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
Breaking Through the Roof – (1073 - Elim)
Faith Through the Roof – Finding Jesus Beyond the Crowd
the Bible
Have you ever felt lost in a crowd—even a religious one? In this episode, we dive deep into Mark 2, where a group of faithful friends break through a roof to bring a paralyzed man to Jesus. Their determination challenges us to reflect on whether we’re truly pursuing Christ—or just moving with the crowd.
As we unpack this powerful moment in Scripture, we explore how the crowd around Jesus symbolized more than physical obstruction. While some genuinely sought Him, others—like the religious leaders—stood in judgment. It’s a reminder that proximity to religion doesn’t equal intimacy with God.
This conversation confronts a hard truth: even within church walls, it’s possible to miss the presence of Jesus. Sometimes, traditions, opinions, or even well-meaning structures can become barriers. The paralyzed man’s friends chose faith over form, showing us the kind of community that doesn’t give up when life gets hard.
In today’s hyperconnected world, where relationships are often shallow and curated, the message of this story calls for authentic community—the kind that carries us when we can’t carry ourselves. Are the people around you drawing you closer to Jesus, or just keeping you occupied?
We also explore what it means to step back from institutional religion (without abandoning community) in order to reconnect directly with Christ through Scripture, prayer, and personal devotion. Communion becomes a reminder that our access to Jesus is not filtered through crowds, titles, or rituals—it’s personal, present, and powerful.
This episode is for anyone who feels stuck, sidelined, or spiritually numb. Let the faith of four friends inspire you to break through the noise and find Jesus in a deeper, more direct way.
🎧 What You'll Learn:
- Why the crowd can sometimes keep us from Christ
- The difference between religious routine and real faith
- What authentic spiritual community looks like
- How to reconnect with Jesus beyond institutions
- Why your relationship with Christ must be personal
📖 Key Scriptures:
- Mark 2:1–12 – The healing of the paralyzed man
- Hebrews 10:24–25 – Encouraging one another in community
- John 5:39–40 – Scripture pointing to Christ
- Romans 12:2 – Not conforming to religious patterns
🔗 Listen & Subscribe:
Find us under Reverend Ben Cooper's Podcast on:
Apple Music, Amazon Music, Spotify, Buzzsprout, iHeart Radio, and all major platforms
🙌 Call to Action:
Are you following Jesus—or just following the crowd? Share this episode with someone who needs to be carried closer to Christ, and subscribe for weekly truth that challenges and uplifts.
faith and community, paralyzed man Mark 2, Christian podcast 2025, true Christian friendship, breaking religious patterns, modern church vs faith, authentic spiritual growth, Jesus and the crowd, finding Christ personally, Mark 2 explained, real faith not ritual - The Bible
https://www.pastorbencooper.co.uk/
https://www.rbchristianradio.net/
Welcome to Rev 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. Hard-hitting, real-life conversations taken from our podcasts.
Speaker 1:Your financial gifts play a crucial role in supporting our radio ministry, helping us share the gospel through these podcasts and providing free copies of the Gospel of John and Bibles around the globe. Please pray for this ministry as we stretch out beyond the boundaries, as we walk by faith. If you'd like to support our mission, please consider clicking the support button on Spotify, apple Podcasts or Buzzsprout. You can give a one-time gift or set up a regular contribution of £3, £5, £8 or £10. You can also leave a legacy by clicking in the links within pastorbencoopercouk. Thank you for partnering with us in this ministry, as we spread the message of hope far and wide through this radio ministry. So, whether you are on the daily commute or at home listening to our podcast, grab a cup of coffee, sit back, relax and enjoy.
Speaker 2:Good evening. God bless you, wherever you are across the world tonight. We thank you so much for joining us. You know, whether you're online, whether you're on radio, wherever you are capturing this service, may God bless you and strengthen you in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. As we gather around the word of God, as we just sit as we be still, you know, know, we welcome each and every one of you. Thank you for everybody that is just jumping online tonight.
Speaker 2:Wherever you are, in the mighty name of jesus christ, let's get straight into the scriptures. We're going to get straight in. We're going to go to the gospel of mark. We're going to go into mark chapter 2. So grab yourself a bible, let's get into mark chapter 2 and let's just get moving. So, once again, we thank you to everybody in the world of podcast. Thank you so much for joining us this evening on camera. Whoever you are across the other side of the world, you know on radio, wherever you are right now, in the glorious name of jesus christ, as we gather for scriptures, we gather for the word. You know, let's just rest in his presence and may god strengthen you and bless you and fill you to the full measure. In jesus name. We we're coming right now to communion in about 30 minutes time but we're coming right now to the Gospel of Mark Gospel of Mark, chapter 2, and we're going to pick it up from verse 1. And we're just going to take it down. We'll see how far we go, we'll see how far we go down, you know, and we'll see what's going on. But this is a really interesting text, you know. Know, we might have breezed over it. You know, we've studied it quite a few times here and we've looked at it quite a few times as well. Uh, but what I find absolutely fascinating with the word of god, it is, uh, it's really really, uh, really important. You know, just to keep, keep the word of god in your spirit, in your heart, in your mind and, uh, as you are watching, as you are listening and wherever you are, we, we just pray that the word of God will just strengthen you and carry you tonight. And thank you so much to everybody in the world of radio, thank you to everybody in the world of podcasts, thank you to everybody on live stream through camera.
