio, whether you're listening to this podcast an hour or two years down the line, wherever you are, please, you find us on rb christian radio and send us a message. You can find us here also at elam church in swanley, and god is with each and every one of us. But I urge you, I urge you to put church on the back burner. I urge you to put the church on the back burner and I urge you to put religion, too, on the back burner and I encourage you to be jesus followers.
Speaker 2:Look at what that scripture says. Look, look how that scripture is so powerful and so meaningful and it has so much strength within it. You know we are in Deuteronomy, chapter eight, verse one. Be careful to follow every command I give you today so that you may live and increase and may enter into the promised land that the Lord promised on oath to your forefathers. There's a land waiting for you. There's a place waiting for you and for me. There is a pasture, there is a green area. If you have a Bible, grab your Bible and turn to Psalm 23. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. Do you need stillness tonight? Do you need guidance for your life? Do you need stillness tonight? Do you need guidance for your life? Do you need an outpouring of the Holy Spirit? What is the situation in your life? Are you worried? Are you fearful? Are you doubtful? Are you uncertain of what is happening in your life?
Speaker 2:The Bible says in Deuteronomy, chapter 8, verse 1, be careful to follow every command. Let's be brothers and sisters that follow the word of God. Let's be brothers and sisters that follow the scripture. Let's leave church on the back burner. Let's just leave church to the side for a moment and let's just get in the word of God. Let's rest in the scripture, let's rest in the word of God. From Genesis to Revelation. There is a word for you. There is a promise for you. There is a hope for you. Are you feeling down tonight? Are you feeling tired tonight? I've got to encourage you to get a Bible in your hands tonight.
Speaker 2:Wherever you are situated across the world, whether you're on radio, whether you're online, whether you're in the world a podcast audio, however, you are listening to this. We want to encourage you on the other side of the world to get into the word of God, to get into the scripture. It is the scripture. Jesus is very clear in what he says Come and follow me, drop your nets, come and follow me. He doesn't talk about church, he doesn't talk about ministry, he doesn't talk about religion. He says drop your nets, come and follow me, let's be Jesus followers. Let's be brothers and sisters that follow Jesus, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.
Speaker 2:But in the book of Deuteronomy, chapter eight, verse one, be careful to follow every command. Come on, let's be radical, let's be braggadocious. When fear comes in, when a storm comes in, when rage and anger and doubt, and when you look at your life and you see these storms and these waves coming in your way, don't allow the storm, don't allow the tornado of life, don't allow the sandstorm that blinds us. Don't allow the avalanche, the snow, don't allow the seasons that are in the world to take you away from what God has for you. I've got to encourage you. I've got to encourage you and myself to be brothers and sisters of the word. That we stand on the word, that we stand on the gospel of truth. There is hope.
Speaker 2:See, when we stand on the Bible, on the word of God, as the scripture tells us right now. He says remember how I led you all the ways in the desert for 40 years? God is leading you, god is leading us. I actually believe that the UK is in a desert time at this moment, that God has led us to this position. God is leading you, god is leading us. I actually believe that the UK is in a desert time at this moment, that God has led us to this position. God has brought us to this place. God has brought us to this dry, parched land. We are a land that is dry and it is parched. We have a sweet shop of religion and everything else that rumbles on the inside of that. We've got demonic forces, we've got Freemasonry, we've got everything happening in the political wills of life, we've got devil worshipping, we've got black magic, white magic. We've got everything happening and all the bells and the whistles.
Speaker 2:But I want to encourage you now to never allow the outside environment to control you, because there is a promise for you, there is a hope for you. There is a hope for you, and his name is Jesus. Let's remind ourselves that we do not need finances to get us to where God wants us to be. You know, all things are possible to those who believe. It is not church that we require, it is Jesus Christ. It is not religion that we require, it is the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 2:It is not the consistency and the breaking down, because religion is consistent and it also breaks down. It's consistent and it breaks down. What do you mean consistent? Religion keeps showing itself, but also, as it shows itself, as it reveals itself, it also breaks down. What do you mean? That doesn't sit right, that doesn't sound right, that is just crazy language. You know, religion is consistent. It's there, it's there, it's there, but within the there-ness of it, within it being very real in front of our very eyes, there is a breakdown within the religious society as well. But I want to tell you that there's a place where there will be never no breakdown, there'll be never no fear, and that is in the kingdom of God, and you are brothers and sisters of the kingdom.
