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
Redeemed Beyond Measure (#1061 - Elim)
Redemption isn’t a backup plan—it was written into the foundation of the world.
In this profound and reflective episode, we explore the deep biblical truth that Jesus wasn’t just born in Bethlehem—He was present at creation. Drawing from the powerful declaration in John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word…”, we examine how Christ’s eternal role as Creator reshapes everything we understand about salvation.
Before there was light, land, or life—you were on God’s heart.
This isn’t poetic language. It’s biblical revelation. By comparing Genesis 1 and John 1, we uncover a stunning truth: the same voice that said “Let there be light” also declared “It is finished” on the cross. Redemption wasn’t a reaction to humanity’s sin—it was God’s eternal plan. Your salvation wasn’t a repair job. It was woven into the very design of creation, rooted in love that existed before time began.
As we reflect during the Passover season, we’re reminded that our faith isn’t built on rituals or tradition—but on a living relationship with our Creator. Breaking bread isn’t about ceremony—it’s a sacred remembrance of a sacrifice that stretches from eternity past to eternity future. Jesus' crucifixion was no accident. Three nails. One Savior. Total redemption—covering your past, present, and future.
We also challenge listeners to rethink where redemption really comes from. Throughout Scripture, God fulfilled His plans outside of man-made systems. Salvation was never confined to temples, denominations, or institutions. As one host puts it, “The church building is just a shed to keep the rain off.” While fellowship is essential, salvation is in Christ alone. Like clay in the hands of the Master Potter, we are uniquely crafted—not mass-produced by religious tradition.
Here's the core message: Before you took your first breath, the God who formed galaxies knew your name and wrote your redemption into His story. This isn’t just Good Friday theology—this is the foundation of your identity. Understanding this reshapes how we see ourselves, others, and the eternal God who calls us His own.
🎧 Listen now and rediscover the eternal truth of a love that didn’t start at the manger—but before the beginning of time.
Jesus at creation podcast, redemption before time began, John 1 and Genesis 1 explained, eternal love of God message, Passover and Christ connection, breaking bread meaning in Christianity, three nails full redemption, Jesus is the Word of God, spiritual identity in Christ, salvation beyond tradition, God’s eternal redemption plan, church beyond buildings
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 ten 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:Good evening. God bless you, wherever you are situated across the world tonight. May god bless you and strengthen you in the mighty name of the father, the son, the holy spirit. We're just going to dive straight into the scriptures. We're going to break bread together in just a short while, but wherever you are, we welcome you right now for those that are live on radio with us at this moment, and we welcome for everybody that is on the social networks and different platforms that we're streaming to at this moment in time. May God bless you. It's Good Friday here in the UK and the time is. What's the time? It's seven minutes past eight in the evening, but may the hand of God be over you and carry you and strengthen you in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. We are so blessed. You know we have tens of thousands of downloads coming from the podcast and from everything that's going on, and especially through the radio. We thank god for those listening through radio at this moment in time. So wherever you are situated across the world, we welcome you in the glorious name of jesus christ.
Speaker 2:Let's get straight in right now and we're going to go to the gospel of john. We're going to keep it simple this evening we're going to go to the gospel of john and we're going to keep it in verse one just for the minute, you know, and obviously we're looking at a very, very interesting subject at the moment. We're looking at the crucifixion, we're looking at the birth of Christ and we are looking at redemption and we've got to remind ourselves that each and every one of us is redeemed, that we are redeemed. Wherever you are tonight, just remind yourself that redemption is over your life, that the glory of god is with you in every area, every section of your life, and god loves you beyond human understanding. But I find, uh, this scripture that we're in, we've looked at it, we've unpacked it, we've done some serious, uh, sermonizing through this, you know, some expository preaching, we've done many, many studies through this and I really feel, in my spirit, it's important that we just unpack this a bit more tonight. But it's a simple scripture. It's a simple scripture that opens up so much and I find it's nestled right at the very beginning of this part of Jesus' life where he's letting the world know that everyone in these audience, in the situations and everything that's going on, that he is the Messiah, the coming King, the great I am.
Speaker 2:So if you have a Bible, can you turn to the Gospel of John, chapter one, and we're going to pick it up in verse one? And it says really simply in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God and the word was with God in the beginning. When you look at these scriptures, it is so simple, it is so basic, it is fundamental to Christianity. So wherever you are at this hour, I pray that you will feel the love of the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit. Thank you for joining us on radio, thank you for being with every one of us tonight online, so many people online. But as you look at these scriptures here, it says in the beginning was the word and the word was with god and the word was god. He was with god in the beginning. God is with you. You know he is the creator of heaven and earth.
Speaker 2:But when you look at the, the structure let's we just look at the structure of this at this moment in the beginning, you need to turn to the book of genesis, because it's really clear that we're talking about creation. What is creation? Creation is a form of redemption. So when you look at these scriptures. It is saying that's really really powerful, that the Father's love is so great, is so powerful that the love of God is over each and every one of you. And we have to just remind ourselves very clearly that the season that we are in it is about the Passover, it is about redemption, it is about the power of God, it is about the Holy Spirit, it is about the mighty Father, son, holy Spirit. So, wherever you are tonight, as you join us, as we break bread across the world, I want to tell you tonight that the beginning, you know, at the beginning you was on God's heart, you was on God's plan, you was on his radar. The glory of God is over you and the power of the Holy Spirit is resting in your spirit. But the Bible says in the beginning was the word.
