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• Reverend Ben Cooper

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"Your Gethsemane Moment – Finding Strength in Spiritual Solitude"

Podcast: Christian Straight Talk with Rev. Ben Cooper
Episode Theme: Faith Under Pressure | Hope in Hardship | Biblical Mental Health
Primary Scripture: Matthew 26:36–46

📝 Episode Summary:

Welcome to this powerful episode of Christian Straight Talk, where Reverend Ben Cooper brings a timely and emotional message titled “Your Gethsemane Moment – Finding Strength in Spiritual Solitude.” This episode unpacks one of the most intimate and vulnerable moments in Jesus' earthly life: His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Jesus—fully God yet fully man—entered the garden in deep mental, emotional, and spiritual distress. While His heart cried out, “Father, if it is possible, take this cup from me,” His closest friends, the disciples, fell asleep. This gut-wrenching episode isn't just a moment in history—it's a mirror of our own walk through hardship.

Gethsemane means “olive press,” and in this teaching, you'll discover that the pressure of life’s trials produces the oil of purpose and anointing. Whether you're struggling with depression, betrayal, fear, illness, or spiritual exhaustion, this episode offers biblical hope and practical insight to help you overcome. We explore how loneliness, silence from friends, and unanswered questions can all become sacred places where God’s power flows most deeply.

In a world obsessed with feelings and fast answers, this podcast reminds us that sound doctrine—not emotion—is the foundation for spiritual endurance. In many modern churches, hype has replaced holiness. Yet Jesus shows us the power of solitude, surrender, and scripture.

Reverend Ben challenges us to evaluate our spiritual circle. Who’s in your life—friends who spiritually sleep through your pain or those who carry you to Christ like the four faithful friends in Mark 2? This honest reflection will help you realign your relationships and deepen your walk with God.

This episode is a faith-building, scripture-based, spiritually raw conversation that reminds us of this truth: the greatest anointing often flows from our deepest pressing.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

  • The biblical and emotional depth of Jesus' time in Gethsemane
  • How to find strength in solitude and pressure
  • Why emotional experiences in church aren’t enough
  • How to build spiritual resilience through scripture
  • The difference between sleeping disciples and faith-filled friends
  • Real-world application of sound doctrine during spiritual attacks

Take Action:

  • Listen, download, and subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and rbchristianradio.net
  • Share this episode with someone facing spiritual or emotional battles
  • Join us weekly for practical Christian teaching rooted in the Bible


Jesus in Gethsemane, Christian podcast on suffering, mental health and faith, faith during hardship, sound doctrine, Christian encouragement, prayer under pressure, solitude with God, biblical teaching podcast, hope in Christ, Christian discipleship, end times preparation, anointing through pressure, spiritual resilience, walking

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Speaker 2:

Thank you, us a coffee and help keep this ministry thriving. Don't forget to subscribe and find us online at rbchristianradionet. Stay encouraged, stay faithful and know this you are not alone.

Speaker 3:

Good evening. Good evening and welcome to Nights in Bible Study. It's such a joyful to have you with us, wherever you're listening live, or catch up later on, or sitting with your friends or in a small group, just so you know you're welcome with us. Tonight we'll be focusing on God. So far, we're going to do a little prayer before I pass you over to our good friend of mine, ben Lord. Thank you for today. Thank you for helping us throughout the week. Let's hope this week will be helping us through everything we do. Lord, thank you for everything we have done so far to giving us everything we need. We don't know what to do now, but please help us and guide us. Just remember we are always with you. Just don't let us go without anyone. Just remember you're not alone. In Jesus' name, amen.

Speaker 4:

Amen, amen, amen, amen. Thank you, alex. God bless you, wherever you are this evening. We thank you for joining us on RB Christian Radio, for those that are on radio, for those that are on camera, for those that are on the social networks wherever radio, for those that are on radio, for those that are on camera, for those that are on the social networks. Wherever you are joining us right now, may God bless you and strengthen you in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Alex has brought us in and we're going to turn into the New Testament. Wherever you are at this moment in time, it's really really important to understand that God is with you. God is with you wherever you are at this moment, at this hour, whatever your time zone is. Wherever you are across the world, may God encourage you and strengthen you and let the anointing of the Holy Spirit just be over you. You know, but wherever you are across the world, we welcome every one of you. You know we've got vast numbers online at this moment in time. We thank you for joining us on RB Christian Radio. You know, alex will put the link up there. If you want to just dip out of the visuals and just listen to the radio. You can catch us on RB Christian Radio, and also you can catch us on the podcast as well.

Speaker 4:

Everything is recorded. All the services are recorded. You can catch them back on Reverend Ben Cooper's podcast. But thank you to everybody that's behind the camera and wherever you are right now, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. What has your day been like? What is your life looking like? We just pray tonight that you will feel the love of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ is with you wherever you are situated across the world.

