In the Garden of Affliction

Hello. Welcome. I'm Tammy Toney-Butler, Healing Evangelist. And I came to you today to give you a message, a message of hope, a message of healing, a message to hang on in those times of affliction. Stand strong. Stand firm. Stay rooted in God's word. Know that he's with you during those garden moments. The Garden of Gethsemane was an olive press for Jesus. We all have our olive press moments, our seasons. We're being crushed, afflicted, taking on blow by blow. And the only thing that we can do is to stand on the foundation of God's Word and the promises that he lays out in his word. And many of you feel broken, lost, or misunderstood. You feel like nobody sees you, that you just keep getting beaten down, that you can't rise up. But I'm here to tell you, you can rise up, and he's calling you to. He's calling you to believe in what he placed inside of you. and to know who you are in Christ Jesus. Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose again and is seated in heavenly places with Abba Father to give you an abundant life, to take away the condemnation of sin, and to restore the relationship that was broken in the garden. Adam and Eve had a choice in that garden. But they were deceived. They still had a choice as to what voice to listen to. My sheep know my voice. They had a choice that day. And you have a choice too. What voice will you listen to? Are you going to listen to that negative voice from the enemy that says you'll never make it, that you don't matter? Are you going to listen to God's voice? that says you're empowered, you're going to be prosperous in Christ Jesus, that you're more than a conqueror, that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, that you can soar like an eagle, you can renew your strength, run and not grow weary, walk and not faint. That's what God's word says. So during these times, we must seek God's word. Let's just pick one quick scripture and look at it. Just one. I won't give you many. This is just my little quick talk. A message for you. I won't keep you long. I'm reading out of the Complete Jewish Bible by David H. Stern. And the Lord led me to Psalm, let's see, I think it was Psalm, Psalm, Psalm. Psalm. And it, he led me down to Psalm starting in Verse four, don't they ever learn all those evildoers who eat up my people as if eating bread and never call on Adonai? There they are utterly terrified, for God is with those who are righteous. You may mock the plans of the poor, but their refuge is Adonai. How I wish Israel's salvation would come out of Zion. When Adonai restores his people's fortunes, Jacob will rejoice. Israel will be glad. See that? See that? But their refuge is Adonai. It doesn't matter what you're facing. God is with you. He is with you in every storm. He's with you no matter what you're facing. You just need to call out to him and believe in his son, Lord Jesus Christ, who died on the cross, and ask his Holy Spirit to live inside of you. Ask him to forgive you of your sins. Say, I know I missed it today, God. I repent. I turn back towards you, God. I've fallen away, or I haven't been doing what I should. And I know that you're talking to me,e and I've been in open rebellion. But I surrender all that to you now, God. And I'll follow you. I follow you. Nevertheless, not your will. Not my will, but yours be done. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done. Let's look at that one quick, one more quick scripture. And then I will finish this up. Matthew, we're in Matthew, starting where Jesus agonizes in the garden. Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane and saith unto the disciples, sit ye here while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. How many of you have been very heavy in your spirit, agonizing to the point where you feel like you're dying inside? Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death. Tarry ye here and watch with me. He just needed them to sit with Him, pray with Him, and be there with Him. And of course they fell asleep. And he went a little farther and fell on his face and prayed, saying, oh, my father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt. And I was reading out of the King James. Jesus had a moment in that garden where his flesh tried to kick in. But he didn't let his flesh rule him. His flesh did not rule him. He came to do the will of the Father. And he let nothing, nothing stop him. He rebuked Satan, and Satan fled from him. And you have to rebuke the enemy now and say, I know what God's promised me. I know what he has for me. He has great plans for me. And I won't settle in the wilderness. I'm going to fight until I get to the promised land. I want everything he has for me. I want his will. I give up trying to be the captain of my own boat. I give up. Lord Jesus, you pilot this boat. Abba Father, I just want to do your will. I just want to do your will. So ask him during this season of trial, what is he trying to show you? What's he trying to get rid of or get out of you that no longer serves you, and is contrary to the plans he has for you? Is it something inside of you you need to let go of? Bitterness, anger, unforgiveness, hate, resentment, pride? Or is it someone you need to let go of? Someone who, instead of asking you to come to church with them or go to that meeting with them, wants to drag you to a bar, or they want to drag you, you know, to the mall to shop when you are already struggling to have funds in your bank account. Make sure you surround yourself with the right people this season, people that bring out the best in you, that bring out and assist the call that God's placed on your life, that help you in your kingdom assignment instead of trying to stop or thwart it. And remember, we don't wrestle against flesh. We wrestle against powers of principality, evil in high places. So we have to remember to put on our body armor, as it says in Ephesians 6. And we have to remember to seek out the word of God and use it as our sword. Use it as our sword. And we will defeat the enemy every time, just like Jesus defeated him in the wilderness and in the desert. When He, you know, went out for forty days when He was being tested, and He was led by the Holy Spirit during that season so that he could be built up in faith, strengthened, and His flesh die. He had to literally crucify His flesh there before He could ever walk out the Cross. Some of you need to crucify the things inside of you that no longer serve you, so that you can step into what God's calling you to this season, or into that ministry, or where He's placing you. Because if you don't let those things inside you die away, they could compromise your call. They could compromise where he's taking you, where he's leading you. And he's not going to set you up for failure because he is a good father. And that's why sometimes you have to go round and round and round and round again in the promised land, in the wilderness, so that you can get to the promised land, so that you're able to steward the blessings that God gives you. You're able to walk without succumbing to the spiritual warfare and the enemy's attacks. When you are elevated on that platform, are you, You know, you are a leader in that company. So God protects us. So during those seasons of lack, those seasons of famine, those seasons of crushing or trial, blow after blow, or where you don't see any movement, you see all these blockages and nothing breaking. You feel like you want to give birth, and you just can't push it out. Then seek God, seek his will. you know really call out to him and say god god what is it that you have for me this season what is it that you want from me god i only want to do your will god what is it in me that's hindering my growth who do i need to let go of what do i need to let go of help me oh god and he will help you And he will help you and set you on solid footing, on a firm foundation. And you will overcome that garden of affliction, that place you find yourself in. And you will step into all he's called you to be this season. And that's the word he has for you today. And I'm Tammy Toney-Butler, Healing Evangelist. Go and conquer. And remember, sin no more.