Speaker 2:You do not belong to religion, you do not belong to the church, you do not belong to Elim. I do not belong to Elim. Yes, I thank God for that ministry. I thank God for everything within Elim itself and I'm really blessed to be a minister and to be a reverend under the hand and the pastor of Elim. I thank God for that. But Elim, don't own the skin that I was birthed in. You know, elim is not a religious organization. Elim is a powerful Pentecostal movement that is at the cutting edge of ministry.
Speaker 2:And I want to tell you tonight, wherever you are, you do not need a denomination, you do not need a church, you need Jesus Christ. Are you unwell tonight? Jesus is your healer. Are you feeling sick tonight? Jesus is your redeemer. Are you worried about life? Are you scared? Are you searching? Are you searching tonight? Are you looking for Jesus? Are you looking for some spiritual answer to your life? Are you looking for a way forward? Are you looking for life? Are you looking for a way forward? Are you looking for answers? Are you worried about the debt? Are you worried about life? Are you worried about your job? Are you worried about finances? Are you worried about the children, relationships, everything that's going on in your life? Whatever is worrying you this morning, let me tell you there is a scripture that will free you. There is a word that is in that word for you tonight and I want to encourage you, wherever you are, on radio podcast, on live stream, on camera with me tonight, I want to encourage you to get yourself a Bible, get in the scripture.
Speaker 2:Even when the outside doesn't look, even when the outside doesn't fit and we still feel bad, we still feel tired, we still feel exhausted, you keep walking, you keep walking and you never give up. You keep your eyes on the cross, you keep your eyes on Jesus, you focus on the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords and you never give up. There is power in the greatest name in heaven and earth and his name is Jesus. He is alive and he is the coming king. He is the great redeemer, he is the, the savior of the world. He is the John 3 3. He is the John 3 16. He is Genesis to Revelation. He is the great I am. He is the bread of life. He is your savior, he is your redeemer, he is your healer.
Speaker 2:It's not church, it's not me, it's not Elim, it's not pastors, it's not bishops, it's not ministries, it's not even RB, christian Radio. It is the power of God that is speaking to you tonight, wherever you are across this globe. God is telling you keep my commands. What do you mean, god? Keep my commands. Get yourself a Bible and read the word of God. Have a look at the Ten Commandments. Be careful, the Bible says, to follow every command I give you today. This is why the UK church is in severe spiritual famine, because the UK church and I'm referring to leaders and all the wills and the vessels and everything that goes along with that, or everything within the structure and within the communication and within the mechanism and within the very guts and very foundation of religion religion has come away from us. The word of God Jesus says through the word be careful to follow every command I give you. If you look at the commandments, when we keep them, commandments, when we hold them, commandments, when we hold on to the word of God.
Speaker 2:If I can quickly turn, let me quickly turn. I wasn't intending to go to this scripture, but if you are with me, let me see if I can find it. As we're speaking, let me just flick the page. I don't want to leave anything to memory. Memory's not good. We need to literally grab a Bible.
Speaker 2:You know there's so many scriptures. We're going through Psalms. Let's move through Psalms. You know, keep the commands of God, keep the word of God. Here we go. Proverbs let's get to Proverbs. If you're with me tonight, whether you're on audio, wherever you are, let's turn to the scriptures. Let's get into Proverbs. Here we go. Proverbs, chapter three. Proverbs, chapter three. And this is what it says my son, do not forget my teachings, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life by many years and bring you prosperity. There is a banger right there.
Speaker 2:If you are with me tonight, I want to encourage you quickly, wherever you are, get yourself a Bible, read it for yourself. It says in Proverbs, chapter three, verse one my son, do not forget my teachings, but keep my commands in your heart. It's in the heart, god. Will you put your word in my heart tonight? God?
Speaker 2:I don't want to be known as a religious person. I don't want to be caught in religion. Lord, I want to be known as a Jesus follower. I want to be known as someone that follows Jesus. I want to be known that someone that is following the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. God, I got to follow you, Lord. Lord, I need to be with you, spirit of the Living God, wherever you are at this hour, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
Speaker 2:As you're online with me tonight, grab yourself a Bible, get straight into the book of Proverbs and read what it says for yourself my son, do not forget my teachings, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life by many years and bring you prosperity. Verse three of Proverbs, chapter three let love and faithfulness never leave you. Bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will find favor and a good name in the sight of god. Trust in the lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him and he will make your path straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear the lord, shun evil, for this will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. So when you look at the book of Deuteronomy and as we go back to the book of Deuteronomy, what I find is absolutely very prophetic and very profound is what the Bible says Keep my commands, keep my commands. You know what does he say in the book of Joshua? Do not let this book of the Lord depart from your mouth, but meditate on it day and night, wherever you are.