Speaker 4:

We're going to turn into the New Testament and for those that are journaling, for those that are making notes, the title of this evening's Bible study is pretty simple Just you and God. That is the title of it. And we're going to go into the book of Matthew. We're going to go into the Gospel of Matthew and we're going to pick it up in Matthew, chapter 26, and we're going to read from verse 36 and I'll take it all the way down to verse 46. So, wherever you are, we want to encourage you tonight to grab yourself a Bible.

Speaker 4:

If you haven't got a paperback version, we can get you a Bible. We'll get you a Bible free wherever you are across the world. Just find us on the social networks. You know you can find us on rbchristianradionet if you come into that and just find the contact and just go all the way through the contact page, fill the page in and, uh, give us your address and we will let you know, uh, when that is arriving. But may god bless you right now, in the mighty name of jesus christ. The power of the holy spirit is with you. But grab yourself a bible. The bible is the greatest book the world has ever seen. And if you need a Bible, as I said, find us on rbchristianradionet and you go straight into the emails, send us a message. You know, hi guys, we need a Bible. Send us your postcode, send us the postal address and we will get you a Bible free. It is free.

Speaker 4:

We have committed ourselves to giving anybody a Bible, wherever they are across the world. I don't know how we do it, but by God's grace that we do it Right. Let's get straight in. Thank you for joining us. And it's a beautiful little bit of scripture in tonight and it's about being alone with God. It's about being alone with God and you know that is the best place to be is to be alone with God and to wrestle in that place, known as the Garden of Gethsemane. When you study the Garden of Gethsemane as the scripture that we're in at this moment in time, you know it is a beautiful piece of scripture.

Speaker 4:

We're reading from verse 36, and we're in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 26. And it starts off and it says when Jesus went with his disciples into a place called Gethsemane and he said to them sit here for a while while I go over there and pray, he took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him and he began to be sorrowed and very sorrowful, depending what translation you're reading from sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them my soul is overwhelmed to the point of death. Stay here and watch with me. Going on a little further, he fell to his face to the ground and prayed and he said there, my father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not my will, but your will be done. And he says.

Speaker 4:

He returned a little bit later on to the disciples and found him sleeping. Could you men not cop? Cop could not keep watch with me for one hour. He asked peter watch and pray so that you do not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak. He went away for a second time and he prayed. He said my father, if it is possible, take this cup from me. Unless I drink it, may your will be done. Then he said. He went back to them again and he found them sleeping because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and he went away one more time, the third time, and he said the same thing when he returned to his disciples and he said to them are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near and the son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us go. Here comes my betrayer. May God bless his word. You know the scriptures are on point tonight. You know this is the hour, this is the moment.

Speaker 4:

Wherever you are across the world, we want to encourage you, as brothers and sisters across the globe, you know, to get yourself a Bible and to get in the arena. We've got to get deep into the scripture If you're looking for healing, if you're looking for miracles, if you're looking for truth. You won't find truth in denominations, you won't find truth in church, you won't find truth in the establishment, what you will find is religion. What I need, what Alex needs, what everyone needs in this house, what everyone needs online and wherever you are across the world, we need the truth. The Bible says you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. The power of the word of God will set you free. The glory of God is there for you tonight, the power of the Holy Spirit. We want to encourage you to get your Bible, open the word up. Go to Psalms. Go to Proverbs. Go to the Gospel of John, psalm 23. Go to Proverbs, chapter 3. Beautiful bit of scripture. Scripture.

Speaker 4:

Do not lean on your own understanding or stay with us tonight in the word of god. But I want to tell you tonight cancer bows to the name of jesus, fear goes to the name of jesus, worry goes, doubt goes, financial stress goes. But we've got to get in the word of god and the issue that we have in the UK is that we don't get in the word enough in the context of church. You know we got happy, clappy stuff. We got secular music that gives us a good feel. You know, gives us a bit of euphoria. We clap and dance and shout about for a few moments.

Speaker 4:

But what we are lacking in the church within the UK is sound doctrine. We need the word of God. Are lacking in the church within the UK is sound doctrine. We need the word of God and I need the word. Alex needs the word, you need the word and we need the holy word of God. There is power in the word of God.

Speaker 4:

So tonight, as we look at this scripture, it clearly tells us that Jesus went into the arena. Jesus went into that lonely place. So often we have got to get into the closet. We got to get into that space where We've got to get into that space where no one else is. You know that sacred space might be your car, it might be the bedroom, it might be sitting in the loo, in the shower, in the bath, wherever it may be. It might be sitting on your porch, it might be sitting in your van, sitting on a scaffold, sitting in front of your desk. You know, find a place where you can sit and you can be still and you can just say dear God, tonight I need you in my life and, lord, I got to go into the garden of Gethsemane.