Speaker 2:As we always say, you know, we like to spend a bit of time at the beginning. We like to spend a bit of time just saying thank you to everybody and, as you can see on the screens, if anybody you know uh can support us through prayer, anyone can support us through finances, we'd be absolutely amazed. Here at the church you know everything we do for the church no one is on wages, no one gets paid. Nothing like that actually goes on in the house. You know we all work outside of the ministry and uh, that's how we bring the pennies in. But if there is anyone out there that could help us towards the electric bill, we would be absolutely, uh, appreciating you so much. But to welcome you again and we are going to go straight in. I know I spend a bit of time and I know I keep repeating myself, but we can see the stats climbing. And then this is for people that are just coming in and we want to say god bless you right now, in the mighty name of jesus. We want to say thank you to all those people that have been emailing in as well, wherever you are, and we've been picking up many, many emails, and all over the world. It's amazing to read the emails that are coming in, the encouragement. So god bless you right now, in the glorious name of jesus.
Speaker 2:But we're going to get into this message now and we we're in Mark, chapter two. Mark, chapter two, verse one let's go, and this is about. This is about so much, and I pray, whatever you are looking at in your life, you will draw so much from this. Now, when we look in verse one, it says in a few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. So many gathered, many gathered, and there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came bringing to him a paralytic, carrying on four of them from the corners. Since there was no room to get to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and after digging through it, they lowered the mat and the man that was lying on that. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic Son your sins are forgiven.
Speaker 2:Now what can we get from this text? There is a lot to get from this text, but what I just want to hang around in at the moment. So, wherever you are at this moment in time, we just pray that the Word of God, the presence of the Holy Spirit, that the glory of God and the love of Jesus will be in your life. And however you look at life, whatever lens you use at this moment to gauge life, I pray that you will pick up the Word of God and you will feel the love of God through the Scripture, through the power of the word and wherever you are situated tonight. If you are lonely tonight, we pray that loneliness will go. If you are fearful tonight, we pray that fear will go. If you are doubtful tonight, we pray that doubt will go.
Speaker 2:At the name of Jesus, do you need a healing tonight? You know, stretch out to Christ. Do you need peace in your life? Do you need guidance? Do you need a new beginning? Are you stretching out like never before before? God, because God hears your prayers, he sees your tears and God is with you on the other side of the world, whether you're local to this studio, whether you're just around the corner or whether you're on the other side of the world. God hears your voice, god loves you and God is with you wherever you are.
Speaker 2:But it says in verse one of Mark, chapter two a few days later, jesus again entered into Capernaum and the people that was with him, heard that he had come home.
Speaker 2:So many gathered there was no room left, not even outside of the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came bringing to him a paralytic. You know, this is really, really important to me and wherever you are now, verse 4, this is where we want to hang around, since they could not get to Jesus because of the crowd. I think that there are many, many of us. There are many believers across the world. I believe that there are many Bible-believing, spirit-filled believers that have a certain crowd around our lives and are stopping us to get into Jesus, trying to get in our way. So you've got Christ. Try and picture this. You've got Christ. He's in this house. You can't get to Jesus because there is a crowd around Jesus. Now, what I find absolutely fascinating if you go further down the text the crowd was not always for Jesus. Now, what I find absolutely fascinating if you go further down the text the crowd was not always for Jesus. So, as you just throw your eyes, if you just look down a little bit further, it tells us.
Speaker 2:It says now, some teachers of the law were sitting there thinking to themselves why does this fellow talk like that. He is blaspheming. Who can forgive sins? But God alone. So just because there is a crowd, now where do we get a crowd? We get a crowd in religion. We get a crowd at church. We get a crowd through ministry. We get a crowd through ministers. We get a crowd through the worship band. We get a crowd. We've got to be very careful of the crowd, because just because there is a crowd around Jesus, just because there are a lot of people at church, just because they're down the front, just because they're jumping up and down and they're doing what they're doing, doesn't mean to say that they understand who Jesus is. Because when you look at these law givers, if you look at this scripture here, verse 6, it says Now some teachers of the law were sitting there thinking to themselves why does this fellow talk like that? They didn't even know who Jesus was. How can you forgive sins? It can only be God alone.
