The Weapon of Music: It can break chains in the mind  

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From a life of sin, vice and darkness, the story of Eric Cohen, a Christian hip hop artist from Missouri resonates with our lives and the power of transformation through Christ and seeing the light of God. Have you ever been in dark times in the maze of this world when you felt lost and hopeless and no one to save you? Eric Cohen’s story is a reminder that God has your back regardless of your current situation and he can lift you up and give you a happy, fulfilling and rewarding life devoid of the pressures and frustrations of this world. 

Eric does not hide his sinful past and encourages everyone who feels burdened with the pressures of this world of materialism, violence and hopelessness to rise up, shake their dust off and have faith in our God whose abounding love sustains us all. Eric’s testimony is a reminder that we can live a life of honor, integrity, kindness and doing everything in the glory of God. He has released albums including Used to Love You, One Way, Pain, Lift you Up and Lead Em to Water among others. He continues to ministry and spread the gospel in his hip-hop music through his message of hope, faith and belief in God. May the Lord bless you as you listen to Eric’s testimony with the goal of changing your life, your family and those around you to the glory of God!  

YouTube Video - When You Die by Eric Cohen & Tunnabeatz

https://youtu.be/rU7UXDGkWuA

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Outline:

Here’s the timestamps for the episode:

2:03    Introducing Eric Cohen to the World  

6:25    A life of sin, hopelessness and darkness 

13:45  Transition from darkness to light and realization 

19:33  Jump Starting a new life in God and Christ   

23:01   Personal reflection, belief and unwavering faith in God  

32:13   Struggles as a christian, family conflicts and asking the holy spirit for guidance 

38:11   Music as a channel to spread the gospel  

43:19   Conclusion: The importance of remaining in God’s spirit and faith

I believe that music has the power, to

resonate in people's ears and minds

2

to break chains, break oppression, and

I believe that music is only second.

3

To the word of God in the way it can

connect to people, it breaks through

4

everything the message of music and

the way people vibe and film music,

5

I believe that it has the power, to

resonate in people's ears and minds.

6

In a way that only the word of God has

music breaks chains, in people's minds

7

Hello, everyone, and welcome to

a prisoner's part in podcast.

8

This is me, TJ, and today

we have a special guest.

9

His name is Eric Cohen.

10

Okay.

11

He is a Christian rapper.

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Yes, I do host Christian rappers.

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I love them because they have them.

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The same message as any other

preacher in the ministry of God,

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and Eric has a great message.

16

And I want him to introduce himself

because he's going to tell us how

17

he got into doing music and just

a little bit more about himself.

18

And some of we're going to

actually do some visuals this time.

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Yes.

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You're going to be, I'm going

to be on YouTube showing these

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great videos that he has.

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Hi, Eric.

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How you doing?

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Hey, Miss Michelle.

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I'm doing great.

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It's a blessing to be

here with you, young lady.

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Okay.

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Thank you so much.

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Tell.

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My audience, how you got into

music and just your background.

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He has an incredible story guys.

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So listen up to what he has to say.

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So I was born in 1902.

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No, just kidding.

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No, I'll start off with the music part.

36

So around three and a half years ago, uh,

I wasn't at an all time low in my life.

37

Uh, I had actually just gotten

baptized, which was really cool.

38

Uh, in the name of Jesus, you know, I

just got baptized, but you know, when

39

you do something good, the enemy's always

right on your heels, trying to take you

40

down and you know, I was no different.

41

Uh, he caught me right when I came up

out of the water and I ended up making

42

a mistake, uh, acting out on my flesh.

43

And I felt such a weight inside

of me that I'd never felt before,

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which I now know is the Holy spirit

convicting me, uh, that I had to come,

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uh, tell my wife what I had done.

46

And that was probably one of the

hardest things I ever had to do because

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I told her, you know, and, and she

crumbled, she fell apart, uh, with

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the information I just told her and

it was, it was really hard to watch,

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you know, um, but by the end of it,

you know, she kicked my butt out.

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Uh, kicked my butt out of the

house for about three weeks, and I

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ended up sleeping in my truck for

around two of those three weeks.

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And, uh, one day I was at the end of

the cul de sac, just kinda chillin out.

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It was morning time.

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And, uh, I was contemplating suicide.

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I was about to eat a bullet.

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I didn't know what else to do.

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You know, I was just miserable.

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And, uh, I had just given my

life to Christ, and of course,

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one of the worst things that's

ever happened to me happened.

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Uh, you know, so I was just

about to be done with it.

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And, uh, a beat came on my

radio, on my YouTube, I was

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actually, uh, writing a poem.

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I love poetry.

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Uh, always liked Edgar Allen Poe,

Robert Frost, Emily Dickinson, for

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some name drops, you know that I know.

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That good poetry Good people.

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Good people.

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Okay.

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Yeah, yeah.

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So, you know, I, uh, was writing some

poetry this morning and, uh, a beat

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came on my radio and the Holy Spirit

spoke to me, like, audibly spoke to

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me and said, I want you to rap this.

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I'm like You know, because I

never had this gifted and here

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I am a 35 year old white guy.

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He's like, yeah, I want you Eric Cohen.

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I want you to wrap this.

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And, uh, you know, I was obedient

with hesitation, but by the

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end of that experience, I had

goosebumps all over my body.

