A Suitcase of Trust

Welcome to today's episode of Reflective Hour with Tammy Toney-Butler. I'm your host and healing evangelist. We all know who the host of this show is, and that's Christ. Holy Spirit, come have your way in this time that we have together. May they see you and not me. May they hear you and not me. May this message penetrate deeply into their hearts. and help them to have a heart posture towards trust and surrendered obedience. In the mighty name of Jesus, I pray. Amen. Today's episode is about something that's very important to me, and it is about trust. So let's unpack today a suitcase of trust on this episode of Reflective Hour. Our Father in heaven calls us to trust him. And that can be very difficult for those who've experienced trauma, especially trauma at the hands of a loved one, a person they trusted, a person in authority maybe. Like my mother, who was my trafficker. It's complicated. It's messy. Ministering in today's world is so difficult. And as a faith leader, it's a challenge that we all must face. What are we saying in our pulpits? How are we preaching the gospel to the lost, the marginalized, the forgotten, the bruised, the battered, the traumatized? There needs to be a level of compassion and mercy so that we can gain their trust. And when you gain their trust, and shepherd your flock and show them the love of Jesus, the truth of the pure gospel of Jesus Christ, Lord Jesus, they will be forever changed. And I say to you today on this episode, by the time we're done, you'll be forever changed. Trust is something that I've had to learn. I've had to spend a lot of time in the secret place in order to build trust. I've gone through many trials, tribulations, periods of lack, doubt, despair, and God was there with me through it all. He was there with me as a child, but I couldn't see it. My mom had choices and sadly she made those choices from a trauma adapted brain, living in survival mode and never dealing with her trauma. the trauma that affected our family for generations. But it stops with me and it stops with you. So today we're going to dig right in in this episode and we're going to learn about trust. Yes, we're going to do a lot of reading out of the Bible. And we're going to read today out of the complete Jewish Bible, because that's the one that the Lord has placed on my heart and recently introduced to me for a different perspective and viewpoint. I pull out my King James, I pull out my NIV, I pull out my NLT, but I also yield to the complete Jewish Bible and look through a lens that I may not have looked through before, because it is imperative as leaders, as the body of Christ, that we truly, truly dive deep into the word, that we let it resonate in our hearts, penetrating bone and marrow and receiving fresh wisdom, understanding, revelation, knowledge, And all that comes from a surrendered heart posture towards the Lord Jesus Christ, our great shepherd, our leader, by way of the spirit of truth, his spirit, the spirit of Christ, the spirit of God that's within us as believers, forever changing us, molding us, adapting us, changing our heart and our minds to be like Christ, changing our garments, from shame-filled garments, from the weight of trauma, breaking that off and putting on a fresh new garment of trust and hope and joy and love and peace. Wow, so yummy. So that's what we're going to dive into today. So grab out your Bibles, grab your coffee and tea if you need it, get a little swig of water or coffee or tea, whatever you have, Get comfortable, get cozy, and let's sit and reflect and let's look inward and see how we can continue to be made in the image of Christ. Glory be to Jesus. Now let's read his word. So I'm going to be starting in Hebrews because that's what he has placed on me. And I never want to take anything out of context. So please go back and I encourage you to read the entire book of Hebrews. It's not that long and it's powerful. So I'm going to start in Hebrews ten. I'm going to start around twenty two. Hebrews ten, starting with twenty two. Therefore, let us approach the holiest place with a sincere heart in the full assurance that comes from trusting. There's that word that we're unpacking in that suitcase of trust today. So let me start again. Therefore, let us approach the holiest place with a sincere heart in the full assurance that comes from trusting. with our hearts sprinkled clean from a bad conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us continue holding fast to the hope we acknowledge without wavering for the one who made the promise is trustworthy. And let us keep paying attention to one another in order to spur each other on to love and good deeds, not neglecting our own congregational meetings, as some have made a practice of doing, but rather encouraging each other. We need to encourage each other in the faith and build up leaders. We need to build up leaders. And let us do this all the more as you see the day approaching. For if we deliberately continue to sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but only the terrifying prospect of judgment, of raging fire that will consume the enemies. Someone who disregards the Torah of Moses, of Moshe, is put to death without mercy on the word of two or three witnesses. Think how much worse will be the punishment deserved by someone who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, who is treated as something common, the blood of the covenant, which made him holy and who has insulted the Spirit. giver of God's grace. Wow. For the one we know is the one who said, vengeance is my responsibility. I will repay. And then said, Adonai will judge his people. It is terrifying. It is, I'm sorry. It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. But remember the earlier days when after you had received the light, you endured a hard struggle with suffering. Sometimes you were publicly disgraced and persecuted. Does that sound like any of you? While at other times you stood loyally by those who were treated this way. For you shared the sufferings of those who had been put in prison. Also, when your possessions were seized, you accepted it gladly, since you knew that what you possess was better and would last forever. Jesus. So don't throw away that courage of yours, which carries with it such a great reward, for you need to hold out so that by having done what God wills, you may receive what he has promised. For there is so little time. The one coming will indeed come. He will not delay. But the person who is righteous will live his life by trusting. There's that word again. But the person who is righteous will live his life by trusting. