The Power of Saying No

Welcome to today's episode of Reflective Hour I'm Tammy Toney-Butler your host and Healing Evangelist but we all know who the host of this show is and that's Christ by way of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God that resides within us. Holy Spirit come have your way in this time that we have together may they hear You and not me see You and not me may they have spiritual ears to hear and eyes to see so that they can discern the truth and the truth shall set them free. Glory be to Jesus. We exalt you. We praise you. We worship you. We invite you into this podcast, into this YouTube channel, because all that we are is because the work You did on Calvary. Thank you, Jesus. We love you. In Jesus's name, we pray and declare all things. Amen. As we reflect on the goodness of God, as we look inward, as we look to the creator of all things for wisdom, for knowledge and understanding and the pathway forward that leads to abundant life, that leads to kingdom life. kingdom life, a kingdom mentality for the kingdom of God, because we are in this world and not of this world. So when we strive to have the heart and mind of Christ, as we move into spiritual alignment, then we need to discern the truth, because the devil can try to easily distract us. to get us outside of our kingdom path, off of our aligned and ordained chosen assignment. Because remember, before he formed us in the womb, he knew us. You were born into the earth, into this world for kingdom purpose, because this is not our home. Heaven is our home. But are you being asked to do things that you should really be saying no to? And how do you have the power to say no? And the title of this episode of Reflective Hour is The Power of Saying No. And when you say no, when you follow God in all things, when you put first the kingdom of God and all else shall be given unto you, That can be a lonely path, a lonely road to walk because narrow is the way. Narrow is the way. But just because you walk alone doesn't mean you aren't following God. It actually means you're surrendered and listening and being spirit led and not guided by the things of this world, but guided by the Spirit of God. Jesus often went out to be alone and pray to the Father because he understood that his marching orders came from God and God alone. He had a direct line of communication to the source, the power source of God Almighty. That didn't mean you don't seek wise counsel. He would take it in, but he knew what God had called him to do. He knew his assignment because he entered into a knowing with Jesus, you know, being Jesus, being fully man and fully God. He knew the will of the Father, and he said, I came to do the will of my Father. And that's what he did. He didn't do what the world wanted him to. He didn't do what his followers thought and establish this big, powerful kingdom to overthrow Rome. No, he didn't follow the religious spirits in the synagogues, the Pharisees and the Sadducees. He came to bring people freedom, not condemn them. He came to set them free from condemnation. He came as a great healer, a great physician to those that were in most need. He came to the sinners, not those that were the godly elite that didn't see the need to change their life. Because they had power and influence and might, and they didn't want anything that contradicted that. But what are we called to do as believers? We're called to humble ourselves and come under the authority in the covering of the Lord Jesus Christ. His blood. He's our priest. Not a man. He's our priest. So we need to look to heaven for all guidance. We need to ensure that we are following the will of God and not man, not man's agenda. So how do we do that? As you follow Jesus, you know, many will come and ask things of you wanting your time, your talent and your resources. But who do you say yes to? And how do you discern what is God? After all, it's only about alignment. It can only be about alignment. We are soldiers in a war for souls. And some of us are called to occupy the territory before others could go and spread the gospel to that region or nation. So he sends out those to go in and take the territory. And some sow and others may reap where some have sown. But it's all for the glory of the kingdom of God. It's all for the glory of the kingdom of God. It's all for the glory of the kingdom of God. And as a general of the faith, one with the power to take territory for the kingdom of God, I can tell you not all are called to be generals. Being a general requires complete sacrifice of your life for God's will. God's will is to advance the kingdom of God, the kingdom of God on heaven as it is in earth. on earth as it is in heaven. And being a general requires complete sacrifice of your life for God's will. God's will to advance the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. Being a general requires you to live a life of total dedication to God. Walk that lonely path coming out of the world and the world system so you can bring the kingdom of God to earth as it is in heaven. You must live a set apart, holy and pure life with total obedience to the will of Abba Father. Daily dying to flesh and saying, Father, what would you have me do today? Being a general requires you to leave those behind you love the most, especially if they do not understand or try to hinder your calling. Do you choose God and what God's calling you to do? His kingdom? Or do you choose this world and the people of this world? People can and will fail you, but God never will fail. You put first the kingdom of God and all else shall be added unto you. So when you want the authority and power of a general that only comes through a close, intimate relationship with God, are you doing what is required to achieve it, to keep it, to use the power of God for the kingdom benefit and not for your own? What does a Mercedes or a Rolls Royce do for the kingdom of God? Could you drive a pickup truck, maybe a base model and feed and shelter many with the leftover money? Could you house many families with the millions of dollars you're spending on a mansion with the tithes and offerings that are coming into the storehouse? As you build