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I was crying like a little girl and

the only words I could utter out of my

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mouth over and over again were thank

you, Lord, because I knew this was a

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gift from him and it was on that day.

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As soon as I received that gift,

I made a vow to the Lord that I

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would only use it for his glory.

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You know what he's imparted upon me as

a weapon of warfare, , and it's a way

85

to break chains, break oppression, and

I believe that music is only second.

86

To the word of God in the way it can

connect to people, , the word of God,

87

it breaks through everything and music

ain't much different, with the message

88

of music and the way people vibe and film

music, I believe that it has the power,

89

to resonate in people's ears and minds.

90

In a way that only the word of God has

Yes, the word of God does break chains

91

and it sounds like you know I like how

you pointed out because some people

92

think after you get baptized After you

come to the lord that you just don't

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have any problems Will you admit it?

94

That's when you're on you're

you should be on standby, right?

95

You are the target at that point.

96

The the enemy is not looking for

the ones he already have You know,

97

he's trying to get Us, he wants us

to change to his program, but you're

98

listening to God I hope , my audience

understands that at this point,

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that's when you're more receptive

when you're broken down like this.

100

And I'm glad you didn't.

101

Eat this bullet or but took a bullet

for God and ate that and stay it

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in, you know, got that conviction.

103

So tell me more.

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What else happened after that?

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So after that, you know, uh.

106

Not too long after that, I came back

to my house and, uh, you know, my wife

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showed me a lot of grace and mercy

and forgave me for what I had done.

108

Now there's still a lot of healing to

do in our relationship and that may

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never change, but God has given me

an opportunity to serve my wife and

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my family like I never knew before.

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Uh, so even in the midst of, uh, The

darkness and the things that I had done,

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you know, God was still good enough to

show me grace, even through my wife.

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Um, so, you know, I, like I said that

day, I vowed to use this for the Lord.

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And that's what I've

been doing ever since.

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Uh, so the last three and a

half years have been crazy.

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Miss Michelle, uh, the Lord

spoke to me and said he was

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going to use me in a mighty way.

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And he's been doing so, uh, I've

been going to juvenile detention

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ministry, Uh every Wednesday night

and getting to talk to the young

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ladies and young men over there.

121

Uh, I do Online performances live

performances, you know all with the

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the motive to preach the gospel message

And that's what I love about being

123

a christian artist because there's

always a purpose to what I do and

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it's not Not to glorify self, but to

glorify god, so it's quite amazing.

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Oh, wow so You I want to uh go back

a little bit Because I believe you

126

touched on, even though you didn't say

the word, it was about forgiveness.

127

You got some forgiveness from your wife,

from God, and that is Very healing and

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you, we all need forgiveness and I'm

so glad that you are starting to go

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through this process because forgiveness

is a process and a lot of times the

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hardest people to forgive is ourselves.

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You said it right.

132

So it was hard.

133

You found that hard to do, even

though, you know, as you were

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going through the process, I want

to talk a little bit about that.

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Just because.

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Um, it's so important that people

understand about forgiveness and, um,

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that's part of what the show is about.

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It's about a part and that's

similar to, um, forgiveness.

139

So are you still walking through that

process or, and I like how you gave

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everything over to God and you realize

that what you're doing is to glorify him.

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And do you think that helped with

your process of forgiving yourself?

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Yeah, I absolutely do.

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Let me be very transparent and clear here.

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I have hated myself most of my life.

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Wow.

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Okay, good.

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You know, I grew up in poverty,

neglect, addiction, all these different

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things that tried to take me out.

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And I was, I lived on the fringes of

society, you know, I was an outcast, uh,

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and you know, I'd like to say it was in

my own mind, but it was in the world.

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Uh, so I never fit in

and I, I hated myself.

152

I hated who I was, you know, from

the labels that I had acquired.

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Uh, during my time interacting in the

world, uh, but like you said, that

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self forgiveness, uh, when we are able

to look at ourselves in the mirror

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and actually like the person we see,

it's, it's a whole different ball game.

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And I do, I have to process this

forgiveness daily, you know, because

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there's still those thoughts in my

mind that pop up, like, you know,

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you're worthless, you're nothing,

but that's when I have to make a

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choice to stand on God's truth.

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And it's not always an easy choice, Ms.

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Michelle.

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Let me be honest about that.

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Sometimes it's the hardest

decision I have to make in a day.

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To believe what God says about me instead

of what my mind's trying to tell me.

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But the mind is in the

battlefield, young lady.

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Let me tell you that.

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Now, don't you stop preaching on there.

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You know I'm holding my hands up now.

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I'm trying to get happy over here.

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And you are speaking nothing but truth.

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It's just facts.

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And Oh, that cleansing.

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I can, I can feel, and I can, I can

sense that depth that you have in

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you to that truth and so many of us,

and I'm pretty sure you're not alone.

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There's someone listening

that hate themselves.

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They're listening to the enemy out

there, giving them labels, but the

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labels you should take is only from God

because he knows you more than anybody

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else and better than you know yourself

because God has so much for you that

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you didn't know you can do and you're

going through this process with him.

180

You will, he will blow

you away all the time.

181

So yeah, just tell me

more like you came out.

182

You're still working through this daily.

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I like how you said daily, it's daily.