Speaker 2:What I find absolutely profound is, when you look at these scriptures, whether you're in a large church, small church, wherever you are, we are always and we are surrounded by a crowd. We've got to be extremely careful of the crowd of people that we keep in contact with. You've got to be careful of the people that are around you. Now. I love this text because this shows us that there are four people in this paralyzed man's life that was willing to capture the corner of his life. They grabbed his mat, they got hold of his mat and they carried him to the presence of Jesus. This is what we need. We need people around us Now. We only need four, four. These four people were strong enough. They were bold enough to carry this man on his mat. You know the mat of life. That mat represents so much Wherever you are in your life.
Speaker 2:Now we have two areas of this text going on. We have an eyewitness account from five different people. We got the man on the mat and you got the four that are sitting Sorry, not sitting. You got the man sitting on the mat and you got the four that are carrying the four corners of the mat. Now they are really interested in getting to Jesus. Now the crowd was interested in getting to Jesus, but just because they're interested doesn't mean to say it is for the right reason. The four that was carrying the man on the mat, their understanding was to get this person that really needs Jesus. We've got to get him past the crowd.
Speaker 2:Now, it doesn't matter how big the church is, it doesn't matter how large the ministry is, and I would say like this sometimes, the bigger the congregation, the more we get lost in the crowd. Now we understand what it's like to be at a sports venue, a music venue, somewhere out in the evening where it's absolutely packed. You get lost in the noise of the crowd. We need to be extremely careful that we don't get lost in the noise of religion, in the noise of ministry, in the noise of life, in the noise of the crowd. We've got to make sure that. Why and how we get to Jesus? Why do I want to get to Jesus?
Speaker 2:Why was these people gathering around Jesus? You've got the lawgivers, and who was a lawgiver you know? When you look at the Gospel of John, you know who was that lawgiver. Jesus says Nicodemus. You know the law, you are Israel's teacher, but you don't know what you should be doing. You must be born again.
Speaker 2:So, just because there is a crowd around Jesus, just because the church is banging with people, just because the church is filled up, just because it might be whatever it might be you know a large denomination in London just because it's a warehouse church and it's packed and it's rammed to the rafters, it doesn't mean and it's not necessarily saying that they're there to worship the Jesus. As we serve, we've got to be extremely careful who is around Jesus. Why are we gathering at church? What is the point of these large congregations? Do we go to a church because like begets, like the bigger the crowd, the bigger the ministry, the bigger Jesus is? That is not true. That is absolutely not true.
Speaker 2:When you look at these scriptures, it is very, very important to understand that when we read the word of God, god through Christ, through the Holy Spirit, speaks to the individual. In many, many areas of the text, christ speaks directly to Thomas. The windows were locked, the doors were bolted down because of the fear of the outside environment and it says Jesus came and he stepped back through the room and he said to Thomas peace, be with you. The crowd. Just because there is a crowd doesn't mean to say that they're there for the right reasons. Just because the church is filled to the rafters doesn't mean to say that they're there for the right reasons. Just because the church is filled to the rafters doesn't mean to say that they're there for the right reasons, just because it is brimming over, just because you can't get in the church and that you can't get through the door, you can't get through the window, just because there are an amount of people. I want to tell you this tonight be careful of the crowd. Just because it's a crowd doesn't mean to say that it's right.
Speaker 2:The best place that you will ever get to in your life, in your individual walk with Christ, the best place you'll ever find yourself, is in the garden of Gethsemane. There's no crowd, it's just me, jesus, it is me, jesus, god, it is me. Jesus, god, holy Spirit. That is all we need is the deity, the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit. The greatest experience we will ever have is alone time with Jesus, because we need to be careful of the crowd of life. The crowd was around the house. You couldn't get through the windows, you couldn't get through the door. Jesus was obstructed. No one could. Really. They was on the outside.
Speaker 2:Do you ever feel like you're on the outside and you want to get to Jesus? But the outside world, the work situation, the family situation, relationship situations, children, ministry, money, finances, relationship situations, children, ministry, money, finances, work, commitment time I can't get to jesus. Do you ever feel that there is a crowd in your life and you are struggling to get to the king? Do you ever find that there are times in your life when you really want to get to jesus but the crowd is so strong? And we got to be careful of the crowd, because when there is a crowd, the mass crowd, you know, you know what it's like when there's a stampede, when something goes wrong in a stadium, the crowd can be devastating. The crowd can carry you along. Have you ever experienced a large crowd?
