South Tacoma Assembly of God

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The Prayer Life of a Believer: Pursue, Perceive, Practice

The Sun of Righteousness

The Oil & the Anointing

Intercession is not an Interview

The Prayer Life of a Believer

In this message, the question was asked, “What environmental control measures have I established to meet with God?” This will determine how and what we establish with others. Salvation brings access to authority; the ability to adjust everything according to the need. Salvation brings empowerment because it now gives us the ability to see. We should conduct our lives as one looking out the window (looking forward) and not in a mirror (looking at the past). God talks to us so that we can connect, grow, serve, and celebrate resulting in a transformation of a life. We cannot be timid with the things of God. We must speak as the way God allows us to speak. We must understand the presence of God and what He provides. His presence is always with us. Pastor connected verses 19 and 22 of Hebrews 10. In the Old Testament, the priests entered boldly into the Holy Place, following specific guidelines both naturally and spiritually. For those who have received salvation - God can be trusted. Embrace the will of God by embracing the Word of God. Our actions will reflect in our walk whether or not we trust Him. There will be boldness without anger or under artificial stimulus. The Word of God has provided us the authority to walk in boldness. Our relationship with Him will help us walk with wisdom as a peacemaker. Having wisdom on board will help us to deliver knowledge and create relationships with others. God wants us to see Him in everything we do and say. Our environment has to serve us. Our environment should provide us with what we need. It will feed us in the midst of trials and tribulations. We were encouraged to perform a risk assessment. Let us examine what is in our environment that could influence us to do something that would lead us astray. When you have an established relationship with God, He will also provide an earthly counterpart who will also deliver the Word of God in our environment. The story of Lazarus was an example of what can take place within a designed environmental control measure. The event that took place gave the disciples an opportunity to see the boldness that could operate in their lives. Walk as the new man. Adjust your walk according to how you think as a new creation. Act on what has been provided you through salvation and relationship. Have in place environmental control measures that will work for who you are destined to be.

In this message, Pastor reflected on the actions of Adam, showing us that our lives are all about the decisions we make. Our decision should be to pursue God. We should be looking at how God works us as we receive Him through His Word. God has called us to be free. That can only happen when we are “in the know” of the things of God. If we know what really matters to God, then it will matter to us. Hebrews 10 calls us to deal with the mind according to our pursuit of God. We should persevere in being in the presence of God. God can be trusted to keep His promise. As we build up our relationship with Him, He can fulfill in us what we were called to do. Peace is what we all desire. Often, our activity is driven by our emotions. Our emotions should encompass what God has specifically given us to do. We are at peace when we are in agreement with what God has called us to be. That can be discovered through prayer, believing, and then doing. Our mind should always be kept on Jesus. God has created an environment for us through Jesus. In that environment, we can hear and see. Our environment should serve us. It should be one where risk is reduced and health and safety are promoted. Pastor challenged us to discover what is in our environments and why it is there. We need to see what's in that space that has created disruptions or distractions, and remove them. With the renovations of the church after the fire, South Tacoma Assembly has been given the opportunity to create the environment to best serve what we are called to do. We must recognize the changes in the platform God has provided for us as we go through the challenges of today’s environment. Because of our relationship with Jesus, we can speak into the situations at hand.

Pastor brings to a conclusion the message on vision and our ability to see because of Christ. Three questions have been asked during this series: “Where am I?”, "Where have I been?”, and today he addressed “Where am I going?”. He encourages us to make the choice to move forward. That can gloriously happen when a relationship and fellowship with Christ has been established. He exhorts us to have a dialogue and not a monologue when we come before Christ with our questions and our desires. When we engage in a dialogue, we will be able to better “see” the tomorrow He has planned for us. God wants to speak to us every day. If we recognize what God is doing in us, we will embrace the developing relationships we can have with Him and with others. God wants us to establish priorities in our lives. If we can see where we are going, then distractions will have little effect. We will embrace what matters and the distractions become small. Pastor used his family as an example of what takes place when relationship is a priority. You will be able to partner with those you have been called to help; assisting them dot their “I”s” and cross their “T’s.” Vision comes with a path. Vision speaks of tomorrow. When you know where you are going, you will be seen as a strength in the life of others. Praying and trusting in God and the relationship we have with Him will reveal the path.

