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
When the Spirit Leads You Into Wilderness - (#1064 - Elim)
When the Wilderness Feels Like Home
Have you ever felt like a ghost in your own life—disconnected, disoriented, and spiritually out of place, even while surrounded by people?
In this vulnerable and powerful message, Pastor Ben opens up about walking through seasons of deep spiritual disconnection—what he calls "spiritual oddness." Far from being random or punitive, these wilderness seasons are often divinely appointed spaces of preparation.
Drawing from Matthew 4, where Jesus is led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted, Pastor Ben unpacks the truth that God sometimes leads us into isolation not to break us, but to build us. These desert moments strip away distractions, self-reliance, and worldly rhythm, making room for us to experience God in raw, unfiltered intimacy.
“I believe God is leading every one of us to new beginnings, to green pastures, to great things. But sometimes there is a lead before we go in to see the miracles.” — Pastor Ben
This episode centers on the power of Scripture as our lifeline in the wilderness. Just as Jesus answered every temptation with “It is written,” we are reminded that the Word of God is not just information—it is sustenance. It's not about quoting verses for show—it's about knowing the Author and trusting His voice when the world grows quiet.
One of the most transformative moments comes with Pastor Ben’s challenge to pray the "strip back prayer":
“Lord, take everything in me that leans on self, and replace it with surrender.”
In a culture that celebrates control and performance, this radical prayer invites total dependence on God—and paves the way for breakthrough.
If you’re in a season where you feel detached, spiritually dry, or oddly out of sync, this episode will encourage you deeply. It reframes the wilderness not as a place of punishment, but as a sacred ground of encounter. God is closer than you think—He’s preparing you for something you can’t yet see.
🎧 Listen now to discover how spiritual disconnection can become divine invitation, and how your wilderness can lead to your next miracle.
spiritual wilderness podcast, feeling disconnected spiritually, Jesus desert experience Matthew 4, strip back prayer meaning, preparing for spiritual breakthrough, God leading in dry seasons, power of scripture in hard times, how to lean on Jesus fully, podcast on spiritual transformation, spiritual oddness explained, surrendering in faith journey, new beginnings with God
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.
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Speaker 2: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 in time, you know, just reminding it is Bank Holiday Monday, but we just want to let you know that God is real and the fire of God is with each and every one of you, wherever you are across the world. And as we gather, we want to say thank you so much for so many downloads across the world. We thank you to everybody on RB Christian Radio. I want to thank you to everybody on live stream tonight. I know you keep hearing me saying it, but it's really really important that we just say thank you, because new people are coming in and on all the time. So we just welcome everybody, wherever you are right now across this beautiful world, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, we're going to get straight into the Word of God, we're going to get straight into the Scripture. So, wherever you are, if you have a Bible, let's turn to the good book. Let's get straight into the Word of God. So wherever you are on this planet, whether you're watching this through visuals, whether you're listening through the podcast or whether you're on RB Christian Radio, we welcome you here to this studio. Thank you for your support, thank you for your prayers and everything that runs along with that. Let's jump straight in.
Speaker 2:How do you feel tonight? How are you feeling? A bit of an interesting question. You know I'm going to speak openly and quite out tonight. You know I feel very odd lately. I don't know if anybody else feels this. Maybe you want to put it on the social networks, maybe you want to explain, maybe, how you feel.
Speaker 2:I feel very odd over the last few weeks. I feel very strange. Do you feel a bit disconnected? Do you feel that there's something going on in the atmosphere? Do you feel like this Passover weekend, this bank holiday weekend, do you? I feel extremely disconnected from the world around me at this moment. I don't know how to explain it, I don't know how to get it over to you, but I literally feel that I am so far disconnected from certain things that are happening. It's making me feel quite odd, but I actually put it down to this I believe that God is moving in the heavenly realms and there is something happening in the atmosphere. There seems to be something that is rising. I don't know what. I don't know how. You know, the streets feel very different. The town feels very different, life feels very different. I feel that I don't know what, I don't know how. You know, the streets feel very different, the town feels very different, life feels very different. I feel that I don't fit in, I don't connect.
Speaker 2:I feel like the way that I explain it, in certain areas of life I sometimes feel a bit of a ghost. I know that sounds strange. Don't jump on that, past the bends of ghosts, because I'm not saying that. What I'm saying is do you ever feel like you're sitting on the outside of the world and you're looking in and you're trying to make headway, you're trying to look into this world and you're trying to grasp and you're trying to go to work and you're trying to connect, but you just feel disjointed. Does anybody feel just disjointed tonight? Wherever you are across the world? Does anybody feel just disjointed tonight, wherever you are across the world?
Speaker 2:Do you feel a bit odd at this moment in time? Do you find that you're finding it difficult to get into society and culture? Do you feel that there is something in the atmosphere, something in the heavenly realms? It's almost really quiet. It feels very, very quiet across the heavens. It feels very, very strange. I feel very disconnected. Quiet across the heavens. It feels very, very strange. I feel very disconnected.
Speaker 2:I just want to explain how I'm feeling at this moment in time, just to give you the heads up, just to let you know that none of us are superhuman beings, that we've all got these areas of life that we might be struggling with. So how do you feel at this moment in time, how are your emotions? How are you feeling at this moment? Is what is going on in your heart, your mind, your body, your soul? How do you? How do you feel?