Speaker 2:You can't go the opposite way to a crowd when you're in a sports stadium. When you're in a sports stadium, when you're in a music festival, when even you're in a loud, you know a large gathering of people, when you're shoulder to shoulder, you have to go the way of the mainstream. We can't go the same way as the mainstream. But when I get caught in the crowd in the festival, when I get caught in a crowd at sports, when I get caught in the crowd in the festival, when I get caught in the crowd at sports, when I get caught in a crowd in a club, when I get caught in a crowd of church, when I'm shoulder to shoulder to someone next to me, someone is at the front of me, someone is behind me, the crowd is around me. What will happen? I will go the direction of the crowd. That is so dangerous. I cannot be carried along by the crowd.
Speaker 2:We've heard stories there are studies out there in many areas of disasters where the crowd has pushed so hard that people have lost their lives because the crowd has carried them and the crowd has done what the crowd has actually crushed them. We've got to be so careful that we don't allow the crowd to carry us and crush us in the environment. We've got to make sure that who we are in Christ, we don't need the crowd. What we need is Jesus Christ. Just because it is a crowd and it is jumping up and down, just because they say it's revival, doesn't mean to say that it's revival Just because the church is packed to the rafters and just because the church is bouncing, do I bounce just so I match the crowd? How many times have we been in a large congregation or a convention or some form of area of worship and everyone else is worshipping? What do I do? I follow the crowd and I follow the environment rather than following the rhythm of my heart and following Jesus.
Speaker 2:We sometimes get in a crowded place and, through embarrassment, through uncertainty, we'll just do what everybody else is doing. So when you're in a sports venue, when you're in a place where there is a vast amount of people, you cannot go the opposite way to the crowd. You get carried along, and there are many studies, we've seen it, we know there are many out there. When the crowd starts to move, you have to go with the crowd. When they let a crowd out of a sports arena or out of any situation, when it's over the X amount of people, you cannot go the opposite way. That's like religion, that's like life, that's like the world, that's even like social media, the crowd of social media. But then we say, well, actually, pastor Ben, I'm actually at home on my own, but actually we might be in a room on our own, we might be at work on our own, we might be sitting down just scrolling through the phone, but actually the social media crowd is carrying us because it herds us. So when you look at herding, herding cattle and animals is a very interesting thing. You know, the farmer guides, the farmer guides. Now, this is what happens in religion. This is what happens in the political agenda. This is what happens in many areas of life. The leaders gather the amount of animals, the leaders gather the amount of people and what they do. They dictate to what the environment looks like and they shape the crowd, they shape the herd to what is happening in the environment. That is exactly what politics do. It tries to shape us and it shapes us and religion.
Speaker 2:Are we cloned or are we free? We understand what biological cloning means. We understand in the in the area of science. We understand what biological cloning means. We understand in the area of science. We understand what biological cloning is. But what we've got to remind ourselves is I was not meant to be cloned.
Speaker 2:There are many people in church that have been cloned and literally are in an occult. We have to ask ourselves is the denomination, is the church I'm in, the fellowship that I walk in? Is it freeing Christ Jesus or is it more like an occult? Are we dressing the same? Are we looking the same? Are we walking the same? Are we all going the same way? We should not be looking the same in church. We are all individuals, we are all blessed and highly favoured. We are every way, in which way completely different to each and every one of us. But when you look at certain religions, when you look at culture, when you look at certain areas of life, what we find is there is a cloning going on, there is a doctoring going on and I'll use that word at this moment in time, but I will change that word right now. We go from doctoring to a brainwashing. You've got to be careful that you are not brainwashed. I am not brainwashed by the denomination, by the leaders of the church. Brainwashing us gets us to do what it makes us go with the crowd.
Speaker 2:When you look at a sports venue, when you look at sports arenas, when you look at certain areas of life, that one of the biggest areas of cloning what we find is very, very easy to see on social media. Social media is a very interesting way, by the way that it clones us. We think we're on our own, we think we're at home, we think we're at work. We're scrolling through the devil's playground, all the social networks we're scrolling through, but what's actually happening? The platform that we are on, it is us. It is bringing us to a place to conform to what is happening. You know it's trending around the world, so it's trending. So if it's trending, I want to be caught up in that trend. I want to drive that car because it's trending. I want to wear them trainers because it's trending. What happens is we've got to be careful, because social media will brainwash you and bring you to a place where you can be herded. We are not and we have not been created to be herded. We have been created to be complete, distinct and individual.
Speaker 2:So when you look at sporting arenas, when you look at large gatherings in religion, religion is a very dangerous place. It clones and it shapes and it dictates. So when you look at the scripture that we're in here, let's get back to the word. So we are in the gospel of Mark, chapter two, and I want to pick it back up now, where we was looking, and it says some men were carrying a man on the mat. They had four corners. They picked it up, they carried him, but they could not get to Jesus because of the crowd.