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It's not over with.

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So as you're going through this process

of this art, cause God is the master.

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And you're just a piece, okay?

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So he's creating this

masterpiece in you, right?

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So you starting to spit this poetry out.

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He's telling you to do something

like you haven't tried.

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You probably never even thought about it.

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It's like, you said you this white

boy and he's telling you to rap.

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What do what you know, I grew up to

the tunes of classic rock Delta blues

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Blues, you know definitely some rap

in there, but it definitely wasn't

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the kind of glorified Jesus either

You know, I grew I'm a 90s, baby.

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I grew up on Tupac Biggie Smalls Big

Pond and Bone Thugs, you know That

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was my influence as a child, you know,

but to have this gift Uh, like I said,

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that's how I knew it was an anointing and

blessing from him and I could give him

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all glory and he did that for a reason.

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I believe, you know, so I would

understand and I would be humble about

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what he's given me and it's just, I

just want to point out to the audience

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to like, is that when we think we're.

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Nothing, when we broken down, that's

when God can really use us and,

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um, you allow him to use you and

just, he's building you back up.

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First he got to break you down and

so that now he can mold you into what

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he wants you to be to glorify him.

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And so, okay, so now you this.

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Rapper down.

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What did you do?

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What was the first thing you did?

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Like God wants you to do this

What did he tell you or how did

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you start just start rapping?

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So, you know it took a lot of faith

to step out and actually start

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rapping because I am not Like I

said, I didn't see myself as the

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person God saw me in the mirror.

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And so to step out in front of a

stage, something I'd never done, or

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to step out in front of people and

share this gift was probably one of the

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hardest things I had ever had to do.

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It's getting easier each time I do

it, you know, and, you know, dozens

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and dozens of shows later, I'm finally

getting comfortable in my own skin

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and stepping out and actually being

able to let the Holy spirit work

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instead of staying in, in the way.

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Uh, but that is not the way it was,

you know, I, uh, I started off with a

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lot of hesitation, uh, but let me tell

you that God indwelled me with the

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Holy Spirit in such a way that I didn't

have a choice but to move forward.

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And the first thing I did, I

think, was talk to my mama.

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Her name's Letitia Cheatham,

an amazing woman of God.

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Uh, now she ain't my real mama.

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She's my spiritual mama.

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I met her at church,

uh, but she was the one.

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You know, I would have these

visions and I would have these

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doubts in my mind sometimes.

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And she was the one that spoke God's truth

to me in such a loving but unfiltered way.

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And I think we all need

somebody like that in our lives.

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Somebody ain't willing to sugarcoat

it, tell you exactly what's

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what and tell you to get your

head out of your butt sometimes.

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That's what I needed.

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Wow.

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That's good.

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Um, a spiritual guide, someone, you know,

that's what, you know, you said exactly

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what they need to hear because once you're

out there and you, you're now you working

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for the Lord, you have to have wisdom.

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You have to have a person that's been

there that can talk truth to you because

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the enemy is going to just be at you.

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He going to be all up in your head.

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And especially because right now you're

like a bait, you're in baby Christ.

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So you're not.

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Fully processing what you're going

through and what God is doing.

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With you for you.

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And so he sent miss Letitia to you and

Now you're starting to feel comfortable.

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Are you you still working on it?

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Are you just are you there yet for is?

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Okay.

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God has me doing this and Now I'm

starting to Walk in and really and

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getting more comfortable and comfortable.

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I'm listening to your music.

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It's like you sure you was

Uncomfortable doing this and you,

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you look like you are made for it.

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And won't God do it?

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Miss Michelle, that's

exactly what he does.

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He takes people that are broken

and and considered useless in

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the world and he'll do something

amazing in them and through them.

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And yes, to answer your question,

I do feel a lot more comfortable

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doing what I'm doing now.

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I think I have a fully accepted

what God has told me and

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what God has said about me.

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And I've accepted that

as the truth of my life.

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And so there's no backing

down at this point.

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I'm gonna go hard for my God, uh, through

hip hop, through preaching, through

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evangelism, any way I can to get that word

out there, because I know the grips of

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oppression and darkness, you know, and I

also know the freedom and light of Jesus.

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He says his bond is light.

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He says, take my yoke upon your

neck because my bonds light.

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Trust me, I know that other bond

and I'm sure many other people who,

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uh, may listen to this podcast know

that yoke of oppression and, and

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the weight of darkness as well.

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Well, I'm here to tell you that if

you accept that white yoke, he's going

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to do something amazing in your life.

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Maybe it won't be rap, but maybe

it will be evangelizing to.

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Whoever you meet and

that's just as important.

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We are all in the same position

as the body of Christ Ain't

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nobody higher than the next.

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In fact, it says that the humble should

be exalted in the exalted should be

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humble So Lord, let me be humble.

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Hey the first gonna be last

last gonna be first young lady.

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No start again I'm trying to

keep this show I'm trying to

286

like, okay, you elevate, but I'm

like getting happy over here.

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I got to stop.

288

Okay.

289

Yeah.

290

So I like how you say, and I'm sure

everybody, myself, I've gone through it.

291

When you start to step out and what

God has for you, you have to trust

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the Holy spirit because you don't

feel comfortable in that skin yet.

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You're saying you didn't

see yourself that way.

