Weeping endures for a season

Good morning. Welcome. I'm Tammy Toney-Butler with Reflective Spaces Ministry.

Thanks for following us live.

Oh, Holy Spirit, come. Show them You in this hour.

For I never want them to see me. I only want them to see the Light and Truth of Jesus Christ.

Every time I go live, I feel like that nervous little girl from so long ago when all those bad things happened to her.

As a survivor of child sex trafficking,

I've been on my healing journey.

And Christ set me free and broke every chain.

And my weeping endured for a season.

And now I experience His joy, His peace, and His love.

Freedom comes from knowing the Truth of the Cross, of the blood of Jesus, and how it covers a multitude of sins.

Jesus loved the sinner and sat at a table with many people of ill repute that many would condemn and did.

But He chose them because He saw through their weaknesses, through their sin, to their heart, to the light that was hidden inside of them. And circumstances had tried to darken it.

They refused to be broken.

He met them where they were in need. And their weeping endured for a season.

He will meet you where you are. And even though you can't see Him, He's there.

He's always working on our behalf.

He's the pillar, the cornerstone, and the foundation of the church.

Oh, Holy Spirit, have Your way in this time.

Lord Jesus, everything we are is in Your Name.

Let them see You this hour, this time.

Let them not see me.

For I'm a sinner.

I'm nothing without you, Jesus.

Everything I am is because You've placed me in this particular spot and moment in my life.

I had no life until You gave it to me. And everything I do is because of You.

I live in surrendered obedience to the Truth, the Light that sets me free restores me and redeems me.

Let them see You this hour, this time that we have together, these moments, and let them not see me.

Oh, Abba Father, let them experience Your peace that surpasses all understanding.

Be with them this day as they struggle to get through yet another day.

They are forced to go to jobs and do things to bring in revenue for their families.

Help them, Father, to know their Kingdom purpose and to surrender to Your will for their life and not their own.

Help them, Father, to see You as I see You, to love You as I love You.

Help them to see that the Lord Jesus is the only healing Truth.

Today, we are faced with much deception in this world.

We can only look to the Light and Truth of the Cross to save us in this hour and draw strength from His Wellspring of Living Water, which will never run dry.

Come to me, all of you who are weary, and I will give you rest.

I will begin reading the scriptures He gave me in the order He gave them to me.

I'll be reading out of the Life Application Study Bible, the New International Version, the reader's version.

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Help us to spread this Truth and this Word.

Thank you to all of our listeners around the world.

We see you. We love you. We care for you. We pray for you.

Many of you are facing trials and tribulations. Your weeping has endured for a long season, and you wonder when it will end.

Well, I prophesy to you today that it will end. It will end. For evil is being exposed.

The dark cannot reside where the Light is.

And victory is ours.

Victory is ours.

Victory is ours.

Let's read John 11 now, and then I'll move to Acts 4.

John 11 and Acts 4.

John 11
New International Reader's Version

Lazarus Dies
11 A man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village where Mary and her sister Martha lived.

2 Mary would later pour perfume on the Lord. She would also wipe Jesus’ feet with her hair. It was her brother Lazarus who was sick in bed.

3 So the sisters sent a message to Jesus. “Lord,” they told him, “the one you love is sick.”

4 When Jesus heard this, he said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory. God’s Son will receive glory because of it.”

5 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

6 So after he heard Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was for two more days.

{This speaks to obedience to the Father. Recognizing that Kingdom purpose and obeying is higher than our own flesh and yielding to emotions and negative circumstances. We have to think of unity in the church. We have to be the bride of truth, put down our own self-interest, and look to glorify and strengthen the body of believers}.

6 So after he heard Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was for two more days.

7 And then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”

8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short time ago the Jews there tried to kill you with stones. Are you still going back?”

9 Jesus answered, “Aren’t there 12 hours of daylight? Anyone who walks during the day won’t trip and fall. They can see because of this world’s light.

