Who is not worthy to receive the gift of the Gospel?

Hi there. Welcome. Good afternoon. I guess it's morning for some people. It depends on where you're listening to us from. I'm Tammy Toney-Butler with Reflective Spaces Ministry.

I have a message today that God placed on my heart. The Holy Spirit laid it on my heart.

It's a message He has laid on my heart for quite a long time.

And it was difficult for me.

I had to make sure I could articulate how He gave it to me so that I could bring it and His Truth.

Everything that I am is because of the Holy Spirit and the work He's doing inside of me, my Jesus, and everything.

Most of you know that I'm a survivor of child sex trafficking, and Christ set me free and broke every chain.

I'm a sinner whom He set free in His grace, mercy, compassion, and love for me.

 It just has transformed my life and continues to do so. And so I wanted to bring His message today.

And it's who's not worthy of the Gospel of the love of the Gospel of the freedom of the Gospel.

And it is a controversial topic that I'm going to discuss. He will speak through me today.

And that's the thing is, when you're a Christian, a believer, you follow Christ, you follow the Bible, to follow the Spirit of the Lord, and it will lead us even in these difficult, challenging times, even in the world that we're in today to where it's difficult.

We have choices and things that we didn't have even years ago.

And so you have to minister to the times even, without compromising the Gospel's Truth.

Holy Spirit, I invite you into this. This can't be about me. It can only be about You, Your truth, Your words, Your healing presence, Your love, Your mercy, Your kindness.

Father, they need to see You, Abba Father. They don't need to see me. I won't do anything. They need to see the Truth, the Truth of the freedom that loving You brings.

Many of them are struggling, confused, and unsure of who they are, where they fit in, or where they belong.

Sadly, some wonder if they even need to be in this world. Maybe they're contemplating suicide. We have the hotline support information on this stream, and it'll also be in the show notes and things when we edit.

There's help for you if you're contemplating suicide. Don't do it.

I lost my dad to suicide. We buried him on Father's Day when I was around 15.

So, my adverse childhood experience score is quite high in the adversity that I've faced. I made choices based on survival mode and trauma responses.

Trauma defined me for so long.

Right now, I'm that frightened little girl when I go live, and I have to draw from His Wellspring of Living Water, His strength, and His Truth because I certainly cannot do this in my own power and strength.

Holy Spirit, have Your way in this time as we dive into the scriptures and look for the Truth.

Who is worthy of the Gospel?

Who's worthy to be set free?  I already know the answer, but let's dive in and let His Word show us as we unpack this suitcase and look for the gift that is inside.

The gift of salvation is the gift of Jesus, which He freely gives to all the hungry and thirsty who come to Him to drink.

Let's dive in.

I will be reading Acts 12 from the New International Version, the Life Application Study Bible.

And then I will go into Acts.

And, I'm sorry, I will start in Acts 12 and then go to Luke.

I'm trying to give it to you in the order He gave me.

Acts 12
New International Reader's Version

An Angel Helps Peter Escape From Prison
12 About this time, King Herod arrested some people who belonged to the church. He planned to make them suffer greatly.

2 He had James killed with a sword. James was John’s brother.

3 Herod saw that the death of James pleased some Jews. So he arrested Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

4 After Herod arrested Peter, he put him in prison. Peter was placed under guard. He was watched by four groups of four soldiers each. Herod planned to put Peter on public trial. It would take place after the Passover Feast.

5 So Peter was kept in prison. But the church prayed hard to God for him.

6 It was the night before Herod was going to bring him to trial. Peter was sleeping between two soldiers. Two chains held him there. Lookouts stood guard at the entrance.

7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared. A light shone in the prison cell. The angel struck Peter on his side. Peter woke up. “Quick!” the angel said. “Get up!” The chains fell off Peter’s wrists.

8 Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” Peter did so. “Put on your coat,” the angel told him. “Follow me.”

9 Peter followed him out of the prison. But he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening. He thought he was seeing a vision.

10 They passed the first and second guards. Then they came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself. They went through it. They walked the length of one street. Suddenly the angel left Peter.

11 Then Peter realized what had happened. He said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent his angel. He set me free from Herod’s power. He saved me from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”

12 When Peter understood what had happened, he went to Mary’s house. Mary was the mother of John Mark. Many people had gathered in her home. They were praying there.

13 Peter knocked at the outer entrance. A servant named Rhoda came to answer the door.

14 She recognized Peter’s voice. She was so excited that she ran back without opening the door. “Peter is at the door!” she exclaimed.

15 “You’re out of your mind,” they said to her. But she kept telling them it was true. So they said, “It must be his angel.”