Speaker 4:

When you look at the garden of Gethsemane, what does it translate? What does Gethsemane mean? It means olive press. And what happens when you press an olive? You get oil. You get oil. When you get pressed, you get anointed. It's very, very interesting. You know, even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff. They comfort me. You know, there's nothing more finer than going through the fiery furnace of life because God has got you.

Speaker 4:

Right now, you might feel that God doesn't and is not in existence. You might feel that God is not around you, that God is not interested in you. You might be struggling to find God. Let me tell you this it's impossible to find him because the Bible says he sits in unapproachable light. No one can see God and live, but God finds us. God is with you wherever you are at this moment in time. Yes, god is with you tonight. You are a born again, you are a bible believing believer and the power of the Holy Spirit is with you. And I honestly believe. Tonight and for whatever may be ahead of you, it is time for us to go into that solitary place, to go into the garden of Gethsemane. Go in alone. You know it says that Jesus took three with him. There are people in your life that will fall asleep on you. There are people in your life that will fall asleep when you're in turmoil.

Speaker 4:

When you look at these scriptures that we are in at this moment in time, it's quite fascinating to find that Jesus Christ was very sorrowful. He was at the point of death. Jesus was experiencing extremities of fear and anxieties. Oh my God, I've been talking all day long. You would never know how long I just chat for, so please excuse me when it comes to this hour of the day, you know when I get tongue tied. Jesus Christ had anxiety. Jesus Christ had I'm going to say this and I've said this before, you know when Christ was in the garden of Gethsemane. I actually believe that when someone is in so much sorrow and has anxiety and is troubled and fearful, obviously it hits the drumbeat. And what is the word Mental health? I actually believe Jesus was in a place, he was in a position in his life where his mind was just literally running away with him. He said, if it is possible, when you study these scriptures, I love the fact that Jesus was brought to a point of sorrow. Jesus was brought to a point of trouble. He was brought to a point of tears, of being fearful and being doubtful. This garden experience is so good for us to read, and I pray for each and every one of us that we will not allow ourselves to be driven by fear and doubt when you look at these scriptures.

Speaker 4:

The bible says that jesus was at the point of sorrow, at the point of death. He reached a point in his life when no one around him could help him. Isn't it interesting that when you look at the life itself, when you are really in trouble, who is there for you? Jesus took three with him and each and every one of them wasn't interested in his life. How do you know that? Because the Bible says that they fell asleep, they were sleeping and they were resting. They wasn't interested in Jesus's life, they wasn't bothered about what jesus was going through.

Speaker 4:

If they wasn't bothered about jesus, I have to understand that there will be people in my life that won't be bothered about when I go through trouble. They will just leave you hanging, they will leave you alone. They won't even know that you're going in trouble. They won't even know because they are looking within themselves. So this is a very important scripture, maybe for many of us tonight, for me, for alex, whoever we are that we understand that just because there are people with you doesn't mean to say that they will be able to stay with you. It doesn't mean to say that they're actually akin to you. Just because there are people with you, they will not recognize the trouble and the fear and the stress that you're going through, and it just shows you that they are no good. These three were no good in this situation and there'll be many people in our lives that will be no good in certain areas and certain times of our lives.

Speaker 4:

What we need to understand is for us to get the full blessing, the full anointing, the full presence, the full understanding of God, we have to go into the arena alone. If you look at Jacob, that great character, jacob we've looked at, we've exposed that before. We've done some expository, preaching, some sermonizing, some podcasting. We've done some deep studies on Jacob. When he went, he pushed his family, he pushed everything of his life on the other side of the brook and he went into the arena with God and he wrestled with God. Let me tell you this just by going to church isn't going to get you what you need. Just by listening to the latest music that we play here isn't going to get you what you need. You know, just because you go to a large church and it is packed out, it doesn't mean to say that you're going to get what you need. The only place you're going to get what you need is in the garden of Gethsemane and in that place of where you literally come to the point of anguish before God.

Speaker 4:

And Jesus cried out if it is possible, take this cup from me. We're coming to the table and as we come to the table later on down the line of the service, this is what Jesus was saying if it's possible, take this cup from me. The cup that he wanted to be taken from him was the cup of redemption. What was the cup of redemption? The cup of redemption was genesis through to revelation, because the bible is about redemption. It is about being redeemed, it is about being brought back, it is about being taken care of by the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit. And Jesus really said if it's possible, take this cup from me, because he knew that he had to fulfill the scriptures and he knew that death was awaiting him. So when you look at this Garden of Gethsemane situation, when you look at this great biblical fact of the Garden of Gethsemane, you find that Jesus is alone.

