SOZO -The seeking of the false Jesus.

January 13, 2016 in apostasy, Church, discernment, Life, new age, religion | Tags: Bill Johnson False Teacher, SOZO, The Bethel Church

By Kim Olsen

Learning about SOZO occurred when I was working with a woman who was dealing with oppression and darkness. Many are deceived when they enter into a spiritual realm that they have no business delving into.

Today we easily find mysticism, false teaching, divination, abuse of spiritual gifts, and love of experience trumping the Word of God. When you fall into this area the problem is that the spirit world will deliver. Those seeking to be in the “presence of Jesus” may indeed find themselves in the company of a entity but it will not be Jesus of the Bible. Remember that “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” 2 Corinthians 11:14.

Satan is the prince of darkness and well-meaning Christians will fall into the trap and deceitful workmen will also masquerade as “apostles of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 11:13

There are so many who love the Lord and want to serve Him with all their hearts but the way we do this is laid out in the Epistles to the church in the New Testament. We also find many warnings of false teachers in the scriptures.

When we read about Jesus as our shepherd and recognize ourselves as the flock, it must be remembered that sheep are not very smart. They need to be led. They often cannot discern the enemy among who are clothed in sheepskin but inwardly are wolves. These wolves will be found IN the church, they are among God’s people.

“I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.” Acts 20:29
The sad part is the report that those seeking healing at Bethel in Redding, CA are subjected to rating their healing from 1 – 10. This can only be due to the fact that they are not being healed and people are trying to glean some positive results from their man-made practices and techniques.The false self-claimed apostles, Bill Johnson, Mike Bickle, Todd Bentley, John Arnott, Todd White, just to name a few, are promising that people can walk among the streets and in the power of the Holy Spirit, heal people of their diseases. Of course this speaks of the pride of man, to be just like the apostles in the book of Acts. These early men were hand selected by Jesus and therefore Apostles. Paul was the last Apostle. God does still does heal today but not like what we are seeing in these false ministries.

SOZO is found in two main ministries…Bethel in Redding and IHOP ministries but is rapidly spreading to many charismatic churches. The focus is often on drawing susceptible youth and making them believe they have some special abilities other Christians are leaving on the table.

Here is a good article to get you started on research by someone who has personal experience with SOZO.

https://mkayla.wordpress.com/2013/01/31/inner-healing-christian-or-occult/

This site is also dedicated to SOZO and its false teachings.

https://dynamitepublishing.com/category/featured-articles/

These tools are not biblical and will actually put you into contact with an entity masquerading as Jesus. But many will accept this Jesus.

“For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.” 2 Corinthians 11:4

Think new-age spirit guides (demons) and you will have a better understanding of what spiritual world is truly being contacted.

Do you think that these false teachings will not reach you or your church? Think again. A local woman on my Facebook page posted her excitement to join a SOZO class in a nearby town. The comments on her post encouraged her to do so. I can longer reach this woman who blocked me because of my past warnings on other issues.

What can we do to protect ourselves? Stay in the Word of God and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you into truth. There are no shortcuts. Study the Word, pray, fellowship, be obedient to the Word, and walk in faith…not by sight.

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59 comments

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January 18, 2016 at 9:14 pm

mywordlikefire

Reblogged this on My Word Like Fire.

January 19, 2016 at 3:58 am

shepherdguardian

Reblogged this on Shepherd/Guardian and commented:
SOZO!

January 20, 2016 at 6:30 pm

Jack

This girl does a good job of explaining Sozo and her experiance in Sozo. https://vimeo.com/124256371

July 28, 2016 at 8:22 am

Christian

I actually went through the Sozo process, and it was extremely valuable and beneficial for me. I believe I have a certain level of discernment that has cultivated as a result of time in the Word, prayer and fasting, and praise throughout the day. There were many childhood memories and events that left scars on my heart that I discovered during my Sozo process. I literally felt burdens lifted off my chest and since then have not dealt with or had to battle gluttony or fear of rejection. With all this said, I’m just curious about your thoughts on my experience? I don’t attend Bethel so I don’t have any vested interest; I’m simply sharing what occurred with me. Let me know what you think.

Thanks,

July 29, 2016 at 7:12 am

Kim

Hi Christian, I thank you so much for taking the time to comment. I am sorry to hear of issues in your life.

I was interested in what you said about discovering memories during the SOZO process. There is a testimony in one of the links provided in the article where a young women says that these regressions have caused people to regress into past lives…into the 1800’s. We can know just from this fact that this process is a deception because the Bible teaches differently.

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Hebrews 9:27

She also said that some of the healing of issues did not work although she felt fine at first. Later she wondered if she should do the process again and wondered what was wrong with her.

Later she realized that she was saved and forgiven by Jesus at conversion and that the process of growing in faith is something called santification.

Here are a few quotes from another article provided in a link.

“What is being taught as inner healing/healing of memories is nothing but basic sorcery, which is an attempt to manipulate reality in the past, present, or future, and denies God’s omnipotence by implying that He needs our “creative visualization” in order to apply effectively His forgiveness and healing, while simultaneously, sets us up as gods who can, through prescribed rituals, use Him and His power as our tools. In fact, inner healing/healing of memories is nothing but “Christianized psychoanalysis” that uses the power of suggestion to solve so-called problems, which the technique itself has many times created.

– ” The Bible has much to say concerning the healing of memories (besides condemning its methodologies). The Bible clearly teaches that moral choices rather than past traumas determine our current condition and actions, and thereby, our responsibility; the Bible has always taught that it is not the act in the past but how one reacts to the act that determines “which soul has sinned” (Ezekiel 18 again). Since there is no Biblical evidence that any prophet, priest, or apostle ever dealt with anything remotely related to buried or repressed emotions or memories, then shouldn’t one question why this is so if inner healing is the big truth that its practitioners say it is?

– “If prayer and Bible study and the power of the Holy Spirit are not enough for saints today to deal with life and problems, then the saints of old, including the apostle Paul, must have been greatly lacking.”

These methods rarely deal with sin in our lives and walking forward in our faith…We are new creations in Christ…Why would we go back into the past?

I pray that you stay away from these occultic methods even though you may have had some positive results in the beginning. Many find that going into altered states will open doors to the spirit world instead of closing doors to the occult. Problems will occur with this contact. Some are having trouble praying, losing interest in reading the Bible….and wanting to use emotional and experience “shortcuts” instead of studying scripture.

August 20, 2016 at 9:04 am

karen

Hi Kim and Christian,
very interesting in regards to both your comments….I didn’t know inner healing was called sozo…in any case just a quick over view of myself…I grew up brethren and went to 1 year bible college…was seeking more of the Lord and ended up in the renewal at John Arnott’s church…completely revolutionized my life…I do believe that God brought me through a lot of healing through the renewal as I am a free person from hurts etc that happened throughout my life…a long story…in any case I do believe the HS moves in my life and that happened at John and Carol Arnotts church.
Also I am able to love others freely -Christians and non Christians which is what the Lord wants…so I do think there is a place for inner healing and deliverance…many Christians struggle in their walk and have difficulty getting free from addictions and things they know they shouldn’t be doing…17 years ago the Lord asked me to go for deliverance…so I did…one thing the pastor said was he knew I had been watching things I shouldn’t have been watching…when I was young I used to like occult movies…so I was always drawn to it…when I got married my husband encouraged me not to watch them but I was always tempted and fell into that temptation at times…in any case when I went for deliverance I was totally delivered…I have never watched another one and have never had the desire to watch another…totally free…so I think that as you listen to more peoples’ testimonies you will see that God does move in this way as long as we are open to being set free. His HS can easily set us free.

August 20, 2016 at 2:29 pm

Kim

Hello karen.

I am so glad that you had relief from wanting to watch occult movies and had healing from hurts.

However I receive alot of inquiries from those who have been involved with the signs and wonders movement and healing ministries only to be oppressed from seeking a false Jesus.

You might want to read these articles.

https://kimolsen.net/2012/12/11/saved-from-the-deception-of-charismania/

https://kimolsen.net/2007/09/13/the-toronto-deception-by-former-tacf-pastor-paul-gowdy/

April 12, 2017 at 11:05 am

jamon lehman

you may want to ponder if this article is actually false teaching in itself. you have a few scriptures, but there are too many others about our authority in Christ to support we can heal the sick, raise the dead, and cast out devils and demons. God is no respecter of persons. if he used the apostles (men) he can use his followers today. if you believe that the bible is the living word but want to throw out the book of acts and 2 corinthians 12, then you may be the one deceived. maybe the people being healed are the 9 that never return back to Jesus to say thankyou. Be the one who has gratitude for your healing and you will find that its a 100 on a scale from 1-10. thanks for the article, love my brothers and sisters in Christ

April 13, 2017 at 11:35 am

Kim

Hello, thank for taking the time to comment.

We all want to be in the truth and we do this by comparing and testing all things against the written Word of God.

The Bereans were called noble for checking to see if Paul said was true. Acts 17:11.

2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All scripture is given by the inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in rightouesness.