Speaker 2:It's really critical for me, as a Bible-believing believer, to come to an understanding, to know that Jesus Christ was at the very beginning of creation. He is fundamental to the creator story. You know, when you think about the creative story, when you think about Genesis, chapter 1, verse 3, and it says and God said, and God said, and God said. But it's really important for me to realize that Jesus Christ was at the very beginning of time. Jesus Christ is outside of time. Jesus Christ is time, is self. Jesus Christ is the creator of heaven and earth, running parallel with the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 2:If you turn to the book of Genesis, we will see for ourselves. I know we've been spending a fair bit of time recently just hanging around these texts, but they're actually fundamental to our belief. And without creation, without creation in our, in our teaching and and in the churches that we go to, we are quite um biblically illiterate. Because creation is telling us two stories is telling us the story of creation as we see that the creator is creating heaven and earth, but also, as he is creating, he's telling us the story through the narrative of what he is doing, that there is a greater plan beyond the fabric of what you see.
Speaker 2:So when it says in john, in the beginning was the word and word was with god and he was with god in the beginning. Then we come to genesis, chapter 1, verse 1, and it says in the beginning, god. So you've got to draw a parallel three or four words in in the beginning, god, god created the heavens and the earth. So as a as a bible believing believer, I've got to get myself into that position, into that understanding that that God created the heavens and the earth and Jesus Christ was at the very beginning of time. It wasn't just from the birth of the lord jesus christ that christ comes into existence. Because that isn't that isn't true, that that is not true whatsoever in any way, shape or form. Christ was at the very beginning of time. We find this. This is why I reference the gospel of john so much in in these moments that were in these studios and through the preaching.
Speaker 2:It says in the beginning was the word. So we understand through the gospel that jesus christ is the living word, that jesus christ is the word, he is the way, the truth, the life. No one comes to the father except through me. See, we have access to god through jesus, and jesus made it accessible. He made the father accessible because when he died on the cross, we understand through scripture. It says that the temple curtain was torn into from top to bottom and suddenly we have access to the father through Christ Jesus. But we have to go to Jesus. You know, jesus is the living word, he's Genesis to revelations, he is the old testament, he is the new testament, he is the bright morning star, he is the creator of heaven and earth. And if I can get a grasp, if I can get a bit of an understanding of Genesis, chapter one, I will find myself absolutely accelerating, just moving forward in my faith. But if I was just to stay in the new testament, I'm not saying that I won't grow in my faith, but what I'm saying, fundamentally and foundationally, genesis is about creating the human race, creating the world.
Speaker 2:It is about redemption. And when we look at where we are at this passover, you know it is easter friday, as we're're celebrating Christ going to the cross and coming to this realization that we are redeemed by the blood of Jesus. And it's not by Mary, it's not by the Pope, it's not by Elam, it's not by anybody else that you are saved. It is by the love of God, through the power of Christ and Jesus. Christ is the redeeming king, but Jesus is the creator. He is running parallel with the father, the son, the holy spirit, and I want to encourage you tonight that you are redeemed. You are redeemed, you have been redeemed, because the story of god is the redemption story and I want to let you know tonight that you are filled to the full measure of god and the holy spirit is with you. The holy spirit is your counselor, the holy spirit is your lead. The Holy Spirit is with you. The Holy Spirit is your counselor. The Holy Spirit is your lead. The Holy Spirit will lead you in paths of truth.
Speaker 2:So when we look at the Gospel of John, chapter one, it's very, very simple. It tells us such an amazing story about Jesus. And when you read that again, it's really important that I grasp this and I get this. And when I look at it, it says in the beginning was the word. So Jesus Christ is the living word, he is the way, he is the truth, he is freedom, he is hope, he is the everlasting father, he is the king of kings and he is the Lord of lords. He is the coming king, he is the creator, he is the voice of God. Jesus, he is the creator, he is the voice of God. Jesus Christ is the son of God. And when you look at all this stuff, he is the one that went to the garden. You know the garden of Gethsemane. He is the one that said if it is possible, can you take this cup from me? But he said not my will, thy will be done.
Speaker 2:So we want to encourage you at this moment, in this studio, you know, know to trust Jesus, because there is such a powerful story over your life. You are not saved because of the church. You're not saved because of the preachers. You're not saved because of the ministry that you're in. You're not saved because someone took you to church. You are saved, and let's go a little bit further in the word. You are redeemed. You have been bought back, and the price was the blood of Jesus.
Speaker 2:So, as we remember, this Passover, this Good Friday, christ went to the cross of Calvary to give us a hope, to give us a future and to give us eternal life. And when each and every one of us leaves this earth, thank God that this earth suit will drop to the floor and, within the twinkling of an eye, you'll be with me in paradise and we will have a heavenly body. Our bodies will be completely different. There'll be no pain, there'll be no suffering, there'll be nothing that we experience on this earth. But I want to tell you at this moment in time that the living god is with you and you are redeemed, and the fire of god is over you and the power of the holy spirit is living in you.