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And it was the hardest thing.

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And I'm going through some

things too, where it's like.

296

You know, really?

297

and He he I believe god loves

us to be amazed by him and he is

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Amazing when you allow him and

you step out there you did it.

299

So you were um, You know you like polar

opposites what we would look at at first

300

as a rapper and i'm seeing your video

like He's doing it He's good And thank

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you for being obedient And we have to

learn how to be obedient and listen to

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God and walk the way he says, because

it's not going to be comfortable at

303

first, we got to be comfortable with being

uncomfortable and in, um, and we at times

304

feel inadequate for what God has said.

305

Did you feel that inadequacy?

306

Hey, I feel that every

day to be honest with you.

307

I feel inadequate, but that's where.

308

I know that God keeps me humble.

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You know, he keeps me in this position

to where I'm looking up all the

310

time and I can give him all glory.

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So he keeps me, I feel like he keeps me in

this position to where I feel inadequate.

312

So I know how much I need him and

I grab onto him on a daily basis.

313

Wow.

314

You are preaching, you

know, you're preaching.

315

I know someone is hearing

this, not just me.

316

And I'm getting so much word

and, um, feeling from this.

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So we feeling adequate, God

has something planned for us.

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Way more than we think and can't imagine

and how do we not run away from it?

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I know people am I the only

one am I is you're talking to

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just me don't run away, right?

321

Eric, what do you say you

you you what did you do?

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Like you walk through the

process and you just it is hard

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Cause it's not comfortable.

324

It's true.

325

You know, and it just reminds me

of the story of Jonah in the Bible,

326

you know, Hey, that dude ran hard,

even jumped into the bottom of

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the ocean saying, Don't we run?

328

Don't we run?

329

We do.

330

We run, you know, and, and, and

that's okay in a sense to run,

331

but God's still going to use you.

332

He's going to turn you right back

around and put you right where

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he wanted you to begin with.

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You know, and I think that's the beauty

of it, you know, and, and if you choose

335

not to use your gifts, if you choose

to bury your talents, you know, what

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do you end up with at the end of your

life, knowing that you could have done

337

something, knowing that you could have

put faith in God and stepped out to what

338

he was telling you to do, how do you

account for that when you meet him face

339

to face at that great white throne, you

know, all to make sure he, when I, when

340

I hit them gates, I want to hear, you

know, Well done good and faithful servant.

341

I don't want to hear Doug.

342

I don't know your name.

343

Who are you bro?

344

Get away from me Yeah,

that's the worst thing.

345

I don't want to hear that nor do

I want to hear Oh, I had this for

346

you and that's for you and you

ran away I had this plan for you.

347

If you would have followed me, this

is what You would have had, you know,

348

it kind of reminds me of that movie.

349

It's a wonderful life.

350

And you know, you get to see what it could

have been like, would that like upset you

351

that you wasted and you are stepping out.

352

This is for someone,

this is not just for me.

353

You're going to feel inadequate.

354

First, you're going to be broken.

355

He's going to be able to use

you then you're not going

356

to feel comfortable at all.

357

You're going to want to run

away and you got to sweat it.

358

You got to, you're going to, I'm going

to do this anyway, because I got to

359

believe what he says about me and look

at you now, look at you now, Eric.

360

Amen.

361

I'll tell you what, miss

Michelle, he gives us a choice.

362

Don't he, you know, we have this

free will and it's quite amazing.

363

Uh, so we have an opportunity,

uh, to step toward him in faith.

364

And trust that he is our maker creator

and savior or we can step away back

365

into the world and do the things of the

world But you and I both know which one

366

is more fulfilling at the end of the

day And I would much rather, uh follow

367

christ with all my heart Even if there

comes adversity, even if there comes

368

suffering in the name of jesus You know,

I would much rather be following him

369

than anything the world has to offer me

because I know that stubs bunk Mm hmm.

370

And let me, let me tell, uh, maybe it's

not a secret, not to you, but let me tell

371

the audience, it gets better all the time.

372

You, it's not, this is the best.

373

It's going to keep getting better.

374

Each time you step out and

you start doing, it's going

375

to get better and better.

376

Whereas the world, you

didn't have the best.

377

It's downhill for now and it's quick.

378

It's a happy hour or whatever, but

this is like eternity everlasting.

379

And he's It's like fine line, it's

just getting better and better and

380

better and you can't, you can't get

enough of it and you, and that's

381

a different, that's a flip side.

382

That's a switch from the

world's point when you start

383

following Christ, stepping out.

384

So this is what you've

got to look forward to.

385

We already got heaven, but now we

were when you're starting to be

386

obedient and don't think Look where

you say you was at your lowest, right?

387

Yes, ma'am.

388

Yes, ma'am.

389

You was contemplating suicide right on

the edge right on the edge, so No matter

390

what your background is If you've been

locked up or not, you know, some people

391

have these spiritual prisons as well.

392

They don't understand that you

actually start there before

393

you go to a physical one.

394

If you hit that spot.

395

So you know, what are you

telling your juveniles?

396

You say you speak to the juveniles.

397

What do you, you know, when you share

your story, I'd like that you share your

398

story and you're not sugarcoating it.

399

You're, you're being raw and you're not

looking, you're not being like the world.

400

On social media.

401

Oh, I got it all together.