No one is throwing out the book of Acts. But it is important to understand the role the Apostles and their unique role. They had qualifications. They had to be a witness to the resurrection of Christ. (1 Corinthians 9:1) they had to be chosen by the Holy Spirit, (Acts 9:15) they would have the ability to perform signs and wonders. (2 Corinthians 12:12) They laid down the foundation of the church. It is dangerous to heed teachings that instruct that the position of the Apostle to be restored. But who wouldn’t want to be out there on the streets, healing and doing wonderous things? It does stimulate the flesh does it not?

The problem is that false prophets will come/have come and they will actually perform signs and wonders. Matthew 24:24

Where are these powers from? “The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan will all power and false signs and wonders.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9

The report of many coming out of these ministries is that many really are not being healed and they are focusing on headaches, backaches, leg lengths…etc. They may impart a sensation unto a person’s body but this may be the power of the kundalini type energy from the serpent.

It is true that God is no respecter of persons. Read Acts 10:34 in context and you will find that Paul is teaching that the Gentiles will be converted. The Jews were showing partiality by thinking that God hated the Gentiles but God will show no partiality in the salvation of people.

When Jesus and the Apostles healed they healed completely. There was no scale. I always read through a passage when commenting on it. The last sentence is amazing.

Luke 17:11-14 “Your faith has made you well”

Perhaps Jesus meant that his heart was healed as well while the others went on their way, unthankful. We see this time and time again when Jesus was healing the masses. Some came in faith but Jesus healed everyone. But not all believed.

When the 5,000 were fed with the fish and bread, they came back the next day wanting more. Jesus said they just wanted to fill their bellies. The seeing of the miracles did not save them. They were the same ones who later yelled “crucify him.”

That is why we are instructed to share the Gospel, with others. That is our walking orders.

Blessings to you.
Kim

May 1, 2017 at 4:05 am

Hope

While I agree that some of these ministries may be questionable, I don’t find any biblical teaching about the apostles performing miracles, or a level of miracles, that we cannot. Also, we shouldn’t foget, the Lord’s ways are mighty, and Greater than satan’s. Many others in the NT performed signs and miracles as well. The Lord has been teaching me about signs and wonders and deliverance, and belief counts for alot… in other words faith counts for alot. Also, keep in mind that God still teaches people directly today if you ask Him. A person’s beliefs can set up a kind of spiritual block for the advancement of faith. We must have faith. Don’t forget..Mark 16:17-18King James Version (KJV)

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues. They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Also, personally signs and wonders havent appealled to my flesh, but to my spirit who gets super excited about working with and learning from the Holy Spirit! There are so many people who want to do the Lord’s work the way He told us too because we believe. This is why these are signs of those who believe! Amen!

May 2, 2017 at 7:19 am

Kim

Hi Hope, It is nice to meet you. Blessings to you for wanting to serve the Lord.

If we read 2 Corinthians 12:12 carefully we will find that Paul gives the reason for signs and wonders that were performed by the Apostles and those close to them.

“The things that mark an apostle—signs, wonders and miracles—were done among you with great perseverance” (2 Corinthians 12:12).

The gifts in the book of Acts was to prove that the gospel was true and the Apostles were messengers from God. The foundation was laid and while the Bible does not expressly say miraculous signs have ceased it is evident that they do not happen as in the past. Biblical history pans this out.

The verse in Mark actually proves this point. Who in this day is immune from snake bites and drinking poison?

God can speak to us today but it is primarily through His Written Word. 2 Timothy 3:16-17. The Bible gives us all we need in order to be saved and to live our lives for the Lord.

There is a danger of seeking personal direct revelation from God because of ease of deception. If you open yourself to this, then a counterfeit voice can step in…..and actually you will be in rebellion to God because His Word is insufficient for you.

I know. Been there. I had to repent of seeking the Lord in unbiblical ways. This is the broad way off the narrow path. Do not listen to false teachers who will take you away from an open Bible. Instead they offer false fire, emotionalism, and experiences sometimes in the form of evil manifestations.

I also recommend doing a study of the role of the Holy Spirit which the third person of the trinity and not a force. False teachers accredit the Holy Spirit to invading spirits.

Jesus told the disciples that He would send the Spirit into the world to “convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:7-11). The Holy Spirit is a comforter, guide, helper, counselor, revealer of truth, The Spirit also is the gift-giver and this spiritual gift is to edify the church. The fruit of the Spirit is the result of walking and dwelling with the Spirit…

This are some of the things you should be learning from the teachers in the church.

June 9, 2017 at 6:20 pm

Sophia

Am worried my mum is trained to do Sozo

June 10, 2017 at 6:47 am

Kim

Hi Sophia,

Your concern is valid. Sozo uses guided imagery and visualization to induce encounters with spirit entities. We see something like this in the bible but it is negative. These experiences are man-induced so it divination.

Be girded with prayer and ask the Lord to give you the responses you need to counter false experiences she may have or promote.

You can email me at kimmerlee1953@gmail.com or post here.

June 15, 2017 at 5:25 am

Dee Connors

i almost died receiving this ministry. after bringing up memories, i would inevitably go back out and use drugs the next day. very dangerous. i am free now from sozo and from drugs. amen.

June 15, 2017 at 7:18 am

Kim

Hi Dee. Oh my. I am so glad you got out of this ministry. It very occultic in nature and only causes oppression. You are proof of the dark influences that can result. And also God is so good to break you free of the bondage.

Blessings to you and I pray that you are emboldened to share and to help others who may fall into this black trap.

July 10, 2017 at 5:18 pm

Craig Hill

Hi Kim
Great article.
The simple reason that so many people are being hoodwinked by Sozo and the ministries and ministers connected to it is this.
They will not accept the sufficiency of scripture and as a result they will not submit to the authority of scripture. The mindset that there must be something more is so strong in the contemporary church now. Sadly it can all be traced back to comprimised preaching,teaching and bad theology from our pulpits. The power of the Holy Spirit is released into the believer’s life through the word of God. The application of the word comes from the Holy Spirit also. It’s heartbreaking to hear of so much experiential, subtle deception. Waken up dear friends, WAKEN UP!!
2 Timothy 2:15. 2 Timothy 3:16. Proverbs 4:20-22.
God bless
Craig.

July 14, 2017 at 12:10 pm

Alita Kiss

The knowledge that there is something more comes from Holy Spirit. He leads us into inner healing because we need to be empty conduits for the flowing of the Holy Spirit. The cost of our salvation is the laying down of our lives…death to self. which allows us to embody Christ. Wounds and scars of the past are open doors for the enemy to enter in and distract and otherwise divert us from our journey with Christ. The degree that we are willing to surrender ‘self’, is the exact same degree that we are able to live in Christ. The Father wants us pure, not a mixture of the world and Christ. We are to come out from the world and be separate. If we look like the world, act like and talk like the world, then what is the difference? They will be confused by us and our testimony will be tarnished. But we can’t do any of this ourselves…constant communication with the Father, the washing of the mind by the water of the Word and being led by Holy Spirit are the only way we can live a laid down life in and for Christ. Be careful not to reject the new wine…remember Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. If we fear what God is doing now, we will be left behind and eventually judged for it. It is the relationship not the religion that lets us know what God is doing now…He does nothing unless He tells the prophets first. So be listening for His voice, He is happy to tell us what He is doing and wants to include us. Be freed from religious spirits and rejection of the new things God is doing now. If you are not sure if what you are seeing is of God, ask Him. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Be blessed by the Father!
Alita

July 14, 2017 at 9:12 pm

Sarah

Hi,

Just want to share my Sozo experience/education about what it is.

The point of Sozo is to connect the believer with a closer understanding and connection with God by getting rid of lies people have believed or darkness which they have allowed into their lives because of sin or involvement in the occult.

In Sozo prayer you go through memories based on your understanding of your parents, friends etc. to see if any of your beliefs about them have clouded your understanding of who God (from the Bible) truly is.

You pray to forgive the different situations which you needed to forgive and ask God to forgive you for holding onto unforgiveness. Then ask God to come and fill in the place of hurt with his truth. They have you visualize how God would respond based on His character. (This is key to any kind of healing!)

And the miracle of it is the freedom people receive by forgiving and asking for forgiveness. Then God becomes real because the lies are gone such as “He never protected me.”, “He will just leave me and reject me like my friends and the church”.

God is our protector, the Holy Spirit is Jesus/God in us and with us, and Jesus is our friend the only one who can lead us to His father who is God. …..there will never be enough words to describe who they are but they must be our primary focus if we are to live in all they have for us! And reading the Bible regularly is also a must if we are to grow in an understanding of them and their plan for us.

Through Sozo years of anger and hurt I felt towards my mother stopped as I was able to forgive her and ask God to forgive me. My fear about church and being let down got a new “name” which taught me how to give it to God any time it came up.

Repenting and asking forgiveness of all my sins opened me up to a much much closer relationship with God and faith that he will help me any time I need to repent because I can give it to Him. He has killed my old nature and now I am learning to walk in His by faith and not by sight.

I hope people will not discard this ministry. But it absolutely requires wisdom and submission to God to make it what it is supposed to be. We must come humbly before the Lord with nothing hidden and no perversion.