Speaker 2:We're going to turn straight into the scriptures and I pray, and I know that this word of god tonight, this holy move of god, is going to speak to me, to alex, to others that are in the house, and for those that are online and in the world of radio, and for those who are in the world of podcast. I pray that, wherever you are, that you will feel the freedom, the power and the authority of Christ Jesus. Let's get straight in. We're going to the Gospel of Matthew and let's turn to the book of Matthew. Grab yourself a Bible, grab yourself a cup of tea or coffee, sit back for this hour as we stretch in to the word of God. We will be finishing exactly at nine o'clock.
Speaker 2:For those that are on Facebook, it will completely cut off, completely. That sounds a bit brutal, but we have to because of the music and the worship that we play directly after that. We get literally pushed off of that social media. But for those that are with us in the world of X, we will be staying on X. We'll be live streaming on X. If you want to switch over. Exactly at nine o'clock we're going to play 15, 20 minutes maybe of some worship. It will be plain, identical to what's on the radio. So we're going to stream the radio, rb Christian Radio. So just to let you know what happens. That's why we've had to change things in the world of Facebook, because we get muted in so many countries. That's why we're playing instrumental music as well. For those that are in the world of podcast, I guess it's a bit irrelevant and you just want to hear what the word of God is saying. So let's get straight in. So we're in verse one.
Speaker 2:We're in verse one of Matthew, chapter four, and it's about the temptation of jesus. But I just want to look at this a moment and I'm quite fascinated at the at the first part of this text. It says then jesus. Then jesus was led by the spirit into the desert. It's quite relevant for right now we are. I'm going to put myself in the arena for this. I feel that that I'm having a desert experience. It's quite lonely. I'm not looking for anyone to start singing and saying, oh poor Pastor Ben. It's not about that. I just want to try and relay this way of life, that I feel life at this moment. And Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting 40 days, 40 nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said if you are the son of god, tell these stones to become bread. Jesus answered him. It is written man does not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of god.
Speaker 2:Let's go back to verse one a moment. Are you being led into a strange area of life? Do you feel that life and society at this moment doesn't connect with you? You can't connect with society and you can't seem to get into that rhythm. Are you finding you're outside? Do you find that there's a disconnect in your life? Are you looking at life itself and thinking to yourself? I feel extremely disconnected from society, from family, from life, from situations around me, from church, from the world. I feel that I'm sitting on the outside of the bubble of life. I believe God is leading every one of us. I actually believe God is leading every one of us to new beginnings, to green pastures, to great things. But sometimes there is a lead before we go in to see the miracles and the power and everything that goes with that. Sometimes there is a lead where we are led by the Spirit of God into an area not to be tempted but into an area where we completely rely on God.
Speaker 2:Have you hit that stage in your life where you have been led and you feel almost quite alone and almost a bit of a strip back in your life, where you've been stripped back of so many things, situations have happened and suddenly finding that you're, you're on your own, even if you're in a large family, a large setting, there's lots of things, there's lots of activities, you still can't seem to get this. You're in a crowd moment, but because you're in the crowd it's great to be in a crowd if you feel the connect but are you in a crowd and you feel quite isolated? Do you feel that there is something going on in the atmosphere of life. Do you feel that there is a lot of pressure on you? Atmosphere of life? Do you feel that there is a lot of pressure on you at this moment? Do you feel that almost you could have lost your identity? So there is an area of life that we you, us, me, whoever we are that we are going through, that we've lost our identity, that the connector, the connector with the world, I believe God is preparing us for the second coming of Jesus Christ. I actually believe that there is something happening in the heavenly realms of this preparation time that God is preparing and God is getting ready the Bible believing believers. Obviously.
Speaker 2:Yesterday, I believe, the Pope left the earth and the question is is where is the Pope? The pope left the earth and the question is is where is the pope? You know, where has the pope gone? It is really relevant. Where does religion go? What happens when? When the pope passed yesterday, when the pope breathed his last, was he? Was he in glory, or or was there a lake waiting for him? You know, it's quite a, quite a an interesting thing you and these scriptures will reveal so much through. So the question is is when I die? Where do I go? Not being morbid, not going down the negative drumbeat at all, but just the realization of life and the power of life. But the Bible says within a twinkling of an eye you'll be with me in paradise.
Speaker 2:If you're a Bible-believing, spirit-filled, braggadocious, born-again believer in Christ Jesus, you know, when you look at these powerful scriptures, it says that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil after fasting 40 days and 40 nights. The question I've got for myself when did I last fast at all? When did I last fast for 40 days and 40 nights? Only Jesus knows. When you think about that fasting. Now, this is the area that we call Lent and religion. This is this tie, this is this connector, this is that bit that we look at. Lent and the connector and the move over and all that Got to be very careful that I don't fast because of the crowd is getting me to fast. I fast because the Holy Spirit is leading me to fast. This is the question Am I fasting because God is leading me to fast and to pray? And it doesn't matter the relevance of the time span that we are doing that because, you know, obedience is obedience If it's for one hour, four weeks, you know, 40 days, whatever it may be.