402

And then you find out later that these

people are in a really bad spot condition

403

because they're, they got this one face

and what you're doing is the opposite.

404

What we're doing is the opposite.

405

And we're saying, no, we,

we don't have anything.

406

We, we were broken, but look at us now.

407

Now you're, you're living and

they've suicided out, you know?

408

It's a, it's a different switch.

409

So what do you tell your, what

do you tell the young people?

410

You know what?

411

Uh, I believe, uh, just as I am

on this show, I believe in full

412

transparency, miss miss show.

413

And so when I go into the juvenile

detention center to talk to these young

414

men and women, I'm completely open.

415

I'll answer any questions they may have.

416

Uh, but.

417

There's the glory to my story and

it always ends with Jesus, you

418

know, because I let them know,

yes, I've been through addiction.

419

I've been through poverty, neglect.

420

I've been in the same place as they were

in, you know, I have been miserable.

421

Most of my life, I spent it in misery.

422

Uh, but I have a savior.

423

His name is Jesus and he rescued

me from the very depths of hell.

424

And trust me, if he's willing

to use somebody like me.

425

He's willing to use y'all to,

you know, and, and some of

426

these kids ain't never had love.

427

They ain't never had hope.

428

They grew up with a hard life.

429

You know, some of these kids

that are sitting in these places,

430

they are wards of the state.

431

Their parents don't gave them away.

432

They don't have anybody, you know, so I

might be the only person that shows them

433

love walking into that place for the next

six months or maybe ever, maybe I'm the

434

one that plants a seed for Jesus in them.

435

So, you know, I just try to

be completely open and honest.

436

About what I've done, where I've been

and where I'm headed, you know, and,

437

and the fruits speak for themselves.

438

You know, there's, there's

no hiding actionable faith.

439

And so as I show up each week and

I walk into this place and they

440

see my, my silly face every week,

you know, they see me and they're

441

like, okay, well this is Eric Cohen.

442

And guess what?

443

They're asking to, to get discipled when

they get out there asking for mentorship.

444

And that's exactly what I want.

445

You know, I want to reach this

generation and let them know who Jesus

446

is because the world's fading away.

447

We ain't got long left in

this place, young lady.

448

I'll tell you that.

449

Don't you start.

450

Don't you?

451

It is true.

452

We see, you know, um, we're not trying

to save the world because we understand

453

the world is destined to go down.

454

It's like, we're trying to get them on

the arc, so to speak, rescue the ones

455

who wants to be rescued and let them know

that there is an arc of safety for them

456

and it's in Jesus Christ and you're Wow,

this is a great message and I'm glad that

457

you're going into these facilities and

pointing out that people are not love.

458

They don't know what love is

and they haven't been shown love

459

and you're bringing that hope.

460

And they're probably thinking,

uh, he's always been this way.

461

Look at him.

462

You don't look like you, you've

been through the fire and you

463

don't even smell like smoke.

464

And that's, and what, that's how

the Lord cleans you up and you got

465

this joy about the you radiated

and they're picking up on this.

466

And I feel like they can talk to you.

467

Not somebody that, oh, they have it all

together and you really can't relate.

468

You, you telling them,

no, this is where I was.

469

You can leave here actually now, even

though you still physically there.

470

That's it.

471

You know, you look at inspirations

like Corrie ten boom, uh, the young

472

lady that found Jesus in a Holocaust in

the middle of a, a concentration camp.

473

She found Jesus and held on

with all her life and survived.

474

You know, we speak about.

475

Finding joy in the midst

of every situation.

476

And it's possible, you know, you can look

back through history or look currently,

477

I bet, you know, five people right

now that may have the most horrible

478

situations happen in their life.

479

But guess what?

480

They still full of joy.

481

Uh, my brother, he just lost

his mama, but guess what?

482

That young man is so full of joy.

483

You couldn't even tell because he

know mama don't went to heaven.

484

So it does not.

485

Again, it does not depend on circumstances

outside circumstances is like, and

486

that is peculiar that is different.

487

And if we can get people to

understand that to know, to be in

488

Christ, that's what that means.

489

And then look at you,

you're a new creature.

490

Amen.

491

You weren't rapping.

492

You definitely wasn't in no

facility talking to juveniles

493

about what Christ can do.

494

How?

495

I mean, it's for, he's, he's available.

496

He has his hand now

he's, he's beckoning us.

497

Beckoning them.

498

That's it.

499

You know, all, all we got to do is reach

out and take that step off the boat.

500

Uh, no different than brother Peter did

way back in the day, walking on the water.

501

Come on now.

502

Come on now.

503

You speaking it.

504

This is, I like this because

you're speaking the gospel and you

505

putting it in words that people

can understand and relate to

506

because now it's not just theory.

507

I like the term you

said, actionable faith.

508

Actionable faith, you know, you're,

you're putting his faith in motion

509

and now, and as you walk out, you

steady, God is exposing more and more.

510

It's getting better.

511

And what else do you talk to

about, uh, to the juvenile?

512

So, um, have you had any come

out where you had to mentor them

513

yet or, um, anything like that?

514

So I have had the opportunity to

speak to two young men on the outside.

515

Uh, now one of them actually ended up

back in a juvenile detention facility.