16 Peter kept on knocking. When they opened the door and saw him, they were amazed.

17 Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet. He explained how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this,” he said. Then he went to another place.

18 In the morning the soldiers were bewildered. They couldn’t figure out what had happened to Peter.

19 So Herod had them look everywhere for Peter. But they didn’t find him. Then Herod questioned the guards closely. He ordered that they be put to death.

Herod Dies
Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.
20 He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon.
 
{I hope I pronounced this correctly}.

So they got together and asked for a meeting with him. This was because they depended on the king’s country to supply them with food. They gained the support of Blastus and then asked for peace. Blastus was a trusted personal servant of the king.

21 The appointed day came. Herod was seated on his throne. He was wearing his royal robes. He made a speech to the people.

22 Then they shouted, “This is the voice of a god. It’s not the voice of a man.”

23 Right away an angel of the Lord struck Herod down. Herod had not given praise to God. So he was eaten by worms and died.

{He took the credit. He had pride. But God was in charge. It didn't matter. Did not matter. His position and his authority. We have to remember God is in charge}.

24 But God’s word continued to spread and many people believed the message.

Barnabas and Saul Are Sent Off
25 Barnabas and Saul finished their task. Then they returned from Jerusalem. They took John Mark with them.

And now I want to go into Luke.

Luke 6
New International Reader's Version

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath Day
6 One Sabbath day Jesus was walking through the grainfields. His disciples began to break off some heads of grain. They rubbed them in their hands and ate them.

2 Some of the Pharisees said, “It is against the Law to do this on the Sabbath day. Why are you doing it?”

{Because they believe that you went by the law. But remember, Jesus came to do away with that. What is His greatest commandment? Love}.

3 Jesus answered them, “Haven’t you ever read about what David did? He and his men were hungry.

4 He entered the house of God and took the holy bread. He ate the bread that only priests were allowed to eat. David also gave some to his men.”

5 Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath day.”

{Jesus is Lord of all. We have to follow his greatest commandment, which is love. And remember, if we have love, then we don't sin and have all those other things like wanting to kill people and going against the Ten Commandments because He changes our life}.

6 On another Sabbath day, Jesus went into the synagogue and was teaching. A man whose right hand was weak and twisted was there.

7 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were trying to find fault with Jesus.

{They wanted a reason because they didn't like His popularity. They didn't like that it threatened their power. They didn't like that the people followed Him. It was, again, pride}.

So they watched him closely. They wanted to see if he would heal on the Sabbath day.

8 But Jesus knew what they were thinking. He spoke to the man who had the weak and twisted hand. “Get up and stand in front of everyone,” he said. So the man got up and stood there.

9 Then Jesus said to them, “What does the Law say we should do on the Sabbath day? Should we do good? Or should we do evil? Should we save life? Or should we destroy it?”

{Did Jesus not come to give life? Did He not come to give life to everyone? The Jesus I know did. He ate with sinners, prostitutes, and tax collectors. Everybody was able to sit at His table}.

10 He looked around at all of them. Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did, and his hand had been made as good as new.

{The man had to participate in his healing. He had to stretch it out and believe and trust in Jesus that He would heal him}.

11 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were very angry. They began to talk to one another about what they might do to Jesus.

{The religious leaders again}.

Jesus Chooses the Twelve Apostles
12 On one of those days, Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray. He spent the night praying to God.

13 When morning came, he called for his disciples to come to him. He chose 12 of them and made them apostles. Here are their names.

14 Simon, whom Jesus named Peter, and his brother Andrew

James

John

Philip

Bartholomew

15 Matthew

Thomas

James, son of Alphaeus

Simon who was called the Zealot

16 Judas, son of James

and Judas Iscariot who would later hand Jesus over to his enemies

 {Very important here. This is in Luke again. We're starting in Luke 6:17}.

Jesus Gives Blessings and Warnings
17 Jesus went down the mountain with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there. A large number of other people were there too. They came from all over Judea, including Jerusalem. They also came from the coastland around Tyre and Sidon.

18 They had all come to hear Jesus and to be healed of their sicknesses. People who were troubled by evil spirits were made well.

 {It was Jesus's desire to heal everyone. By His stripes, ye were healed. Doesn't matter your sin, your affliction. I sinned. Doesn't matter. Sin is sin. It's all bad. I mean, He saved me. Sin has consequences. It has judgment. We're to love the sinner, not compromise with the sin. We're not to accept the sin but to love the sinner, recognizing and showing them Christ's love}.

