Come Out of the Darkness and Into His Marvelous Light

Welcome to today's message and teaching. I'm Tammy Toney-Butler, Evangelist, Author, and servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the Reflective Spaces Ministry Podcast. And today the Lord has placed on my heart to bring you a message. And whenever he does this and the timing, I know that this is intended for us. a beautiful daughter or son of the king. And, you know, we never know what the outcome or we're not responsible for the outcome of the message that we put out or when we go out to preach or teach in the public. But we are responsible for being surrendered and obedient to the call that God's placed on our life. and to the message that he wants us to deliver to his people in his perfect timing. It's never about us, it can never be about us. It must always and only be about the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit leading us, guiding us, directing us. And Holy Spirit, I just ask that you come and have your way in this hour. May they hear your words, oh God, oh Jesus. And may they see the truth and have spiritual eyes to see and ears to hear and they be forever changed. May the light of the love of the Lord Jesus Christ reveal all truth, break every yoke of bondage off their life and set them free by the power and the blood shed on Calvary. By his stripes, ye were healed. And we know that through Jesus's work on the cross, that we have access to healing that we have access to freedom and wholeness. We just have to grab it and receive it and believe it. And Father God, I decree and declare that they will believe it today, that they will see it today. Father God, help them, oh God. Help them. Let's remove any veil and let's remove any scales off their eyes so they can see clearly. It's time for an unveiling. In the powerful name of Lord Jesus, we pray and declare all things. Amen. Well, Father placed on me today's message. Come out of the darkness and into his marvelous light. Come out of the darkness and into his marvelous light. And we all know that Jesus is the bridge. We all know that no one can go to the Father, but literally through the Son. So it's decision-making time. It's decision-making time. Are you going to enter into the kingdom of His marvelous light? Or are you going to stay yoked up with the kingdom of darkness? It's time to decide. It's time to choose. To build yourself off the rock. the rock, the cornerstone, Lord Jesus Christ, the healer, the redeemer, the great physician. He came to set us free. But will you receive him? Will you believe in him? Will you trust him? Will you trust him? Will you trust him? It's decision time today. Where were your loyalties lie? Are you an ambassador of the kingdom of God or an ambassador of the kingdom of darkness? What seeds are you sowing in the brethren? What lies are you telling or partnering up with? Who have you deceived lately? It's time to do a spiritual inventory, all of us as believers, and realize that we have been deceived. We have been deceived by those closest to us into believing a lie. And we must seek the truth, the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ, the blood shed on Calvary, We must seek the truth, the healing truth, the resurrection truth, the power that is available to us as believers in Yeshua. As we come out of darkness and as we are enlightened by the truth, then we can see clearly and hear clearly. And let's stop, pause, pray, and become all that God has for us this season. And when we stop to look inward, to reflect, to do a spiritual inventory, to see if we're hanging on to seeds of bitterness, hate, discord. Are we seeking platforms? Do we have pride? Do we have ego? Do we want to do things for selfish gain or to be seen by others? Do we hold unforgiveness in our heart? bitterness? Do we seek revenge? Do we look at someone's anointing and want it to be ours? Do we want to take that territory from them? Are we being led astray by those closest to us? Are we letting synthetic voices speak into us and divide the kingdom of God and divide the brethren? What does it say in God's word about division among the brethren, about division? A house divided cannot stand. Let's look in his word at Mark. Let's look at Mark three and we're going down to, we'll start at twenty. Jesus and the Prince of Demons. One time Jesus entered a house and the crowds began to gather again. Soon he and his disciples couldn't even find time to eat. Well, we know that feeling, right? Sometimes we don't even have time to eat. When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him away. He's out of his mind, they said. Now, don't let that pass by you. When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him away. Sometimes those that are closest to you can be the ones that are leading you astray. that catch in your spirit, that pause every time you carry out something they ask you to do, saying it's God's will. But did you seek God for yourself? Did you seek his Holy Spirit, get on the floor and pray, get before the throne of God and ask him what it is that you have for me, oh God? How can I serve you, oh God? Am I doing as you call me to do? Or am I actually sowing discord among the brethren? Am I actually trying to tear down the house you're trying to build? Because remember, we're all one spirit as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and his Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of God lives in us, dwells inside of us, makes us into little images of Jesus, where we have the heart and mind of Christ. Therefore, we are in perfect alignment with the will of God. We are not in competition. We are in perfect alignment with the will of God. But we have to be very careful who we let in our inner