Speaker 4:

If Jesus is found alone, how much more will I be found alone? You might have people on your social networks. You might have a large family group. You might have a large social network group, you might have friends and colleagues here, there and dotted everywhere. But let me tell you this being pretty brutal when you go into the arena, let me tell you people in your life will turn their back on you. Let me tell you people in your life will turn their back on you when you go into a place. When you go into that place, let me tell you they won't want to go with you. You have to get in the arena with God and yourself. You have to say God right now. See, jesus was in the arena and he was coming to terms with what lies ahead of him in his life. And I want to let you know and I want to encourage you tonight. It is a good place to be is to be alone, but not alone because you're with God. It is a dangerous place to be when there is a crowd of people.

Speaker 4:

We know what we have been watching. We understand what we have been watching and we have seen it very, very clearly. You know what we watched at Glastonbury. We watched the Antichrist watching and we have seen it very, very clearly. You know what we watched at glastonbury we watched the antichrist. You know we watched that antichrist take center stage. We understand what he was saying. You know the world is full of antichrist and he got the crowd chanting. Do not get in a crowd and start chanting what the that person is doing up on the main stage. You know it is so interesting what is happening in the sporting arena, in the music arenas, in the business arenas, in the educational arenas, in the arena of church as well. Let me tell you this do not chant what the antichrist is chanting.

Speaker 4:

You need to extract yourself from the crowd and it is better to be alone for a while and to be alone as in not have anyone with you, but have the father, the son, the Holy spirit, because when you get to that position in your life, when you get on your knees, when you get in that, to that posture of prayer, because it is the power of prayer, it is the power of the word of God, it is the power of scripture. When you speak scripture over your life, when you pray the living word of god over your life and you speak that word over your life, through your life, around your life, and you allow that word to to soak into you, you know, get out of psalm 23, psalm 91, proverbs, the beautiful book of proverbs, the beautiful book of john you. It is really important tonight that we immerse ourselves in the Holy Word of God. God said to Joshua, joshua, chapter one. He says meditate on the word day and night. Do not let this book of the Lord depart from your mouth. It is critical that the Word of God does not depart from your mouth. It is critical that the word of God sits on the tablet of your heart. It is critical at this stage of your life that you immerse yourself in the holy word of God.

Speaker 4:

If you are looking for healing, it is scripture. If you are looking for a miracle, it is scripture. If you are looking for mental health to go, it is scripture. If you are looking for financial breakthrough, it is scripture. If you are looking for guidance in your life, it is scripture. If you are looking for financial breakthrough, it is scripture. If you are looking for guidance in your life, it is scripture. If you are looking for peace, it is scripture. We understand what I am saying. It will only be the holy word of God that will get you to your destiny. It is very interesting.

Speaker 4:

Christ went into the garden of Gethsemane. He didn't take no musicians with him. He didn't take no pastors. He didn't take no leaders. He didn't take anyone with him. He didn't take the latest strapline off of social media, he didn't take the latest hashtag. He just went into the garden of Gethsemane and he prayed. When there is prayer in the arena, you know, prayer is powerful. Prayer breaks the the yoke and I need to encourage you tonight to get hold of the word of god, as it says very clearly. You have not because you ask not. God is waiting, god is leaning in, god is with you tonight. You know, in the olive press in the garden of gethsemane, jesus was pressed. And when you get pressed, what happens? When the olive gets pressed, you get oil. What is oil in the word of God? Oil is anointing. When the press comes, it's very, very upside down the kingdom of God. According to the world, it's an upside down kingdom when you look at what's happening, the more of the press that is on you, the greater the anointing will flow. You know, when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.

Speaker 4:

What we are lacking in the UK churches? We are lacking sound doctoring. We have pink, we have woke and we have such a soft church in the UK. What we are waiting for is God to raise up, to rise up preachers and teachers of destiny, preachers and teachers that will lead us in the word of God. We are waiting. You know, the UK is in the worst position it's ever been within the church in its entire history because we have weakness in the church. We have wokeness in the church. We have desensitized everything and the word of God is lacking. We are even lacking true worship. We are even lacking biblical worship. We have very interesting worship and we play it here. We're all guilty of listening to it and playing it and listening to it. What we are guilty of is not listening to sound doctrine. When you listen to the worship that we have today, it takes us to a good place, it takes us to a place of euphoria, it takes us to an emotional place.

Speaker 4:

But what hymns do and what psalms do? They take us to a place where our spirit gets fed. You know, it is very difficult to find a piece of music this day and age that will actually feed your spirit. What the Word does? The Word feeds your spirit. The Word feeds the spirit, music feeds the flesh. So it's very interesting.

Speaker 4:

Christ did not take any musicians into the garden. He didn't take pastors. He didn't take pastors, he didn't take leaders. He just walked into the garden of Gethsemane and he cried out to the God of Israel. You know, it is time that we cry out, especially here within the UK, that the church cries out to God like never before. You know, forget everything else. I pray that God will strip every church back. God will strip every congregation back. God will strip everything back, right back to the fundamental points of Christianity, the true doctrines of grace.