Speaker 2:Tonight, all things are possible to those who believe. It's Good Friday and when we look at the calendar, when we look at the events and everything that goes along with the Passover, as we celebrate the Passover, the crucifixion of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, I want to thank Jesus tonight that I am born again. I want to tell the world that I am born again, that I'm spirit-filled, I'm a sinner saved by grace, I'm blood-washed, I'm sanctified, I'm braggadocious, I believe in the Word of God, I believe in creation and I believe that Jesus Christ was at the very beginning of time. See, when I get Genesis as my foundation, when I understand what Genesis is about to a certain degree, suddenly the cross becomes more real, salvation becomes more real, justification becomes more real, sanctification becomes more real, everything becomes more real, it becomes tangible, it becomes possible to touch almost within your senses. You know God is so real. So Genesis is key and fundamental to christianity and everything that goes along.
Speaker 2:And genesis starts the story, the redemption story. And we see the redemption story. Where does it finish? Can we say that it finishes? We, we see the finish, uh, execution of christ. Yes, we understand, and I don't mean the execution of Christ. What I mean is the execution of the scripture, the finality, the finish of the word of God, not finished completely, the word, but the Old Testament coming to fruition and completion to a certain degree.
Speaker 2:But also, what we needed was the New Testament and through the New Testament, what happened with the New Testament and the Old? That they grew together, that they moved together, obviously before the New Testament. What happened with the New Testament and the Old? That they grew together, that they moved together, obviously before the New Testament came out, we had the Old Testament and in those times we have to get to this grip and this understanding that no one was saved, as we understand in redemption and salvation. That did not come into this land until Christ gave his life as a ransom once and for all.
Speaker 2:So when you look at the scriptures, it's not the power of the preacher, it is not the worship that we sing, it's not the mega church we go to, it's not how many times we've been in the church, it is the love of God that has saved you and has set you free and the power of redemption, because this is what this season is about. It's the redemption time and christ had to go to the cross. His life had to be taken, and when I say had to be taken, I should really say his life was given one sacrifice once and for all. So when you look at the scriptures and it talks about the crucifixion and obviously the church across this nation has been preaching and teaching all on the crucifixion today, good Friday, and everything that goes along with that, if you have your Bible, turn to the book of Exodus. We was in this this morning for the service, for the Good Friday service this morning.
Speaker 2:Exodus is a really interesting scripture chapter 6, verses 6 through to 7. It talks about four fundamental points. It talks very clearly about how god is going to liberate, is going to free, is going to sanctify and give hope to the israelites through what, the message, the four core promises of god, what he gives out and what he speaks over to the israelites. But one of those wasn't completed until it crossed the Calvary. So what we find is, when God lays a plan out, he lays this plan out and it takes years and it takes years and it takes years and the completion of the Old Testament was fulfilled when Christ said it is finished the cup of sanctification, freedom, the cup of praise and everything that goes along with that. But the third cup, the cup of redemption, wasn't completed until Jesus said it is finished because he had to redeem us and Christ had to die at the cross of Calvary so that we would be redeemed.
Speaker 2:What I love about the word redemption, it is a continuum, it is a continuous word that has a continuous flow. So we are always being redeemed, we are always being brought back. We have been brought back. We are all sinners saved by grace. Maybe we haven't done our biggest sin, yet that we have done. So when you look at the cross and you look at three nows three is extremely significant in the crucifixion. There are three crosses and there are three nows. There are three gardens and there are three areas of scripture that are really, really important. But when you look at the three nows and you study the nows, uh, yes, we. We say what are you talking about the nows? The nows are critical because the nows were running parallel very, very easily with what we call the spiritual crucifixion.
Speaker 2:Now, let's just have a little moment on this one. So what we find is that Christ was crucified three nows one hand, two hand and his feet. So what the Bible actually tells us? It tells us that we are sinners saved by grace and there was one sacrifice, once and for all. But when you look at this, we look at the first now that they punctured Christ with. That was for our historical sin. The second now was for our present and the sin that is residual, that is around our lives at this moment as we breathe. And the third now is for the future. So when you look at the three, three nows are significant. You know we have been redeemed from the history Now one. We are being redeemed right now from the very present Now two and now three. We are being redeemed and we have been redeemed even when we live and even when we sin, whatever is down the track of life, by the third Now redemption.
Speaker 2:We cannot swerve, we cannot wriggle out of salvation and we know it's a massive topic in certain cultures and in certain churches. People say that you can lose your salvation. The scripture doesn't support and there isn't any scriptures where you can find that there is a support in losing your salvation. There was one sacrifice, once and for all. Once means once for all, means for all, if, if we could lose our salvation. What that literally means is it's undoing the work of the cross of calvary, and that is impossible. The bible says that we are grafted in and nothing can separate us from the love of God. That is in Christ Jesus.
Speaker 2:But in the gospel of John, chapter 1, let's turn back to where we started this evening. In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God, he was. Now, when you look at in verse 2, he was. We are talking about a masculine identity here. We are talking. Every time it says he or him, it's referring to the Lord Jesus Christ. So it says he was. So when you look at that, he was with God in the beginning. And when you look at verse three, if you just pick up in verse three, it says through him. So verse two and verse three, one says he and one says him. And in verse three it tells us something about creation. What does it actually say about creation? It's quite easy to read this evening. It's very soft this evening.
Speaker 2:I'm not going too deep, I'm not going to crackers tonight, I'm keeping it on the on the wire tonight. It says in verse three of the gospel of john, chapter one through him, all things were made. Without him, nothing that was made. That has been made in him was life. Then it goes on a little bit further, but I just want to take a moment just to look at verse three. It says through him, all things were made. Without him, nothing was made that has been made. So without jesus, without the savior of the world, without the son of god, without the man, christ, jesus, nothing could be completed without jesus. So that clearly tells us that all things were created through him and by him. So when we see in genesis, chapter 1, verse 3, and god said, we find that christ is at the very beginning of time.