If one is going through memories without a desire to forgive or repent and are not led into the truth by someone with Godly wisdom and understanding they could make up things that aren’t true or accentuate parts of a situation more than they ought to. At that point they are supposed to forgive and give it all to God though, so if they are doing Sozo correctly they should not walk out of the room with more problems. The point is to direct people towards God the only author and perfecter.

Sozo has completely changed my life, I hope you can look into it more before pushing it totally aside.

July 18, 2017 at 5:05 pm

Kim

Hello Alita,

Thank you for your comment… I would like to address a few things here.

You said that we need “to be empty conduits for the flowing of the Holy Spirit.” That sounds good but there is no scriptural support that we are to be empty. In fact it is dangerous spiritually.

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth non. The he saith I will return into my house whence I came out, and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself and they enter in and dwell there, and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

If you have some verses stating that being empty is a positive thing please post them.

Salvation is a free gift. We are asked to lay down our life and it will cost us but salvation itself is free.

It is by grace through faith and is at the heart of the Christian faith. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9)

We all are influenced by past circumstance. The Bible tells us that the destiny of the Christian is indeed death to self and obedience to Christ through faith and obedience to His Word. We do not need to go through some mystical prayer journey to attain understanding of our past. In fact it may be dangerous as we can connect with an entity or spirit guide masquerading as a spirit of light.

The Bible says that our connection to the Father, is through Jesus, our mediator. We are guided by the Holy Spirit. No other method is needed. Mysticism may feel good but we are to walk in faith, obey scripture, and walk in this light. Something that cannot be found in the Bible is not sanctioned by God…Deuteronomy 18 says….

“There shall not be found among you anyone that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.”

Indeed we are not to be like the world and what we find in the world now is mysticism and new age thought. We are not to mix this with Christianity which is what is happening in the church today. God hates mixture, esp false religion with Christianity.

“. Be careful not to reject the new wine…”

Jesus referring to the wineskins was His way of announcing that the present institutions of Jadaism would not contain His new wine. He was forming a new institution which was the church. This was to being together the Jew and the Gentile into a new body. It is not a reference to some new experience someone is having or some new idea, method or new revelation.

If one is not sure what they are experiencing is of God then they are to compare it scripture. The Written Word.

Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

July 19, 2017 at 8:37 am

Kim

Hi Sarah,

I have concerns about any method that induces a trance-like state and then regresses you. Here is a quote from Dave Hunt of the Berean Call from an article named Spiritualized Counseling.

“How serious a concern is the use of visualization, a technique of hypnosis, by Christian psychologists and inner healers? “Visualization” and “guided imagery” have long been recognized by sorcerers of all kinds as the most powerful and effective methodology for contacting the spirit world in order to acquire supernatural power, knowledge, and healing. Such methods are neither taught nor practiced in the Bible as aids to our faith or prayer. Those who attempt to do so are not following the leading of the Holy Spirit or the Word of God, but are practicing an ancient occult technique for communing with demons.”

I recommend nouthetic counseling which means to admonish and correct with scripture. The counselor does and can go over past life experiences but no regression is necessary.. There is prayer in the form of acknowledgment of sin, and petitions before God. Then obedience to scripture. The notion that if Sozo is not done correctly it can cause more problems is very revealing.

I went through a time of deception and it was at times joyful. I thought I was hearing from the Lord. I wasn’t…so feelings are not a trustful gauge or plumbline.

I get more personal contact from those who have been harmed and oppressed by SOZO than general comments on the blog. Those who have walked through a door by climbing ladders and met some spirit entity have suffered greatly. For this reason, SOZO must be regarded as spiritually dangerous.

September 3, 2017 at 8:02 am

Barry Boyd

Read many comments here,some interesting ones.Show me beyond any doubt that Jesus ministered in this fashion,I assure you that you cannot find 1 lick of scripture to support any of this.When Jesus healed he healed,there was no 1-10 scale and from what I read in scripture he never asked anyone about how they were feeling and yes I know some of you might say well what about the man who had his sight restored u know the 1 where Jesus applied the mud to his eyes,just 1 instance in scripture in the NT but that’s it.Test e verything by God’s word,that is the lithmus test the measuring stick.Look at how Jesus ministered he is to be our example.

January 5, 2018 at 7:50 pm

John Wayne

As someone who was around the sozo culture I can say it is indeed dangerous and not a biblically sound practice or philosophy. A lot of the so called sozo administers were incredibly damaged and broken people themselves. There was very little if no scripture at all during sozos, it is about feeling, total sensationalism. Most of these so called sozo people are not at all qualified to be giving any type of therapeutic advice or “healing.” I left feeling worse off than I came, like the sozo person had an abundance of knowledge and knew how to connect with God while I was just some poor peasant with all these problems. You’ve been warned.

January 6, 2018 at 9:36 am

Chris

Regardless if trying to heal from past by dealing with painful memories, by asking God to heal those painful memories or any healing, atonement…. Stay away from anything spiritual that’s not of Jesus Christ, the Jesus that died on the cross and resurrected 3 days later, sits on the right hand throne of God. Rebuke anything else in the Blood of Jesus. Be filled with the Holy Spirit and pray in Spirit and Truth.

I think saying “God doesn’t heal like that today” can be misleading. Scripture says we will do mightier things and it also says our faith is as we think it is. If we truly believe God will do something (that fits in with His will), He will do it. If we doubt He will do something, He won’t do it.
We shouldn’t limit Him by saying He doesn’t heal mightily and immediately today, because He still does. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, He doesn’t lie.
He gives us more of what we have and takes away more of what we don’t have. He wants us to speak positive and trust Him for everything, including miraculous healing.
Lift those who are lost up in prayer, hand them over to God, through Jesus.
Jesus, we lift (name those lost or the groups) up to you in the spirit for you to pour your Holy oil out over them anointing them, God Blessing them and God Saving them. In Jesus’ mighty name, we give you ALL the glory God. Amen.
(Scripture says we should pray in secret instead of telling others, but I wanted to show others how to pray for the specific Sozo groups and others that are in danger). Please lift them up. EVERYBODY needs someone praying for them. God WILL work. Hand it to Him. 😊
P.S. Atonement is a very long PAINFUL period for some people, but worth it as long as you only allow the only Christ to lead you through it, replacing the negative with the positive, completely “accepting” His healing and love, expecting it, not forcing it.

January 6, 2018 at 1:12 pm

Kim

Hello thank you for the comments.

In regards to the mightier works this is often misinterpreted. Jesus was not saying that we would walk on water like Himself. There are things Jesus did that no one can replicate like raising Lazarus. His statement is linked with His going to the Father. His work would continue in the world by the power of the Holy Spirit and it would impact the entire world.

As people pray in Jesus’ name answers will come and the best miracle of all is not a physical healing but a spiritual one. Redemption.

While there are many facets to atonement the most accepted teaching is Penal Substitution. The atonement of Christ, His substitution for us sinners. That God’s wrath was satisfied by the slaying of the Lamb and man can be reconciled and forgiven for sin. Through faith we can accept what Jesus did for us.

We can’t limit God. And you are right He does not change. Hebrews 13:8 indicates that the nature of Jesus does not change. How he deals with man in different ages may be different. For instance He no longer requires animal sacrifice but His nature doesn’t change. Immutibility.

January 26, 2018 at 6:05 am

Jason

Sounds like you believe in Cessation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Which is ashame. I think Pride and Fear are at the root of you writing this article.

1Thessalonians 5:19-22 “Don’t stifle the Holy Spirit…”

And how do you explain this?
John 14:12 “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing”

HOLY SPIRIT is alive and well and Moving in signs wonders and Miracles through the body TODAY!

January 31, 2018 at 8:05 am

Kim

Hi Jason,

We do need to define terms here. Basically a cessationist believes that the miraculous gifts have ceased in the age of grace, the church age but still believes that God heals, deals with His people and works in miraculous ways. Paul gives us the reason why in the book Acts the miracles were performed. “The things that mark an apostle—signs, wonders and miracles were done among you with great perseverance”. The apostles were “marked” as genuine messengers from God by the miracles they performed when giving the gospel. Paul who had the ability to heal people could not heal Trophemus or Apaphroditus.

1 Corinthians 13:8 speaks of three gifts that will cease. Prophecy, tongues, knowledge. Thee are three that remain hope, faith, love. Love trumps all these gifts and never fails.

When we back up to chapter 12 we are told to desire the greater gifts then Paul goes into the excellence of love.

There are other passages with gifts The spiritual gifts identified in Romans 12 are prophesying, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leadership, and mercy. Those with these gifts seem to be serving in fellowship edifying the congregation.

You might want to do a study on the role of the Holy Spirit. Look up all the verses to find out. https://www.gotquestions.org/Spirit-today.html

As to the John 14:12 verse I just spoke to it in the last comment. It is often used in charismatic teachings.

“In regards to the mightier works this is often misinterpreted. Jesus was not saying that we would walk on water like Himself. There are things Jesus did that no one can replicate like raising Lazarus. His statement is linked with His going to the Father. His work would continue in the world by the power of the Holy Spirit and it would impact the entire world.”

As to your reference to my pride and fear. I pray my motive is to lead people to the scriptures and to compare all teachings to the Word of God. This is something we all need to do. And I do have some fear. It is generating from these verses.

“Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,” 2 Thess 2:9

“A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.” Matthew 16:4

““Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’” Matthew 7:22-23

March 6, 2018 at 9:46 am

Dr. June Knight

I disagree with this statement;
The false self-claimed apostles, Bill Johnson, Mike Bickle, Todd Bentley, John Arnott, Todd White, just to name a few, are promising that people can walk among the streets and in the power of the Holy Spirit, heal people of their diseases. Of course this speaks of the pride of man, to be just like the apostles in the book of Acts. These early men were hand selected by Jesus and therefore Apostles. Paul was the last Apostle. God does still does heal today but not like what we are seeing in these false ministries.

The bible DOES SAY for us to lay hands on the sick AND THEY SHALL RECOVER. If it wasn’t for this paragraph I would share this article

March 7, 2018 at 8:07 am

Kim

Hello, Ms. Knight,

You have quoted at the end of your comment Mark 16:18….well part of the verse anyway.

Here is the entire verse. “they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Looking at the verse in context the passage starts at verse 14 in which Jesus is talking to the “eleven.” The problem is..who is the “us” you are speaking of in your comment. Indeed Jesus said that these signs would follow the Apostles. You cannot however separate the picking up of serpents and the drinking of poison from the healing of the sick. That is why this verse is often misused and only partly quoted.

Perhaps we should consider James 5:14-15

“Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.”

James is teaching to go the elders of the church…there are very extensive passages on the qualifications of an elder.

1 Timothy 3:1–7: “Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.”

Also in Titus

An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it” (Titus 1:6–9).

Of course there are those who bypass this because they want to walk the streets and lengthen people’s legs and like to be seen prophesying over others. Especially with the video camera rolling. These are the ones I speak of. They are usually part of the New Apostolic Reformation.

March 7, 2018 at 10:43 am

Dr. June Knight

Your article alludes to the point that you do not believe in God using us to be conduits for gods glory and to carry the anointing which will bring healing to others. I agree with your whole article and point until you inserted your own opinion about God not using people today. This discredits all the rest. God still uses people today..and by the way…I’m not NAR

March 13, 2018 at 6:55 am

Kim

Hi again,

I think you may have misunderstood who I was referring to. Probably due to my lack of writing skill. I had in mind the likes of Bill Johnson who has a school of supernatural ministry at Bethel who are sending kids into the streets trying to heal people. They focus on signs and wonders and are often plagued with manifestations….some from the flesh and some I fear from oppression.

January 21, 2019 at 4:03 pm

Daniel

Inner healing is demonic. It deceived me for 3 years. I developed false memories & ended up in a mental health facility. Please read your bible carefully & see for yourself that inner healing is not in there. The apostles never ministered in this way & neither did Jesus.

January 22, 2019 at 7:37 am

Kim

Daniel,

Thank you for your comment. I am so glad to hear that you came out of deception. Many suffer horrible consequences like you. This is not the first time I have heard of mental problems after occultic involvement. Blessings to you.

January 22, 2019 at 8:00 am

Kim

Dear friends, remember that a false teacher will tell you what you want to hear. They will tickle your ears. They will speak smoothly and tell you myths and fables. They will proclaim mighty works that will point to themselves instead of Jesus Christ. They promote health, wealth and prosperity instead of holiness.

Look for teachers who tell you the harder things. Like picking up a cross and to be crucified with Christ. The Holy Spirit is not a force or a feeling but the third person of the trinity. We will be persecuted for the truth of the written Word and our testimony of our need for Savior, Jesus Christ…the only way and the only name under heaven for salvation.

February 10, 2019 at 8:34 am

Kim

Personal attacks are not allowed in comments. The result is being blocked.

February 19, 2019 at 10:54 am

Maria XCosecha

Thank you for your blog. We’re looking for a new church and found one that prominently promotes their Sozo healing ministry. My research led me to your page. So, we’re STILL looking for a new church, but will not be comfortable with one associated with Sozo or Bethel in any way.

March 21, 2019 at 9:26 am

Kelly

“God still heals today, but not like this…”
The arrogance to assert how god heals and what it should look like is ironic given the accusations in the article.
What a sad statement from someone that follows Jesus.

March 22, 2019 at 7:48 am

Kim

Hi Kelly…if you are going to quote me using “…”‘s, please quote in full. “God does still does heal today but not like what we are seeing in these false ministries”

We can pour over the scriptures to discover how God heals. There are literally hundreds of them. In them we find that God does not heal everyone. Consider the man at the pool in John 5. There were multitudes there but Jesus only healed one man. When Jesus and the Apostles healed, they healed completely.

We are given a passage to go to the elders of the church who fulfill the requirements laid out in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9. We should have them lay hands on us and pray for us.

I personally know of an individual who was completely healed of a broken leg by going to the elders this way.

In contrast we have those who are like Simon the Sorcerer who witnessed Peter and John and offered them money to have the same power. Peter reprimands Simon for his greed. We need to be careful of those who claim to have supernatural powers ” for their “heart is not right before God” (Acts 8:20–21).

Years ago my uncle was at a Oral Roberts tent meeting and his leg grew when Roberts ministered to him. Problem is that after that my uncle had mediumistic abilities and suffered mentally…….

March 22, 2019 at 4:12 pm

Daniel

I have already left a comment before but I just thought I would add something else. I was in the inner healing ministry for 3 years and I want to say that just because something works, it doesn’t mean that it’s from God. Inner healing deceived me & I ended up in psychiatric care because of it. I thought it was working well for me but after I left the ministry, I realized I could no longer read my bible or even pray. It robbed me of an anointed relationship with God. Inner healing is a lie from he’ll & Satan is the greatest deceiver. Stay away from inner healing. You don’t need it. You are a brand new creation in Christ.

Daniel.

March 26, 2019 at 5:52 pm

Miranda Figueroa

My question for you like it is for most articles I’ve read about skeptic toward Todd, Bill J, etc. Have YOU ever received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.. have you received your prayer language? (tongues). Do you walk in power? What do you do besides a bible study to deliver oppressed Christians from the demonic? What have you done?

March 27, 2019 at 8:00 am

Kim

Hi Miranda, One does well to question things. Paul called the Bereans noble for comparing teachings against the Written Word. We all must do the same.

I could address baptism of the Holy Spirit and tongues in full but will refrain at this time. I have lots of scripture that addresses these two subjects…let me just say briefly that all believers receive the Holy Spirit. According to 1 Corinthians 12 we “all” have been baptized by the Spirit—all believers have received the baptism, synonymous with salvation. It is not a special experience for only the spiritual “elite”. As to tongues the Bible is clear that not all receive the gift of tongues so to ask if one has, should be avoided especially when done to accuse one of lacking something. Again briefly tongues were always a known language and it was always to be interpretated. I have other articles that address these issues fully.

April 5, 2019 at 11:09 am

Chad

Ms. Olsen,
I appreciate the decorum and respect you show in your replies to a subject that elicits such heart-felt and passionate response from those seeking to follow Christ with their whole being. This is a wonderful quality to see in the current climate.
After reflecting on your initial blog post, I am troubled, however, by your emphasis on the lack of intelligence and discernment of the “sheep,” rather than on Christ’s positive assertion to the Pharisees in John 10, that His sheep “know His voice.” Your emphasis seems to promote fear of being deceived, over trust in the Living God to lead His children into all truth, by the Holy Spirit whom he has sent. That Good Shepherd of the sheep, is also the one who anoints with oil and binds wounds.

April 6, 2019 at 8:05 am

Kim

Hi Chad,

You must be referring to the “When we read about Jesus as our shepherd and recognize ourselves as the flock, it must be remembered that sheep are not very smart.” statement in this post.

I like what you said about the Good Shepherd that He “anoints with oil and binds wounds.”

Psalm 147:3 says. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

Being a Sunday school teacher has given me ample research and lessons about us the sheep. It is an interesting study and reveals a lot. I like what Tim Challies has written.

“Sheep are dumb and directionless and defenseless. So I guess when God says that we are sheep who need a shepherd, he doesn’t mean it as a compliment to us. It is just a very realistic assessment of who we are and what we need. We are sheep who are completely dependent upon a shepherd.To say that God is our shepherd and we are sheep, is to humble ourselves, admitting what is true about us, and to elevate God, declaring what is true of him.”

We recognize the the voice of God by belonging to Him and following Him. . Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).

However we still can stray, get lost, follow wrong leaders, get caught up in a herd mentality, etc. Jesus gives the parable of the lost sheep. Even though we belong to Him we can still wander from the flock and get lost.

I guess that is one of the reasons for my blog. It is for those who have wandered off and may be in danger of the roaring lion seeking who he may devour.

I think we need to always be discerning which should produce a humbling reliance on our Lord Jesus Christ.

I love this.

“Sheep are significant throughout the Bible. We can learn a lot about God and His dealings with humanity by understanding their nature. They teach us about ourselves and our helplessness without Christ. They remind us about sin’s shocking consequences when innocence is sacrificed to atone for the guilty. But they also teach us about God and His desire to deal tenderly with us: “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young” (Isaiah 40:11). When we study the ways sheep are used as teaching tools in the Bible, it helps us better understand ourselves in relation to our Good Shepherd.” from Got Questions.