516

So, uh, you know, it comes with

understanding that even though we're

517

planting a seed, uh, that say seed

may not grow up right in front of you.

518

And we may never see the

fruit on this side of heaven.

519

You know, we may never see it on earth.

520

We may never see the fruit

of what we did on earth.

521

Uh, but, you know, we just have

to be faithful and continuing to

522

do what God's called us to do.

523

And knowing that it has purpose,

know that it has reason.

524

You know, I, I think that's the most

important thing that we don't lose hope

525

and we don't lose faith, uh, in the fact

that God's working through us and in us

526

because, you know, sometimes we can get

worn down, you know, and, uh, You know,

527

it's in those times just no different

than the Hebrews had to do in the desert,

528

you know, uh, they was looking back when

they should have been looking forward.

529

Uh, don't recall the past.

530

Don't recall them things that you

think you long for in your flesh

531

because they ain't doing you no good.

532

You know, you look forward, you look

forward to that, uh, that manna that

533

falls from heaven that feeds us.

534

So.

535

I was just thinking what you just said.

536

We don't, um, recall that past,

but, but look for, is that

537

why one can feel inadequate if

they're looking the wrong way?

538

Hey, it'll turn you into

a whole pile of salt.

539

Wow.

540

Good point.

541

So that's how you would feel inadequate in

You have to look forward, maybe, hey, you

542

speaking to me now, you speaking to me.

543

So it's, the show is called a

prisoner's pardon and you can be in

544

a spiritual prison and not wanted to

look forward and walk out in faith.

545

That's a, isn't that prison?

546

Yes.

547

Wow.

548

Don't recall the past, but to

look forward and God has so much

549

plan for you, possibilities.

550

And you, did you imagine all the

stuff that God has let you do to this,

551

at the, to this point right here?

552

Look, lady, I still can't believe it.

553

Sometimes I really can't, you know, I

go back and I listen to my songs or I'll

554

listen to a beat and these words that just

come to me, or I listened to the words

555

that the Holy spirit, uh, indwelled in me

to write down and I still feel disbelief.

556

I'm like, Lord, this didn't come from me.

557

You know, it's still, it's hard for me to

see myself as who Lord has made me to be.

558

Uh, so that's where I go back to that

constant daily reminder and giving

559

myself up to him, forgiving myself

and understanding his truth about me.

560

Forgiving myself, forgiving yourself,

because that is a daily thing.

561

And that's, what's hindering

you for accepting what God has.

562

For you and who you really are.

563

Yeah.

564

And you said you still can't believe it.

565

I'm still in awe.

566

And I think that's what the Lord wants.

567

You know, he says, fear me.

568

And that fear don't mean be scared

and go run in the corner and hide.

569

But that means that the fear of

the Lord should leave you in awe.

570

You know, it should

leave your jaw dropped.

571

And that's what the Lord does when

he starts working in you and on

572

you, he does leave you jaw dropped.

573

You ain't got no choice but to go

pick your job off the ground because

574

he gonna do something amazing.

575

I mean, that's the word amazing.

576

He is amazing.

577

And just to hear you, your confirmation

on it, when you, you won't be disappointed

578

when you trust him and step out.

579

You don't know how he did it.

580

You still be scratching your head.

581

How did he get you over here?

582

And it's going to be so.

583

You couldn't have made this up.

584

How did all that align?

585

How did that connect there?

586

How did you meet that person?

587

How did you were there right on time?

588

They happen to be right there.

589

It's no accident.

590

No.

591

It's no accident.

592

So I want people to understand

what you're saying here.

593

So you can't go on your feelings.

594

Emotions because you're not there yet.

595

You can't even, you said you don't

even, you still can't believe it.

596

So you already over here, let alone when

you were back there to try and believe it

597

and you still over here, can't believe it.

598

And you didn't went through it.

599

Yeah.

600

Amen.

601

That's right.

602

That's right.

603

You know, and that's why I have

no choice, but to step out in

604

faith on a daily basis, because.

605

If I were to go on my own feelings,

what I thought about myself, the

606

inadequacies that I feel, I'd still

be stuck in a bubble, uh, burying my

607

talent in the ground, you know, and then

the Lord be like, hey, wicked servant.

608

You know, and that's not what I want,

you know, I want to make sure I am

609

multiplying what five times, 10 times,

two times, whatever he gives me.

610

And I'm gonna make it, I'm gonna

make it make sense and make money

611

for the Lord and not not money.

612

Like we see it, but yeah,

that eternal treasure.

613

Yeah.

614

What are you sending yours up where

it won't be destroyed, you know, and I

615

like how you pointed out wicked servant.

616

And most people would think, like, you did

something really bad, what we call wicked.

617

All it is that you didn't

believe him and step out.

618

That's wicked.

619

You calling him a liar, right?

620

Come on.

621

Hey, amen.

622

You calling him a liar, like, hey.

623

He's what, what did he say?

624

Taste, taste me and see, Hey, amen.

625

Taste me and see, ain't that the truth?

626

And once you taste, yeah, Hey,

he's, he's almighty and all good.

627

Wow.

628

I feel like stuffing my feet

right here, but yeah, I like that.

629

And how, um, I wanted to talk about too.

630

So, uh, what is it with your family?

631

Did you, what's going on there?

632

I know you're married, but

do you have any siblings?