Speaker 2:Genesis, chapter 3, round about verse 15. It talks very clearly about redemption, it talks about enmity and it tells us very clearly that there is a plan. So the bible, from genesis to revelation, is simply about what? How do we sum this word up? What is it? What is the key word? When we look at Genesis through to Revelations, the 40 different authors that have written it, the 66 books, the old and the new, over the timeline of 1,496 years, what is the one word that we could actually use to actually sum up the scriptures. I believe that word is a simple word and the word is redemption, because the book is about redeeming. It is about buying back. It is about bringing back, it is about leading. So you are and I am. We are redeemed by the blood of jesus.
Speaker 2:The scripture tells us there has to be a sacrifice and through the Old Testament we find that the bulls and the goats and the heifers and everything that went along in the temple, that nothing wasn't good enough. There had to be a lamb, a lamb without blemish, a lamb that was pure, a lamb that had special requirements. And if you want to have a look about the Passover, you will find the Passover starts very, very clearly in the book of Exodus, chapter 12. And you read Exodus chapter 12 all the way through 13, you'll find that it is the Passover. So when we break bread and we take it a cup, we are not doing it through the wills of religion, we are doing it through clear instruction, the instruction of the Eternal Father given to Moses and Aaron at that particular time. And the Israelites were given clear instruction.
Speaker 2:So when we break bread and take it a cup, it is not a given from the church, it is coming from the Word of God. So every one of us needs to understand and I I make this really, really important for us to hear that we must break bread. And I want to encourage you now, wherever you are at home, wherever you are across the world, will you break bread with me tonight and will you take it a cup? I it's really important that we get in this, this notion and this motion and this rhythm, that it's not a church activity, it's not the rhythm of the church, it's not about being religious, it is about belief, it is about believing what the Word of God says. And the Word of God said as often as you come together in my name, do this whenever you remember me. It is critical If you're on the other side of the world. Tonight, we want to encourage you to get ready within the next 15 minutes or so to break bread with us, because there is power at the Passover table.
Speaker 2:When we break bread, we are not doing a religious activity. When we break bread and take it a cup, we are not doing anything that is religious. We are doing it literally because God told us and Jesus emphasizes this up within the New Testament, and he tells us and he talks about this thing really clear. He talks about redemption. And this is the season that we are in we're in the Passover season where we understand, as Christians, as Bible-believing believers, as we look at this word, as we understand where we sit at this moment in time, that it is crucifixion day, that Christ has gone to the cross of Calvary, but also we serve a king that is a risen king. That is the great I am. That is the great I am that put the heavens and the earth into existence. Because the Bible tells us in John, chapter 1, verse 3, through him all things were made.
Speaker 2:It is so simple to understand that without Jesus, nothing that has been created. So as you unpack that and you look at that, it says All things were made. Without him, nothing was made that has been made. So without Christ, it is impossible to bring this earth into existence. Without Christ, it is impossible to put the stars in the heavens. Without christ, it is impossible to put the sun in the suspense of where it hangs. It is impossible to put the planets into the solar system. Without christ, it is impossible to have the animals, the birds of the air, it is impossible to have absolutely nothing. Christ is the key to everything.
Speaker 2:Yes, he is the son of god, but when you look at the scripture, it is clear to see if you have a bible. Turn with me to that beautiful scripture that we've been turning over the last few weeks. That is really, really important to us as christians and that is the book of Colossians, chapter one, verse 15 through the 20. When you look at those scriptures, he is the image of the, of the invisible God. Christ is key.
Speaker 2:So when you look at the word God straight away in Genesis, chapter one, we could look at that and we could say it's all about God. God said, god said and God. God's voice has been mentioned around about 23 times. And it says and God said, and God said, god said, god said, and God's voice has been mentioned around about 23 times. And it says and God said and God said and God said. Then it says and God saw. So when you bring all this together with the Old Testament and the New Testament, it is very clear to see that Jesus Christ is at the very beginning of creation.
Speaker 2:And I want to let you know tonight not only was christ at the forefront of creation, but before the worlds were formed and before the worlds were framed and put into suspension, within this universe in which we love and love and which we live actually to be true, I want to let you know that you was on god's heart. You was before this physical realm came even into existence. He says very clearly in the Old Testament I knew you before the foundation of the world. What is the foundation of the world? If you look in Genesis, it clearly tells us that the foundation is the voice of God speaking creation into existence. So when it says and and god said that is the foundation. And jesus says, through the, through the scriptures I knew you before I created you. I put you together in your mother's womb. It is not by the biological, biological process sorry, it is by my will that you are on this earth. It is not through the process of, it is not through the process of science, it is not through the process of life that you are in existence. You are here for a reason, and the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords has brought you into this world. You might be just perusing through the social networks tonight, you might be just looking through, but you might be joining us on RBC Christian Radio, wherever you are across the world, and I want to tell you tonight that Jesus Christ loves you and the fire of God is over you and the power of the Holy Spirit is in your life. But you was before the foundation of the world.