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him. We need to walk by faith and put our trust in God and not by sight. However, we are not the kind who shrink back and are destroyed. On the contrary, we keep trusting and thus preserve our lives. Wow. Now let's look at Hebrews eleven. Trusting is being confident of what we hope for, convinced about things we do not see. It was for this that scripture attested the merit of the people of old. By trusting, we understand that the universe was created through a spoken word of God so that what is seen did not come into being out of existing phenomena. By trusting, Hebel offered a greater sacrifice than Cain. Because of this, and that's Abel offered a greater sacrifice than Cain. Because of this, he was attested as righteous with God, giving him this testimony on the ground of his gifts. Through having trusted, he still continues to speak even though he is dead. By trusting, Hanak was taken away from this life without seeing death. He was not to be found because God took him away. For he has been attested as having been, prior to being taken away, well-pleasing to God. And without trusting, it is impossible to be well-pleasing to God, because whoever approaches him must trust God. that he does exist and that he becomes a rewarder to those who seek him out, to those that diligently seek him. By trusting Noah, after receiving divine warning about things as yet unseen, was filled with holy fear and built an ark to save his household. Through this trusting, he put the world under condemnation and received the righteousness that comes from trusting. By trusting, Abraham obeyed after being called to go out to a place which God would give him as a possession. Indeed, he went out without knowing where he was going. By trusting, he lived as a temporary resident in the land of the promise, as if it were not his staying in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who were to receive what was promised along with him. For he was looking forward to the city with permanent foundations of which the architect and builder is God. By trusting, he received potency to father a child even when he was past the age for it, as was Sarah herself, because he regarded the one who had made the promise as trustworthy. Therefore, this one man, who was virtually dead, fathered descendants, as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the grains of the sand on the seashore. All these people kept on trusting until they died without receiving what had been promised. They had only seen it and welcomed it from a distance while acknowledging that they were aliens and temporary residents on the earth. For people who speak this way, make it clear that they are looking for a fatherland. Now, if they were to keep recalling the one they left, they would have an opportunity to return. But as it is, they aspire to a better fatherland, a heavenly one. This is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. Wow. Now we're going to keep on going. Again, we're reading Hebrews eleven out of the complete Jewish text. Bible in England, English version by David H. Stern. Starting now with seventeen. Let me get a drink of water as we continue. By trusting Abraham, when he was put to the test, offered up Isaac as a sacrifice. Yes, he offered up his only son, he who had received the promises. And God offered up Jesus, his son, for us. to whom it has been said, what is called your seed will be in Isaac. For he had concluded that God could even raise people from the dead and figuratively speaking, he did so receive him. By trusting Isaac in his blessings over Jacob and Esau made reference to events yet to come. By trusting Jacob when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, leaning on his walking stick as he bowed in prayer. By trustee, Joseph, near the end of his life, remembered about the exodus of the people of Israel and gave instructions about what to do with his bones. by trusting the parents of moses hid him for three months after he was born because they saw that he was a beautiful child and they weren't afraid of the king's decree by trusting let's go back just a minute see by trusting in that last one the parents of moses hid him for three months after he was born because they saw that he was a beautiful child and they weren't afraid of the king's decrees. Perfect love casts out all fear. There is no fear in perfect love. The spirit of fear is not ours. We are to have power, love, and a sound mind. And how do we do that? By trusting, trusting in God, trusting in his promises. By trusting, Moses, after he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose being mistreated along with God's people rather than enjoying the passing pleasures of sin. He chose to be mistreated with the power that comes from trusting. He had come to regard abuse suffered on behalf of the Messiah as greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, for he kept his eyes fixed on the reward. By trusting, he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger, no fear. He persevered as one who sees the unseen. Wow. Walking by faith, walking by trust, not