19 Everyone tried to touch Jesus. Power was coming from him and healing them all.

20 Jesus looked at his disciples. He said to them,

“Blessed are you who are needy.
    God’s kingdom belongs to you.

21 Blessed are you who are hungry now.
    You will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who are sad now.
    You will laugh.

22 Blessed are you when people hate you,
    when they have nothing to do with you
    and say bad things about you,
    and when they treat your name as something evil.
        They do all this because you are followers of the Son of Man.

23 “The prophets of long ago were treated the same way. When these things happen to you, be glad and jump for joy. You will receive many blessings in heaven.

{See, Jesus was hated. He was excluded, insulted, rejected, even called evil. Jesus. So He can relate to us, those of us who feel excluded, that we don't fit in, that everybody hates us}.

24 “But how terrible it will be for you who are rich!
    You have already had your easy life.

25 How terrible for you who are well fed now!
    You will go hungry.
How terrible for you who laugh now!
    You will cry and be sad.

26 How terrible for you when everyone says good things about you!
    Their people treated the false prophets the same way long ago.


{Jesus teaches about loving enemies}

Love Your Enemies
27 “But here is what I tell you who are listening. Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you.

28 Bless those who call down curses on you. And pray for those who treat you badly.

29 Suppose someone slaps you on one cheek. Let them slap you on the other cheek as well. Suppose someone takes your coat. Don’t stop them from taking your shirt as well.

30 Give to everyone who asks you. And if anyone takes what belongs to you, don’t ask to get it back.

31 Do to others as you want them to do to you.

32 “Suppose you love those who love you. Should anyone praise you for that? Even sinners love those who love them.

33 And suppose you do good to those who are good to you. Should anyone praise you for that? Even sinners do that.

34 And suppose you lend money to those who can pay you back. Should anyone praise you for that? Even a sinner lends to sinners, expecting them to pay everything back.

35 But love your enemies. Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then you will receive a lot in return. And you will be children of the Most High God. He is kind to people who are evil and are not thankful.

36 So have mercy, just as your Father has mercy.

{We don't get to choose who we love when we're believers, when we follow Christ. We don't get to choose who we minister to. We have to minister the Truth. Jesus is love}.

Be Fair When You Judge Other People
37 “If you do not judge other people, then you will not be judged. If you do not find others guilty, then you will not be found guilty. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good amount will be poured into your lap. It will be pressed down, shaken together, and running over. The same amount you give will be measured out to you.”

39 Jesus also gave them another example. He asked, “Can a blind person lead another blind person? Won’t they both fall into a pit?

40 The student is not better than the teacher. But everyone who is completely trained will be like their teacher.

41 “You look at the bit of sawdust in your friend’s eye. But you pay no attention to the piece of wood in your own eye.

42 How can you say to your friend, ‘Let me take the bit of sawdust out of your eye’? How can you say this while there is a piece of wood in your own eye? You pretender! First take the piece of wood out of your own eye. Then you will be able to see clearly to take the bit of sawdust out of your friend’s eye.

{We can have spiritual pride. We can believe that we aren't to minister to certain populations. We can even exclude and judge them. But we first need to look inward. I had to look inward and make sure I was doing what God had called me to do. Was I being obedient?

There is a fertile field out there, a fruitful field. But are we willing to step into it and bring Jesus's love to those marginalized and excluded? Are we able to do that? It doesn't mean we must agree with their lifestyle or partake in a sin. I don't judge. Oh man, you should see what I have done. But I'm to show them the love Jesus showed me. The acceptance He showed me. That's what we're to do: show love}.

A Tree and Its Fruit
43 “A good tree doesn’t bear bad fruit. And a bad tree doesn’t bear good fruit.

44 You can tell each tree by the kind of fruit it bears. People do not pick figs from thorns. And they don’t pick grapes from bushes.

45 A good man says good things. These come from the good that is stored up in his heart. An evil man says evil things. These come from the evil that is stored up in his heart. A person’s mouth says everything that is in their heart.

{Jesus looks at the heart. He doesn't look at the outward appearance. He goes straight to your heart. He sees you. He sees you}.

The Wise and Foolish Builders
46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and still don’t do what I say?

47 Some people come and listen to me and do what I say. I will show you what they are like.

48 They are like a man who builds a house. He digs down deep and sets it on solid rock. When a flood comes, the river rushes against the house. But the water can’t shake it. The house is well built.

49 But here is what happens when people listen to my words and do not obey them. They are like a man who builds a house on soft ground instead of solid rock. The moment the river rushes against that house, it falls down. It is completely destroyed.”
 