May 18, 2019 at 11:36 pm

Gordon

Hi Kim,

I do so appreciate your comments, your candor, and your grasp of scripture. Having been in ministry for the last 30 plus years (still ministering), it is nice to see that even when we disagree, that we can agree to be civil and loving. It is what God called us to through His Son.

Regarding Sozo and my personal experiences, I have found it to be God focused. Sarah’s posting above has been very much reflective of my own experiences.

Interestingly enough, I sought Christian counseling (no Sozo involved) when I went through my first and only divorce (20 years ago). The intent was to not repeat the mistakes that I made in my first marriage and carry them into future relationships. There is nothing in Scripture about Christian counseling per se, we don’t see Jesus participating in it during His ministry, yet in the right hands, it can bring healing to a broken spirit. Through my year of Christian counseling, I dealt with issues related to how I was brought up, and how I viewed the world and how I viewed relationships. Changed me for the better, not just in my future relationships, but also with how I approached my job, how I approached others and how I approached my parents (whom I did have to forgive for past actions that affected me because I was carrying those hurts with me everyday and didn’t even realize it). Made me a better man, and a better Christian.

The work of Sozo is much like Christian counseling. It depends upon the training and the skills of the person who leads it. My experiences with Sozo in my current church have not included trance-like states or suggestive memories or regressive techniques. If there are those who are practicing such, then I would agree to stay far away. Obviously, there are many hacks in Christian counseling, and there are many hacks who claim to be Pastors (and have the pulpits to prove it) and there are many hacks who are only out to enrich themselves. And obviously based upon comments I have seen and the articles written, there are MANY hacks who use Sozo. I am NOT writing to gloss over any abhorrent acts by people claiming to be from God or used by God. Nor am I writing to say that Sozo IS the next best thing for Christians.

What I am saying is to carefully review what we do and test with Scripture, understanding that Scripture written 2000 years ago would NEVER have mentioned the internet either (which when used is a silly argument to say something ISN’T from God if it isn’t mentioned in the Bible). Otherwise, we would ALL be living like the Amish.

I would also caution that we should always be careful as to what whom we allow in our lives and the messages they bring. But that doesn’t mean we should exclude ourselves from even going to Church out of fear. In fact, God commands the opposite.

Lastly, I would say that salvation in and of itself is meaningless, unless we are drawn into a relationship with God. Otherwise, we are only stillbirth children who never grow up. The purpose of Christ coming is to draw us INTO relationship with God . . . which obviously includes prayer, reading the Bible, the Fruit of the Spirit et al. As James said, Faith without works is dead. Our relationship with God, if alive will bring fruit/works in and through us for God’s glory.

I would suggest that if God can do ANYTHING and I think I can safely say that you do believe such, then if God so desired, miracles can happen today, and that God can still work through people to bring about His purpose in mighty ways for HIS glory, not ours.

Toward this end, I have seen lives touched for the better by Sozo (without any of the associated mambo-jumbo that I have seen presented in various places). And I do believe that God can and does bring healing to those who need it, so that we are drawn into a deeper relationship with God.

I do whole-hardheartedly recommend Sozo based upon what I have observed and tested against Scripture, BUT, if anyone of this other stuff reared it’s ugly, demonic head, I would be the first to run in the other direction. Haven’t seen it . . . at least not at my church. I can not speak to other experiences or other churches.

May 20, 2019 at 7:20 am

Kim

Hi Gordon, nice to meet you.

I have nothing against Christian counsel. I advocate Nouthetic counseling which simply means the counselor knows all the answers come from the Bible. It is helpful that some are trained to isolate personal issues, focus on the problem and help the counselee to apply themselves.

Counsel can came from elders in the church who are able to teach, brothers and sisters in Christ who have gone through similar circumstances, or someone trained in scripture and well versed enough to know what verses to turn to.

However when psychology or occultic methods are used it is time to turn away from the ungodly.

I learned a lot by reading Dave Hunt’s research.

“If the church is to return to biblical Christianity, it must purge itself of psychological theories and terminology. Psychotherapy is, in fact, a rival religion that cannot be integrated with Christianity. Having nothing of value to offer to anyone, much less to Christians, it is both deceptive and destructive. Its influences must be removed from the church. We do need counseling in the church. This is, in fact, one of its greatest needs. But it must be biblical, not psychological, counseling.”

I also believe the divination of Bethel SOZO is even more dangerous to the soul. The most common method of visualization whether it be ladders or doors, will drum up dark spirits masquerading as angels of light. 2 Corinthians 11:14. This is rebellion. 1 Samuel 15:23 says “rebellion is like the sin of divination.”

Therefore I would never use the term SOZO in any positive fashion so to not lead any dear sheep astray.

Johanna Michaelsen’s book “The Beautiful Side of Evil” was really an eye opener.

June 28, 2019 at 12:09 pm

Diana

I and my husband escaped another “church” connected with Bethel Church in Redding-Iris Ministries-Heidi Baker; The Father’s House in Oroville, CA. They are very connected with the Toronto Blessing and the Arnott’s. We were there listening to the “Follow Me” message while going through their “SOM- School of Ministry”. I can tell you that I was much worse off after going through all of their requirements. The surface intention of “Serving others -“Giving Your Life Away” is good, those there are living a very minimal life a poverty. They have little respect for those that work a real job outside the church and encourage everyone to volunteer instead of working a job, never mind people need to pay bills. The pastor and his wife who run it with their children -“No Board’ to make sure all is above board. It’s all run by them, no accountability no one to answer to. The SOZO counseling-“Inner healing” they require is an encounter that seems to stir up things that should have never been stirred up. Information gathered from this counseling was later used against us and gave them power. Those we trusted with our pasts held it over our heads and manipulated us with it. I don’t know if either my hubby or I will ever truly get healing from this but we are working on it.

They allow the loud screaming and the “Holy Laughter” that is something from other than the Godly Realm, distraction as well as signs and wonders. They also offer a “soaking After Glow Service” that entails the Tunnel of Fire that Bethel does at their services and becoming catatonic, almost hypnotized.

They have a Life Recovery Ministry that is a yearlong. They have a successful graduation rate but won’t allow them to leave after the year telling them they will fail if they leave and won’t stay sober or clean. They discourage anyone leaving the program and keep them from their families. They have told graduates that if they leave not to bother coming back that they have no time for those who do not stay. Truth is when people leave they lose workers in the church. They have several businesses with in the church, YoVille Yogurt shop, Helping Hands-Construction-Pastor is a Contractor, Lord’s Gym and a Second Hand store Restored. The Pastor tells everyone from the pulpit to give all they have and to-“Follow Me”-“Farther up and Further in” stating that he only has income coming in from the generosity of others and “Unexpected Checks In The Mail”. After we left the church my husband when to public records and found other evidence that was contrary to this lie. He has several rental houses that he did not lose when the housing market crashed in the past and he has stated that he has lost everything from the millions he used to make. He’s collecting rents from all of these, he has an income-which is fine but don’t tell people otherwise. Both he and his wife go on regular month long cruises as well as their kids raising moneys from Go-Fund Me accounts and raising funds from offerings from already depleted parishioners. The poorest of the poor go to this church located in a very dark spirited place in Oroville that is infested with drugs, prostitution and murders. Most of their leadership has come from out of country and married locals who have children and fill the church. They come from England, Whales, Canada and other foreign places.
Their attitude for those of us who “Won’t Drink the Cool Aid” is fierce. It was my fault we ended up back in this place after seeking a place we missed since our First Church that we were spiritually raised in had closed and we were looking for solid teaching. When we first went there it was a tiny converted house with warm people and solid teaching, something happened and we left only to go back years later and not knowingly it had turned into this false move of God. The pastor embraces ALL the Moves of the Holy Spirit-however these sprits are not from heaven. Instead of putting a stop to it he embraces it and encourages it. I could sense so much of this and discern that so many things were wrong and to speak out on this was not acceptable and “Inner Healing” was called for. It was then too late, my husband had found a place to serve and had responsibilities there, and we ended up staying there for 5 more long years. He could see some of what I saw but not all. I was told that I had a critical spirit because I was a free thinker and would not go along with what they wanted me to do. Their one daughter and husband that ran the Gym business were brash and unkind-Mean. I was not one to back down to anyone and stood on what I believed. There was a devastating fire that came through the foothills a couple of years ago. So many lost their homes in this, so many didn’t have insurance because their homes were so old that they were uninsurable. They lost everything. This pastor lost his home also, however; he had insurance to rebuild. He was a contractor also, had the construction ministry and free labor to build. The next day one of his daughter’s posted an Amazon Want List as well as a GoFundMe Account for the pastor and his wife. It was full of very expensive items, some frivolous. They also began a campaign to put their Down syndrome 34 year old brother on Social Media to get him movies that he had lost in the fire and players. They were trying to get him on the Ellen Show. This was my last straw. They would try to collect for him in church services also. Again I remind you they had lots of insurance money coming in and so many were left penniless and homeless. I felt that they were stealing from people doing this and this isn’t what the bible teaches.
So many are blind to all of this, I thank God that I and my husband were able to get out. We have sense joined another church but I am as weary as is my hubby that we don’t go regularly and I don’t know if the damage that we occurred there will ever be healed. I can call this place what it is a Cult. It has all the telltale signs that you look for.
1. Opposing critical thinking
2. Isolating members and penalizing them for leaving
3. Emphasizing special doctrines outside scripture
4. Seeking inappropriate loyalty to their leaders
5. Dishonoring the family unit
6. Crossing Biblical boundaries of behavior (versus sexual purity and personal ownership)
7. Separation from the Church
They bring people in from The Harvest Ministries with the Arnott’s to teach and preach and prophecy services. I guess my point is that in these last days we need to be more vigilant that we ever have been. The bible says that many will be deceived. I praise the Lord He got us out of there.