Speaker 4:

We need doctrine. We need clean, sound preaching of doctrine from pulpits. We have very interesting words that are coming out across pulpits and what we are finding is that we are having Bible. We are finding where we've got Bible believing believers here within the UK that we are suffering like we've never suffered before. We are suffering mental health, we are suffering fear, we are suffering anxiety is this. Is this because god is not real? No, it is because the church hasn't prepared us for such a spiritual battle that we are in now. We have never seen such a spiritual battle here within the uk and very possibly global. Wherever you are and wherever you're listening to at this moment in time, I actually believe that we are in such a severe spiritual battle. The heavenly realms are warring, but what we're going to remember is that the battle belongs to the lord. But what has happened? The uk church has not prepared us for this spiritual battle that is on the shores of the uk. We have not been prepared in the church. We have been taken down the woke avenue. We've been taken down the pink avenue. We've been taken down the soft avenue. We've been taken down the not the Bible avenue. We've been given, other words, we've been given people.

Speaker 4:

You find a lot of preachers and a lot of teachers. I'll use the word preachers just for the quickness of explanation. A lot of teachers. I'll use the word preachers just for the the quickness of explanation. We find that many people behind pulpits on sundays and leading services are very well educated. We don't need education, we need spiritual. We need spiritual food. What we do not need is this is an academic exercise and we are finding that people are giving us an academic exercise through the scripture and we are not being led spiritually through the scripture. What we need is to be fed through the word of God. So when you look at these scriptures that we're in, it says Jesus Christ. He says my soul is overwhelmed. Jesus Christ hit points of anxiety. Jesus hit points where he was so worried, he was so fearful. The Bible says that he was sweating droplets of blood.

Speaker 4:

The garden of Gethsemane took Jesus. I actually call it we've done a podcast on it, we've done lots of stuff on this I'll call it the 50-50. The 50-50 garden. Is Jesus going to go through with it or is Jesus going to walk away? When you look at what Jesus says if it is possible, take this cup from me. That cup is the cup of redemption. That cup is the cup, the third cup, that was at the Passover table. That cup was the fulfillment of the shedding blood of Jesus Christ. And he said if it is possible, take this cup from me. So you can almost look at this. That Christ was saying I don't want to go to the cross. Is there another way, but not my will, your will be done. So you find that Christ was in the 50 50 garden, the 50 50 position. If there is another way, let's do it, but if there's not, if it's your will that has got to be executed, let's do.

Speaker 4:

You know, it's very, very interesting when you study the strain on christ, when you study the anxiety on jesus, when you study the fear that was on jesus, because when you look at these scriptures, it says very clearly he took peter and he took his two sons of zebedee along with him, and it says he began to be sorrowful and troubled and he said my soul is overwhelmed with so much sorrow, to the point of death. Christ is explaining the extremities of anxiety and mental health. I have reached the point where I can't go on anymore and if you, god, do not minister to me and help me, I ain't going to make it. Has anybody got themselves in that position before, where you are? So, in that place of the extremities of fear and doubt and anxiety, if God doesn't show up, it is time to close the curtain. I want to tell you tonight that the God that I serve, the God of Isaac, jacob and Abraham, the God of Israel, the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, the God of the Word of God, the God of the creation, the God of all things. You know he is El Shaddai, he is Jehovah Jireh, he is Jehovah Nissi.

Speaker 4:

You know, the Garden of gethsemane brought jesus christ to a position of prayer. Prayer is life-changing. Prayer changes everything. Prayer changes me. Prayer busts the wall down. Prayer opens doors. Prayer closes doors. Prayer strengthens us. When you look at christ in the garden of gethsemane, he was in this position and he was crying out to the God of Israel. If it is possible, is there anything in your life that you are crying out tonight? Lord, take it away from me. Lord, take it away. If there's another way, god, if there's a way out, is there an escape route? Is there another way out of this situation? And it's very interesting.

Speaker 4:

God did not speak in the garden of Gethsemane Because there was silence in the garden. When you think about this silence in the garden, no word. Jesus just said if it's possible, if it's possible, can you take this from me and you're listening for God to reply. God, I'm praying. I'm in the Garden of Gethsemane, my back is against the wall, my head is all over the place. I've got mental health issues today. I can't find peace today. If it is possible, god, take this from me. Is there another way? Silence in the garden. Imagine that being in the garden of Gethsemane and you're Christ and you know that the Scriptures have got to be fulfilled. You know that the Word of God has got to be completed, you know that the Scriptures have got to be fulfilled and you're crying out to the Almighty Father. If it's possible, take it from me. Let me tell you this god gives us strength in the face of adversity. God gives us strength in the face of adversity.