Speaker 2:Just because the church is brimming over, just because the church is banging and making a noise, it doesn't mean to say that the crowd is going for Jesus. We've got to be extremely careful about the crowd that we keep company with, because the crowd could lead us in the wrong direction again. Let's use that analogy. When you look at a sporting venue, when you look at certain areas of large gatherings of people, you have to go out that exit. You come in this way, you walk that way. You can't go against the crowd. Now, this is very, very. When you try to go the opposite direction of the crowd, you will find yourself beating yourself against the wall, a human wall. You can't go the opposite way. And so often, when there's a stampede and when there's a crowd and it starts to pick up momentum, what happens? It can pick you up and carry you and you have to walk the same direction as the crowd.
Speaker 2:I want to encourage you tonight get out of the crowd and follow Jesus. Just because the church and the ministry says ABC doesn't mean to say that they are following the word of God. When you look at this scripture here, it says the crowd was stopping these five people get to Jesus. There is always a crowd gathered around Jesus trying to stop us getting to the living word of God. I want to encourage you tonight, wherever you are, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, to be braggadocious, to be wild, to be crazy for Jesus.
Speaker 2:Get out of the crowd of the large denomination, get out of that large auditorium of people and be a unique, bible-believing believer. Let the world see you're different. Let the world see that you love Jesus. It's not about being in the crowd, it's about being unique and telling the world I love Jesus. I love Jesus. I believe in the word. His word is yes and amen. He is the great I am. He is Jehovah Jireh, jehovah Nissi, jehovah Shalom. He is my healer, he is my God. You know, brother and sister, wherever you are across the world, we welcome you tonight in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
Speaker 2:For those that are joining us on RB Christian Radio, we thank you so, so much. For those that are on the camera tonight, may god bless you in the name of jesus. For those you know that are downloading all this stuff, god bless you in the world of podcasts. But I want to encourage you to leave church. Yes, the pastor said leave church, because church will entrap you and the crowd of church. Be careful of the crowd of people. The larger the crowd, the more dangerous it is.
Speaker 2:I want to encourage you to get yourself a Bible, wherever you are tonight, get yourself the greatest book the world has ever seen. There's no other religion that has a book like this. This book is jammed, this book is packed. It is power, it is supernatural, it is the word of God. When you look at this book, it has been written over 1,496 years. It has been written 66 books, 40 different authors. It has been written on the run. It has been written in prison. When you look at this book, it is such a powerful book. It is beyond human understanding, it is beyond science, it is beyond religion, it is beyond physics. It is the greatest book. If you want to live a life that is powerful, that is different to the crowd of life and religion, live by the greatest instruction book the world has ever seen. But when you pick this up in verse 4, we're coming to the table. We're going to break bread in just a few moments. We're going to take it a cup tonight, but we welcome you wherever you are. Verse four of Mark, chapter two Since they could not get to him, get to Jesus, because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof.
Speaker 2:I want to be around people like this that are willing to carry me when I'm tired and I'm weary, I'm exhausted, I can't walk. Just because, uh, this man was on this mat wasn't gonna stop the four people in his life getting him to jesus christ. Make sure that there are people in your life. You don't need the crowd, you don't need the social media. Uh, fake name it and claim it people what you need. You don't need the social media. Fake name it and claim it people what you need. You don't need the plastic Christians. What you need is brothers and sisters that will stand on the word of God and carry you in the name of Jesus Christ. You do not need those plastic, artificial people that are around each and every one of us. What we need are people that will carry us when I'm weary and I'm tired.
Speaker 2:Isn't it interesting when we are paralyzed? You know, I might be fit, I might be well, but I can get paralyzed by fear, I can get paralyzed by doubt, and what I mean by being paralyzed? It stops my journey, it stops me moving forward in life, it holds me in a certain arena, it keeps me in a certain position. So just because I'm fit and I'm well and I can walk doesn't mean to say that all is well. I might be paralyzed in my emotion. I might be paralyzed in my thinking. Fear might paralyze me. I might be walking forward, generally left foot in front of the right foot, but it doesn't mean to say that the journey that I'm walking is correct. So we can be paralyzed on the mat anywhere in our lives and we've got to make sure that there are just a handful of people four people that has our back. When we're paralyzed Because it's interesting, when you're like a man with five arms, frying money around, lighting the cigar of life, driving nice cars, you've got notoriety.
Speaker 2:Everybody wants to be your friend. But when you're on the mat of trouble, when you're on the mat of despair, isn't it interesting that there's no one to help you get off your sickbed? It's great. It's great. Social media is the biggest place to find fake people. They'll put you up this, they'll put you up that, but trust me, when it hits the fan, when it hits the fan, when it hits the road, when the rubber hits the road, you'll be very interested to know that there'll be hardly anybody that will send you a message. When you're down on your luck, when you're down on your back foot, it's really, really clear. You find out who's for you and who's not for you. When the sun is out, the barbecues are going good, you've got money all around you. It's very, very interesting to see that everybody wants to be your friend.