circle, who we surround ourselves with, where we eat, what table we're sitting at, what lies are we feeding off of. Deception can often start and distraction can with those closest to us. And remember, sometimes you have to rebuke your own family. You have to rebuke those closest to you. Sometimes it's in the rebuking. Sometimes it's in the rebuking that you can let go and let God Because you're not partnering up with the kingdom of darkness. You've separated yourself. Broken off that stronghold. That manipulative spirit. That spirit of Jezebel that's operating. That divisive spirit that comes to kill, steal, and destroy. But you have to rebuke it and rebuke that spirit of witchcraft behind it. And say, I will be a unified world. believer in the church of Christ. I will not sow discord among the brethren. I won't be a judge. I won't condemn. I won't do it. Gossip stops when it gets to a wise person's lips because they won't re-utter The deception. They won't speak it out. Are you speaking out. Deception. And bringing chaos and confusion. Into the kingdom of God. Or trying to. Into the house of God. Because there. Is only clarity. where Christ is. There's only peace and joy. Let's keep reading. But the teachers of religious law who had arrived from Jerusalem said, he's possessed by Satan, the prince of demons. That's where he gets the power to cast out demons. Jesus called them over and responded with an illustration. How can Satan cast out Satan? He asked, a kingdom divided by civil war will collapse. Similarly, a family splintered by feuding will fall apart. And if Satan is divided and fights against himself, how can he stand? He would never survive. Let me illustrate this further. Who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger, someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house. I tell you the truth, all sin and blasphemy can be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. This is a sin with eternal consequences. He told them this because they were saying he's possessed by an evil spirit. And then it goes on to say the true family of Jesus in verse thirty-one. and sister and mother. Anyone that does God's will is my brother, my sister, and my mother. And the moment We come in to the kingdom of light, the kingdom of light, the kingdom of God. And we come out of the kingdom of darkness and we choose and we choose to serve the Lord Jesus Christ in action and deed and get our marching orders from our commander in chief directly. Because remember when he called you, it wasn't a conference call. And no one else holds the key to your kingdom purpose but you and Jesus. Go directly to God and not through someone who's trying to manipulate you and control you and hold you back from all God has for you. What lie are you partnering up with this season? That's something that you have to ask yourself. And now he wants me to move on to Luke nine, Luke nine. And we're going to start in forty six, the greatest in the kingdom. Then his disciples began arguing about which of them was the greatest. But Jesus knew their thoughts. Remember, Jesus knew their thoughts. So he brought a little child to his side. Then he said to them, anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me. And anyone who welcomes me also welcomes my father who sent me. Whoever is the least among you is the greatest. Whoever is the least among you is the greatest. John said to Jesus, Master, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he isn't in our group. Are you judging because someone's not in your group? Do you have groups? Do you have cliques within the body of Christ? Are you playing favorites? It's time to do a spiritual inventory. Let's check our motives. Let's make sure that we're being obedient and only being led by the spirit of the almighty God this season. But Jesus said, don't stop him. Anyone who is not against you is for you. As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. He sent messengers ahead to a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival. But the people of the village did not welcome Jesus because he was on his way to Jerusalem. When James and John saw this, they said to Jesus, Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up? But Jesus turned and rebuked them. So they went on to another village. The cost of following Jesus. As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, I will follow you wherever you go. But Jesus replied, foxes have dens to live in and birds have nests, but the son of man has no place even to lay his head. He said to another person, come follow me. The man agreed, but he said, Lord, first let me return home and bury my father. But Jesus told him, let the spiritually dead bury their own dead. Your duty is to go and preach about the kingdom of God. He gave us our marching orders to go and preach about the kingdom of God. And others said, yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say goodbye to my family. But Jesus told them, anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God. What's distracting you or who's distracting you from becoming all that God has purposed you to be? What's limiting you or who's limiting you this season? That's the question that we have to ask ourselves again, as we stop and do a spiritual inventory. And now let's move on to Romans. Actually, no, let's move to Isaiah. I want to give this to you the way he gave it to me, because that's the way he gave it to me. And I have to be obedient. Okay, Isaiah fifty-eight. True and false worship. Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast. Shout aloud, don't be timid. Tell my people Israel of their sins, yet they act so pious. They come to the temple every day and seem delighted to learn all about me. They act like a righteous nation, a nation that would never abandon the laws of its God. They ask me to take action on their behalf, pretending they want to be near me. We have fasted before you, they say. Why aren't you impressed? We have been very hard on ourselves and you don't even notice it. I will tell you why I respond. It's because you're fasting to please yourselves. Even while you fast, you keep oppressing your workers. What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? Remember, no division between the brethren. We're to be united. A house divided cannot stand. What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me. You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind. You dress in burlap and cover yourself with ashes. Is that what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the Lord? No, this is the kind of fasting I want. Free those who are wrongly imprisoned. Lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them and do not hide from relatives who need your help. I will exchange your bronze for gold, your iron for silver and Oh, excuse me. I knew I was reading wrong. I thought that's not right. Let me go back. Give clothes to those who need them and do not hide from relatives who need your help. Then your salvation will come like the dawn and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind. It'll be your rear guard. Like when the Israelites were leaving Egypt and God was their rear guard. Then when you call, the Lord will answer. Yes, I am here. He will quickly reply. Remove the heavy yoke of oppression. Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors. Stop causing divisions. Feed the hungry and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon. The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls and a restorer of homes. A restorer of homes. Look at that. Keep the Sabbath day holy. Don't pursue your own interests on that day, but enjoy the Sabbath and speak it with delight as the Lord's holy day. Honor the Sabbath and everything you do on that day and don't follow your own desires or talk idly. See that? Don't talk idly. On Sundays, are you gathered after a church service and tearing down your brethren? Are you sowing seeds of discord even within the leadership? Is there a spirit of witchcraft operating and you don't even realize it? Go before the Lord. Humble yourselves. Surrender. And ask him to purify you like snow and to purge anything out of you that's not of him. To make sure that you have the right spirit, the Holy Spirit, the spirit of truth working in you, out and through you, and no other spirits are operating. Rebuke anything that's unclean and not of God, any spirit. Purge me of hidden sin, O God, of secret sin, O God. Keep me from presumptive sins, O God. Read Psalm nineteen. Honor the Sabbath and everything you do on that day and don't follow your own desires or talk idly. Then the Lord will be your delight. I will give you great honor and satisfy you with the inheritance I promised to your ancestor Jacob. I, the Lord, have spoken. This speaks of healing, of restoration, of a new life. And then he wanted me to finish up with Romans two, eleven. Romans two, eleven. At Romans two, eleven, he wanted me to point out for God does not show favoritism. God does not show favoritism. God doesn't show favoritism. We are to be a spirit led people that are obedient, that are surrendered. that are truly being led by the Spirit of God. And we are all a part of the Lord Jesus Christ. When we become believers, we put on the garment of Christ. We literally wear Christ like a blanket. And we are wearing His clothes And we are to take him wherever he wants to go and speak only his words. So when you're clothed with righteousness, when you're clothed with Christ, how can you utter such words that hurt people? How can you try to destroy an anointed one's purpose? Nothing will stop what God has ordained. And God lifts up whom he pleases. We all were born to fulfill a purpose. I may be the arm. You may be the toe. I may be the toe. You may be the arm. Does it matter? If you're led by the Spirit, if you're in alignment, if you're obedient to where He sends you, if you're not judging the outcome, trying to force an outcome, not trying to dictate to God how it's going to look, what way it's going to turn out, if you truly are surrendered and being led and let go, then you will know when God speaks to you by way of the Holy Spirit and tells you to open a door for that sister in Christ to go and minister to that recovery center or to go here and minister to this place because that's where God has sent you. Are you trying in your own flesh to control where you go, what you say, or someone else trying to do that and manipulate you. That spirit of manipulation, that Jezebel spirit, as others call it, that spirit of witchcraft that can come in and operate, which is basically gossip within the church. Be careful that you aren't tearing down God's appointed and anointed soldier. That's going to lead a nation. Would you have tore down Moses? Abraham? Would you? You have to ask yourself these questions. Would you have been one of those religious leaders that crucified Jesus? Aren't you a Sadducee and a Pharisee? And you're casting discord among the brethren, judging by the law with a religious spirit. I'm asking you these hard questions because I've had to ask them of myself. I've been in the floor crying out to God in my secret place, asking him to get me out of me. Purge me of me. Because when we're wounded, when we're broken, when we've come from childhood trauma, rejection, abuse, we can carry those seeds within us and not even realize it. And we must be delivered from those unclean spirits that can come in us and we don't even understand it or realize it. But that's why we need the Holy Spirit, the Helper, to help us get anything out of us that's not of Jesus. to show us, to show us what's hidden so it can be revealed and brought into the light of the truth and us be forever set free. For he who the sun sets free is free indeed. And let's look at first Peter two nine. That is the basis for everything I do in reflective spaces, ministry, his ministry. First Peter two, nine. Let's get first Peter two, nine. Let me start with eight. Actually, I'm gonna read two. So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment now that you have had a taste of the Lord's kindness. You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God's temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What's more, you are his holy priest. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God, as the scriptures say. I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced. Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him, the stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. And he is a stone that makes people stumble, that rock that makes them fall. They stumble because they do not obey God's word. And so they meet the fate that was planned for them. But you are not like that. For you are a chosen people. You are a royal priest, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God. For he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. Once you had no identity as a people, now you are God's people. Once you received no mercy, now you have received God's mercy." Dear friends, I warn you as a temporary residence and foreigners to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior and they will give honor to God when he judges the world. When he judges the world. And let's go back to nine. And I want to read nine out of a little bit of a different version. I want to read it out of the amplified. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a special people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies, the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections of him who called you out of the darkness. and into his marvelous light out of the darkness and into his marvelous light and isn't that our message today come out of the darkness and into His marvelous Light come out of the darkness and into his marvelous light It's time you choose. Are you going to partner up with the kingdom of darkness? Or are you going to partner up with the kingdom of light? Are you going to be all in or half in? Oops, I removed myself. That's what he's saying to you today. That's what he's saying to you today. That's what he's saying to you today. Are you going to come out of the kingdom of darkness and into the marvelous light? Are you going to be all in for Jesus? Are you going to be all in for Jesus? Are you going to serve him with your whole heart? Are you going to be led by the spirit of God? Are you going to be led by others? Are you going to God directly? Are you maturing and getting off of milk and moving to me to where you seek God? You seek him in the cool of the garden, in the cool of the day. And you go to God and you wait until you get an answer and you sit in the presence of God. You sit at the feet of the almighty God and you wait on him to speak to you. You wait on him to bring clarity where there's confusion. You wait on him to be a revealer of the truth to you and to show you through discernment those relationships and partnerships that no longer serve you nor the kingdom of God and are actually hindering the body of Christ. Don't become a stumbling block. Don't sow discord among the brethren. This is the message that God has for you today. I don't know who it's for, but it came back to me twice. And I feel its presence with it. So I know this is a yoke-breaking, decisive moment for someone watching. This is the moment of confirmation for what you've known in your spirit, but you didn't want to see it. You didn't want to hear it. It's really, really hard when those closest to us that we love so much sway us in the wrong direction. A little compromise here, a little compromise there. And before we know it, We're not on that narrow path. We're following the world. We're following deception or wounds from the past that break open and bleed that we never fully healed from, that find their way into our messages, into our pulpits, into our teachings, our preaching, We have to ensure that we've gotten the weeds out of our spiritual garden in our heart, that we've separated the chaff from the wheat, that it's been separated, that we've allowed God to prune us, get rid of anything that doesn't bear fruit, even if it's within us. A lot of times we sabotage our own selves. Self-sabotage is real. Just when we're rising, we can do things that could compromise who we are. We have to be very careful that we're partnering up and listening to the Holy Spirit in this season. Spirit-led, obedient. Soldiers, sold out for Christ, bold, on fire, and ready to bring in the end time harvest. Is that you? Are you ready? He's asking you a question today. It's time to decide. It's time to decide. Come out of the darkness and into his marvelous light. And that's what he has for you today. That's what he has for you today. That's what he has for you today. I'm Tammy Toney-Butler, Evangelist, Author, humble servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. And today, a messenger of a not so popular message. But I don't get to choose what I speak. I have to speak what he tells me to and when he tells me. That's what I have to do. And sometimes it's a really hard truth that someone needs to hear. Glory be to Jesus. Glory be to Jesus. Glory be to Jesus. May you find freedom this day in this wonderful environment. It is wonderful.