633

Um, is there any other potential rappers

that's coming out of your family?

634

Are you just like a phenomenon?

635

So my daughter has taken quite an

interest in the music, which is amazing.

636

You know, in fact, I've actually, I'm

working on a song with her called at last.

637

And, uh, I, if you don't mind,

I'm gonna read you her part.

638

Go ahead.

639

Is that okay?

640

Sure.

641

Give me one second.

642

Play the theme music for jeopardy.

643

Dun, dun, dun, dun.

644

Um, so.

645

Her part goes and she's just got

to memorize it to say it, but she

646

goes, he used to serve the devil.

647

Now it's me and him together.

648

My daddy is a shield.

649

We'll walk with God forever, forever,

forever, chasing God together.

650

We'll walk with God forever.

651

We'll walk with God forever, you know,

and, and this was from her thoughts.

652

I helped her.

653

Wow.

654

I helped her make it make sense for

a rap song, you know, as, as far as a

655

hook goes, but this was her thoughts,

you know, she sees me as, as, as a

656

shield protecting her from, uh, the

whims of the evil one, you know, because

657

he's lurking everywhere, especially

in the family, trying to destroy us.

658

Uh, but she has definitely

taken con to, to music.

659

She loves music.

660

Uh, so I'm praying that, uh, she'll

be able to use that anointing, uh.

661

For the glory of God as well.

662

And as far as my siblings, I do have one

sister and my father, but that's actually

663

I'm actually from a Jewish family.

664

And so everything I'm doing.

665

Yeah, I'm a Cohen.

666

So biblically Cohen means priest.

667

It's in the first.

668

Two chapters of the Bible.

669

Wow.

670

I think it's in Exodus.

671

Yeah.

672

Cohen means priest, uh,

which I thought was amazing.

673

It is amazing.

674

Right?

675

Like he, he done made me a ruler and a

priest according to my name, Eric Cohen.

676

Okay.

677

So I'm like, all right,

that means something.

678

Okay.

679

Amen.

680

It does just like it did biblically.

681

Uh, but with that being said,

you know, there's a lot of.

682

Feedback from that side of the

family because I'm chasing Jesus.

683

I'm chasing the Messiah that they don't

they don't believe in, you know, so I get

684

a little bit of feedback or a little bit

of gruff from that, you know, and my dad's

685

going through some hard times right now.

686

I keep trying to point him toward

the Messiah, but he just he lacks

687

understanding right now and that's okay.

688

Yes, because when the Lord's ready to

show him, he gonna show him all the way.

689

Oh, and ain't no doubt.

690

Look at you, you, you further amaze me.

691

You Jewish on top of it.

692

Oh my goodness.

693

That's, you know what?

694

Our guy is amazing.

695

You know what he can do.

696

And I love this about this

healing and forgiveness.

697

I love how you're discipling your daughter

and that she came up with the words to

698

hook and how I just know God can hook.

699

He's already hooked us, you

know, we fishermen, we fishing.

700

And he, God has the perfect, you know, we

talk about the music, the hook, you know,

701

that good hook, but God has the best hook.

702

You know, we just trying to catch

up to him and he uses music and

703

I know some people may look at.

704

Christian rap and they

may say certain things.

705

Did you get any of that flat?

706

Cause I saw, I saw your, um, your stuff

on Facebook and you was at church.

707

And I was like, I was looking

at the audience, but I couldn't

708

see the audience while you were.

709

Um, performing.

710

I wanted to see them too, like

what was their reactions to you?

711

Cause I would never think that

they would listen to rap at all.

712

So I may need to go back and look

at it, but I was like, okay, I

713

don't think she listened to rap.

714

I don't think he listened to rap,

but you were like going at it.

715

It was like, you did not look nervous.

716

You look like you've been

doing this a long time.

717

And it was in a setting.

718

That you would normally, , not see the

rap, like in the church, , like where

719

the choir would perform, , someone come

and sing a solo selection and hear you

720

up there spitting a word out and rap.

721

So what did they, , what

were they thinking?

722

What were their reactions to?

723

What were the reactions to your song?

724

So that particular instance,

it was absolutely amazing.

725

I actually got invited by

my pastor, pastor Clint.

726

Uh, what an amazing man of God he is.

727

He's, uh, he's a true leader.

728

And you know how I know

that because he serves.

729

With all his heart, he's unlike

so many other pastors I've met.

730

Like that man of God is amazing, but he

hit me up on Thursday or Friday before

731

the service, he says, Hey bro, you want

to come do on the edge, which is the

732

song I did on the edge and it speaks

to suicide and You know the darkness of

733

life, but who we can call out to um, but

you're right, you know Most of the people

734

in that audience and in fact in a lot

of audiences I go to May not be privy to

735

hip hop But that's the thing about mixing

it with the word of god because the word

736

of god never comes back void You know,

so they're always going to get a message

737

out of what i'm spitting because it's

always going to be god's word Uh, and so

738

even with that being said, you know, I

have I've had 70 or 80 year old men and

739

women come up to me and talking about,

you know, I don't listen to hip hop.

740

I don't listen to rap, but I like

what you're doing because they

741

hear the fruit in the message.

742

You know, there's, there's no

denying fruit, you know, he says

743

we know each other by the fruit.

