For those of you who don’t know what “sozo” is, it’s the Greek word for salvation and it means to save, heal, cure, preserve, keep safe and sound, rescue from danger or destruction, deliver, and give new life. It's what Jesus died to give you. It's the whole gospel. It is also a life-changing Ministry that we have been involved in at Riverstone for a few years now. Sozo is one of my greatest privileges, and one of my greatest joys. Yesterday, at our summer camp, we “sozoed” a young girl who came in filled with anger. It radiated from her. An hour and a half later, she was totally transformed. Her countenance was totally different.
I began to think about Moses and how, when he would go into to meet with God, he would leave that encounter with a face so glowing with the presence of God that he had to put a veil over it. The interesting thing is that this incident occurred immediately following Moses’ request to see God’s glory. God’s response was to show him the unlimited extent of His goodness and then He followed it up, with an explanation of the Covenant. Moses could now trust what God intended. He could have confidence that it would be good, because God was good. It’s interesting to me that Moses had spent time with God, had done mighty miracles through Him and still did not understand the truth about who He was. He didn't ask Him how He did miracles, He wanted to know why He would do them. When we lead people into an encounter with God in a sozo session, it is an opportunity for them to see God as He really is. We confront the lies they have believed about Him and ask Him to tell them the truth. Most people are amazed at what they have really believed. Sozo leads them to experience in their own hearts and minds the goodness of God. They only know that they are experiencing peace as they have never known it before. They have been given spiritual tools that will be with them for the rest of their lives. Joy begins to bubble up from deep inside them as they touch the heart of God. They have learned to identify the lies they believe, and He has replaced them with Truths that set them free.
Imagine, if you will, a prisoner being released from prison. He emerges from that very dark place and walks into the sunlight. At first it’s difficult to see, he is so blinded by the light. His eyes gradually adjust and he realizes that he is free to go, truly free. His head goes back, his shoulders up, and his steps become stronger. A smile lights his face. He has gone from prison to freedom, from darkness to light. That is the goal of our encounter with Papa God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit; to set the prisoners free and to move them into the light of the knowledge of God’s goodness.
Beloved, there is no darkness where He is. There are no iron bars. There is only freedom, love, compassion, understanding, grace and mercy. What most people experience in a “sozo” is the same thing that Moses experienced; they begin to realize that they are totally and completely loved by Someone who is totally and completely good.
If you have met with Him and you don’t run face to face into His goodness, then maybe it’s time to rethink what you are expecting from Him when you speak with Him. Many people come in with their problems and leave with their problems, unchanged inside. I used to do exactly that in my daily devotions. I was so devoted to my problems that I totally ignored Who I was with; you know, the One who can do anything and has a good plan to do exactly that! Now I come out pumped! My battery has been recharged, my fuel tank is full and the residue of His Presence is sinking into every part of me. My situation may not change but I am changed. Can you imagine God telling Moses, ‘Okay, son, you guys got it wrong so you’re in the lead with these rebellious, stiff-necked people for the next 40 years.” This was the same Moses that had told God “no” when he was first called but Moses was ready for this assignment. Why? What changed? He KNEW now, for a fact, that God was good, that He had good plans for these people, and because He knew that God would be with them, they would be okay. He had heard it straight from the Lion’s mouth!
You must seek, with everything in you, to come to the place where you absolutely love God with all your heart, all your mind and all your soul.
The only way you can ever do that is to identify what you really believe about Him. It's impossible to have faith, if you're not quite sure what He will do next. Ask Him to show you a lie you believe about Him. Then ask Him to show you the truth. The next step is to walk in that truth until you can never be deceived about Him again. Like Moses, you will be transformed, and ready to go talk to those rebellious, stiff-necked people in your life and get them to the land of their promises. (That could include you!) You’ll be able to say, with confidence, “God this is hard but You’ve promised ________________. “ Thanks! Let’s go! We can do this! It will be good!
No doubts, confusion or unbelief; just confident assurance that He is Who He says He is, and He will do what He says He will do, because He's good and He's a Man of His Word.
Isn’t that the Christian life in a nutshell; moving from the first level of faith to the next level to the next level, and so on and so on? Sometimes we have to re-dig the foundations of our faith so that the "next level" will be so fixed on Truth that nothing can destroy it.
Let me ask you this. Do you expect the best of God in every situation? Do you think He is good all the time? Do you expect to be met with kindness? Do you believe He will provide in your situation? Do you believe all things are possible with Him? Does hope anchor your soul in Him?
Or, on the other hand, do you expect Him to fail you? Have you believed the lie that you are the one person on this earth that God will fail? Are you so far into the pit of destruction that you think there’s no way out? Think again. He has a long reach, and you are in His sights and on His mind. Never, never, never give up on Him! He never gives up on you. And you know what, when you really, really grasp that, you will come out shining, glowing and in desperate need of a veil.
If you are interested In Sozo opportunities, please contact us at http://www.riverstoneonline.org/ Go to Ministries, and click on Sozo. It’s that easy.
We also host a day, and a night of healing prayer for those of you who need healing in any way. You will definitely encounter the Love of God in a new way. You can get more information at the same site.
Also, you may enjoy reading Tom's blog today. It's a perfect example of all this.