Speaker 2:But when you're paralysed on your mat, we're coming to the table now. Do you feel that you're paralysed on your mat, the mat of life, the mat of fear, the mat of doubt, the mat of uncertainty, and you're desperate to get to Jesus? But there's a crowd and I can't get through the crowd. I don't have the strength, I don't have the capability, I don't have the energy, I don't have the thinking capacity because I'm on the mat of trouble. I pray tonight that there will be people in your life that will carry you to Jesus when you're weary, when you're exhausted.
Speaker 2:It's very interesting that there are so many fake people out there across the globe, in many areas of life, just because you have a great following on social media. Are they really your friends? If you was to find yourself down on it tonight, on the mat of trouble, who would actually help you? Who would wrap everything up and come and carry you and get you to the destination? See, these four people were critical in this man's life. We need to make sure that we got critical people in our lives.
Speaker 2:It's so, so, so important that we understand that we come to this position of understanding who is in our lives. Are they bringing me value or are they just the devil's playground of social media? Fake, you know, plastic people. Don't surround yourself with plastic people. Surround yourself with someone that will carry you when the chips are down.
Speaker 2:Get yourself in the scripture. Find a place and also find a place where you know, when you're on the mat, you can get through life with no one around you. Find that place when, I mean, you've just got the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Don't rely on social media situations to rescue you when the trouble is at the front door. Social media is the devil's playground.
Speaker 2:The Word of God is the place to find freedom. If you need freedom tonight, if you need change in your life, if you need to get up off of the mat, get in the scripture. There is no other way but the word of God. The word of God is without error. The word of God is yes and amen. The word of God is freedom. The word of God is life. The word of God is hope. The word of God is power. The Word of God is so supernatural it is beyond human reasoning. Wherever you are across the world, we are striking almost. We're just about to hit 845 and we are going to listen to the Lord's Prayer Straight. After the Lord's Prayer, we are going to go straight to the table, grab yourself a bit of bread, grab yourself a bit of juice and we're going to break bread together tonight. But, brother and sister, wherever you are, don't get caught in the crowd. Stand alone, stand alone. It's best to stand alone than to be carried by the crowd of life. God bless.
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, 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.
Speaker 2:Amen dear god and heavenly father, we come to you tonight, lord, and we don't want to be caught in the crowd, lord. We don't want to be caught in the crowd of church. We don't want to be caught in the crowd of work. We don't want to be caught in a crowd of education. We don't want to be caught in a crowd of church. We don't want to be caught in a crowd of work. We don't want to be caught in a crowd of education. We don't want to be caught in a crowd of family. We don't want to be caught in a crowd of social media. We don't want to be caught in a crowd of fake situations. Lord, we want to be found just in the presence of Jesus. So, lord, I ask you, father, for each and every one of us tonight, lord, so many people gathering on social media with us, so many people gathering right now on the camera, so many people gathering you know that's listening on RB, christian Radio. May God bless you, but let's break bread together. You know the clock is against us. You know we got about 13 minutes before. You know we turn into another little fairy and a pumpkin tonight. I won't tell you which one's going to be which in the name of Jesus, but let's break bread together tonight in the name of Jesus, father. As we come to the table tonight, lord, we thank you for the power of the word of God and right now, lord, we break bread together as brothers and sisters born again, spirit-filled, braggadocious, crazy believers for Jesus Christ. We love you, god, and we worship you. Bless this bread in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. We love you, god, and we worship you. Bless this bread in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Speaker 2:We do this every service online in the house. It's not because it is a religious act. It is because the Bible tells us, exodus, chapter 12, thousands of years ago, nothing to do with the church. What we are doing breaking bread and taking of the cup yes, the church does it, but the church and religion has changed it and made it into a manipulative, controlling element of religion. When Jesus said do it as often as you gather together in my name, break bread and take it a cup, if you have ever been rejected sorry, my voice is going. My words are slurry. I've been talking all day long. My words are slurry. I've been talking all day long If you have been rejected by religion, breaking bread and taking the cup, get your suitcase and get out of that church in the name of Jesus Christ. You can go and sit in a field, you can sit in the transit van, you can sit on a scaffold, you can sit at your desk, you can sit on the edge of your bed, you can sit anywhere in the world and break bread.