10 But when they walk at night, they’ll trip and fall. They have no light.”

{And remember, the day is walking in the knowledge of God, the Light of the Truth. You won't stumble when you follow God's will and trust in Him. But it's when you follow the darkness of this world in the flesh that you will stumble, you will fall, and you will face judgment. It is certain}.

{Again, Let's read that again}.

9 Jesus answered, “Aren’t there 12 hours of daylight? Anyone who walks during the day won’t trip and fall. They can see because of this world’s light.

10 But when they walk at night, they’ll trip and fall. They have no light.”

11 After he said this, Jesus went on speaking to them. “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep,” he said. “But I am going there to wake him up.”

12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he’s sleeping, he will get better.”

13 Jesus had been speaking about the death of Lazarus. But his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.

{Remember, the kingdom ways are higher than our ways. It's difficult for us to understand, but we aren't to question or have doubt or unbelief. We are to accept in faith. Blind obedience}.

12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he’s sleeping, he will get better.”

13 Jesus had been speaking about the death of Lazarus. But his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.

14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead.

15 For your benefit, I am glad I was not there. Now you will believe. But let us go to him.”

16 Then Thomas, who was also called Didymus, spoke to the rest of the disciples. “Let us go also,” he said. “Then we can die with Jesus.”

{There was a specific purpose and reason for his delay}.

Jesus Comforts the Sisters of Lazarus

17 When Jesus arrived, he found out that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.

18 Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem.

19 Many Jews had come to Martha and Mary. They had come to comfort them because their brother was dead.

20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him. But Mary stayed at home.

21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “I wish you had been here! Then my brother would not have died.

22 But I know that even now God will give you anything you ask for.”

{Let me read that again}.

21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “I wish you had been here! Then my brother would not have died.

{How many times have we questioned that? And God?

I know I did when I used to sit huddled in the bathroom reading my Bible, and the monster, the boogeyman, would knock on the door, trying to get me to come out.

And I knew I would have to leave the Light of the Truth of the Word of God and go out and do unspeakable acts as a child, as a sex trafficking survivor, looking to the Word of God to cover me and save me, huddled in there praying, God, rescue me.

And He didn't. I had a beef with God for years, but then I recognized. that it was because of Him and reading that Bible that they didn't break me, nor my spirit, nor my fire.

And I withstood that day, those years of torture and torment.

My weeping endured for many seasons. But now, by His stripes, Ye were healed.

 I've been healed.

He was in my mess and circumstances, but I couldn't see it. My mother made choices that put me in harm's way, and she made those choices based on survival and trauma mode. Not choices but trauma responses to her own trauma.

I do not fault her, nor did, and forgave her before she died.

Things aren't black and white. It's hard. People are making tough choices now.

Parenting in survival mode. getting through any way they can.

We are not to judge. He was with me. My mother put me in harm's way, not God.

My mother was supposed to protect me, but she did not. But His Word, reading the Bible, that little girl was sustained by the Light and Word of the Truth of God. And that's the only reason I can sit here today before you.
 
Let's keep reading. And let me say that this is life to me. This is Truth. This is real to me because I've lived it. Everything I am is because of Him, because of Jesus, Lord Jesus}.

21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “I wish you had been here! Then my brother would not have died.

22 But I know that even now God will give you anything you ask for.”

{Boy, that speaks of faith, blind faith, strong faith}.

23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again. This will happen when people are raised from the dead on the last day.”

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even if they die.

26 And whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied. “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God. I believe that you are the one who is supposed to come into the world.”

28 After she said this, she went back home. She called her sister Mary to one side to talk to her. “The Teacher is here,” Martha said. “He is asking for you.”

29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him.

30 Jesus had not yet entered the village. He was still at the place where Martha had met him.

31 Some Jews had been comforting Mary in the house. They noticed how quickly she got up and went out. So they followed her. They thought she was going to the tomb to mourn there.

32 Mary reached the place where Jesus was. When she saw him, she fell at his feet. She said, “Lord, I wish you had been here! Then my brother would not have died.”

{And again, blame.

Again, grief caused us to say things that we didn't even mean, but we were just heartbroken. And sometimes, we say things in anger and things we don't mean. She was grief-stricken and hurt.