"And then we go on into the commentary here. It asks why people would build a house without a foundation. Perhaps to save time and avoid the hard work of repairing a stone foundation. possibly because the waterfront scenery is more attractive or because beach houses have higher social status than cliff houses. perhaps because they want to join their friends who have already settled in sandy areas, maybe because they haven't heard about the violent storms coming or because they have discounted the reports, or for some reason, they think disaster can't happen to them. Whatever their reason, those with no foundation are short-sighted, and they will be sorry. When you find yourselves listening but not obeying, what are your reasons?" {Life Application Study Bible NIRV Commentary}.

 We are called to love, to show love, and not to judge others, but to bring the Truth, the Gospel to them. Because what is the gift of the Gospel? His love is a gift to all of us.

We just have to unwrap it, open it, and accept it. Some of us may want to give it back because we don't feel worthy enough to accept that gift. So we refuse it.

 Some of us feel that If we accept it, we can't maintain it, or we will flounder or mess it up.

Some of us, again, don't feel we're too covered in murk and mire and shame and dirt that we could ever accept the gift of the Gospel. It's not Jesus plus works. It's not, but you got to do this and Jesus will love you.

It's Jesus.

There are no strings attached. You accept it. His love, mercy, and grace—that salvation—are yours. You have to be willing to unwrap that gift.

Know you're worthy and accept it. He's bringing you that gift. You're not going to be shunned, ridiculed, stereotyped, or stigmatized. He's breaking those chains off, for He is love, compassion, unconditional love. If you reach out to Him, unwrap that gift, and take a chance, you will have a seat at His table. He will never leave you nor forsake you. He is with you in Spirit and Truth.

I also wanted to read something from Luke 14.

Just stuck with me.

Luke 14
New International Reader's Version

Jesus Eats at a Pharisee’s House
14 One Sabbath day, Jesus went to eat in the house of a well-known Pharisee. While he was there, he was being carefully watched.

2 In front of him was a man whose body was badly swollen.

3 Jesus turned to the Pharisees and the authorities on the law. He asked them, “Is it breaking the Law to heal on the Sabbath day?”

4 But they remained silent. So Jesus took hold of the man and healed him. Then he sent him away.

5 He asked them another question. He said, “Suppose one of you has a child or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day. Wouldn’t you pull it out right away?”

6 And they had nothing to say.

7 Jesus noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table. So he told them a story.

8 He said, “Suppose someone invites you to a wedding feast. Do not take the place of honor. A person more important than you may have been invited.

9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come to you. He will say, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then you will be filled with shame. You will have to take the least important place.

10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place. Then your host will come over to you. He will say, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests.

11 All those who lift themselves up will be made humble. And those who make themselves humble will be lifted up.”

12 Then Jesus spoke to his host. “Suppose you give a lunch or a dinner,” he said. “Do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, or your relatives, or your rich neighbors. If you do, they may invite you to eat with them. So you will be paid back.

13 But when you give a banquet, invite those who are poor. Also invite those who can’t see or walk.

14 Then you will be blessed. Your guests can’t pay you back. But you will be paid back when those who are right with God rise from the dead.”

The Story of the Great Banquet
15 One of the people at the table with Jesus heard him say those things. So he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in God’s kingdom.”

16 Jesus replied, “A certain man was preparing a great banquet. He invited many guests.

17 Then the day of the banquet arrived. He sent his servant to those who had been invited. The servant told them, ‘Come. Everything is ready now.’

18 “But they all had the same idea. They began to make excuses. The first one said, ‘I have just bought a field. I have to go and see it. Please excuse me.’

19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen. I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’

20 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

21 “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry. He ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the town. Bring in those who are poor. Also bring those who can’t see or walk.’

22 “ ‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done. But there is still room.’

23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads. Go out to the country lanes. Make the people come in. I want my house to be full.

24 I tell you, not one of those people who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’ ”

The Cost of Being a Disciple
25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus. He turned and spoke to them. He said,

26 “Anyone who comes to me must hate their father and mother. They must hate their wife and children. They must hate their brothers and sisters. And they must hate even their own life. Unless they do this, they can’t be my disciple.

27 Whoever doesn’t carry their cross and follow me can’t be my disciple.

28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you sit down first and figure out how much it will cost? Then you will see whether you have enough money to finish it.

29 Suppose you start building and are not able to finish. Then everyone who sees what you have done will laugh at you.

30 They will say, ‘This person started to build but wasn’t able to finish.’

31 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. And suppose he has 10,000 men, while the other has 20,000 coming against him. Won’t he first sit down and think about whether he can win?

32 And suppose he decides he can’t win. Then he will send some men to ask how peace can be made. He will do this while the other king is still far away.