by sight. By trusting, he obeyed the requirements for the Pesach, including the smearing of the blood so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel. By trusting, they walked through the Red Sea as through dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do it, the sea swallowed them up. By trusting, the walls of Jericho fell down after the people had marched around them for seven days. By trusting, Rachel, the prostitute, welcomed the spies and therefore did not die along with those who were disobedient. What more should I say? There isn't time to tell all about Gideon, Barak, Shimshon, Yiftek, David, Shmoah, and the prophets, who through trusting conquered kingdoms, worked righteousness, received what was promised, shut the mouths of lions. quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, had their weakness turned to strength, grew mighty in battle, and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead resurrected. Other people were stretched on the rack and beaten to death, refusing to be ransomed so that they would gain a better resurrection. Others underwent the trials of being mocked and whipped, then chained and imprisoned. They were stoned, sawed into, murdered by the sword. They went about clothed in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted, mistreated, wandering about in deserts and mountains, living in caves and holes in the ground. The world was not worthy of them. All of these had their merit attested because of their trusting, because of their faith. Nevertheless, they did not receive what had been promised because God had planned something better that would involve us so that only with us would they be brought to the goal. Wow. brought to the goal. It's all about timing. It's all about the eternal timeline of the kingdom of heaven. And now is that appointed time. Wow. Starting with twelve. So then, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us too put aside every impediment. That is the sin which easily hampers our forward movement and and keep running with endurance in the contest set before us, looking away to the initiator and completer of that trusting, Yeshua, Jesus, who is in exchange for obtaining the joy set before him, endured execution on a stake as a criminal, scorning the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Many of you have been scorned and no shame. Yes, think about him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners so that you won't grow tired or become despondent. You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in the contest against sin. Also, you have forgotten the counsel which speaks with you as sons. My son, don't despise the discipline of Adonai or become despondent when he corrects you. For Adonai disciplines those he loves and whips everyone he accepts as a son. Wow. Regard your endurance as discipline. God is dealing with you as sons. For what son goes undisciplined by his father? All legitimate sons undergo discipline. So if you don't, you're an illegitimate son and not a true son. Wow. Furthermore, we had physical fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. How much more should we submit to our spiritual father and live? There's that word submit again. And I know it's difficult, it's hard to submit and surrender when many of you have been victimized and been manipulated and controlled by others. But trusting in God and submitting and coming under Lord Jesus' lordship under his kingdom is where growth lies. It's where maturity lies. It's where peace and joy lie. It's life, not death. It's life, eternal life everlasting. You'll never regret laying it all at the foot of the cross and submitting to Lord Jesus Christ. I'm living proof. For they disciplined us only for a short time and only as best they could. But he disciplines us in a way that provides genuine benefit to us and enables us to share in his holiness. We get to share in his holiness. We get to have spiritual authority. There's so much. When you unpack that suitcase of trust and dive in and say, you know what? Not my will, but yours be done, God. I'm going to trust you as Lord and Savior of my life. I let it all go. I will not carry a suitcase of trauma anymore. I'm going to leave it behind. I'm going to leave that suitcase from my past that keeps dragging me down. That's loaded with the weight of trauma. I'm leaving it and I'm picking up that suitcase of trust, the joy, the love of Lord Jesus Christ. And I'm opening it up and I'm going to dive into it. And I'm going to see all that it has for me to experience. And all those promises in that suitcase are mine. And I'm going to grab hold of it. And I'm going to live an eternal, loving peace in life. And I'm going to have that on earth as it is in heaven. I don't have to wait to get to heaven to experience joy and freedom and no fear. I get to have it now as a follower of Lord Jesus Christ. Now, all discipline, while it is happening, does indeed seem painful, not enjoyable. But for those who have been trained by it, it later produces its peaceful fruit, which is righteousness. What fruit are you producing? So strengthen your drooping arms and steady your tottering knees and make a level path for your feet so that what has been injured will not get wrenched out of joint, but rather will be healed. Keep pursuing shalom, peace with everyone and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses out on God's grace, that no root of bitterness. springing up causes trouble and thus contaminates many and that no one is sexually immoral or godless like Esau who in exchange for a single meal gave up his rights as the firstborn for you know that afterwards when he wanted to obtain his father's blessing he was rejected indeed even though he sought it with tears his change of heart was to no avail Repent while you still have time. Turn towards God. Surrender and live by trust, live by faith