Speaker 4:

When daniel, when daniel was put in the lion's den, daniel was a man of prayer. Daniel was a man of prayer, daniel was a man of devotion. And when you look at Daniel's life, daniel was betrayed. Have you been betrayed in your life? Daniel was surrounded by uncountable people the satraps, the majesties, the ones that he worked with, people that he walked with every day. The king Daniel had so many people around his life, but they threw him under the bus. Just because you've got a crowd around you doesn't mean to say they're for you, because Daniel found out who his friends was when trouble came into the arena. And isn't it interesting that Daniel's friends, daniel's work colleagues, daniel's associates got Daniel in trouble, so the human beings in his life wanted to take his life.

Speaker 4:

I find it absolutely fascinating that you can have human beings in your life and they could be work colleagues, they could be family, they could be friends, just like daniel in daniel, chapter 6, when it talks about daniel and the lion's den. Daniel was surrounded by humanity, work colleagues, the king, society, culture, and they wanted, wanted to see Daniel put to death. See, daniel was a man of prayer and when you're someone of the word and there is a marker on your life, when you have been sealed with the fire and the Holy Spirit, when you have been called to be born again, there will be people in your life that would love to see you six feet under. There are people in your life that are not interested in your life, but it sounds like it. It looks like it, but Daniel was a man of prayer, and society and culture, and the king and culture and the king, they threw Daniel in the lion's den.

Speaker 4:

And when you study that story, yes, we understand that Daniel was a man of prayer, he was devoted, but the Bible actually doesn't say that Daniel prayed, but God shut the mouth of the lions. See, god knows the den that you're in. God knows the trouble that you're in. God knows that there are people in your life that you have had eye contact with that, you have worked with that, you walk with that, you've moved with that, you've lived life with, that are no good for you, because when they realize that there is something about you, they want to put you in the lion's den.

Speaker 4:

Let me tell you, be careful of the company that you keep, be careful of the people around you. Be careful of the people in your social networks group. Be careful of the people in the places that you go. Be careful, careful who you hang around with, be careful who you listen to, because there are people in your life, in the circle of your life, that are not really interested in your life.

Speaker 4:

When you come back to the gospel that we've been in in Gospel of Matthew, chapter 26, we find that the three that Jesus chose wasn't really interested in Jesus's life, because when they got comfortable enough and they sat on the edge of the garden of Gethsemane, they fell asleep. Just be prepared to find that you've got to be alone with God Because it's not the pastors, it's not the worship team, it's not got to be alone with God Because it's not the pastors, it's not the worship team, it's not going to be the ones at church, it's not going to be me, it's not Alex, it's not anybody else who's going to get you to your destiny. It is you and God. It is time to come to God now and to be alone. And we're coming to the table in just a few moments. We're going to come to the table and jesus christ went into the garden of gethsemane and he went in alone.

Speaker 4:

He went in the arena alone. It's better to go in alone, because the ones that you take with you are not really interested in your journey. Jesus took three with him. They waited, they wasn't really bothered in his life. They didn't even ask him any questions. What was going on? They obviously could see there was sorrow on his face. They could see that he was going through pain and anguish. That was on his face, but they wasn't interested in his life.

Speaker 4:

It's very interesting, isn't it, that the people that we think that we take with us through life, that we journey with that, we walk with that, we work with that, we associate with, that are on our whatsapp group. They're on our facebook group that we associate ourselves with. We think that they are with us, but actually, when you look at the scripture, they're not interested and they was not interested in Jesus' life whatsoever. They didn't even ask him. Are you okay, jesus? What's going on? Why do you look in anguish? Why are you so sorrowful? It's very, very interesting that there are many selfish people in your life and in my life. There are many selfish people that are out for their own gain. They are not interested in the journey that you are on. They know and they can see through your face that you've gone through the arena, but they're not even asking you about your life.

Speaker 4:

Jesus came back and they looked him in the face and Jesus would have had some very unusual expressions on his face and they didn't even ask him. Are you all right, jesus? Do you want us to come with you? Jesus? Are you okay? You look a little bit stressed. You look a little bit stressed. You look a little bit fearful. Jesus, do you want us to come with you? Do you want us to to walk with you, jesus? Yes, the Bible says he said and they stayed there and they waited.

Speaker 4:

But when Jesus came back, his face would have told you a story. Your face, your life, tells the world a story. Isn't it interesting? Just like Jesus, no one is really interested in your journey. All they was interested in was sleeping and resting, kicking the stones around. If they had a phone at that point they would have been on the social media, they would have been texting, they would have been doing something. They wasn't interested in the story that Jesus was going through. They wasn't interested in his story. They wasn't interested in his life. They didn't ask him at all.