that mega church with balconies that look like opera houses, are you asking God if it's what he wants? Maybe he wants you to get a tent instead and go and take a city that's lost and show them the light and love of the Lord Jesus Christ. When following the will of God becomes your very breath and you're willing to let go of this world in its entirety, power, status, fame, fortune, platforms, then you can truly impact the kingdom of God, advancing it on earth instead of man's agenda. Are you willing to sell all your possessions and follow God? Are you willing to let go of it all? What does Philippians one twenty one tell us out of the NIV? For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Jesus said, feed my sheep. Are we feeding them spiritually and physically? Are we asking them to empty their wallets in support of man's systems, man's ideas? Are we focusing on things that will do nothing to advance the kingdom of God and set people free? Do you want to feel good or do you want to do good? Do you want to do the God things or the good things? As someone very close to me gave me that prophetic insight, as we do seek wise counsel often as leaders. But even though we seek wise counsel, we must never forget. We have to go to the source ourselves and discern the truth and what God's will is for us, for me. When God called me, it was not a conference call. And we need to make sure we're not following the spirit of religion or religious leaders. That doesn't mean you don't come under authority. That doesn't mean you don't submit and surrender, but you also need to use discernment. Is that God's will? Do I need to say no to that opportunity? Is it actually taking me out of alignment for my kingdom assignment? And I will tell you, when your peace leaves you, when confusion enters, when spiritual unrest enters, that is not of God. It doesn't mean there's anything wrong with the institution. It doesn't mean there's anything wrong with that pastor of that congregation or the leader of that conference. It just means it's not God's will for you. Either it's not the right time. Either it's going to take you out of alignment. You need to discern God's will and you need to learn the power of saying no. Let your no be no and your yes be yes. Being a hundred percent Holy Spirit led is not easy and you will suffer for it. When those closest to you want to compromise your faith so they can have the version of you that makes them feel comfortable in their sin, but is not the person you are any longer since Jesus got a hold of you, set you free and ignited a flame in your heart that burns to do the will of the Father and set the captives free. You have the cure for spiritual cancer. Do you hold on to it? Rest on a chair at the beach, sipping a margarita, or do you leave it all behind, pick up your cross and follow the spirit of the almighty God? He is asking that of you today. What will you choose? Religion or relationship? Surrender or rebellion? Darkness or light? If you are my church, my body, my bride then how come i do not know you that's what jesus is asking how come you have so many bound by religion into your congregations why are my sheep not being instantly healed delivered and empowered pick up your mat and walk why are so many in spiritual bondage Why are so many in spiritual bondage? Why are my sheep not being instantly healed again, delivered and empowered? I'm coming soon. That's what Jesus is saying. But will you be ready? Are you a lukewarm church? Will you have oil in your lamps? Or are you doing church as usual, which is delivering none? If you don't feel the urgency in your belly now, to stop doing church as usual and follow the spirit of the almighty God and not a program, then you are asleep on your watch as a leader. Wake up, church. Wake up, church. Wake up, church. Jesus is coming very, very, very soon. And we are running out of time. You must be following the Almighty God, the Holy Spirit, and not man's agenda and not doing church as usual. You must wake up. And that is what the great awakening is. It's waking up the body of believers, the church, to get in kingdom alignment, unity with the Spirit of the Almighty God. That is the message God has for you today. Choose wisely. Time is running out. Let's be about the kingdom of God. Build it, win souls and stop building churches full of spiritually dead people who call themselves Christians, but act nothing like a Christian. They do not follow God. They follow man and the world systems. They follow group think. Will they sell it all, trust God to provide what he wants to equip them for their kingdom assignment? Now that's going to look different for every believer. We're not to judge. We are to discern. We are to seek God, seek the spirit of truth, be led, and then we will not go astray by false teaching, false doctrine, or fall prey to a synthetic voice like the one artificial intelligence wants us to follow. Remember, Eve was deceived in the garden by a synthetic voice which she followed and brought destruction on mankind and Adam. Do not be deceived in this hour. Wake up, church. What does John ten, twenty seven to twenty eight out of the King James Version say? My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish. Neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. Are you letting man deceive you in this hour? Are you following the spirit of the almighty God? I want you to stop. I want you to reflect. I want you to look inward, search your heart. Are you mirroring Christ to a dark and dying world? Are you mirroring the Sadducees and the Pharisees with regards to God's people? Are you condemning them or empowering them? Are you edifying them and building them up? Are you destroying them by your words, by your actions? Rise up church. The hour is coming. Jesus is coming for his bride. And that's the message he has for you today. I'm Tammy Toney-Butler, Healing Evangelist and host of Reflective Hour. God bless you. God keep you. May His light shine upon you. And you have the wisdom, the understanding, and the knowledge it takes to discern the hour, act with urgency, and know the trumpet is about to sound. Glory be to Jesus. Glory be to Jesus. Glory be to Jesus.