And called out, but where was He?

But He was there, ready.

He's there waiting on you, ready to raise you from your spiritual death, from your famine, like He was with me.

From the shame, the guilt, the fear, and the regret that you carry.

Even though you're alive, and even though you're a company CEO or even though you're financially strong, you're dying inside.

One step away. from suicide or ending it all.

Don't do it. He sees you. He's there reaching for you in that miry pit you find yourself in.

Reach out for His hand of healing and hope.

He's waiting to restore and redeem you as He did me.

He gave me life, joy, and peace, no matter the circumstances}.

33 Jesus saw her crying. He saw that the Jews who had come along with her were crying also. His spirit became very sad, and he was troubled.

{He had an emotional reaction. His flesh reacted}.

34 “Where have you put him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied.

35 Jesus wept.

{That's the next verse}.

35 Jesus wept.

{He cried. He sees you where you are. He sees those tears. Weeping will only endure for a season.

You have His hope, His Light of the Truth, to guide you. He is your compass. He will see you through. He wept. He felt it. He bore our sicknesses and our infirmaries. He came to give us life and He knows what we struggle with. He knows that you struggle to say no to that drug or that bottle of wine or say no to that porn site or say no when you're succumbing to that sin.

He sees you. He knows you. Confess it. Father, come live in your heart, and you'll never be the same}.

36 Then the Jews said, “See how much he loved him!”

37 But some of them said, “He opened the eyes of the blind man. Couldn’t he have kept this man from dying?”

{He could have. He could have rushed there. He knew he was sick. He's an all-knowing God. But He also knew you have to obey God's will, the will of Father.

It is about obedience to the Father and His will, not yours. And it is all about timing in the Kingdom of God. You will be rescued out of your circumstances. He will see you through. That door will open. But it is not in your will and your timing. It is in God's.

You must get your flesh out of it and recognize God's timing. And endure, stay strong in faith, knowing He will see you through. That promise will be fulfilled}.

Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead

38 Once more Jesus felt very sad.


{Once again, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb}.
 
He came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone in front of the entrance.
 
{that emotional reaction as we feel it. We act out of emotions. Come on, we're human. But we have to let our Holy Spirit, let the Spirit guide us, the Truth, the Light of the promises of His Word, and walk by faith, not by sight, not by the circumstances of the world, but the Truth that we know and the promises of God's word. Walk by faith. Walk by the invisible and not the visible}.

38 Once more Jesus felt very sad. He came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone in front of the entrance.

39 “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad smell. Lazarus has been in the tomb for four days.”

40 Then Jesus said, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believe, you will see God’s glory?”

{Again, obedience to the Father. And He did not let the stench of death keep Him from doing and stopping Him from acting. Many of you feel like you're too dirty or unclean to be cleansed by the Lord Jesus for Him to raise you from your spiritual death. And rescue you out of your shame and guilt and despair and depression and addiction. But you are never too dirty to seek the Lord Jesus}.

41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up. He said, “Father, I thank you for hearing me.

42 I know that you always hear me. But I said this for the benefit of the people standing here. I said it so they will believe that you sent me.”

43 Then Jesus called in a loud voice. He said, “Lazarus, come out!”

44 The dead man came out. His hands and feet were wrapped with strips of linen. A cloth was around his face.

Jesus said to them, “Take off the clothes he was buried in and let him go.”
       
How many of you are dressed in sackcloth?

Grieving for a dying church in a dying world, even in your own circumstances, break free of all that and see the light, hope, and truth of the cross of Jesus's death and resurrection.

He is the way, the truth, and the life.

And then, it goes on to talk about how the religious leaders went on to fight to kill Jesus because they did not want their life to change.

They didn't want their self-centeredness.

They had pride. They had ego. They had power. They didn't want that to change.

This man threatened them. Even though the truth and the miracles were right there before them, they had hardened hearts and chose not to believe.

Don't let your heart be so hardened that you do not believe.

Now, let's move on to Acts 4.

When we go to Acts 4 this talks about Peter and John before the Sanhedrin.