and not by sight. For you have not come to a tangible mountain, to an ignited fire, to darkness, to murk, to a whirlwind, to the sound of a shofar, and to a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further message be given to them. For they couldn't bear what was being commanded them. If even an animal touches the mountain, it is to be stoned to death. And so terrifying was a sight that Moshe said, I am quaking with dread. On the contrary, you have come to Mount Zion. That is the city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem. to myriads of angels in festive assembly, to a community of the firstborn whose names have been recorded in heaven, to a judge who is God of everyone, to spirits of righteous people who have been brought to the goal, to the mediator of a new covenant, Yeshua, Jesus, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks better things than that of heaven. See that you don't reject the one speaking. For if those did not escape who rejected him when he gave divine warning on earth, think how much less we will escape if we turn away from him when he warns from heaven. Even then his voice shook the earth, but now he has made this promise. One more time, I will shake not only the earth, but heaven too. And this phrase one more time makes clear that the things shaken are removed since they are created things so that the things not shaken may remain. Therefore, since we have received an unshakable kingdom, see, we're in a community. We're in an unshakable kingdom as daughters and sons of the king, as believers, as heirs in Christ. We have received an unshakable kingdom. We aren't moved by circumstances. We don't cater to fear. We trust in the promises of God. Let us have grace through which we may offer service that will please God with reverence and fear. For indeed, our God is a consuming fire. And that fear is a healthy fear of the Lord they're talking about. Many of you have been in a shaking season. Many of you have been in a season of shaking. Let's read Hebrews thirteen. This is the last one. Let brotherly friendship continue, but don't forget to be friendly to the outsiders, for in so doing, some people without knowing it have entertained angels. Don't be afraid. Don't forget to be friendly to outsiders. Treat others as you want to be treated. Or in doing so, some people without knowing it have entertained angels. Remember those in prison and being mistreated as if you were in prison with them and undergoing their torture yourselves. Wow. Let's read that one more time. Remember those in prison and being mistreated as if you were in prison with them and undergoing their torture yourselves. Marriage is honorable in every respect. And in particular, sex within marriage is pure. But God will indeed punish fornicators and adulterers. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be satisfied with what you have. For God himself has said, I will never fail you or abandon you. Therefore, we say with confidence, Adonai is my helper. I will not be afraid. What can a human being do to me? Remember your leaders, those who spoke God's message to you. Reflect on the results of their way of life and imitate their trust. Imitate their trust, their faith. Yeshua the Messiah is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And forever. Wow. Wow, wow. And I'm believing that that's where we're going to leave it. Adonai is my helper. I will not be afraid. What can a human being do to me? And then remember your leaders, those who spoke God's message to you. Reflect on the results of their way of life and imitate their trust. jesus the messiah is the same yesterday today and forever and he is trustworthy he is trustworthy something else the lord laid on my heart was from a book it was priscilla shriver's book the armor of god a seven session bible study and Again, Priscilla Shivers, The Armor of God, a seven-session Bible study. But it was on the armor of God. But there was a piece in there about prayer strategies. And it talked about praise, repentance, asking, and yes. And the P in prayer and pray was for praise. Who is God? and what he has already done. Remember what God has already brought you through. Remember the miracles and the small blessings. Remember those in times of lack and in times of plenty, in moments in the valley and moments on the top of the mountain. Repentance. Line your strategies with repentance, the courage to trust and turn and walk his way. I'd never kind of heard it put that way. Repentance, the courage to trust and turn and walk his way. Wow, that's powerful. And then the A was for asking, make your requests known, be personal, be specific, be relational with God. And then the Y was yes, remembering all God's promises are true. He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. You can trust his word and look to scripture as your guide. And that's what he wanted me to unpack today in the suitcase of trust. And I believe that's all he has for you today. So as you dive into this episode, as its truth resonates, penetrating bone and marrow, And maybe bringing into correction a web of deception that had been woven over you and lies spoken and realizing that's wrong, that's false. You're no longer going to go and operate in that darkness, but you're going to move to the light of trust, to the light of truth. And you're going to operate from a place of authority and an assurance of who you are in Jesus. who you are as a believer, as a leader. God bless you and keep you this day and every day. And I'm Tammy Toney-Butler, Healing Evangelist, host of Reflective Spaces Ministry Podcast, and host of Reflective Hour. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode, A Suitcase of Trust. Go this day and prosper, knowing God is with you. Have peace, have peace, and let this word change your life. Glory be to Jesus. Glory be to Jesus. Glory be to Jesus. Glory be to Jesus.