Speaker 4:

Jesus, are you okay? Jesus, what's happening? What is going on? You don't look right. Why are you so sorrowful? We're going to come to the table right now. We're going to have the lord's prayer and I want to invite you to check the people in your life. Are they plastic or are they solid? Will they stand with you when the fire gets turned up? Will they stand with you in the lion's den, or will they throw you in the lion's den? Will they see you come out of the garden of Gethsemane and see the sorrow on your face and go? Ben, what's the matter with you? There's something up with you. I know you've gone through the arena. What is it, sister and brother? Prepare yourself. Let's come to the table. We're going to have the Lord's Prayer right now, as we come to the table.

Speaker 1:

I invite you to say the Lord's Prayer with me, our Father who art in heaven. Hallowed be thy name, amen, amen, amen, temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever.

Speaker 4:

amen amen, amen, amen, hallelujah, jesus, father, we come to you right now and, lord, we gather around the cup of redemption, we gather around this car that jesus was speaking about in the Garden of Gethsemane. If it is possible, take this cup from me. So, father, I thank you that Jesus went forward, that Jesus moved forward and he took the cup and he carried the cup and he kept moving forward. I want to encourage you now, as we break bread, to never give up, to never give up, to keep walking. Don't worry, because those ones that threw you in the lion's den are going to see you walk out victorious. The ones that are sitting on the garden of Gethsemane, that are not interested in your life when you've hit rock bottom, are going to see you victorious. It's fascinating.

Speaker 4:

The scripture, father, in the name of Jesus, I thank you that this bread symbolizes the body of Christ and as I take this right now, lord, I thank you, father, that this symbolizes the body of Christ that was broken for me and for all those that were far off. Lord, bless this bread as we come to you now. Spirit of the living God, move in our lives In Jesus' name, amen, thank you Lord. Yes, lord, come on, jesus, thank you. Fall to your knees and pray. Listen to these words.

Speaker 2:

Come Jesus come.

Speaker 4:

Come Jesus, come, come on Lord, come on Jesus. Let today be the day. Yes, lord, today is the day. Come Jesus, come, come on Lord, come on Jesus, yes, lord.

Speaker 2:

Today is the day.

Speaker 4:

Yes, lord, come on Jesus. We're holding on God. Come on, jesus, spirit of the living God. Thank you, Holy Spirit. Wherever you are across the world, we want to encourage you. Keep fighting the good fight of faith. Keep fighting the good fight of faith. Keep fighting the good fight of faith. Keep fighting the good fight of faith. Keep fighting the good fight of faith. We're going to come and we're going to take it a cup. We're just going to turn this music down gently. We're just going to turn this down a little bit as it plays in the background.

Speaker 4:

We pray that the fire of God will descend on you tonight and if you are in the garden of Gethsemane, you're in the olive press. It's a great place to be is to be in the olive press. Father, in the name of Jesus, will you bless this cup, this cup that symbolizes redemption? Cleanse us from the crown of our head to the very soul of our feet, lord, right now, lord, I thank you that I am a sinner, saved by grace, washed in the blood of Jesus, washed in the crimson tide. Come on, brothers and sisters, let's fight the good fight of faith. Let's stand on the word of God. Cancer bows tonight, anxiety bows, adhd bows, fear bows, uncertainty bows. Everything bows to the name of Jesus. Pour out your spirit over us tonight, god. As we take this cup, cleanse me from the crown of my head to the sole of my feet In Jesus' name, amen. There is power in the blood of Jesus and we want to encourage you tonight, wherever you are across the world, to never give up. The fire of God is over your life. The presence of the Holy Spirit is with you, wherever you are situated tonight. We're coming to a close in around about nine minutes.

Speaker 4:

Stay on RB Christian Radio. If you're on the social networks with us tonight, just cross over to RB Christian Radio. The link will be coming on in a moment. You know, for those that can support us. You know the bank details. The church bank bank details are on the screen. If you can just push a couple of quid in may. God bless you in the mighty name of jesus christ.

Speaker 4:

But let's just pray tonight. We thank god for every one of you, wherever you are across the world. So many on radio with us tonight. So many on the social network. So many in the world of podcasts. You know we're hitting tremendous amount of downloads. We've almost hit 25,000 downloads on that. My goodness gracious me. God is moving so powerfully. You know, imagine how many people that would be in a single service 25,000 people. What would that look like? Imagine. Think of the size of the arena that that would have to be. We thank God for everybody that is with us, that is string with us, that is on radio across the world. We thank you for everybody that's on camera tonight. But may god bless you right now.

Speaker 4:

You know we belong to an army. You know we belong to to the kingdom of god and it stretches out far beyond you can imagine or ask and even can think about the kingdom that you belong to, the king's kingdom. There are people in your life that want to throw you in the lion's den, but they're going to watch you walk out in victory. There are people that will fall asleep when you're in the garden of Gethsemane and they're going to watch you get victorious. There are people that will want to try to hurt you and to harm you, but you are going to survive because God is with you. Be careful of the people in the crowd of life. Be careful of the people that you walk with, that you move with, that you operate with In the circle of life, be extremely careful.