Acts 4
New International Reader's Version

Peter and John Are Taken to the Sanhedrin

4 Peter and John were speaking to the people. The priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees came up to the apostles.

2 They were very upset by what the apostles were teaching the people. The apostles were saying that people can be raised from the dead. They said this can happen because Jesus rose from the dead.

{which we saw in John 11 that He raised Lazarus from the dead, and He himself was raised from the dead. Again, He confirms it in two witnesses, the resurrection Truth of the Cross, Jesus, the blood}.

3 So the temple authorities arrested Peter and John. It was already evening, so they put them in prison until the next day.

4 But many who heard the message believed. The number of men who believed grew to about 5,000.

5 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem.

6 Annas, the high priest, was there. So were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and other people in the high priest’s family.

7 They had Peter and John brought to them. They wanted to question them. “By what power did you do this?” they asked. “And through whose name?”

8 Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit.

{that boldness filled with the Holy Spirit, as I am now able to do this message for you},

He said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people!

9 Are you asking us to explain our actions today? Do you want to know why we were kind to a man who couldn’t walk? Are you asking how he was healed?

10 Then listen to this, you and all the people of Israel! You nailed Jesus Christ of Nazareth to the cross. But God raised him from the dead. It is through Jesus’ name that this man stands healed in front of you.

11 Scripture says that Jesus is

“ ‘the stone you builders did not accept.
    But it has become the most important stone of all.’ (Psalm 118:22)

{the foundation, the unshakable truth, salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name in our heaven given to men which we must be saved. He is the only door to heaven. The only way is through Jesus Christ}.

12 You can’t be saved by believing in anyone else. God has given people no other name under heaven that will save them.”

13 The leaders saw how bold Peter and John were. They also realized that Peter and John were ordinary men with no training. This surprised the leaders. They realized that these men had been with Jesus.

14 The leaders could see the man who had been healed. He was standing there with them. So there was nothing they could say.

15 They ordered Peter and John to leave the Sanhedrin. Then they talked things over.

16 “What can we do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed an unusual miracle. We can’t say it didn’t happen.

17 We have to stop this thing. It must not spread any further among the people. We have to warn these men. They must never speak to anyone in Jesus’ name again.”

[And what name is that? The name of Jesus, the name that is above every other name}.

18 Once again the leaders called in Peter and John. They commanded them not to speak or teach at all in Jesus’ name.

19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right from God’s point of view? Should we listen to you? Or should we listen to God? You be the judges!

20 There’s nothing else we can do. We have to speak about the things we’ve seen and heard.”

21 The leaders warned them again. Then they let them go. They couldn’t decide how to punish Peter and John. They knew that all the people were praising God for what had happened.

22 The man who had been healed by the miracle was over 40 years old.

The Believers Pray

23 Peter and John were allowed to leave. They went back to their own people. They reported everything the chief priests and the elders had said to them.

24 The believers heard this. Then they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Lord and King,” they said, “you made the heavens, the earth and the sea. You made everything in them.

25 Long ago you spoke by the Holy Spirit. You spoke through the mouth of our father David, who served you. You said,

“ ‘Why are the nations angry?
    Why do the people make useless plans?

26 The kings of the earth rise up.
    The rulers of the earth gather together
against the Lord
    and against his anointed king.’ (Psalm 2:1,2)

27 In fact, Herod and Pontius Pilate met with the Gentiles in this city. They also met with the people of Israel. All of them made plans against your holy servant Jesus. He is the one you anointed.

28 They did what your power and purpose had already decided should happen.

{See that}

28 They did what your power and purpose had already decided should happen.

{Abba Father is in control. It doesn't matter who is president. It doesn't matter who is a queen or king. It doesn't matter who has all the wealth of the world. God is in control. There is no fear in perfect love. So even though you can believe or think because of your circumstances, your flesh, that we are in dark times, times of deception, and you can fear what lies ahead, there's no fear in perfect love. God is in control. And His will will be done. And we can rest on the promises of His Word. No weapon formed against us as believers shall ever prosper. We are covered by the blood of Jesus and the hand of the almighty God. You will never be forsaken. He will never leave you nor forsake you}.