Pastor continued his message on vision. He encouraged us to recognize that life is full of vision when we are in God. God has given those who believe the ability to have an advantage by seeing. When we can see, we will reach forward, believing that what we see is attainable. When we allow God to be our optometrist, we will be able to see how God sees. We will have His perspective on what has happened in our past, what is taking place in our present, and what we can expect in our future. When we read God’s Word, we increase our ability to see. When we can see, we will be able to change the focus of our thought life. Col 3:1 exhorts us to seek those things that are above; i.e. seek those things from the One Who has the authority. The acronym ASK (Ask, Seek, Knock) was used. There was a popular game show in which a prize was waiting behind one of three doors. Jesus is always available knocking at the door of our hearts. Behind God’s door, there is always something good when we choose to open it. That open door will provide the vision needed for our lives. Faith in God restores sight and creates opportunities. Everyday, in prayer, ask God to see. As you walk through the journey of your vision, take time to learn in the process and smell the fragrance of His sacrifice that He provided for your journey.

In this message, Pastor Reed encourages us to know that our visions and ideas reflect our ability to see. When your vision comes from God, He will provide you what is necessary for that vision or idea to bear fruit.    Pastor provided as an example his visit to the optometrist during an annual physical in which he discovered that he needed glasses. Clearly seeing the Word of God in your Bible will activate the progression toward the vision. Jesus is our optometrist. He is the Word of God and will provide insight.  It is particularly important during this season to be able to see God. The pandemic has impaired a lot of visions. COVID19 has created a fear. Nations now have to deal with the aftermath and the loosening of practices and legislation.  The relationship and obedience to God’s Word is important to the believers at this time. Having developed a friendship with God provides the ability to see and go forward in purpose. Pastor reflected on the visual diagram at South Tacoma Assembly of God: Vision - Valley - Victory. As a church, we continue to walk out our vision to reach and transform lives through the love of Jesus Christ. We may not all be visionaries, but we all can look “at”, look ”for” and look “in” the direction and purpose that God has for us.

The word of God provides us the ability to see the entire woman. Given another opportunity on this Mother's Day, we must remember that mothers are first women possessing God’s gifting and purpose. God placed a woman alongside Adam to be his helper. This was a decision that God made - not man. A mother develops how the home operates. The love of God for us is modeled when we watch the unconditional love of a Godly mother for her child. A mother will look beyond the faults of the child and work with Him to design ways to get the child back on track. Pastor recalled some of the training practices in the home as his wife taught the children using a chip reward system. Mothers and their children are encouraged to develop relationships while they are able. Mothers and daughters can develop friendships that flourish despite the circumstances and situations that come up. One should establish a mindset to be a blessing to their mother. Be motivated to pursue that relationship through Jesus. The pursuit of a positive relationship built through God and harnessing purpose can create a divine legacy for the family.

Pastor continued his discussion on salvation being according to our faith in what Jesus has become in our lives.  Salvation provides freedom, deliverance and purpose. If you live out your salvation, you are the evidence that God exists. Knowing that God has changed your life should be visible in your walk and talk. Receiving salvation not only affects your heart, but your mind.  The vision of South Tacoma Assembly of God declares that we are to reach and transform lives through the love of Jesus Christ. We will reach if we recognize what has taken place in our life through salvation. We will desire to reach to others to let them know the same saving, transforming power and grace of Jesus Christ. The oil of gladness will flow, revealing what is relevant for us and others. We can't help but rejoice if we live out what God has done.  Does faith in what God has provided operate in your thought life? Your thoughts should be fixed on Jesus. Our lives continue to transform if we “think” our circumstances and situations through God.  Sometimes God wants us to be quiet so he can pour into us. We can gain the ability to discern. The definition of discernment is to show insight; recognizing the small details. Discernment is a gift. When we discern the voice of God, we will be able to hear others. When we hear others, then we will “respond” to behavior and situations and not “react.” Discerning the small details is important. We will become aware of what the enemy is presenting to us on the surface and see what is underneath. Discernment will allow YOU to lead the conversation. When we are not operating in the spirit, we will limit our perception to only the tangible evidence of an issue.  Pastor shared how he changed his approach to sharing the willingness and availability of God’s love. He now asks the question, “Do you love you?” This approach provides a better opportunity to share the love of Jesus Christ. It allows discernment of the self-talk that is going on in the person you are sharing Jesus with. Some people self-talk themselves out of what salvation has provided and re-enter areas of pain, lack or loss.  The greatest task we need to pursue is to learn to screen our thoughts. To master purpose, we must allow God to handle our thoughts, because they impact our attitude. We are not to focus on lack; in Christ, all needs are fulfilled. Let salvation create change on the inside.