Speaker 2:If you are on holiday tonight, if you are commuting tonight, wherever you are across this world, whether you're listening to this as a back listen through podcast, whether you're listening to this again as a rerun on social media, or whether you're listening now, right now, on radio, we want to encourage you to get yourself a bible. If you cannot afford a bible, we will get you the word of god. We will get you the scripture to your front door, to your house, wherever and whatever that address is. We will get you a bible. We will pay the postage, we will pay the packaging and it will land on your doormat because god is calling you tonight. But grab yourself a bible. You know, if you're at home right now and you're just just perusing through the social networks and you're just capturing this, you know I want to tell you again get yourself a bible.
Speaker 2:Go up to the shelf. You know where the bible is. We've all got bibles in our houses, houses, and the many of them have got dust on them, because that's the way that we seem to be within the uk. Grab yourself the scripture and turn with me right now to the book of proverbs. I want to encourage you to turn to proverb, because god is speaking through this word tonight and he's saying this to me. He's speaking to me and he's speaking to you.
Speaker 2:You know, I'm just. I'm just relaying what I believe God has laid on my heart tonight, for me and for you, because I am with you. I am with you. We are brothers and sisters across the world. I am no one special. There is nothing great about me in any way, which way, shape and form. I am a human being. I am a sinner saved by grace, but I am blessed and highly favored, and you know what. And I just thank god for his power and his living word. You know this has nothing to do with being a reverend or being a chaplain, a minister and all that sort of stuff. I am just so blessed to know that I am on my way to glory and when jesus christ comes back as the the coming king, he's going to take me to be with him and he's going to do the same for you. Jesus Christ is coming back. He is the savior of the world. He is the saving God of Israel and he is coming back. Jesus is coming.
Speaker 2:Wherever you are across this world, get yourself a Bible. We are watching the world literally crushing under the pressure. We are watching financial markets crash. We are watching weather systems crash. We are watching the world just crash in many areas of life, and especially within the political agenda. But I want to take you right now to Proverbs, chapter 3. My son, do not forget my teachings. This is what the word of the Lord is telling us tonight that we cannot forget the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Speaker 2:Don't come to church on Sunday. I would rather you not come to church but to sit indoors and to read the word of God with a cup of coffee and a cup of tea. It is not about getting people in the house. It is about getting us strengthened and ready for when Jesus Christ comes back, because this nation, the UK, is dipping in areas we never thought that we would dip and we are in a spiritual crisis in this nation. There is no revival in the UK. There is persecution. God is moving through the persecution. God is moving through every church, through every tribe, every tongue.
Speaker 2:But I want to tell you right now that we are in a place that we've never been and we have never been so spiritually low in this nation as we are right now. But there's nothing to be worrying about. We cannot be fearful about what I'm saying, because God is moving. God is preparing this nation. God is preparing this nation. God is preparing this nation. Judgment is coming to the earth. The power of the word of God is moving. You know God is about to do something great in your life. Are you ready? Wherever you are tonight, in the powerful name of Jesus Christ, the glory of God is sitting on you tonight and I've got to remind you, I've got to remind you and I'm going to remind myself tonight that we are sinners saved by grace. We are all sinners. Saved by grace. We are not greater than anybody else. No one is greater than anyone. We are human beings. We are brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. We are equal in the eyes of God and we are chosen to be Jesus followers. That's all that is required of God, through Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 2:It is not complicated, but religion has made it complicated, has made it very difficult, it has made it awkward. It made it very difficult. It has made it awkward. It can be very, very awkward to get into church. Do you feel awkward when you go in church? When you go into these large cathedrals and these great big auditoriums? Do you feel like that? You don't belong because we aren't. We wasn't created to to go to these mass areas. We were created to be Jesus followers and I want to encourage you not to go to church but to go to Jesus.