June 29, 2019 at 10:15 am

Kim

Hi Diana,

Glad you left. Sounds very culitsh. I watched one video of him speaking of the fire. He said once diverted a fire and a neighbor watched in amazement. But then the second fire came and burnt his house down. I would think that he never had the ability to divert a fire in the first place. Lesson not learned.

Indeed I found the association with Heidi Baker on a mission trip. Any association here is a red flag, esp where the holy laughter is concerned.

Also noticed quite a few young females preaching with an emphasis only on what Jesus said…made me think of the RedLettterChrisitan sect. Paul said he does not allow a women to teach and have spiritual authority over men.

August 31, 2019 at 10:45 am

karen holden

In John 14:12 NLT Jesus said “I tell you the truth, ANYONE who believes in me will do the SAME works I have done, AND EVEN GREATER works”.

Jesus called the Apostles (who were ordinary men) because he knew their hearts – Including Judas’. I have searched and searched and find no evidence anywhere in the bible that says the Apostles were the only ones that did or will do great works.

I can’t find anywhere in the bible where it says that healing or deliverance will cease. I was a victim of mental, physical and emotional torture for over 14 years. I prayed and asked God to heal me and He did. But it took over 30 years for me to allow Him to complete the healing. Healing is not in our time frame – it is in His timeframe, time which He uses to build our faith for further trials and tribulations He knows (and said) we will go through. Healings are gifts from God to aid us in our walk with Him and to bring unbelievers to His feet.

Putting God in a box telling Him He cannot do these miracles any longer or how He can do them is nothing short of blasphamy. Can we truly build a box big enough from which we dictate to our creator what he can or cannot do? He spoke through a donkey and he still is today!

Every faith effort encounters those that distort it. Perhaps that is why we see God closing many doors. Instead of arguing and name calling and back-biting, why don’t we all pray for each other and trust the Holy Spirit to guide us accordingly.

Ultimately, God is still in control.

September 1, 2019 at 7:25 am

Kim

I have received a couple of comments lately that are repetitive and are answered in the comment section. Please read through the comments before leaving a comment. I am still happy to receive your thoughts and address anything not already discusssed or if something needs further clarification. Thank you so much and blessings to all.

September 2, 2019 at 6:56 pm

Kim

Hi Karen…nice to meet you…

I am so glad to hear how God healed you of what you went through. Indeed God does heal us and does it in His own time and for his purposes.

I agree with most of what you have to say. Although John 14:12 has been dwelt with. We will never outperform Jesus on a personal level. We will never raise anyone from the dead, (there are no proven cases) we will never walk on water. We cannot drink poison like Paul.

I like what commentator David Guzik says about this verse.

” Jesus did not mean greater in the sense of more sensational, but greater in magnitude. Jesus would leave behind a victorious, working family of followers who would spread His kingdom to more people and places than Jesus ever did in His life and ministry.”

Yet the people who witnessed the miracles doubted who Jesus was and did not believe in Him. If those great miracles were to happen today the result would be similar. The Israelites walked through the Red Sea, were led by fire and smoke, got water from a rock and received miraculous manna and yet lacked faith. Miracles apparently is not a great way to grow our faith. It can lead to a shallow understanding of who God is, especially if we only want the blessing and do not have an interested in picking up a cross and suffering for the cause of Christ.

Today as in the past we need to believe that we have salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. The miracles were to authenticate who Jesus was.
.Acts 2:22 says, “Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.”

What marked an apostle was the signs and wonders and he gave them the gifts of the Spirit. One of the wonders was the 3,000 saved after pentecost. This is a great example of the greater things accomplished by followers of Jesus after He went to the Father.

This article and others who warn about those who are desiring to imitate the apostles and walk the streets lengthening legs, (with camera pointing directly at him) etc. are false teachers. They do not give the true Gospel that Jesus died for them because they have sinned against a holy God and are headed for Hell, because the wages of sin is death.

I do believe in miracles. I know those who been healed only by God’s hand instantly. I also know someone who was healed by occult methods in the name of Jesus and suffered mentally for it.

I have always disliked the simplistic coined phrase “putting God in a box”. It doesn’t mean anything specific. It implies that one may be theologically bound, or does not understand His nature, etc.

What we do need to do is study His written Word with the help of the Spirit, because we know He will reveal Himself in accordance to His Word which is infallible. 2 Timothy 3:16 says “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,”

Jesus warned “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Matthew 7:21-23). In the last days there will be many who have accumulated vast knowledge of God, but who have never truly known Him. They will know about God without ever knowing Him. They will be cast into the lake of fire.

This blog is for those who follow false teachers and never read the Word for themselves to see if what they say is true. We must be Bereans. It is a noble thing.

May 26, 2020 at 1:45 pm

Jordan C, CLC

Reblogged this on Exposing the Memory Therapy Cults… and commented:
Love this post!

May 26, 2020 at 1:50 pm

Jordan R. Conway

Reblogged this on Coming Soon: The Sozo Hoax.

November 17, 2020 at 5:27 pm

Kim, Thank you so much. God Bless Everyone.

Question: Please help me understand this encroaching ‘Sozo Prayer’ teaching. Is it a deception?
Dr Jim McClure, noted theologian, responds: This matter requires some writing at length, actually as an expanded article, but I’ll make it as clear as I can!
Introduction to The Sozo Deception
There is a disturbing trend in contemporary Christianity, one in which the long-established fundamentals of the faith are being set aside or modified or replaced by dangerous novelties. Consequently, while there has been a diminishing in the teaching and preaching of sound biblical truths, there has been a corresponding rise in fanciful and speculative ideas that tickle the imagination and appeal to the mysterious.

The danger in many of the ideas being propagated today is that they are cloaked in Christian terminology and lurk in seeming Christian orthodoxy. And herein lies their danger. Because they give the appearance of having a biblical basis, many sincere Christians succumb to their deceit. This is not a new thing. From time to time movements have arisen within Christianity that have gained popular appeal but, despite their attraction, they have deviated from biblical truth.

Consider this parallel. Some counterfeit money is hard to detect because it bears a striking resemblance to the authentic currency – but it is worthless! Likewise counterfeit Christianity has the appearance of authenticity but apart from being worthless it is also positively harmful because it exploits the sincere and needy seeker. It also makes those who in the past have been stung by the counterfeit to be wary of and to doubt the integrity of the real.

The simple yet wise words of advice given by Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:21 still holds true for today, ‘Test everything. Hold on to the good.’ A willingness to believe anything of a spiritual nature, especially if it titillates the imagination, does not indicate a strong faith. It is very necessary to test the integrity and biblical trustworthiness of everything we hear or read. There is nothing commendable in gullibility!

Test all things

Again, Paul warns, ‘For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear’ (2 Timothy 4:3).

The Message Bible translation of this verse is worth noting: ‘You’re going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food – catchy opinions that tickle their fancy.’

Sozo’s ‘Four Doors’`
I have written the above to provide a warning and to give some biblical advice regarding various ‘ministries’ that come to prominence from time to time and that offer counselling-type services that go beyond foundational theology and explicit Bible-based practices and principles.

Sozo ministry, for example, offers what it describes as a ‘four doors’ program that may be applied to the personality disorders of hatred, fear, the influence of the occult and sexual sin. As it is assumed that the root of these ‘disorders’ likely lies in suppressed childhood memories of disturbing experiences, it is maintained that inner healing can be obtained by recalling and dealing with those memories.

The ministry is named ‘Sozo’ which is a New Testament Greek word (sozo), that refers to the work of salvation and wholeness that Jesus has made available to us by his death and glorious resurrection. However the mere use of an original biblical word does not lend credibility, integrity or validity to any organisation.

Shabar – Sozo’s additional ministry
And to add further to the appearance of biblical validity, Sozo offers an additional ministry called ‘Shabar.’ Shabar is an Old Testament Hebrew word which the Sozo website explains in this way – ‘Shabar is a Hebrew word meaning ‘broken-hearted’ from Isaiah 61:1 …’ (In fact, the Hebrew term ‘broken-hearted’ is a combination of two Hebrew words, first shabar that means ‘broken’ or ‘crushed’ and also the word leb that means ‘heart.’) Sozo’s website states this about ‘Shabar’ ministry:

‘There are 3 different approaches:

Using Shabar techniques with individuals who need aid in other areas
Using Shabar techniques with individuals who are unaware they are shattered
Using Shabar techniques with individuals who know they are shattered.’
Clearly this is a ‘technique’ based practice! Item 2 is interesting; using the ‘Shabar’ techniques individuals, who do not realise that their lives are a total mess, are told how crushed and traumatised they really are! How dangerous!