Speaker 2:Do you feel that you're having a moment in your life where God is leading you? God is leading you and there are certain areas of your life where things are happening and you're starting to feel very, very different. How are you feeling? Are you feeling lost? Are you feeling a failure? Do you feel alone, even though that you've got family, you've got children? You've got this going on, that going on, because the desert experience is a lonely place. Now we're not looking at the temptation of Jesus. What we're looking at is the experience of being in that situation, place of isolation.
Speaker 2:Jesus was isolated 40 days, 40 nights, and we understand that satan came along and tempted him, and satan started to bring scripture to his door. There's another interesting area there, isn't it? Satan knows the word, so when? So he's quoting. Now we know what he's quoting, so let me read this all the way through. Let's, before we go any further, let's read what the scripture says.
Speaker 2:So we're in matthew, chapter 4, verse 1, and it says then jesus was led by the spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil, fasting 40 days, 40 nights, and he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread. Jesus answered it is written. Man does not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God. Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. If you are the Son of God, he said, throw yourself down, for it is written, for he will command his angels concerning you. Psalm 91.
Speaker 2:The devil knows the word, religion knows the word. It's not about knowing the word of god as an educational exercise. It's about knowing the author. We can read it as a study, as a, as a educational understanding, but do we know the author? There is a difference between knowing the author and just reading, because religion will just read it.
Speaker 2:So, as we go further on, it says in verse 7 of Matthew, chapter 4, jesus answered him. It is also written Do not put the Lord, your God, to the test Again. The devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him the kingdoms of the world in all their splendor. After all this I will give, he said, you will bow down and worship me. That is the criteria that the devil wants. He wants Jesus to worship him.
Speaker 2:Jesus answered in verse 10, jesus said to him Now here comes a very interesting line. You know I mentioned that certain character that has passed away. Now this is very relevant to serving foreign gods. It says very clearly in verse 10 of Matthew, chapter 4, of Matthew, chapter 4, jesus said to him away from me, satan. For it is written worship the Lord, your God and serve him only. Then the devil left him and the angels came and attended him.
Speaker 2:I just want to hold a moment in verse 10. For Jesus said away from meesus, said away from me, satan, away from me, satan. For it is written worship the lord, your god, no other human being, no idol, no altar, no flesh, no sacrificial lamb. That is not of Christ. You know what I'm saying? No cattle, nothing to do with idol worship.
Speaker 2:Jesus tells us to worship the Lord, your God, and serve him only, and serve him only. God is a jealous God and he will not have anyone worship any idol, any instrument, any ashlepul, any human being, any saint, any brother, any sister. God will not allow that to happen. So then we have in the arena what is religion and who is religion serving? Who is religion worshipping? Who do they bow down to? Who are they lifting up? What do you hear as they pray? Who are they praying to? Where are they praying from? Jesus makes it extremely clear in the New Testament. God makes it clear in the Old Testament I am a jealous God. Do not make for yourself idols. Do not melt down your gold and your jewelry. Do not melt down and make golden calves. Worship the Lord, thy God and God only.
Speaker 2:Are you wanting a radical life for Jesus Christ? Are you wanting a life that is completely by faith? How do we achieve this life? To live by faith? That will be the hardest thing that anyone will ever do in their Christian walk is come under complete surrender. Come under complete surrender. When you look at the word surrender, surrender is an enormous word, the enormity of that word surrender. I've got to surrender to Jesus.
Speaker 2:I think there's an interesting prayer out there for Bible-believing believers to pray, and that is the strip back prayer. Lord, I want more of you, but will you strip me back? Will you strip me back of all carnality? Will you strip me back of self? Will you strip me back of me? Will you strip me back, dear God, of all this fleshly stuff that I got going on, that wants to put it on the socials, on the radio. Send an email in contact us here in the studio.
Speaker 2:Are you finding it difficult to live by faith? Are you finding it difficult in the times and the signs that we live? Are you finding it difficult to live by faith? To live by faith is completely coming under the surrender and under the sovereignty and under the power, and being completely under and in the word of God.
Speaker 2:If you have a Bible, if you turn, let's turn for a minute. Let's go straight back to the Old Testament. Let's go to the book of Joshua. If you go to the book of Joshua, read Joshua, chapter 1, I believe, because I'm not going to turn there for a minute, just check it for yourselves. Joshua, chapter 1, I think it's around about verse 8. I believe it's around about verse 8. I believe that's what it says and it's very clear what it says around about that sort of time. It says be strong and courageous, be strong and courageous, coming up, ramping up to that. And then he also says be very strong and courageous. Then he says do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth, meditate day and night. Do not turn from the left nor the right, then you will be successful and prosperous. It might be a bit of paraphrasing going on in that what I've just said, but I want to let you know tonight that the scripture says do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth. Meditate on it day and night, and then you will be See.
Speaker 2:There is power in the word of god. I'll turn there in a moment, but I believe in psalm 119. It says there in psalm 119 uh, your word is a lamp unto my feet, a light for my path. Your word is a lamp unto my feet, a light for my path. I believe it's 115, verse 115. I'm not quite sure. I've got to be careful because I've got so many scriptures, so please check it. The Bible says your word is a lamp unto my feet, a light for my path. The word of God will light up the darkness.