Speaker 2:Church is secondary, church is just down the food chain. But you know what I mean. I know that. You know what I mean by that. Don't go to church, because it's not an exercise of ticking the box. It is not about that. It is about being a Jesus follower, what these scriptures say. We have not read any indicator of church through these Old Testament scriptures that I have just pulled out at this moment in time Proverbs 3, verse 1,. My son do not forget my teachings. If he wanted us to go to church, he would have told us through the word of God, over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again. But God tells us to never let this word depart from our mouth. Meditate on it day and night. Then you will be prosperous and successful. We need church. Church is very important. Church is community. Church is powerful when it follows the word of God, when the ministers and the leadership team follow the word of God, because this is what happens when we follow the word of God.
Speaker 2:Do you realize that you can be baptized outside of church? Do you realize that the Holy Spirit can fill you to the full measure when you're sitting in your front room? Do you realize that you could be commuting to work on a train, riding your bike, you know, on the bus, walking to work? Do you realize walking to school on the school run, living your life? Do you realize that Jesus Christ is not waiting for us to go into church, for him to do what he's going to do in our lives? Do you realize it was orchestrated, that it was ordained before the fabric of time? Do you realize that God called you to salvation? He didn't call you to church. He didn't call you to church, he called you to salvation. You are redeemed, I am redeemed, we are redeemed by the blood of Christ.
Speaker 2:And the way that it's going, we've got to be careful that we don't get sidestepped, that we don't get our legs taken out about what this is about, what we are about now. This is about the Passover. This is about the Feast of the Unleavened Bread. This is about Jesus Christ, the coming King. This is about, when we look at the Passover, the next three days, the crucifixion of Christ and then the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is about the passing over. It is about the blood of Jesus. It is about the power of the Holy Spirit. It is glorious, it is beyond words. The word of God is leading you.
Speaker 2:But I've got to encourage you. Don't go to church just for the sake of going to church. Grab yourself a Bible, come on. There are people just linking in right now and I want to encourage you. Get this word in your spirit, get this word in your life. You know, get a reading plan, get the word of God, because the scripture has told us already twice tonight do not, do not forget my teachings, do not allow these commands to come out. Keep my commands in your heart. How do I get the word of God in my heart?
Speaker 2:It's very interesting that when we become born again, spirit filled, blessed and highly favored, wonderfully and fearfully made, you know, when that happens to us, it isn't the preacher, it isn't the bishop, I'm afraid to say. Sorry, leaders. It isn't the greatness of their notoriety, it isn't their TikTok account that gets you saved. It isn't social media that gets you saved. It isn't the latest book that they've written that got you saved. It is Jesus Christ, the saviour of the world, and upon that and through that and around that, theologically, actually, salvation is a gift that comes from God. So salvation comes from the God of Israel, the father of Isaac, jacob and Abraham, and he requires us to follow him. You know, jesus Christ is the visualization of the image of the invisible God.
Speaker 2:So if you have a Bible, I would encourage you to turn to the book of Colossians, chapter 1, and you read what it says. Colossians, chapter 1, I believe, verse 19 and 15 and all the way through. When you look at Colossians, it's such an amazing read. You know if I can turn there as we are speaking. You know Colossians is really, really powerful. Let's get into the word of God and let's see what the word of god has for you. What does god's word say about you? What does it say? Here we are, here we go.
Speaker 2:Colossians, chapter 1, verse 15. He is the image of the invisible god, the firstborn over all creation, for by him things were created, things in heaven and things on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers, rulers or authorities. All things were created by him and for him. He is before all things and in him all things hold together, and he is the head of the body, the church. Come on, it is jesus. He is the beginning of the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything that he might have supremacy for God was so pleased to have the fullness dwelling him and through him, to reconcile. This is really interesting. If you have a Bible, I would really encourage you to get your eyes out tonight. Put your glasses on and look in Colossians 1, verse 20, and through him, to reconcile to himself all things. Put your glasses on and look in Colossians, chapter 1, verse 20. And through him, to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by marking peace through his blood shed on the cross.
Speaker 2:Now I'm going to use that dreaded word of Easter. I'm going to use that word that really grates me. You know, we're at Easter, we're at the pagan festival. Religion is doing a pagan festival right now. But if you are in the kingdom, it is not about the Easter bunny, it is not about chocolate, it is about Jesus Christ, the coming king, the great. I am the redeemer, the redeemer. You know devils, devils, flee at the name of Jesus. Devils are not interested in the easter bunny. Jesus is the savior of the world. You know, demons flee at the name of jesus. They don't flee at any other name. There is no other name that is more powerful than the name of jesus. And you are a name carrier.