In passing it is interesting to note that shabar is also a Hindi word that means ‘nectar.’ A shabar mantra is an Indian occultic practice which is a type of repetitive appeal to various gods to put pressure on them to do what you ask.

While I am not arguing that what Sozo advocates is similar to a shabar mantra, nevertheless the calling of a ministry by the name Shabar opens the possibility of misunderstanding and confusion.

Sozo’s claim
Sozo makes the following grandiose claim on its website: ‘The Sozo ministry is a unique inner healing and deliverance ministry in which the main aim is to get to the root of those things hindering your personal connection with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Thus with a healed connection with Father, Son and Holy Spirit you can walk in the destiny to which you have been called.’

Some of the terms used here need to be examined further.
First, the ministry is described as ‘unique.’ Unique means ‘without equal’, ‘incomparable’, ‘radically distinctive’ and ‘exclusive.’ The use of this word should immediately put us on the alert. How can it claim to be unique if it is truly biblical and based on Christian teaching? Before the introduction of Sozo ministry, how did Christians cope for 2000 years? Indeed, how did Jesus minister without the insights and methods used by Sozo?

Secondly, the words ‘inner healing’ are used. The problem with this term is that it is ambiguous and therefore can mean different things to different people. Obviously the word ‘healing’ is used in the Bible but it is nowhere further defined as ‘outer healing’ and ‘inner healing.’ Although the term ‘inner healing’ was given a Christian makeover in the 1940s, it was more fully embraced by some Christians particularly from the 1990s. However it is also a term used by some occult groups, New Age advocates and some Eastern religions. It is not an exclusive – nor even an indisputable – Christian concept. But more on this later …

Thirdly, Sozo’s claim to ‘get to the root of’ a person’s emotional and psychological problems through particular techniques and methods do not have a clear and unambiguous biblical undergirding. If Sozo principles and practices were truly established on a firm biblical foundation, it would have been evident in the church long before the 1990s! Yet Sozo maintains that it offers a Christian-based approach to discerning and dealing with long-standing issues that ‘prevent or limit us from achieving our full potential.’ Apart from the fact that the claim is more than a little arrogant, one must seriously question its integrity.

Fourthly, Sozo states that its goal is to lead to ‘a healed connection with Father, Son and Holy Spirit.’ Biblically the guarantee of that connection is not in any doubt for the Christian, as Romans 8:38-39 makes clear. It is the degree of intimacy of one’s relationship with God that may be vulnerable because of sin, emotional stress or other psychological problems.

The theory behind Sozo is that, when the memory of traumatic experiences (especially in childhood) have been repressed and forgotten, they are nevertheless retained in the mind and therefore subconsciously influence our thoughts, emotions and actions. As a consequence, it is asserted, they are manifested in problems associated with personality, physical health and spirit. The answer, it is claimed, lies in unsuppressing, or revealing, hidden memories that they may then be dealt with.

The source of Sozo’s theories
What is the source of the theories and methodologies behind the concept of ‘inner healing’? The following is a brief historical development of the concept of suppressed memory and its effects.

Sigmund Freud (1856 –1939), an Austrian doctor who believed that God was an illusion, is acknowledged as the father of psychoanalysis. Freud maintained that repressed memories of distressing experiences lie at the heart of emotional trauma. Consequently he asserted that through the guidance of a skilled counsellor hidden childhood memories can be brought into the conscious mind and addressed and this will result in the emotional release of the patient.

A friend and colleague of Freud, Carl Jung, had a fascination with the occult, spiritism and Eastern religions. He differed from Freud in arguing, among other things, that our goal in life is to fulfil our inherent potential. (Note how similar this is to Sozo’s comment about walking ‘in the destiny to which you have been called’). Jung understood this in terms of a journey of transformation in which one meets oneself and also the Divine (which to Jung included the occult and Eastern mysticism.) Thus Jung’s ideas modified Freudian psychoanalytic theories with occult concepts.

In the 1940s Agnes Sanford began a healing ministry in which she mixed Jungian theories with Christian concepts and terminology. Many within the church embraced her teaching. Her son, John A. Sanford was a Jungian psychoanalyst and Episcopal minister.

Particularly during the 1990s, on the back of Sanford’s teaching, among some Christians there developed a fascination with the concept of ‘inner healing’ closely allied with the idea of the ‘healing of the memories’ discerned through ‘words of knowledge.’ Correspondingly there has been a rise in various ‘ministries’ claiming to have the answer to the problems associated with emotional and psychological trauma.

It is to be noted that not only are there few psychiatrists or psychologists who will defend the theory and practice of repressed memory therapy, but also there is no confirmation that repressed memory of childhood trauma can be definitely related to psychiatric or physical illness in adulthood.

Further, evidence of complete memory loss caused by exceptionally distressing experiences is extremely difficult to validate. Despite the lack of evidence, Sozo Ministry (and similar ministries) speak and write about it as an established fact.

Apart from many reports from international health professionals, in 2005 an investigation by the Australian government into memory recovery therapies not only found that there was little evidence to support the concept of repressed memories but also warned about the dangers of creating false memories (‘Inquiry into the practice of recovered memory therapy.’ Office of the Health Services Commissioner. pp. 78–82).

Biblical basis for Sozo ministry?
This ministry rightly claims, ‘Prayer and deliverance ministry have been around since Jesus demonstrated his power on earth as he healed (sozoed) many that came to him.’ However, there is no biblical indication that Jesus ever used or endorsed the theories or techniques employed by Sozo practitioners!

Is there any evidence of biblical support for the practice of inner healing for cases of suppressed memory? Sozo claims there is. Apart from citing Isaiah 61:1-2 (which was also quoted by Jesus in Luke 4:18 and refers to the healing of the brokenhearted and delivering of captives), there are three other verses that Sozo mentions to illustrate the meaning of the Greek word sozo –

Romans 10:9, ‘That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.’
Luke 19:10, ‘For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.’
Matthew 9:22, ‘Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that moment.’
However there is no explanation given as to how those verses relate to or authenticate the methodology that Sozo practitioners use. Sozo ministry is very light on biblical evidence and biblical endorsement but very heavy on speculative theory and bad biblical exegesis.

No biblical reference can be found to support the concept of suppressed memory! This is important to note, especially as it is a significant component of the theory and practice of Sozo’s ministry.

Despite Sozo’s promotional blurbs, few of their methods are biblically grounded. Some of the techniques employed are rooted more in secular psychoanalysis, mysticism, the occult or conjecture.

‘Words of knowledge’ or ‘words of imagination and speculation’?
Before commenting further I must clarify this point – I believe that the spiritual gift, the charisma, of the ‘word of knowledge’ (1 Corinthians 12:8) is available to Christians today to be used wisely in God’s service.

However, I also believe that it is a gift that has been very open to abuse and has often been counterfeited, sometimes deliberately by frauds and sometimes with good intentions by sincere but unwise Christians. The report of the Office of the Health Services Commissioner (quoted above) warns of ‘the dangers of creating false memories.’ This is a warning that seriously needs to be heard.

One of the principal tools used in Sozo’s ‘ministry’ is ‘words of knowledge.’ On the Sozo website we find the following comment regarding the practitioners’ dealing with people’s ‘junk’ (their word!), ‘Most of the time we can get through it through words of knowledge.’

This rather offhand reference to the Holy Spirit’s revelation raises some concern. In the same paragraph we find a callousness which blames the person receiving ministry when healing does not take place: ‘We’re not going to work harder for their freedom than they are – if they want to keep their stuff they get to.’

In reality such ‘words of knowledge’ are frequently nothing more than speculation, guesswork and imagination rather than divine inspiration or revelation. In a ministry, such as offered by Sozo, a person requiring help can be led in a particular direction in which false memories are implanted.

The consequence of dishonest or wrongly perceived claims to Holy Spirit inspired knowledge about a person can and does result in false allegations that can result in irreparable relationship breakdowns in families and marriages. I personally have seen individual lives ruined and also families destroyed because false ‘words of knowledge’ are given, believed and acted on.

Using the power of suggestion under the guise of an authentic gift of the Spirit has the very real and dangerous consequence of creating problems and birthing traumas rather than solving them. This particular charisma is, therefore, a gift that must be used with caution and then tested and not simply believed.

Consider the following New Testament examples of the use of words of knowledge…
• Jesus. In John 4:5-43 we read that when Jesus spoke to the woman of Samaria, he revealed to her that he knew about her past and present including the fact that she had lived with a number of men. This revelation ultimately led to her conversion and that of some of her friends.
• Peter. In Acts 5:1-10 we see that God revealed to Peter that Ananias and Saphira had lied about the gift they had given.
• Paul. In Acts 13:8-11 we read about Elymas the sorcerer who opposed Paul and his companions. Paul knew that Elymas’ opposition was demonically inspired so he rebuked him and ‘Immediately mist and darkness came over him’ (v.11).