Speaker 2:When you look at the scriptures Psalm 119, find it for yourself. It could be 105. My memory has gone tonight. I've been talking all day long. When you look at the scripture, you know look at the word of God. The word of God is power. The word of God is life. The word of God is hope and everlasting. You know, the scripture is real, the scripture is powerful. So Psalm 119. So if you've psalm 119 and you flick that right the way through, let's have a look. I will find it for myself. Psalm 119, and as we race through the text, is a long. It is a real long psalm. And as we get to it 105 there we go. Second, it weren't too bad. So it's uh when, when you go to psalm 119, 105, your word is a lamp unto my feet, a light for my path.
Speaker 2:Your word is now in the new testament that we quoted earlier. It says that jesus says man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of god. So I've got to live my life by and through the instruction of the eternal word. I've got to live my life by the instruction of the gospel of jesus christ. I've got to live my life by faith. You know, we all understand that the bible says something really clear we're all sinners saved by grace. That that is critical. We're all sinners saved by grace. But that is critical. We're all sinners saved by grace. But above that and through that and around that I've got to get to this understanding that I've got to live by faith. I've got to trust God for every situation, that God is in full charge of my life.
Speaker 2:The Bible says faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of God. Faith comes from hearing the message. I've got to keep this word in my spirit. I've got to do what God told the Israelites in the book of Joshua, chapter one. Do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth. Meditate on it day and night.
Speaker 2:Let the scripture turn over. Let the scripture turn over in your spirit. Let the word of God turn over in your spirit. Turn it over. Say Lord right now, in the name of Jesus. Lord, I need this anxiety to go. Lord, I claim peace at the name of Jesus, lord, I believe that the power of the word of God is on me. I believe that the power of the word of God is within me. I believe in the power of the word of God is within me. I believe in the power of the resurrection king. I believe in scripture. I believe in Matthew, mark, luke and John. I believe in the power of the word of God. Lord, your word is yes. Your word is amen, lord. Your word is everything that I need in my life. But, lord, will you help me when trouble comes my way, when the storms of life arise? Will you help me stay in the scripture? Will you help me, lord, speak the word over the anxiety. Speak the word over the loneliness. Speak the word over the doubt. Speak the word over the fear. Speak the word over the finances. Speak the word over life itself. Father, I need to, I must. Are you hungry? Are you really hungry for gospel truths? Are you really hungry?
Speaker 2:Do you feel there is a burn in your spirit, that there is something different about you? Are you finding that you're not connecting? Are you finding that you're not connecting in? Are you finding that that it's very, very difficult to connect with certain things that are going on around the world? Are you finding it extremely lonely at this moment? Do you feel that you may be, and there's a good possibility that you're in this desert place? You've got people around you, but no one can really understand you? Have you ever hit points like that, where you get to a place where you're fully loaded with people? Life is busy, everything is happening around you. It's like being on the M25, traffic is running this way and that way. It's like the commuter belt, everything's going on. It's busy, busy, busy. But actually you feel quite lonely, you feel quite lost, you feel quite uncertain. You're not sure about life itself. Do you feel that there is a disconnect in your life?
Speaker 2:I want to pray for you in a moment, as we, as we continue through this. I want to pray that the fire of god will will just rest in your spirit tonight. That if you feel lonely, that you will feel the presence of jesus in your house. If you feel despair tonight, that that god will bring peace. If you feel that you have just lost so much in your life, you've almost disconnected from the world itself. Maybe god is leading you to green pastures, maybe there is something happening in your innermost being and god is taking you from familiar territory the majority of our lives. We live in quite a small stretch. We live in this, this area of this just tiny little parochial stretch of our lives, and it becomes so familiar. We get frightened of almost of stepping out of this set distance around the place. That is the core part of our lives.
Speaker 2:You know, the bible is extremely clear to live by faith we got to live by, and I pray that myself and every one of us here in the house tonight that we live by faith, that we live by the word. We live by the scripture. Joshua clearly tells us very, very clear be strong and courageous, be very strong and courageous. Be strong and courageous and do not let this book of the Lord depart from thy mouth, do not let this book disappear from your heart. Keep the word you know. Go to Psalm 23. Get Psalm 23. We've said this many, many times before. Psalm 23, verses 1 through to 6. Beautiful Psalm, beautiful Psalm there. But if you can get that in your spirit, if you can get that in the morning, if you can get that in the midday, if you can get that in your spirit, if you can get that in the morning, if you can get that in the midday, if you can get that in the evening, wherever you are across the world, if you can get the psalm in your heart, your mind, your body, your soul and keep talking the word, keep putting the word over your life.
Speaker 2:Father, lord, I believe the enemy's gone. Lord, I believe fear is gone. Lord, I believe doubt is gone. I believe all worry is gone. I believe, lord, there's a new day. I believe there's a new beginning. I believe that there is breakthrough. I believe the old has gone and the new has come. I believe in the power of the working of Jesus Christ in my life. I believe that the Holy Spirit is with me. I believe that the hand of God is on me today. I believe that the word is leading me into green pastures. I believe that the Holy Spirit is with me, that the Holy Spirit is my comforter, that the Holy Spirit is the one that gives me comfort in the time of turmoil, stress and worry and doubt and fear and uncertainty.