Speaker 2:And when you look at the scriptures, the bible says do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth. Meditate on it day and night. That you will be successful and prosperous in everything that you do, wherever you are on this beautiful earth, in the name of jesus christ. We're going to hit a point in a minute and we're going to break bread together and we're going to take it a cup. So, wherever you are at hour, however you are capturing this live stream, whether you're on visuals, whether you're on audible at this moment in time, may God bless you and strengthen you. But I've got to tell you again tonight. I've got to tell you to get yourself a Bible, get yourself a word of God.
Speaker 2:Keep out of religion, keep out of certain churches, keep out and find Jesus Christ, because the Bible says, as we've read it, that he is the head of the church. No man, no minister, no leader, no pope, no bishop, no king. The king in this nation is not the head of the church. Jesus Christ is the head of the church. The pope is not the head of the church. The Pope is not the head of the church. The ones that lead Elim are not the head of the church, the ones that lead these organizations, the ones that lead these denominations. They are not the leader of the kingdom of God. There is only one king. There is only one leader. There is only one Messiah. There is only one Savior. There is only one King. There is only one leader. There is only one Messiah, there is only one Savior, there is only one Lamb. There was only one cross of Calvary. Jesus went to the cross once and once. Only he is the Savior of the world.
Speaker 2:Wherever you are at this time, will you come to the table? Will you come to the Passover table? You know, this is what this season is about. It is not about chocolate, it is not about fasting, it is not about Lent. And religion is doing that amazingly and the plastic way that it is doing. And you know what Religion? What's going to happen to religion? When the fire of God falls? Religion will melt because it's made of plastic and it is fake. But if you are a Jesus follower, you will survive. You will survive the fire of life. You will survive that fire, that Redeemer's fire. But religion can't go through the Redeemer's fire because religion is plastic and religion is fake. But if you are, if you are a believer I'm not talking about churchgoers, I'm not talking about religious activity, I'm talking about someone on the other side of this mic, someone on the other side.
Speaker 2:There might be many of you tonight that don't even go to church, but you are a believer, that you believe in Jesus Christ, that Jesus Christ is the coming king, that Jesus Christ is the redeemer, that Jesus Christ's blood was shed at the cross of Calvary. You will not find. Forgive me, jesus for saying this, you will not find an Easter bunny anywhere at the cross of Calvary. Now, that sounds a bit obscured to say, but you will only find. You will find disciples, you will find Jesus' mum, you will find the one that Jesus loved, you will find the authoritarians, you will find religion, you will find satanic activity, but you will not find an Easter bunny. Churches this weekend will be doing Easter egg hunts and that is not for this church. I will tell you now we will never do anything like that. We have never done anything like this.
Speaker 2:We are a church that preaches the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is not about getting people into this church. We are not an organization. We are a church that preaches the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are not like any other church around here and I'm not putting anything or anyone down, I'm not saying anything like that but God has put a press on my heart that all I've got to do is just preach the message of Jesus Christ. Because, let me tell you, god is coming in the image of Jesus, the saviour of the world. And when Jesus comes, I do not want to be dressed up as an Easter bunny, I do not want to be dressed up as Father Christmas. I want to make sure that I'm in the word of God, that I'm dressed in the book of Ephesians, that I've got the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, I've got the sword of the spirit, you know, and I've got all that going on in that beautiful book because Jesus Christ is coming back. And on that note, we have 13 minutes before the radio kicks in. And wherever you are across the world, may God bless you and strengthen you in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
Speaker 2:Now let's get into this. Let's break bread together, wherever you are across the world in Jesus' name. Get out of church, get out of religion and get into Jesus Christ. Get out of the mechanisms and the culture. If you are in a church that keeps talking in church and I'm not just referring to a brother or sister giving you a contact, I'm referring to networking we got to be very careful of the word network network is a business terminology and if you are in a mega church and they're telling you to get in groups and this and that and to network. That is not what it is about. You know, we need the blood of Jesus. We need the blood of Jesus, not networking groups. We need the word of God, we need the power of the Holy Spirit. Like never before in our lives, we need the glory and the power. Are you hungry for Jesus? Let's get hungry for Jesus. Let's get radical, let's get crazy for Jesus Christ. So let's break. Hungry for Jesus, let's get radical. Let's get crazy for Jesus Christ. So let's break bread right now.