Speaker 2:Now that can be quite difficult to grasp, because when you look at science, you look at reasoning, you look at mathematics, you look at nature, you look at astrology and you look at every area of creation. We have to look outside of science, we have to look outside of physics, we have to look outside of of education and we have to get ourselves into a belief system. The bible says just believe, sister and brother. Do you believe in miracles? I believe in miracles. I believe in healing. I believe in the power of the Word of God. I believe that Jesus Christ is the creator of heaven and earth. I've just said that I believe Jesus Christ is the creator of heaven and earth, because the Gospel of John clearly tells us without him.
Speaker 2:So who is this him? Who is this he? That the Scriptures that John is writing about? He is writing about Jesus Christ. He's writing about the God of Israel, he's writing about the Holy Spirit, because you can't separate the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit. It is so redemption, because the cross that we are looking at, the cross and the season that we are in is extremely clear that it is about redemption, it is about being redeemed, it is about being brought back, and you have been brought back and I have been brought back, and the price was the blood of Jesus. So the crucifixion is paramount and it's fundamental and it starts, the journey starts very clearly in the Old Testament, in Genesis. The story starts at the beginning of time, the story of Jesus, the story of the King, the story of our God, the story of the Holy Spirit. But I want to let you know tonight before the fabric of this world was brought into existence, before this world was spoken into being, god knew you.
Speaker 2:Now, that can be absolutely crazy. That is beyond the mindset, that is beyond the brain, that is beyond the cognitive processing. But when you think about it, through the tapestry of the scripture, through the tapestry of the word of god, through through everything in this word, this word is so powerful, it is beyond human reasoning, it is so powerful, it is beyond human reasoning, it is beyond NASA, it is beyond science, it is beyond governments, it is beyond education. It is a spiritual book. It is a book that is filled with healing, with stories, with power, with authority. It is a book of love. It is a book of poetry. It is a book that will give you clear instruction and if we follow this instruction, my good God, what a life, what a powerful life we would live If we lived in the instruction of the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 2:You know, if we get ourselves into the system and into this position, this posture of believing that God said Jesus was at the very beginning of time, it's really important to me, as a Bible-believing believer, that I understand that Jesus Christ was at the forefront of creation. And not only was he at the forefront of creation, that he stepped down 14 generations. According to the New Testament, in the Gospel of Matthew, that Christ came down 14 generations. And as he comes down these 14 generations, as the seed starts to move and as he has been brought into existence, and the Bible says and the word became flesh, the word became, is a very, very interesting word, and when you study the word became, what does it mean? It means already in existence. So there you go. It doesn't say that Mary birthed Jesus. And it said and the word became flesh. So suddenly we have this God, this triune Godhead, we have the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit that is outside of time, that is time itself, that is sitting on the outside of the stratosphere, that is faster than the speed of light, faster than time itself. And then suddenly the sun has been given instruction through the god, the creator of heaven and earth, through christ.
Speaker 2:Now I've got to remind myself again that jesus is the creator. God is the creator. The holy spirit is is at the very beginning of time. I've got to read this just to re-emphasize and just to look at what it says in verse three. Through him, all things were made. So through jesus, through jesus, what does jesus say? I am the way, the truth, the life. No one comes to the father except through me. Everything is done through jesus. Jesus was at genesis, jesus spoke this world into existence. The bible says and god said and and uh.
Speaker 2:The gospel of john says in verse one in the beginning was the word. So the word was at the very beginning of time, at the beginning, beginning of creation and before we understand what creation means. And the Word was with God. So the Word was standing with God and the Word was God. So when you look at these scriptures you can't separate Father, son, holy Spirit. And it says he was with God in the beginning. Jesus was with God in the beginning. So when you get into this word, this can almost make your eyes spin, because you find that there is a certain area where God is moving I won't say on his own, but God is taking the lead and then suddenly Jesus takes the lead and then suddenly the Holy Spirit takes the lead. So two step back and one step forward. So that's the best way that we look at this.
Speaker 2:But creation is critical for my salvation. Critical is in many, many ways because it's about redemption. So the world was brought into existence according to the word for his good pleasure and his good will and his good purpose. And life is a mystery. But human beings are always trying to find the mystery of life. It's not enough for us and I'm just saying that maybe that's me only, maybe it's not enough for me just to believe. I've got to dig up the stuff, I've got to ransack everything and almost say yes, lord, because I have visualization, I have the evidence and now I will believe.
Speaker 2:But the bible says the just shall live by faith. So I have to get myself into the position of faith and believing that jesus christ is the creator of the heaven and earth, along with the Father, the God of Israel, along with the power of the Holy Spirit. But I've got to also come to the understanding that the word of God is about redemption. You are redeemed, you are redeemed. It doesn't matter about our emotions, it doesn't matter about our feelings, it doesn't matter if we throw our toys out the pram, it doesn't matter if we head buck the wall, put your head through a window.
Speaker 2:I shouldn't have said that sort of thing. That's a little bit wrong to say. But you know what I mean, you get what I mean, you understand what I'm saying. If you throw all your toys out the pram and you get a little bit crazy, it's not going to affect our salvation. How can you say that, pastor Ben? Because the book of Romans, chapter 8, is very, very clear. It says nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.