Speaker 2:I pray that you will feel the fire of God in your life and you will know that your redeemer lives and because he lives, you can face tomorrow whatever you are facing in your life, as the book of Job clearly tells us. I know that my redeemer lives. I know that my redeemer lives. Do you know that your redeemer lives? Do you know that Jesus Christ is alive? Do you know that the word is sharper than a double-edged sword? Do you realize that God is all power? God is all life, god is all things? Do you realize that the spirit of the living God is over you tonight.
Speaker 2:If you are in doubt, turn to Psalm 23. Turn to that beautiful Psalm, psalm 23,. Even as I walk through, as you read that Psalm, six beautiful verses there in Psalm 23,. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside quiet waters. Do you need quiet waters in your life? Are you going through the valley of despair? Do you find that you need still waters in your life? Are you going through the valley of despair? Do you find that you need stillness for your life tonight? Are you finding that there is turmoil and turbulence everywhere? Are you finding that it feels quite gloomy, quite grey?
Speaker 2:As you notice the weather in the UK today, especially where we are in this studio, the weather has been quite grey. It has been a bit of an unusual stretch on the eyeballs. It has been an unusual look down the lens of natural life. The weather is strange. You know your eyes are not working as they should do. Everything seems a little bit foggy, a little bit of a distance going on there. You know, I believe that there is a spiritual awakening. I believe that God is moving really, really powerful in these last days and I pray for you tonight.
Speaker 2:I pray for every one of us tonight that as we go through the valley of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil. For you are with me, you're rod and you're staff. They comfort me. For you are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me. But, as Jesus says, in the desert, as he's in that lonely space as the enemy's trying to detract him from what the God that we serve has the plan over Jesus' life, jesus was not going to come out of the desert. Jesus was not going to leave that place, no matter what the devil said to him.
Speaker 2:Jesus knew that he had to hold it and wherever you are tonight, I pray that you will hold it. You will be steadfast in the word and the word will keep you strong. That you will find that there is healing, that you will find there are miracles, that you will find there are blessings, that the glory of God is over you and the power of the Holy Spirit is right through your body. Tonight May God bless you and strengthen you. May the hand of God. If you're on radio tonight, thank you for joining us on radio. If you're on social network, thank you for joining us on the social networks.
Speaker 2:If you are listening to this podcast hours or days back, may God bless you and strengthen you in Jesus' name. May the fire of God rest in your spirit. May the anointing of God may the word, may this word you know. I pray that the word of God will sit right in the center of your life. I pray that you'll hold on to the scripture that you will meditate day and night, that you will hold into the word. You will hold on to the scripture that you will meditate day and night, that you will hold into the word. You will hold on to the word that the word will be part of you. The word is with you. That there you are, woven together through the tapestry of hope that God has woven you together.
Speaker 2:In the scripture, the Bible says that. Jesus says man does not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God. What are the words that come out of the mouth of God? Have you got a Bible in your hand? If you've got a Bible, hold that Bible, lift that Bible up, because that is the word of God. Every word that comes out of the mouth of God, that Bible is the living word. It's power, it's life, it's spiritual, it's practical, it's hope, it's life, it's new beginnings, it's anointing, it's living. It's sharper than a double-edged sword it's ready for you to take hold of.
Speaker 2:God is calling you to scripture tonight. God is calling you to scripture. God is calling you and me. God is calling all of us. God is calling all of us. Who's under the sound of my voice tonight, under my tired voice, under my weary eyes, under this body that's been battered black and blue for certain things that are going on in life? May God, may God lead us in Jesus' name. Are you hungry for more? Are you hungry for more? Are you finding that life is a bit boring? There's got to be change. There's got to be change. There's got to be significant change in life. Are you finding that there has to be some different drumbeat? Get yourself in the word, get yourself in the scripture, get yourself deep into the holy word of God. You know, the book of Joshua tells us. You know, be careful, be careful. Do not holiday.
Speaker 2:If you're on a commute run, if you're getting ready for the school run, if the children are getting ready for school tomorrow, if you're at work at this moment in time. Start speaking the word now over your life. Start speaking the word of God now over your life. Get hold of that scripture. If you haven't got a Bible and you're not able to get a Bible at this moment get your phone and go on and go through the search engines and find a scripture. Go to Psalm 23,. Go to Psalm 91, speak the word over your life now. If you're in hospital tonight, speak the word over your life. If you're in a hospice, if you're in fear, if you're in doubt, if you're at home, if you are commuting and traveling you're listening to this Get a scripture and put that word over your being.
Speaker 2:Get that word in your spirit. Get that word in your heart. Get that word in your mind. Get that word in your innermost being. Get that right deep in your innermost being. Get that word resting on the tablet of your heart. You know, let's take Psalm 23.
Speaker 2:The Lord is my shepherd. Come on, god, you're my shepherd. You're leading me into green pastures. Hallelujah, jesus. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not be in want. Lord, you tell me that I will not be found in want. Lord, you tell me that I will be found not lacking. Lord, you tell me he says yes, ben, that's correct. Okay, jesus. Well, why are there certain things happening? Because you're not speaking the word. What have I got to do, god? Speak the word. I've got to speak the word over my life. I've got to speak. I've got to quote the word directly in me, through me and around me. The Lord is my shepherd. I've got to speak that over my heart tonight. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not be in one. He leads me in pastures new. The Lord is my shepherd. Lord, keep leading me. Keep leading me tonight, jesus, keep me moving. Jesus, keep your word in my spirit.