Speaker 2:So, father, we thank you for the bread that symbolizes the body of christ and right now, lord, father, we take this cup and, lord, will you cleanse us from the crown of our head to the soul of our feet? In the name of jesus? Lord, I'm a sinner saved by grace, but, lord, I thank you that I am born again, and the gift of being born again comes from above. It can't be given by religion, it can't be given by church, it can only be given by God. So tonight, lord, I thank you that we have been given and you have deposited the gift of faith in our hearts, in the name of Jesus. But as I'm here, lord, I pray that you'll cleanse me by the blood of Jesus, from the crown of my head to the sole of my feet, in Jesus' precious name, amen. Do you know what? Wherever you are across the world. I want to encourage you before Alex brings a prayer, before we come to a close tonight. I really want to encourage you To possibly leave the large church that you're in and don't get caught in the crowd and find Jesus. Find Jesus and then go back to church. If you are in a church and that whole crowd and that whole crowd is being led to Jesus, hallelujah. But what is your church doing? What is that ministry doing? What is happening in that organization? We have to be very careful of church, because church is an organization. It has a charitable status. It is and it always will be connected to number 10 downing street when it has a charitable status.
Speaker 2:Sister and brother, I pray that wherever you are across the world, I want to encourage you to back out of church for a while. Grab yourself a Bible, have some time with Jesus Christ on your own, even if you have to leave the church. Tell the pastors and the leaders I'm going to have a few weeks away. I'm going to go and study the word, I'm going to pray, I'm going to fast, I'm going to seek Jesus and you should have the backing of your church. If they are a Bible believing church, they will not stop you from doing that. They will encourage you to go and spend some time with Jesus. I want to encourage you to spend time with Jesus Christ through the word of God, wherever you are across this world.
Speaker 2:Don't get caught in the crowd. Be found in the garden of Gethsemane. You know praying that prayer. Lord, give me the will, show me the way. Lord. Lord, I ask you that you will strengthen me and carry me for the next part of my journey, because the crowd won't give you the strength, the crowd will not help you with your journey. Let me put it like this the crowd of religion, the crowd of life, the crowd of culture, the crowd of family, the crowd of business, the crowd of church. You know, the larger the crowd, is that crowd taking you in the right direction for Jesus Christ?
Speaker 2:I have to ask this question Is the crowd of church taking you to the cross? Every time I go to church? I've got to see the cross. I've got to be able to go to the cross. Every time I'm in church, I've got to be able to break bread. I've got to be able to break bread. I've got to be able to take it. A cup, I've got to be able to take it a cup, whether I'm at home. If you are at home, you can take the cup and you can break bread. You don't need to be in church. The crowd doesn't necessarily say that it's pointing to the cross of calvary. We want to encourage you now. Alex is just going to lead us in the prayer, as he always does, and then I will, uh, back us out of this service. We've got to be out of here at nine o'clock because at nine o'clock we're going to turn into two pumpkins, so we've got to get out. In the name of jesus, alex, will you please pray?
Speaker 4:yes, well, I have got something else before we go start praying. It's a challenge for us today. As a believer, we are willing to dig deep into our faith, push through obstacles and bring others to jesus, as we are ready to trust in his power. Heal the hidden words into our hearts, not just visible struggles in our lives. Let's be like those four friends willing to break through the elderly and boundaries. Let's choose faith over fear and believe that when Jesus says your sins are forgiven, he means that, with all authority, are in heaven. Let us pray, lord, lift everyone that are not well and please bring them to comfort and let them know we're by their side. Let it heal their hearts and calm their worries. Let them feel the love you're pleased. Mind them that you're never alone. Please give us all the strength that everyone needs and be guidance to your heart, in Jesus' name, amen.
Speaker 2:Amen, yes, lord, we emphasize that prayer that Alex has just prayed. Lord, we pray for healing, we pray for guidance, we pray for strength. We pray, dear God, that you will remove us from certain crowds that are going to crush us. So, lord, I ask you tonight, lord, will you keep us wise? Will you keep us sharp, lord, spiritually, will you lead us in paths of righteousness? Father, I would rather be alone and be following Jesus than be in a crowd that is noisy and following the devil's way. So, lord, please, I ask you for every one of us tonight, will you dig on, open our eyes to look that the people around us. What is their intention? What is their purpose? Why do I go to this church? Why am I under this ministry? Is this church go to this church? Why am I under this ministry? Is this church carrying me to jesus, or is it just woke and weak and doesn't have no biblical strength? Lord, put me in a church that has power and authority, because of the word of god is evident in the house. Lord, will you completely cover us in the blood of Jesus? Lord, we need the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our lives, but, lord, help us to leave the crowd of life. Lord, we're tired of being herded. We're tired of walking with the crowd, we're tired of going the same way. We're tired of going the same way, looking the same same color, hair, same walk, same belt, same trainers, same vehicle, same same same.
