Sozo

Here's a verse from one of the scriptures assigned for Sunday, September 19:

"God our Savior... desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (First Timothy 2:3-4)

What do you think about when you consider being "saved"?  The word "saved" is a translation of the Bible word sozo.  Today my friend Mike Swecker, pastor of prayer and care ministries at Hosanna! Lutheran Church gave me a list of over 100 Bible verses where the Greek word sozo is used in the New Testament.  It means a lot more than heaven when we die.

In the Bible Sozo means:

• Restoration of a good relationship with God
• Being kept safe through God's protection
• Wholeness and well-being in every area of life
• Rescue of our natural, physical life
• Emotional recovery and restoration of health
• Deliverance from disease and evil
• Freedom from eternal death and punishment for sin
• Permanent separation from the devil and hell

Mike gave me a book too: Freedom Tools for Overcoming Life's Problems by Andy Reese.  I've registered to be trained in "Sozo" ministry upcoming on Friday September 24th, 7-9 p.m and Saturday, September 25th, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.  Go to this link to learn more about the Sozo training sponsored by Kristi Graner and her "Dare to Believe" ministry.  The training will be held at The House church in Burnsville.

As we learn in First Timothy 2:3-4, being "sozo"ed (saved, healed, rescued, delivered, preserved) has everything to do with the TRUTH.  The Sozo ministry deals with the ROOT causes of this world's suffering--it leads us to confess our sin, speak forgiveness and extend mercy in a way that allow for a deep knowledge of our Father God's love.  And that is something God wants us ALL to know--not just in our heads, but also in our hearts--throughout all we are--from head to toe.

Sometimes our church life helps us "handle" or "hide" our pain and sin.  Sozo ministry is said to go deeper.  I look forward to learning more and running it through my Biblical and theological filters... if it makes sense, I hope to add something like this to future ministry.

If you want to come along, let me know!

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