Speaker 2:And the Bible says also in the New Testament, that we are grafted into the vine and he is the gardener, he is the vine dresser and he cleans, he cuts away, he deals, and he deals with the dead wood. And what is the dead wood? The stuff in our life that isn't bearing fruit around us. You've got to be careful that there might be some dead wood around in your life. There might be people that are trying to hold you back and you know it's time that we pray in certain areas. Lord, will you make sure that the people are in the circle of my life, are for me and not against me? It's critical because when you look at the Lord Jesus Christ, he took three with him into the garden of Gethsemane and he said watch and pray. Let me tell you, there won't be hardly anyone in your life that will watch and pray with you. There are many people on your watch that are fast asleep at this moment in time.
Speaker 2:You've got to be strong in the word. You've got to gather the word. You've got to keep strong. You've got to keep bold. You've got to keep yourself. You've got to be like a watchman on the wall. You've got to be ready. You've got to be strong. You've got to get yourself in the word of God. There is a story in you that the world needs to know. There is a story in you and the story is the story of the creator story, and his name is Jesus and is the saviour of the world. He is the great I am, he is the lily of the valley, he is your rock of ages, he is the vine dresser, he is the gardener, he is the master with the clay.
Speaker 2:I love that text where that great prophet said I'm going down to the potter's house, and when he gets down to the potter's house, he watched the master. He watches the master just shape the clay. I want to be that piece of clay in the master's hands, don't you? I want to be in the master's hands. There's no other safe space to be but to be in the hands of the eternal God, being shaped and being moved into the vessel. Because every vessel that that potter created was very different to the vessel that he'd done before, because it wasn't manufactured.
Speaker 2:The church at this moment in time is manufactured. Church is manufactured. It all looks the same, it smells the same and it's really boring. Church is boring and church is just the same old drumbeat. But if you grab the scripture, I want to be different to the other vessel in my life. Do you want to be different or do you want to be manufactured by the church? The church is manufacturing so much stuff. The church is an industry. The church uses the people in the pews as a commodity, a vehicle to get money. But I don't want to be involved in that.
Speaker 2:I want to be in the master's hands. Do you want to be in the master's hands? Do you want to be in the master's hands, being shaped into the vessel, that beautiful earthen vessel that he wants to shape, because the one that he shaped before that vessel was very different to the one that he was crafting now. That tells us something really, really clear that we are all individuals, that we are all completely different, but God loves each and every one of us and I want to tell you tonight. I pray this prayer Father, in the name of Jesus, will you keep me on the potter's wheel? Lord, I want to be on the potter's wheel. I need to be on the potter's wheel, lord. I don't want to be manufactured by Elim. I don't want to be shaped by Elim. I don't want to be shaped by the mainstream churches. I don't want to be shaped by the world of the church. I want to be shaped by the holy hand of God. I want to be shaped by the power of the Holy Spirit. I want to be shaped by the presence of the Holy Spirit. I want to be shaped by the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. You know, the church is just manufacturing robots. The church is just manufacturing. It wants you for your money.
Speaker 2:What does the church? Why do you go to church? What is the purpose of church? What do you get from church? What is the feeling you get from church? You might get a little bit of euphoria because of the worship that might be there, but are you getting the richness of the word of God? Do you want to be like the person sitting next to you or do you want to be like that earthen vessel that is completely different, that the master has shaped? And the master was at the very beginning of time? Do you believe in evolution? No way.
Speaker 2:Do you believe in the creation story? Yes, I do. Do you believe in the string theory? No, I don't. Do you believe in all the other theories? No, I don't. I believe that God said let there be light, and it was. And I believe in the Bible. I believe in miracles. Do you need a miracle tonight? Do you need a miracle. I want to tell you now that the God that I serve, the God that we walk with, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, is the God of miracles. And God is looking at you tonight because he's omnipresent. He's omnipotent, he's in all, he's about all. God created the heavens and the earth and the fullness there is.
Speaker 2:We're coming to the table in just a few moments and I want to invite every one of you to grab yourself a bit of bread, grab yourself a bit of grape juice, whatever you've got lying around, because it is symbolic, and I want to tell you tonight that Jesus Christ loves you. That is fact, that is biblical fact, as I see everything in this studio, before my very eyes. It's here and it's true, and I want to tell you that salvation is over you. It is as real as I see these microphones, as I see these screens, as I see the monitors, as I see everything in this radio studio. I want to tell you tonight that God loves you. God loves you and we can't wriggle out of it, because it's been predestined. Hallelujah for predestination.
Speaker 2:It doesn't matter if you go to church, it doesn't matter if you're in church, you're out of church. That's irrelevant, because the church is irrelevant to salvation, because salvation started in the book of Genesis. And when you read Genesis and you come all the way up through the Old Testament and you come all the way through to the New, you don't start seeing and hearing the church that we understand now, right up to the book of Acts. So the church is irrelevant to salvation. The church is just a shed to keep the rain off. He just said a shed and I am just telling you it's just a place to keep the rain off and for us to gather.
Speaker 2:But we put so much emphasis, we put so much into the word church. The church has to be this a, b, c and d, and when we make the church like that, it takes our eyes off of jesus. Do you realize that you can just grab a bible and you can go and sit on the curb of life and read the word and god will save you wherever you are, because god does not need the fabrication of church to get you saved, because it is the son that got you saved. It is the son through through the birth of christ, through the cross of calvary. I pray that, the fire of god wherever you are.
Speaker 2:As I always say, and I will continue to say this don't go to church, go to jesus. Make sure that you, you keep away from religion and you find, you find a church, you find a place where they're talking about the birth, the death, the resurrection of Christ. Don't get caught. Don't get caught in religion, don't get caught in all that stuff that is going on, don't get caught in all that mayhem, don't get caught in that manufacturing. The church is trying to manufacture money.