Speaker 2:Lord, I need healing tonight. Lord, I thank you that it is by your stripes I'm healed in Jesus name. It is by your stripes that I'm healed in the name of Jesus. It is by your stripes that I'm healed in the name of Jesus. It is by the stripes of the one that was slain. It is by the stripes of the Messiah. It is by the stripes of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. It is by the stripes that I'm healed. Lord, I thank you that it is by the blood of Jesus that I'm saved. It is by the blood of Jesus that I'm saved. It is by the blood of Jesus that I'm sanctified. It is by the blood of Jesus that I am redeemed. The blood of Jesus, the power of the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 2:Lord, I speak life into my situation. I speak authority through the word of God over these areas of deadness. Lord, I need peace. Is there anybody out there that requires peace tonight? Is there anybody out there that really needs a peaceful existence on earth? Seek God and say Lord, will you help me to be a peaceable person? The Bible says blessed are the peacemakers. So, lord, keep me in the word, keep me on the scripture, keep me in the holy word of God, keep me on point.
Speaker 2:The Bible says iron sharpens iron. Religion can't sharpen you. A brother or a sister in Christ that is spirit filled, that is filled up to the full measure of God, a brother or a sister that has gone through the valley of the shadow of death, a brother or sister that is struggling with life itself. Iron sharpens iron, you know. Find yourself someone that believes in the creative story of Jesus Christ. Find yourself someone that believes in the written word of God. Find yourself someone that stands on the word of God, no matter what happens, no matter how dark, how worrying, how bleak it may seem, that they stand on the rock of ages. The Bible says it is written when Lucifer, when the devil came up to Jesus and he tempted him 40 days and 40 nights and everything that was going on and the temptation of Christ, when Christ was in the desert, sorry, 40 days and 40 nights fasting, the devil comes up and the devil tries to detract him. Jesus says it is written world around you. It is written. It is written.
Speaker 2:Satan, get behind me in the name of Jesus. Religion get behind me in the name of Jesus. Fear get behind me in the name of Jesus. Doubt get behind me in the name of Jesus. Uncertainty get behind me in the name of Jesus. Lord, I'm blessed and highly favored, wonderfully and unfearfully made. Start speaking the word of truth over your life. Start speaking the word of God in your spirit. Start speaking the word of God wherever you are at this hour.
Speaker 2:We're coming to the table in about three minutes or so. We're going to come to the table and we're going to break bread and we're going to remember that yesterday was Resurrection Sunday, that the weekend that we've just come out of was Passover. We have witnessed the passing over. We have witnessed the blood of Jesus. We have witnessed the resurrection of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.
Speaker 2:Tell everything around you that my Redeemer lives. And because he lives, I can face tomorrow. And the power of the word of God is right in my spirit. The power of the word of God is right in my heart. The power of the word of God is right in my innermost being. Tell the world around you Jesus Christ is my Redeemer. I'm healed in the name of Jesus. I'm free. The chains are broken. I'm a child of freedom. I'm a John 3, 16. I'm a John 3, 3. I'm born again. I'm loved. God created you. God is with you. The power of the word is over you. The love of Jesus is around you. Tell your world, tell your culture. Tell every situation around you, wherever you are, that the power of the Holy Spirit Is with you tonight.
Speaker 2:And as Jesus was in the desert, as Jesus was being led, as Jesus was being led to different areas of his life, the bible says it is written. Tell the world around you it is written, the bible says. The bible says the bible says the word of god. The bible says do not let this book of the lord depart from your mouth. Meditate on it day and night, then you will be prosperous and successful.
Speaker 2:The book of joshua, chapter one. Read that first few verses and let that sink into your spirit, your heart, your mind, your body, your soul. Do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth. Meditate on it day and night, then you will. Lord, help me to stay in the word. Help me, god, to stay in the scripture. Help me to stay on point with your word. Help me to keep in this scripture. The bible says man does not live on bread alone, but by every word that perceives out of the mouth of God. So I got to start speaking the word over my life. I got to start speaking this word richly in me and through me. Lord, I'm healed. Are you going to come to the table tonight with us? Are you going to come to the table tonight? We're going to go straight in. We're going to have the Lord's Prayer right now. We're going to listen to the Lord's Prayer. In the name of Jesus.
Speaker 3:I invite you to say the Lord's Prayer with me, our Father, who art in heaven. Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us of our trespasses. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us of our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Speaker 2:Amen that is so powerful. Not the actual table, but the passing over. So, father, we thank you for the Passover and the Spirit of the living God is with you. So, lord, wherever you are tonight, I pray that you will just gather your thoughts, your mind and everything, and as we just lean into Jesus, shall we lean into Jesus. Do you want to lean into Jesus? Are you ready to lean into Jesus? As the disciple, the one that Jesus loved, it says in the scripture that he leaned. He leant into. He leant into the body and into the bosom of Christ. He leaned into Jesus.