Speaker 2:Lord, we want to be an individual. We want to stand out for Jesus. We want the world to say what is different about you? Why do you not conform to the pattern of the world? Because you've just said it. The Bible says do not conform to the pattern of the world. Because you've just said it. The Bible says do not conform to the pattern of the world, lord, I do not want to conform to the pattern of culture, to church, to ministry, to education. I do not want to conform to the pattern of the ivory tower I work in. Lord, I want the world to see that I am different, I am unique. There is nobody else like you or me, lord. We do not want to be cloned by life. We do not want to be cloned by culture. We do not want to be cloned by business. We do not want to be cloned by the world. We do not want to be cloned and also dragged along by the crowd and the society. Lord, we do not want to engage in what the world is doing.
Speaker 2:Lord, I want to be found in the presence of the King. Does there anybody? Is there anybody across the other side of the world want to be found in the presence of the power of the God of Israel? Is there anybody on the other side, anybody close to this house tonight? Anybody listening online tonight, today, this morning, whatever your time zone is? Is there anybody out there that just wants to tell the world?
Speaker 2:I am not following the criteria of the devil's playground. I want to follow the King of Kings. I want to follow the Lord of Lords. I want to be distinct. I want to be unique. I want to know that my Redeemer lives and because he lives, I want to face tomorrow.
Speaker 2:I don't want to get caught along by the crowd of society. I don't want to get caught along by the crowd of church. I don't want to get caught on by the crowd of religion. I want to be carried by the presence of the Holy Spirit. I want to be carried by the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. And Lord, I want to be lifted up, lord. What do you mean, ben? I want to be lifted up, just as it says in Psalm 91, verse 11. He will command his angels concerning you so that they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against the rock.
Speaker 2:Father, I cannot afford to get my foot struck upon the rock. Lord, will you send, will you deploy angels concerning us tonight? Will you set the captives free that are weary tonight? Will you, dear God, lead us in paths of righteousness? For the name of Jesus Christ, father, we pray for mental health tonight, that we won't get carried along by mental health. We pray that fear will decrease, that it will melt like wax. We pray that you will lead us in paths of righteousness. For his name's sake, lord, we come against tiredness and worry and doubt. We come against anxiety, lord, we come against all these things of the world.
Speaker 2:Lord, we do not want to get caught in temptation and fear and doubt. We want to be found in the house of the king. We want to be found in the kingdom. Lord, we want to be known, dear God, as Bible-believing believers that we radically believe the Word, that we believe the Word and we live by the Word and we died by the Word and we walked by the Word and we lived our lives by the Word, that we live by the doctrines of grace, we live by the gospel of truth, we live by the sword of the Spirit, by the Word of God, spirit of the Living God, will you carry us, will you melt us, will you mold us, will you shape us, lord, into the vessels you've called us to be? Lord? We want to be different, lord. We want to be seen to be different. We don't want to blend in with those wearing the same suits. We don't want to blend in wearing the same dresses. We don't want to blend in carrying the same suitcase. We don't want to be caught in that culture of that world. We want to be found in the presence of the King.
Speaker 2:Do you want to be found in the presence of Jesus? How do I do that? I get in the scripture. I haven't got to get to church. If anything, I might have to get out of church and get in the word. I want to encourage you.
Speaker 2:We've got less than one minute. Actually, we've got one minute and 10 seconds left before we disappeared tonight. Get yourself a Bible. Get yourself a Bible and start reading. Get into the gospel of John, go into the book of Psalms and read the word of God. Get into the book of Ephesians and then, from Ephesians, go to the book of Joshua and then, once you've gone there, go right into Genesis, chapter 1. Read about creation, creation. Genesis, chapter 1 will tell you about creation, redemption and hope and the power of the word of God. We are getting out of here any moment in the name of Jesus. There is power, there is life.
Speaker 2:We thank you for joining us on the social networks tonight. We thank you for joining us on RB Christian Radio. The music will continue as we click out in a moment. There is something extremely different on radio tonight. Stay in, find us on rbchristianradionet. Go to the website, click in and listen. You know, make yourself a cup of tea, grab yourself a cup of coffee, relax, get yourself a Bible and get into the scripture. May God bless you. We thank you for your support. We love you from the very bottom of our heart. Stand on the word of God in Jesus name.
Speaker 1:God bless Listening to us today on Reverend Ben Cooper's podcast. We hope you found inspiration and guidance in today's audio. Remember the journey of faith is a continuous one and your questions and thoughts are important. You can send us a text or an email and we will get back to you. So, wherever you are around the world, thank you for listening to our podcasts and radio ministry. For more information about our ministry, please find us on pastorbencoopercouk. Please support us with prayer. Also, you can sow a financial seed into this ministry. You can also leave us a legacy to support and continue the work of this radio ministry. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and share it with others who might benefit. Until next time, stay blessed.