Speaker 2:Jesus, we come to you right now as brothers and sisters. We are not orphans. We belong to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. We are not lost. We are found and we come to you right now, lord, with fear, with worry, with doubt, but, as the scripture says, we will not let the book of the Lord depart from our mouth. We will meditate on it day and night. Father God, we're going to stay in this word, we're going to believe this word, we're going to live by faith and we are going to trust you. We're not going to trust a pound note. We're not going to trust a dollar. We're not going to trust Jesus Christ, because Jesus Christ is the authority over our lives. And as we come to you right now, in the power of Jesus, wherever we are, we thank God for the listeners scattered across the world. We thank God for those that are on the social networks. And, lord, as we come to you right now, lord, send your word, send your word, god. Send your word to those that are not well. Father, send your word to those that are fearful. Send your word to those that are not well. Father, send your word to those that are fearful. Send your word to those that are scared. Come, holy Spirit, touch us. Tonight. We pray in Jesus' name, amen, father.
Speaker 2:We believe that this bread is symbolic to the body of Christ and as we break bread together right now, in Jesus' name, we thank you that there is power. In the name of Jesus, spirit of the living God. I thank you that I am not religious, that I do not belong to Elim. I belong to God. I am a child of the living God. I thank God for religion and church. I thank God for Elim. I thank God for all these mechanisms that we have, but not and nowhere did anyone save me except Jesus Christ. No human being went to the cross for me except the man, christ Jesus. So, father, I thank you that this is his body that was broken for me. Come God, take me closer, lord. We want to be closer to you. We want to walk with you, lord. We want to walk so close with you tonight, jesus. I pray for the brokenhearted Lord. I pray for those that feel crushed in spirit. That you will touch them now, lord, and they will feel freedom. Bless this bread in the name of Jesus, amen.
Speaker 2:If you are on radio and you've got no visuals, if you're listening to this for a podcast, I believe it's really important that you grab yourself some bread and you grab yourself a bit of grape juice, whatever it may be, and even if you pause this podcast right now or this, what you're listening, because it's really important, because God says this through Christ in the scripture as often as you come together, do this in my name and we are together. Yes, you're hearing my voice. You can't see me. You might be able to see me online and, however, you're following us right now, but I want to encourage you at home. Are you at school, are you at work, are you in your house? Are you on the commute?
Speaker 2:I want to encourage you to stop this podcast and just wait and take communion with me or do a rerun, rewind it back when you get a chance, but I want to encourage you to break bread and to take this cup. So, father, I pray for everybody that's in the world of radio, in the world of visualization at this moment, for those, lord, that are following us right now, father, in the world of podcast Lord, that are following us right now, father, in the world of podcast Lord, as we break bread together as brothers and sisters. You might be in a prison tonight listening to this. You might be in a hospice tonight.
Speaker 2:You might be in a hospital, at home, wherever you are, across this world, as the word of God is leading us, father, I thank you for this cup that symbolizes redemption, because we are redeemed. We are redeemed, and tonight, lord, we thank you for the blood of Jesus that was shed at the cross of Calvary. So, father, wherever we are across this world, spirit of the living God, carry us. We pray. Enrich our lives tonight, lord, so that we will stand on the rock of ages. But as we break bread, as we take of this cup, cleanse us in the blood of Jesus. Amen, sinners, saved by grace, washed in the blood of Jesus, the power of God is with every one of you. May God strengthen you and carry you the hand of God wherever you are, if you're on an aircraft, if you're on a train, if you're just standing at a bus stop, if you're at home, if you're on an aircraft, if you're on a train, if you're just standing at a bus stop, if you're at home, if you're in a car, wherever you are, I pray that God will touch your heart right now. Maybe you don't know Jesus, but Jesus knows you, because Jesus created you. So maybe you've never gone into church and I want to encourage you keep out of church for a while and allow God to lead you to a church. Pray God. Take me to a church that is biblically strong. Take me to a church that believes in the fundamental points of Christianity. Take me, god, to a church where they're preaching the gospel of salvation. God to a church where they're preaching the gospel of salvation. Take me to a church where they talk about creation and the cross. Take me to a church where they're talking about the rapture, eschatology and the coming, the second coming, of Jesus. Have you had enough of church? Are you in a mega church and you're just a number and there's just a couple of people that know you? Are you in a large organization that is drilling you for money? I want to encourage you to leave that church tonight and grab yourself a Bible and go and sit in your garden, go and sit on the edge of your bed, sit on your sofa and forget church. But find Jesus. But let me tell you this Jesus has found you and Jesus is calling you. Jesus is calling you to open up the scripture, to read the word of God, let the word, let the word move in your heart.