Speaker 2:Sometimes I really got to make sure that I lean into Jesus. It's critical that I lean into Jesus because when I lean in, I take the weight off of myself and I put the physicality. I put the weight on Jesus. I got to put the weight on Jesus. He's got to carry me. Jesus has got to carry me to the next destinational point in my life. Jesus has got to carry you to your next destinational point in your life. Leaning into Jesus. What a great analogy, what a great picture that is is to lean into Jesus, to lean in, to lean in means to surrender, to lean in means to rest in the Word, lean in the Word, lean into Jesus, rest in the arms of Christ, get into the Word, get the scripture open, put the Word over your life, put the word over your house, put the word over your business, Put the word over every area.
Speaker 2:We're at the table right now. Let's break bread. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we break this bread. That's symbolic, symbolic to the body of Christ, spirit of the living God.
Speaker 2:As we break bread together now, lord, will you move in our practical life? Will you move in our life, jesus? Will you deal with what's got to be dealt with? Will you heal what's got to be healed? Will you free up what's got to be freed up? Will you give us, lord, that window of light? Because sometimes, jesus, it seems dark, it seems really hard. Jesus, it feels so difficult sometimes, lord, following you, it feels so awkward in some times of the day, it feels so difficult, lord, sometimes of the day, it feels so difficult, lord, looking for you, with the rat race of life just rushing around me. Lord, I can't find peace, I can't find the hope. Lord, will you speak to me tonight, in the name of Jesus, draw me in, lord, give me peace, give me freedom.
Speaker 2:The Bible says as Jesus took the bread and he dipped it into the cup, it became soap and he took that and he passed it to Judas Iscariot. So, lord, we break bread together now and we thank you that the body of Christ was broken for each and every one of us. So come Holy Spirit, set the captives free tonight, as we take the bread and we dip it in the cup and we realize that this bread is symbolic to the body of Christ. In Jesus' name, amen. The body of Christ, the body of Christ was broken for you. The body of Christ is with you because Jesus is with you.
Speaker 2:The power of the Word is living in your spirit. The anointing of God is over you. The fire of God is with you. The power of his word is around you. The spirit of God, holy Spirit, will you cleanse me from the crown of my head to the sole of my feet? Will you cleanse me now, lord, in the name of Jesus, head to the sole of my feet. Will you cleanse me now? Lord, in the name of jesus, will you cleanse me? Wash me from the crown of my head to the soul of my feet. Right now, lord of everything, of everything. I need peace. I need peace, lord, because I hear the world roaring away around me and I need peace. Jesus, give me peace. I pray In Jesus' name, amen.
Speaker 2:Are you looking for peace tonight? Jesus says it is written. We're coming to the close. We've got about 13 minutes. Alex is just going to share something as we come to this time of the service. But do you need peace in your life? Are you looking for favor? Are you looking for the love of God? I'm telling you now, lean into Jesus. And we hear ourselves saying well, how do I do that? How do I lean into this invisible God? You get the word, you open up the scripture and you get in that and you lean yourself. You, you allow the word to get through. You. You read the scripture, you just let the word, even when you're tired and you can't read, even when it makes no sense and it doesn't line up with life itself, lean in to Jesus, alex.
Speaker 4:Let us pray, heavenly Father, thank you for reminding in Matthew 4, verse 1 to 11, that after the battle, after the testing, even Jesus was comforted, the enemies left and angels came to attend to him. So, lord, I pray for everyone listening right right now, anyone going through a hard time, feeling tempted, tired or tested. Help them to stand strong like jesus did. Let your word be their anchor when things feel shaky and good, I think you are not left alone, so we all are here for you. So send your angels to master us for today, being pleased where there have been pressure and strength, where we've been in struggle, like you just did to us we believe in, every season of trials is followed by your blessing. So we stand in faith, trust in us and we thank you for your victory. That all is done by your way, in Jesus' name, amen.
Speaker 2:Amen. Thank you, alex, you know. Let's turn to Psalm 91. Turn to Psalm 91 as we come to a close, and it says there beautifully, in Psalm 91, verse 11, for he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. As Alex was praying, as he was reading the prayer and bringing the prayer across the mics there, god was speaking to you, the Holy Spirit was ministering to you. The fire of God is over you, but wherever you are now, just in these closing moments we've just got less than 11 minutes you know, as we come to the close of this service, it's really really clear what the Bible says in Psalm 91, verse 11, for he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. They will lift you up in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against the rock. God has angels concerned over your life. He is and he has and he will release the heavenly host.
Speaker 2:When you think that there's no way forward, when the crowd is overwhelming, when fear overtakes and you can't sit still and and you are restless and you are thinking, and you are scared and you are worried. God help me. God says lean into me, just as the disciple leaned in to Jesus In that upper room, at that place known as the Passover. Let's lean into Jesus a minute. Let's lean into Christ in the close of this service. Let's lean into the Alpha, the Omega. Let's lean into the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Let's lean into Jesus, father. I've got to lean into Jesus because I can't stand on my own two feet, lord. I can't stand up anymore because it's crippling. I've got to kneel before the Father, I've got to kneel before the King tonight and I've got to say, please God, please God, practically, spiritually, physically, lord, help us as we lean in, as we lean into the richness of the word, as we lean into the scripture, as we lean into the bible, as we lean into the holy spirit, as we lean in father for everybody on rb christian radio, we leaning in, we're going to learn to lean in, lord. We're not going to stand on our own two feet, lord, and try and do everything on our own because, lord, we're setting ourselves up to fail. So, lord, I've got to lean in, I've got to literally take the weight off of my feet and I've got to lean into Jesus. Will you lean into Jesus with me tonight? Will you take that leap of faith across the other side of the world? Will you lean into the everlasting arms of the scripture? We're looking now, as we come to a close. How do I lean? We've said it and we've said it and we've said it.