29 Now, Lord, consider the bad things they say they are going to do. Help us to be very bold when we speak your word.

30 Stretch out your hand to heal. Do signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. They were bold when they spoke God’s word.

{The next section is titled, The Believers Share Their Possessions}.

The Believers Share What They Own

32 All the believers were agreed in heart and mind.

{There's that unity we speak of}.

They didn’t claim that anything they had was their own. Instead, they shared everything they owned.

33 With great power the apostles continued their teaching. They were telling people that the Lord Jesus had risen from the dead. And God’s grace was working powerfully in all of them.

34 So there were no needy persons among them. From time to time, those who owned land or houses sold them. They brought the money from the sales.

35 They put it down at the apostles’ feet. It was then given out to anyone who needed it.

36 Joseph was a Levite from Cyprus. The apostles called him Barnabas. The name Barnabas means Son of Help.

37 Barnabas sold a field he owned. He brought the money from the sale. He put it down at the apostles’ feet.

How many of you are sowing into the Word of God? 

How many of you are tithing? 

How many of you are sharing with a neighbor? 

How many of you are loving your neighbor like you love yourself? 

We are called in this hour to strengthen and unify the body of believers, the church. 

Everything Jesus is in His name. He is our Lord, our Savior, our redeemer. 

He will set you free. He did me. 

I sold everything I owned to follow Him. 

I've come to you from a little shed we renewed, which is very small. 

And I live in a 576 square foot little house. And that includes the porch.
 
I sold my sailboat, my truck, everything. 

I had to answer the call. 

I was set free. Every chain is broken. 

No longer addicted. 

No longer in despair after being victimized as a child. 

Robbed of the innocence that I so believed defined me. 

But it did not define me at all. 

Christ washed me clean, set me free, and on a pathway to deliver the others out of Egypt. 

Remember, even though you get them out of Egypt, is Egypt still in them? 

You can be delivered out of bondage, but you can still be in bondage. 

You can be delivered out of addiction, but you can still be in the circumstances and the roots that led to you coping with your underlying trauma, which you did through drugs or alcohol or sex, which continues that addictive cycle. 

It's time to break through every generational lie and every generational trauma.
 
It's time to break free and break into who God's called you to be. 

It is now the time we have to go out and labor for Christ.
 
Bring in that great harvest. 

I'm calling laborers into the field in the name of Jesus. 

Break free of your shame and guilt to bring your brother along. 

But we are in a dark time, and the truth will free us. 

Pour everything you have into this great season of harvest time. 

Before it's too late. 

Where there will be judgment if we fail to repent. 

Follow Lord Jesus. 

I break off every veil on your heart and eyes, shrouding you from the truth. 

Break in the name of Jesus. 

See the truth and let it set you free.
 
You will have peace like you cannot, just like you've never known. 

And that love will heal you as it's healed me and countless others. 

Unite, brothers and sisters. 

Let's fight the good fight of faith. 

Victory is ours. 

As we ride on our white horse of truth. 

The hour has come. 

And the Messiah is coming. 

It's time for us to unite.
 
Division or deception will no longer affect the body of believers in Christ Jesus.
 
And that is what He has for you today. 

And I see all the comments. I see everyone listening from all over the world, from Pakistan, from Uganda, and Kenya. 

I thank you all for tuning in. 

God has not forgotten you. 

Many of you lose your life even for celebrating and spreading the Gospel. 

He sees you and will meet your needs in your villages, cities, and towns. 

I plead the blood of Jesus over you. over all of you as you speak the truth, and the truth shall set us free.

In the mighty, miraculous name of Lord Jesus, may you see Him this hour, not me, for I am nothing. He is everything. 

Don't put your faith and trust in me. 

You put it in, Lord Jesus. He is the only reason I'm here, the only reason I had the boldness to speak to you. 

Thank you all who are listening. 

God bless you and keep you. 

In the mighty name of Jesus. 

Amen.