Speaker 4:

We're coming to a close and we pray tonight that the Holy Spirit will be so present in your life. We pray that healing will abound. We pray that sickness goes tonight. At the name of Jesus, we pray that we will hear that the dead are being raised, the blind are seeing, the lame are walking, the deaf are hearing. We pray tonight that the presence of the eternal God will give you strength, will redeem you and carry you.

Speaker 4:

Find yourself four people in your life what four? You may say Four people that will carry you and get you into the presence of Jesus. Explain a little bit. Okay, you know, there's that great biblical text where that man could not get off of his bed and the four people in his life picked up one corner each and Jesus was in the house. But Jesus was surrounded. And they got to the house where Jesus was and they couldn't get their friend to the presence of Jesus. They couldn't get him through the window. They couldn't get their friend to the presence of Jesus. They couldn't get him through the window, they couldn't get through the door. So what did they do? They took their friend on his bed, on his mat, they picked up the four corners and they carried him to the rooftop. And what they done? They tore the roof open for their friend. That's friendship. They tore the roof open for their friend. That's friendship. That's people you want around you that will carry you to the presence of Jesus. Now I'm going to say it like this there are many people in our lives that will carry us to the devil's place. I can't have that. We cannot have that no-transcript. That will only take you to Jesus, only to Jesus. They carried their friend up to the rooftop of the house and they tore the roof off to get their friend into Jesus, into the presence of the king.

Speaker 4:

Isn't it interesting that these four see that their friend on the bed of life that was troubled and was doubtful and was really worried about life, this person could not move, he was paralyzed and he could not move. He wasn't left alone. That is true friendship. He wasn't left alone. That is true friendship. Isn't it interesting that so often we are left on the bed of life and we are left there to rot, but these four friends see that their friend was in need. They are true friends. You measure your friends by who they take you to. Are your friends. Are my friends taking me to the devil's playgrounds or my friends taking me to the presence of Jesus? If you are being carried to the devil's playground, be careful. It's very interesting that that character on that bed had no choice where he was going. Let's take note of this a moment Now. Them friends carried that person on that bed to his destiny. He wasn't strong enough because he was unwell. When we're unwell, that could be through mental health, that could be physical, that could be many different reasons.

Speaker 4:

Be careful of the people around you, because where are they carrying you to? Are they carrying you to jesus, or are they leaving you on the mat of life? Or have they just taken you to a different destination? Don't allow anyone to carry you to the devil's playground. Make sure you've got people around you that will take you to God, to Jesus, to the Scripture, to the Holy Word of God. We're out of here and they opened up the rooftop for their friends. I want to be around people like that that see me in need and they will take me to Jesus, no matter what the cost is, no matter what it will cost them. They will dig and tear the roof off and they will get me into the presence of the King. They're the people I want to be around, but there are many people carrying us and we don't have the strength to stop it, taking us to the wrong destination. Be careful who carry you. Be careful of the ones that are influencing your life. Be strong. Be strong in the ones that are influencing your life. Be strong. Be strong in the word.

Speaker 4:

Father, as we come to a close, we thank you tonight for everybody that is downloading these services. We thank you for everybody on camera tonight. May God bless you on camera in the name of Jesus. God bless everybody that is on radio RB Christian Radio. God bless you tonight. Wherever you are, wherever you are watching and capturing these services, may the fire of God and the presence of the Holy Spirit lead you in paths of righteousness. We are out of here. Please stay on radio.

Speaker 4:

If you're on social networks, if you are in the world of podcasts, please, we ask you to click straight over to RB Christian christian radio. Listen to some worship, listen to some music tonight and just allow the presence of the holy spirit to lead you. Wherever you are, whatever your time zone is. May god lead you and carry you. As you see, the bank details to the ministry, to the church, are on the screen over the back there. If you are able just to shed a couple of quid, that will be absolutely marvelous. We are at a critical stage at this ministry. We are at a critical stage, and I'm not referring to wages because no one gets paid. I am referring to just paying the electric bill. That's how close everything runs to the wire. May god bless you and carry you, and may the hand of god always be over you. We are out of here. We thank you for your time tonight. You know. Join us on RB Christian Radio. God bless you in Jesus, precious name. Good night, bye, bye.

Speaker 2:

Thank you for joining us on Reverend Ben Cooper's podcast. We hope you feel inspired and uplifted. Don't forget to support us by buying us a coffee. Your generosity keeps this ministry thriving. We'd also love to hear from you, so please leave us a review and let us know what you think. And, of course, for more inspiration, visit us anytime at rbchristianradionet. Until next time, stay encouraged, stay faithful and know this you are not alone.

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Reverend Ben Cooper

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