Speaker 2:I get the word and I open up the word and I just look in that word and I allow myself to lean into what the scripture says. I embrace what the word is saying. I embrace what the scripture is saying to me. I embrace what the holy word of God is doing and saying Lean into Jesus. It's so easy to say it, but to actually do it, to lean into the arms of Christ. Sisters and brothers, we want to encourage you across the world. Lean into the arms, lean into the arms. Please Lean into the arms of Jesus.
Speaker 2:Look at the cross, look at the cross. There's fullness at the cross. Look at the cross. There's fullness at the cross. Thank you Jesus, thank you Father. It is the cross. Oh Lord, god is with you. God is with you. None of us can live right. None of us are able to live right. It is the impossibility. But through the holiness and the power of God and through the living word of God, lean, lean into Jesus.
Speaker 2:Say to Jesus Lord, I've got to lean into you tonight because I've failed today. I'm talking about myself, lord. I failed you today, I've let you down. Today, lord, I've fallen, I've stumbled, I've made mistakes, I've done this, I've done that, lord, I've thought, lord, I've stumbled today. And as I stumble, lord, as I stumble and fall, as I stumble and fall, I fall into the presence of the arms of Jesus. He's got his arms open for you tonight. He's got his arms open for me tonight.
Speaker 2:The arms of the Messiah are open and he's saying come to me, all of you that are weary and heavily laden. I will give you rest. Come to me, you that are suffering with your thoughts, with the cultural trait, with the family issues. Come to me all of you that are wary of money. Come to me, all of you that are just lost in society. Lord, lead us. Lead us into the truth, lead us into hope. Come.
Speaker 2:Jesus says will you, will you come to me tonight? Will you? Will you? Will you come to me tonight? Will you walk forward in faith? Will you stretch out as you sit on the sofa? Will you stretch out as you're commuting on the train, the bus, in the car, as you are jammed on the motorway, as you're walking to school, as you're on the school run, as you're just doing living life. Stretch out to me. Jesus says Come on, trust me me, stretch out, it's okay. Stretch out to me tonight, lean into me tonight, because it's we're at the table and I want you to recline. I want you, I want you to lay in to me. I want you to lay in and rest, rest in the scripture, rest in the readings of the gospels of Jesus, rest in the arms of the Messiah, rest in the great I am. God is with you, that is a given. The Holy Spirit is with you. The blood of Jesus is over you. I pray that the fire of God will just carry you to every second, every moment, every destination, that you will feel that this hour onwards, that, this moment, that you've met with God and God has met with you, and you've met with God and God has met with you. And you've met with the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit has met you. You have met the God of Israel and the God of Israel has met you. Let's pray.
Speaker 2:Father, I'm stumbling, I'm weary, my legs ache. Lord, I can't move. I feel like fear has frozen me. I feel like, lord, I've frozen in the track of life and everything is the same drumbeat. Lord, I'm tired of hearing the same drumbeat. Lord, I need a fresh awakening, I need a fresh move of the Holy Spirit. Lord, I need to get to the cross and say Jesus, jesus, jesus, get to the cross. Look at the cross over my shoulder, look at the cross on the screen, look at the power of the word of God tonight.
Speaker 2:Not that we are lifting up the symbolic way of the cross, I'm just saying look at it and remember the cross is empty, the grave is empty, the crib is empty. Those destinational points of Christ are empty and finished. The destinational points, the four points of God, the four destinations that Jesus had to hit on point on time in the hour, out the hour. What was the first one? The crib. What was the second one? The cross. What was the third one? The empty tomb, the grave. And what is the fourth one? The throne tomb, the grave. And what is the fourth one? The throne. Jesus is sitting on the throne at the right hand of the Father, interceding for all the saints.
Speaker 2:We're out of here in just a few minutes. Literally, we are out of here and I pray that the fire of God will resonate with you like never before, that you will know that your Redeemer lives and because he lives, you can face tomorrow. Stand up for Jesus In these moments, these two minutes on radio, on podcast, these moments of closure are not closure but are new beginnings. Stand strong, stand firm, stand tall, stand up for Jesus, father, as these seconds are clicking away. I thank you, jesus, that we stand strong tonight, that the word is in us, that the power of God is over us.
Speaker 2:So, lord, in these 30 seconds of this last part of this service, everybody on social media, may God bless you. Everybody on RB Christian Radio, may media. May God bless you. Everybody on RB Christian Radio, may the power of God bless you. Everybody in the world of podcasting, may God bless you. Stand up for Jesus. Message us, send us an email. We're out of here, we're about to click on to the last section, we're about to finish this live stream service, but it will continue. It will continue on X. We will finish straight away now on social media, facebook, but click straight into RB Christian Radio. God bless you. May the hand of God be on you. In Jesus' name. Take care, amen, god bless.
Speaker 1: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 Thank you.