33 In the same way, you must give up everything you have. Those of you who don’t cannot be my disciple.

34 “Salt is good. But suppose it loses its saltiness. How can it be made salty again?

35 It is not good for the soil. And it is not good for the trash pile. It will be thrown out.

When we are called, when the gospel is spoken to you, like I'm speaking it to you now, when you realize that Jesus is that gift, that you don't have to do anything to earn it, You have to come to Him. 

Know that He's the son of God. He died on the Cross and was resurrected. By His stripes, ye were healed. When you know that in your heart He's the son of God, you ask Him to come in and live inside you and set you free and say, wash me clean. I'm dirty. I'm covered in sin, mirk, and mire, but wash me clean. 

I want you to be the Lord and Savior of my life. I want you to help me. I can't do this life anymore on my own strength. I want you to remove the confusion, and I want you to strengthen me. He will. But remember, all these people were invited to the feast, but they kept ignoring the invitation because they thought they'd have time. Time. You never are promised tomorrow. You aren't. We're to keep those lamps burning. Christ is coming. 

We don't know the hour. We must bring as many people into the Kingdom of God as possible and show them the Truth. 

We need to unite as a body of believers, recognizing that we all fall short of the Glory of the Lord. We all wear filthy rags, but it's His righteousness that He freely gives to us with the gift of salvation. We don't earn it. We can't earn our way. He gives it to us, comes in and transforms our hearts and minds, saves us, redeems us, and helps us to break every chain and bondage in our lives. 

We have to willingly accept Him, Jesus. He's the only way. There is no condemnation in Him. 

Sin has consequences. I'm not telling you that I will compromise my faith and say something is okay when it's not.
 
Because I'm a Christian, I must follow the Bible, the Word. I'm not going to compromise, but I'm going to love you, meet you where you are, and show you the love of Jesus. 

And that other stuff is between you and Jesus. I need to show you, Him. I need to show you the Truth, and you'll find your way. He'll help you. 

Abba Father, Lord Jesus, I pray that I've given this word, that their hearts have been open to receive it, that veils have been lifted off, and that words of hate that have been sown in the past, the judgments will be no more. 

There'll be unity in the body of Christ. Love, peace. 

Show them Your love, Father. Let them feel Your holy presence. 

Go to those dark crevices of their hearts and fill them up now, where they've been so empty, confused, and depleted. For You are not the God of confusion but of power, love, and a sound mind. 

Let them see You as I see You. Let them love You as I love You. Redeem them and restore them as You did me. Change their garments from filthy rags to righteousness. 

Help us, Father. So many are lost and hurting, dying of addictions, dying, depressed, and anxious. So many are full of hate. 

Help us to be a world again of love. Help us to love our neighbor and show the love of Christ where He prayed for His enemies. That's the God I serve. That's the God I serve. He came to give us life. More abundantly. 

That's His Word for you today. 

God bless you and keep you. 

And the answer to that question, who is not worthy of the Gospel or salvation?
 
Nobody. 

Everybody's worthy. 

Everybody's welcome at Christ's table. 

He loved us. Still loves us. Loves us all. 

Everybody can know the Truth of the Gospel and be set free. 

We all are sinners and fall short of the glory of the Lord. Don't focus on the sin. Love the sinner. See past the sin and reach them where they are. 

Let God do this. Let the faith, the Word that's living and breathing inside of us, transform, restore, and make a way where there seems to be no way. Because it will bring clarity where there's confusion. 

Bask in His presence. I just feel He's healing those raw, open wounds that have been gaping open for so long. 

He's just putting that soothing salve on. Because you're recognizing your worth. You're recognizing your worth. 

You do matter. The world's a better place because you're in it. He loves you, and I love you. I see you. He sees you. God bless you and keep you. 

Please share this message, like us, and follow us on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and other channels. 

My other podcast is Reflective Hour. Start with episode one. It discusses my personal testimony and then walks you through my faith journey. 

I didn't expect this Word today. I even fought it. I had to fight something inside myself to bring it. That's not about me. It's about Jesus. It's about the Holy Spirit getting His Word out. I'm a servant. I'm supposed to obey. I can't be His messenger and not give His message. 

You have to get your flesh out of it. Let go of pride, ego, and all that stuff. Let go of what you think something should look like. We have to let go and let God. And that's the word he has for you today. 

Oh, God bless you guys. I see you from all over the world, and I see you listening to us. Take His peace and His love with you today. You do matter. Reach out like the man with the withered hand. 

He's waiting. He's waiting. 

God bless you guys. Thank you so much. Have a great day.