Speaker 2:The church, in many areas, looks at you as someone within the context of the church and it looks at you that it's someone that's going to give them a few quid. That's basically it, because church, in many areas, very, very clear, is an organization and we have to say to ourselves where is the true church, where is the church? As we said this morning, as we looked before, it is not about the building, it is not about the art, it is not about this studio. You are the church, you, the bible believing believer, you are the church. Wherever you go, the church is with you. Because you are the church, the holy spirit lives in you, god lives in you, the word lives in you, you, the word lives in you, you are the church and wherever you go, the fire of God and you are the church. It doesn't matter how you look, how you feel, it doesn't matter culture, it doesn't matter about education, it doesn't matter all the hiccups, it doesn't matter about all the trappings of the world. Let me tell you this Jesus Christ loves you. And as we come to the table, we've got 13 minutes and then the camera will kick out and we're going to click straight back into the radio. There is worship playing after this. I believe it's country music this evening.
Speaker 2:We're live at this moment on RB Christian Radio and you can just go on to all the socials you can find us. You know we're just four weeks strong at this moment in time and we want to say thank God to everybody that has been listening to us, to type in RB Christian Radio and you will find us 24 hours a day, seven days a week, streaming for Christ. You will find podcast sermons, worship. You will find everything. We are still very infant, we are still early doors, but it's moving forward in the name of Jesus Christ and we're streaming at this moment in time and I pray for all those that are listening across the world right now, in the name of Jesus. Everybody that's on visuals we thank God for your lives Everybody that's in the world, a podcast that will capture this back later on. May God bless you, but now it's time.
Speaker 2:Let's get to the table. Let's get to the redemption table, the Passover table. Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank you that I don't need church, I need Jesus. I thank you, lord, that I don't need religion, I need Jesus. I thank you, lord, that I don't need the mechanics of religion, I need Jesus. So, lord, I need you tonight, jesus. So wherever you are across the world, sitting in your home, sitting in your house, traveling, commuting, wherever you are at this moment in time, maybe you want to pray this prayer with me, maybe you just want to let this prayer resonate in your spirit and I'm going to pray.
Speaker 2:Lord, I want more Jesus. It's that simple for me, jesus. I just want more Jesus. I want more of you, god. I want more of your word. I want more of hope. I want more of your love. I I want more of your word. I want more of hope. I want more of your love. I want more of your mercy. I want more of your saving grace. I want more of your presence, because you are the creator of heaven and earth, and the Bible tells me that without Jesus, nothing was made, without him. So I want more God, I want more Holy Spirit, I want more Jesus Christ, the savior of the world.
Speaker 2:So, lord, I thank you for forgiveness tonight. I thank you that you've forgiven me. I thank you, jesus, that we are forgiven. It doesn't matter what we've done. It doesn't matter what I've done. It doesn't matter what you've done. You are forgiven because of the cross of Calvary. It's beyond what we could imagine. It's far greater than we can ever think about. But you are saved.
Speaker 2:And let me remind you it's not about getting into church, it's about god has got into you. God is in your skin. It doesn't matter what you think about yourself, it doesn't matter how you look at yourself. It doesn't matter all the ways that you might beat yourself up and call all the shots. It's got nothing to do with salvation, because salvation is outside of and outside of the hand of the human being.
Speaker 2:Salvation comes from god and it is known as predestination, and god does his best work in darkness. What do you mean? You've only got to look in Genesis 1, verse 1, and it says the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the deep. And it tells us that darkness was all around, darkness beyond, darkness, beyond what we could ever imagine. And what God done in the dark room of creation, he pulled out. He pulled out such a beautiful piece of art known as the world, the most beautiful landscape you've ever seen. And I'm talking before the sinner and the fall of the world. I'm not talking about how we portray and what we see in the world at this moment, because this world is fallen and this world is grubby and everything looks foggy and not as clean as it should do because of sin. But if you can try to imagine what it was like when God created the heavens and the earth the brightness, the sharpness, the purity, the beauty if we can imagine what that was like before the fall of the world.
Speaker 2:So, lord, in the name of Jesus, I break this bread and I thank you that I haven't got to get to church, that I haven't got to get to church, I just got to get to Jesus. Cleanse me from the crown of my head to the sole of my feet, lord, right now, cover me in the blood that was shed for me at the cross In Jesus' name, amen. You know we haven't got too long left of this live stream. You know we haven't got too long left of this live stream, but wherever you are at this hour, whatever your life looks like, is okay. God is with you. The holy spirit is with you. The father, the son. The holy spirit is with you. We're gonna, we're gonna take it a cup now. We're gonna just gonna come to the, the passover tables. We just take time out this evening.
Speaker 2:Wherever you are across the world, it's not the power of prayer that got you saved. It's the power of God. It's not the power of worship that got you saved. It's the power of God. It's not the power of the preachers that you listen to that got you saved. It is God, through Christ, that got you you saved, and that is what redemption is about. No preacher, no teacher can get anyone. No human being can save any other human being. Yes, we are used as vessels for god, but god doesn't need a preacher. God doesn't need the church. God doesn't need a theologian. He doesn't need a preacher. God doesn't need the church. God doesn't need a theologian. He doesn't need an evangelist. He doesn't need Elim. He doesn't need any denomination to get his work done, because his work started before church even come into existence of denominations. They are very, very young. When you look at the word of god, it goes back thousands of years and god was working without the church. God was working before the foundations of the world.