744

And so there's no denying what's coming

out of the music, whether it's real or

745

false, you know, we're going to know.

746

And so I think that that is

able to supersede whatever

747

feelings people may have about.

748

Uh, the genre of hip hop, but I've

also been hit on the opposite end where

749

I've been told that Hip hop doesn't

belong in the Christian community,

750

you know, uh, or rock and roll for

that matter, you know, but won't

751

the Lord use anything for his good.

752

He can take the worst of things

and use it for his glory.

753

He has no limit, no bounds,

and he ain't no box.

754

I promise you that.

755

I definitely, I, you know, I keep

remembering that mule, the mule, when

756

he used to talk, he could use, uh,

animals and open up their mouths to you.

757

So.

758

That was amazing.

759

I'm, I'm going to make sure I have one

of your videos playing because I want

760

them to see you because you look like

you've been doing this a long time.

761

I love whoever produced your videos

is I think they did an awesome job and

762

you're acting in the way you, it just

looks like you just been doing it a

763

long time and you've been doing it.

764

How long?

765

Uh, just a little over three and

a half years now, uh, right in the

766

midst of COVID is when I inherited

this amazing gift and anointing.

767

Wow.

768

Um, I like how you say that it

is a gift and I think we all have

769

a gift of some sort, but if we,

we have to listen to God and.

770

Listen to your story.

771

I'm sure you are getting hooks, you

know, hooking other people and letting

772

them know that it's God working through

you and that they can do the same thing.

773

I love what your shirt

was says grace, grace.

774

I can say grace over grace.

775

Oh, lovely.

776

That is awesome.

777

You got merch and stuff too.

778

So is that part of your merch?

779

Uh, no, this is actually from a

brother of mine, uh, his name's

780

Robert and he's part of the new

tribe crew, crew that I represent.

781

It's my label, my label mate.

782

Oh.

783

Uh, so I would be more than happy to

share his information with anybody

784

who wants a Gray Silver Grace hoodie.

785

And I do also have merch, I have

shirts, but I need to order some more.

786

Which costs money that I don't have yet.

787

So I'm gonna have to work on that.

788

God is amazing.

789

He's heard that and we are

definitely praying for you for that.

790

So what else would you like to say

to our audience before we end this?

791

Great interview because I I'm going

to make sure I play Your video at

792

the end, so that people can see you,

I'll definitely put everything in

793

a show notes how to contact you.

794

If people want to have you on

their show, if they're having, I'm

795

pretty sure you're taking bookings.

796

If people want to have you out

to perform for them and like,

797

where are you located out of.

798

Hey, I'm in, I hate to talk smack on any

other city, but I'm in the best city in

799

the world, which is Kansas city, Missouri.

800

Oh, all right.

801

Okay.

802

I'm not mad at you.

803

I'm not mad at you.

804

So they can contact you if you,

if they want to have you on.

805

, their network, or if they

haven't any kind of festivals,

806

you go to Christian festivals.

807

I'm sure and just do your performances.

808

, are you open to come

into other facilities?

809

Like, , detention centers, , talking to

juveniles, , different places, stuff like

810

that and, . Probably, I'm hoping people

more open a door for you, for the young

811

people, because rap is a tool that can

be used for getting good messages in.

812

And I think like what you said,

there's no denying the fruit.

813

Yeah.

814

That's amazing.

815

That is amazing what you said.

816

So they have to look at it that

way and don't look at, okay,

817

you trying to put God in a box.

818

Mm.

819

That's a mistake, ain't it?

820

You, how can you put him?

821

He is not, he didn't, he just was in

that tent that time for our purpose.

822

when he was traveling, he wasn't,

that's not his house, you know?

823

Yeah.

824

Anyway, you know, so anyway, uh,

that's why all I have in, uh, what's,

825

what's the last thing you wanna say to

the audience before we end the show?

826

You know, miss Michelle, the

only thing I really want to tell

827

everybody who's listening is.

828

You know, you may have

experienced adversity.

829

You may be stuck in adversity and

suffering and darkness right now.

830

Uh, but I'm here to tell you that God

will and can pull you out of that darkness

831

and he will use you for his glory.

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And there's no wonder that you're

stuck in darkness right now.

833

The enemy wants to take you out.

834

That's the truth of it.

835

The enemy wants to take us all out and

he's going to do anything he can to

836

destroy you, to stop you from stepping

in to the role that God has for you.

837

So don't believe the lies of the world.

838

Don't, don't be stuck in

that darkness anymore.

839

Reach your hand out in faith and

understand that we have an amazing God.

840

Uh, and he may not.

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Take away the afflictions.

842

Uh, I'm still afflicted in many ways.

843

Uh, but I'll tell you what the Lord

walks with me through every one of

844

them and he tells me his grace and

his mercy is sufficient for me.

845

And I believe that wholeheartedly

because I've experienced it.

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Oh, awesome.

847

Awesome testimony.

848

And again, I hope

everyone in the audience.

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Gets this great, amazing message from

our God using Eric Cohen as a vessel.

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Remember, I'll have all this

information in a show notes, and I

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will be playing a video after this.

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Thank you again, Eric,

for being on my show.

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Yes, ma'am.

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And thank you for having me.

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God bless.

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God bless.

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Everyone, thank you for listening and may

you have a week filled with blessings.