Salvation comes as a result of our faith in God. The receiving of salvation should fuel our faith. Salvation allows us to embrace hope. There is an increase in the relationship and fellowship through the acknowledgement of who we are and who we are becoming in Him. Salvation lets us see beyond the natural, and embrace hope. Obedience is the evidence of faith. Obedience will cause us to look for God in our circumstances. Obedience brings faith into our hope. Hebrews 11:1 gives us a description of faith. There are two components of faith: substance and evidence. Substance brings a solution from the supernatural; evidence is seeing something manifest in the natural. Faith works with the will of man and the will of God. The will of Jesus had to submit to the will of God in the Garden of Gethsemane. His obedience to the will of God modeled His faith in God in substance and evidence. Just like Jesus, our will and the will of God should be the same. For us, salvation through Jesus Christ has come on board to allow us to operate in the same manner. In this message, Pastor asked us to reflect on how the Word of God reveals itself in our lives. Faith is in opposition to doubt. It is the tangible sign or proof allowing us to come to a conclusion. What we do and how we conduct ourselves every day will be the evidence or tangible proof that salvation and faith in Jesus is on board. \r\n

In this message, Pastor expounds on Jesus Christ as “the” Hope of our salvation. When we receive Jesus Christ, there has been a circumcision of our heart. Walking out your salvation allows others to see what has transpired in your heart.\r\nPastor gave the illustration of how fruit only produces after its own kind. We became a new creation when we receive salvation and become one with Christ. The righteousness of Jesus Christ was made available to us. Jesus was the first fruit when He allowed himself to be crucified on the cross. You will become fruitful as Jesus was fruitful. As we allow the Word of God to grow on the inside of us, it will produce what it is.\r\nThe Scriptures show how the branches must remain connected to the vine. Our roots must be embedded in the Word of God. That connection will allow the new creation to have the authority. The old man (our old self) will be partitioned off. When people see us, they will see the Word of God that was implanted in us. We will operate from the supernatural and it will rightfully govern the natural part of us. The old man will have nothing to say as we walk in the new creation of salvation. Our approach to various situations will be different.\r\nListen to His guidance through the Holy Spirit. It will stabilize the uneven areas in your life. As you produce according to His kind, you will bring great glory to the Father.\r\n

Pastor continued to expound on the message he started Wednesday on “Social Distancing of Another Kind.” The pandemic and government agencies are using social distancing and masking as the methodologies to promote the physical safety and well being of the population. Pastor used the scriptures where Peter, despite his declaration of staunchly supporting Jesus, denied His Lord and Savior three times within the same 24 hour period. Despite trying to socially distance himself from Jesus, others in the crowd recognized Peter because his mannerisms pointed to his divine relationship with Jesus. Peter was unmasked when he hung around the community that did not know Jesus. Believers must recognize that fellowship, relationships and friendships are part of the culture of the kingdom of God. Our motto for STAOG “Connect, Grow, Serve and Celebrate” lines up with the mandate for the members of the Kingdom of God to assemble together. As imitators of Christ, we too are to strengthen our brothers and sisters when they fall just as Christ encouraged Peter. Pastor reminded believers that we are still in and should stay in the “Resurrection” season. As a society of believers, we have the God of the universe to offer to those walking with the God of this world. Disobedience to the word of God will cause social distancing and denying what was done on the inside. We are to go out and share the “newness” that has taken place on the inside to those who do know now Jesus. Our testimonies are what we have to offer to a dying world. How we perceive circumstances and situations matters to God. It is not what we go through, but how we go through it. This will shape the delivery of our testimonies to those that need to hear them. \r\nIs this your first time with us? https://www.staog.org/welcome \r\nGive Online: https://freedonationkiosk.com:9011/staog/donation/new \r\nDid you give your life to Christ today? https://www.staog.org/welcome \r\nDo you have a prayer request? www.staog.org/contact \r\nDo you have children in your home? Join Children’s Ministry online at 9 a.m. on Sunday mornings! Revisit past lessons at www.staog.org/childrens-ministry\r\n

Resurrection Power

Pastor described Palm Sunday as a day of celebration. This event tells us of the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem through a crowd that were throwing coats into his path indicating their understanding of the greatness of who He was. The word Hosanna actually means “save us” in Hebrew letting us know that they understood what He represented. Do you recognize what God has done in your life? As one who has received salvation, God has provided you the ability to live from the realm of the kingdom of God. Psalm 18 describes what takes place if you grab the word of God and see rescue in the areas of your life that the enemy encroached upon. You must continue to increase after the celebration of his resurrection. The word \"cherish” means holding onto something that you consider dear. If you cherish the Word of God, you will create an opportunity for the Word to be shared. In that, you have recognized what has and is being fulfilled in your life. You will ask yourself, “What can I do with what God has already provided for me?” Your presentation reflects how you have received the word of God. Can this Jesus be seen in who you are? Will you take off your coat for others to have an easier way of travel? As believers, we are the gift of God that is still here present in the earth to represent. Take the time to liberate others because you have received “HOSANNA.”\r\n

Salvation and Relationship; Deliverance and Connection