Speaker 2:God loves you, father. In the name of jesus, we take this cup right now, and will you cleanse me from the crown of my head to the sole of my feet? Lord, I want you to enrich my life. Maybe you're indoors tonight and you're really fed up and you're bored and you feel really alone. Maybe you're indoors tonight and you feel really scared, you're really worried. Let's take the cup together now, in the name of Jesus. Father, in these closing moments of this service, lord, as we count down, as we watch this clock tick away, father, I thank you that we are saved and we are redeemed. Lord, will you cover us in the blood of Jesus. So, lord, as we take this cup together across the world? Lord, we thank you for so many on live stream. Thank you for so many on radio tonight. Lord, we are so blessed. Whatever and however you're capturing this stream, god is with you. In Jesus' name, will you cleanse me from the crown of my head to the sole of my feet, in the name of Jesus, amen.
Speaker 2:When you think about the Old Testament, the church was non-existent in the Old Testament. So did that stop God working? So does God need the church? No, do we need God? Yes, god is not bothered about what the churches are doing. What he wants to know is what you're doing, ben. What he wants to know is where our heart sits. Are you for me?
Speaker 2:He's not coming back for the church of england, all their buildings. He's not coming back for the structure of elam. He's not coming back for the mega ministries that you might go to. He's not coming back for the, the money that is in the bank of the church organizations and the majority of the churches are charities and we got to be careful when we get a charity number, because when we get a charity number, then suddenly we are owned by the government and we have criteria we have to fulfill to meet the policies of the charity.
Speaker 2:Do you know what? God done all that work without the charity commission. God done all the work without any church. So do we actually think that god is actually waiting on the church to move. I want to encourage you to keep away from church at this moment and to seek the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit. I want to encourage you to open up your Bible and to read and to fast and to pray and to keep your eyes on Jesus. It says in Hebrews we're coming to a close in just a few moments. It says in Hebrews, chapter 12, verse 1 through to 2 keep your eyes on jesus, the author and the perfecter of your faith.
Speaker 2:That's what it says keep your eyes on jesus. Keep your eyes on jesus. God did not bring this world into existence with the church. He did not drop salvation into your life because of the church. He does everything and he has done so much without the church being formed. When you look at the old testament, you won't find a christian church in the old testament. You won't find the latest ministries in the old testament. But it didn't stop god working. Isn't that funny? But we seem to think that god can't do anything without the church. The church has got to be doing this, but god has been doing so much on the outside of church. Thank you, jesus.
Speaker 2:So church is irrelevant to many things. It's great to go to church. I understand that. It's great to have a place where you can have fellowship and you can chat with like-minded brothers and sisters. But don't rely on church. Don't rely on the mechanisms of church, because there's some strange people in church. Find yourself someone that is a bible believing believer, that is braggadocious, that is radical for christ, that is hungry for miracles. Are you hungry for miracles tonight?
Speaker 2:We're coming to the close of this service and we've just got a couple of minutes before we. We absolutely click off this tonight and I want to just pray this prayer father, in the name of jesus, I pray, lord, for so many online tonight, so many listening to us on radio across the world. I want to pray for everybody on visuals with me, everybody in the world of podcasts and everybody on radio and RB radio. Lord, I pray, lord. Lord, free them up from the chains of church. Freedom, up from religion. Freedom, father, from church, freedom from the from the worry. I haven't been to church this day, this week, this month.
Speaker 2:Father, lord, let them know that salvation comes from God and from God alone, and Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. Spirit of the living God, will you do a great work in each and every one of us. Lord, we believe in miracles, we believe that you raise the dead, we believe that the blind can see, we believe that the deaf can hear, we believe that the lame can walk. We believe in miracles because you are a miracle worker and, lord, I thank you that you are not relying on the fabric of the building of the church to get your work done. You are not relying on the structure of the cathedrals of this church or any church, you are working in the name of the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit. Father, come Touch lives tonight in the name of Jesus. Touch lives tonight as we worship, as we adore you, lord, as we walk close with you, lord, father, we pray that the love of God will be over each and every one of us.
Speaker 2:Brothers and sisters, I want to say thank you once again for those that have joined me this evening, for this hour on this crucifixion day, and I want to encourage you now to flick over. Maybe you're listening to this through the streamer and you can find us very, very clearly on rbchristianradionet. You can find us online. Click into the streamer and you can find us very, very clearly on rbchristianradionet. You can find us online. Click into the streamer, click into the website, click into all that stuff. Have a look around. There's great music coming out in just a short while, as soon as these cameras click out you know this clicks off at 9 o'clock.
Speaker 2:Please listen to the music tonight. Listen to everything that goes on, share it out. Listen to everything that goes on. Share it out, push the links out. May god bless you and encourage you right now. But I want to tell you one more time that you are redeemed. You are redeemed, you are saved. Don't worry about church, don't worry about going into it, don't worry about all that stuff. Just realize that god is with you. So, wherever you are right now, may god strengthen you and carry you in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. God is alive, the Word is alive, the King is alive. God bless, and we will see you soon. Take care, may the hand of God always be over you. Never give up. The King of Kings is alive and well. God bless, we'll see you soon, take care.
Speaker 1:Thank you for listening to us today on Rev 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.