Speaker 2:It's very interesting the power of free will and the Bible that we read this evening, these scriptures that we've been quoting, the scriptures that we've been quoting are simple scriptures. All it says is do not let this book of the Lord depart that I mentioned in Joshua. And when you look in Deuteronomy and you look in Proverbs, it just says keep these commands, follow these commandments, keep them on your heart and follow. Be a Jesus follower. Be that Jesus follower. You know I love the church and know, and you know what I do and what I represent. But I've got to tell you don't rush to go to church.
Speaker 2:It's critical that you get that Bible, whether you're off on radio now you're following us on the social networks, wherever you're capturing this broadcast we've got to encourage you to be a Jesus follower, to follow the word, not religion, not me, not pastors, not denominations, not the TikToks, not all that sort of stuff. Yes, it has its place, but don't allow it to control you. Be careful of the devil's playground social media. The devil has social media and I'm not saying that there's not no great stuff on there from powerful witnesses and preachers. I'm not saying that. But it's the devil's playground. But the word of god is first and foremost. It is before social media, it is before family, it is before friends, it is before anything. The word of god is first, because the bible says seek ye first the kingdom of god and his righteousness and everything else shall be added.
Speaker 2:We're going to click out in a moment. We're going to click out and, if you're with us, and for those that are on radio, for those that will listen, you know we're going to click out in a moment. We're going to click out and if you're with us, and for those that are on radio, for those that will listen, you know we're going to enter into some worship. We're going to enter into some country music. It's really, really powerful and we want to encourage you to listen to that.
Speaker 2:So, once this clicks out, can we encourage you to go over to RB, christian Radio? We would love to hear what you think about it. You know it is in its very infant stage. It's only four weeks, you know, since the Lord has managed to press the buttons on it, so to speak, and we're learning as we go. You know we're learning as we go. There's mistakes, but you know there is an acceleration. There is an acceleration that I never thought that I'd ever see in my life. Oh ye, of little faith, you might say. God is moving powerfully. I want to say thank you as we come to the close. We just have two minutes, two minutes and two seconds roughly before we will kick out. You know I will stay on social media, but I want to encourage you to go over to RB Christian Radio. You know you can find us online, and there's podcasts, there's music on there, there's all types of things that we're putting up there and we want to say thank you to everybody across the world.
Speaker 2:But as we close this service tonight, over and above all that sort of stuff that I've just spoken about, I've got to tell you to follow Jesus. I've got to tell you to follow Jesus. It's about following Jesus. If you need a Bible, find us, rb Christian Radio. Drop us an email, go onto the website, find us there and we will get you a Bible. Even here, out of the studio where we are here in Elam Church in Swanley, we will get you a Bible. You can find us all over the place. You've only got to type in Reverend Ben Cooper, pastor Ben Cooper, and you'll find me on. It will just pop up everywhere, so you won't have a struggle finding us in any way, shape or form, but I pray that wherever you are at this moment in time, god will strengthen you. God will strengthen you right now, in the name of Jesus. We have just a few minutes left and we're out of here.
Speaker 2:Thank God for your lives. Thank God for your lives. Thank God for your situations yes, for your situations, because God does his best work in darkness. If you're going through darkness, god is the shining light. May God bless you and strengthen you and the hand of God always be over you. You know we love you from the very bottom of our heart here and I thank God for everyone that is downloading, that is listening across the world. Let's pray, father, in these moments. Will you just lead us and guide us and refresh us and restore us in Jesus' name? He is worthy of all praise. We are out of here any moment. God is with you. May God bless you and strengthen you. Click straight over right now to rb radio, christian radio. I should say you know there's great music about just to come through on the playlist. Listen to it. God bless you. We'll see you soon.
Speaker 1:Take care, bye-bye thank you for listening to us today on Reverend Ben Cooper's podcast. We hope you found inspiration and guidance in today's audio. Remember the journey of faith is a continuous one and your questions and thoughts are important. You can send us a text or an email and we will get back to you. So, wherever you are around the world, thank you for listening to our podcasts and radio ministry. For more information about our ministry, please find us on pastorbencoopercouk. Please support us with prayer. Also, you can sow a financial seed into this ministry. You can also leave us a legacy to support and continue the work of this radio ministry. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and share it with others who might benefit. Until next time, stay blessed.