Many more biblical examples of words of knowledge could be given. In most of them the people to whom the words of knowledge were spoken were totally aware of their circumstances, but the revealing of that knowledge by someone who normally could not have been aware of their circumstances, confirmed that God was truly behind the revelation. Words of knowledge were not given to reveal something that was unknown to the person being addressed but were given to reveal things that actually were known.

Highly questionable practices
Mental illness and psychiatric disorders are as real as any other illness. In truth, while God does from time to time work in us the miracle of healing in response to prayer, people are not always healed. However the work of practitioners in the healing profession, including GPs, surgeons, psychiatrists, and psychologists often accomplishes wonderful work in caring for our physical and mental health, and it is appropriate to acknowledge that. However the poking around in a person’s memory, especially by unqualified people, can have very disastrous consequences.

The danger is that ill people may be exploited both by well-meaning or unprincipled people. However it is particularly worrisome when promises of healing are offered by organisations using techniques that have a pretense of Christian authentication. This is particularly true regarding Sozo which uses highly questionable practices based on a highly questionable understanding of the Bible and using highly questionable spiritualised psychoanalytical techniques. The lives of some of the people who avail themselves of such counterfeit ‘ministries’ not only find no help but are in a worse state than before. Sadly the ‘counsellors’ can walk away from such situations without accepting responsibility for the worsened condition of the counselee with an untroubled conscience and claim, as previously quoted, ‘… if they want to keep their stuff they get to.’

As humans, whether or not we are Christians, we may suffer physically, emotionally, and psychologically because we live in an often harsh, broken and sinful world and consequently we are subject to all kinds of pain, illness and emotional pressures.

Taking personal responsibility for certain circumstances
Just one further observation before I finish. It is perfectly true that sometimes the problems, pressures and stresses in our lives are present because we have been the victim of the cruel or thoughtless actions of others. Those actions can lead to emotional and mental suffering.

But sometimes we can bring stress and psychological disorder on ourselves by unwise or inappropriate choices, words or actions. We cannot always blame others for our life-problems! Sometimes the blame actually does lie with us. The Bible teaches that we personally must accept responsibility for our own sins and failures and not to place the blame on others.

In Genesis 3 we read that after the fall when God asked Adam, ‘Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?’ Adam tried to shift the blame by claiming that it was Eve’s fault, ‘The woman you put here with me – she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.’ But neither did Eve want to accept the blame, so she shifted the focus on the serpent, ‘The serpent deceived me, and I ate.’

It plays to our pride to claim that our attitudes and behavioural problems may be placed on the shoulders of another person. If a name can be put on that person, all the better!
However, although from time to time situations or other people’s actions may have a significantly damaging affect on us, not all our problems in life can be attributed to some furtive figure lurking in the dark shadows of our memories.

Godly promises
In identifying with Isaiah 61:1-2 at the beginning of his ministry, Jesus was clearly declaring that those various human needs, to which the passage refers, were to be addressed by him in his ministry. His promise to us was one of complete restoration and wholeness.

In Romans 8:18 Paul wrote, ‘I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.’ The Greek word ‘sufferings’ refers to hardships, physical pain or emotional distress. Paul therefore reminds us that ultimately we shall know and experience the full significance God’s saving work through Jesus Christ.

God himself has given the wonderful promise that ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away’ (Rev.21:4).

Some important things that need to be noted:
1. Writers of some Sozo ministry articles state that some people claim to be healed. This may not, in fact, be true. Even if some people are truly healed, the credit belongs to God and not to any ministry techniques or any organisation.
2. I believe that at times people are graciously healed by God, not because of a ministry or the character or doctrine a person practising it, but in spite of it.
3. Apparent results do not authenticate the Godly nature of happenings – even pagan witchdoctors can point to their successes.
4. Sozo ministry appears to have no desire to conform to the teaching of the Bible but to follow the theories of atheistic and occultic teachers with an added flavour of some Christian terminology.
5. All things need to be tested by the Bible. If they fail that test, they need to be discarded.

Dr Jim McClure is the author of Grace Revisited, Overview of the Old and New Testaments and the Understandings.

November 18, 2020 at 7:16 am

Kim

Hi JO, thank you for the article. Yes SOZO is dangerous and its methods should be avoided. The only thing is that I do not recommend The Message “bible.” It is a paraphrase that should be avoided.

February 14, 2021 at 12:22 pm

Anonymous

Help me understand this please!! I belong to church that has sozo and rtf in it. Both emotional healing they call it. I have been participated in sozo And rtf-restoring the foundation and helped lead. When I started to question the methods I was told that is not new age or bad at all. The leader is leading the sozee and it’s all Holyspirit led. They aren’t forcing them to imagine their past or memories. It’s the Holyspirit that guides them into it all. They just ask the Holyspirit to bring the memory and then ask Jesus to come heal the memory. So when I tried to send info about it not being biblical I was told that its spirit led. Also people are getting healed. I’m just confused. Your thoughts?

February 15, 2021 at 7:23 am

Kim

Hello A. I am so glad you left a comment. I am pleased to see that you are questioning the program you are involved with. Right off the bat i am going to say that you would be wise to walk away from it. There is a pretty detailed comment from Jo Nov 17th that you should read through.

This the first time I have looked at restoring the foundation. Went to the website and it is led by what I consider all false teachers.

Sozo claims that is a “unique” program. Well there is nothing new under the sun according to the Bible. There is no substitute for repentance of sin and learning to walk in the ways of the Lord by His instruction. Many will offer shortcuts or the ways of men, but they may not be of God.

If you are looking for the foundations of the faith then you should be listening to teachings like:

How to life by faith Romans 1:17
How to have victory over lust and sin John 14:27 16:33
How to walk with Jesus as Him as the vine John 15
Setting you mind on things above. Colossians 3:1-4

What is the role of the Holy Spirit? Convictor of sin, always points to Jesus, guide into truth, gift giver, fruit giver, reveals who Jesus is, helps us understand the Word of God, Counselor.

These programs are only briefly reflecting on the Bible but focus on experiences intriguing those who think they have found something NEW and SPECIAL that ordinary Christians have left behind.

I am a recovered alcoholic (37 years) with a sorted past. We are instructed to go FORWARD and not look back. Never had to address my past sins because they are nailed to the cross.

September 7, 2022 at 9:41 am

Rebecca Marteney

Good morning, I came across this article today, I would very much like to reply.
The book of Ephesians is the cornerstone of Christianity. It was written by Paul the Apostle of Jesus Christ to #1 the saints which were at Ephesus and THE FAITHFUL IN CHRIST JESUS. The First 3 chapters are written about what was given to the faithful in Christ Jesus, ( which is you and me and anyone who is born again and chooses to follow Jesus Christ). Starting in chapter 4 and going through the rest of the book Paul sets for the faithful the principles in the how to walk in what we have been given in chapters 1-3. In verse 11 Paul says that he Jesus Christ gave ministries Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers. For the perfecting of the saints…. clearly today we are still saints and clearly there are the ones called for the perfecting of the saints, with out them we as the body of Christ would be a floundering mess! We as saints have no right to judge who is called to these ministries. The fruits of Bethel are huge people are being saved and healed all over the world by members of this Church as well as churches from other churches that are charismatic as you state! I am not a member of any church, and I am not ignorant to the workings of Christ in the one body.
Signs, Miracles and Wonders that follow born again believers should be glorified.
As to emotional healing, there are many different therapies in the world that work getting to the root of emotional distress and that’s why people pay big bucks to therapists! If born again believers can pray and be led by Gods spirit to reveal roots of emotional distress and be healed by the prayer session Praise God. The ones that were not healed and had a bad experience, I’m sorry for their experience, maybe they were not ready to be healed or maybe God instructed them differently and they didn’t listen. We are one body in Jesus Christ there are many ways Gods spirit works within different ministries to achieve the goal of Ephesians 1: 17-23. Until we all come in glory together in heaven … Rebecca

September 8, 2022 at 1:20 pm

Kim

Hi Rebecca.

I was with you up to a point about the commentary on Ephesians. Jesus is indeed the cornerstone of our faith. However today the “office” of prophet and apostle may be different than what is being pushed today.

We have the right to judge what those in spiritual leadership are teaching. Paul said the Bereans were noble because they searched the scriptures to see if what he was saying was true. In almost every epistle there is a warning about false teachers.

We have a Sozo church nearby in our small town and one may think that there are many getting healed and saved. But not hearing a thing. I have listened to a few of their sermons online and it always ends up the same way, the desire for physical healing and to demonstrate it to others. I like how my church always at the end of sermon calls for repentance to turn from sin and to turn to God. The Gospel message is always included.

Signs, miracle and wonders in the OT and the NT were meant to validate the message. They indicated that what was being said or taught was the truth. The glory of God is what to seek. When man is glorified you know you are following false teachers. When the Deity of Jesus is questioned as does Bethel’s Bill Johnson you can know you are being misled.

Prayer, an open Bible and calling upon the name of the Lord is a good way to satisfy one’s hungers and hurt of this world. The roots of emotional distress is SIN. Our sin and sin of those around us. Christ nails those sins to the cross.

Enjoyed reading the Eph 1 passage. verse 17 is resonating with me as it says that Paul is praying for the saints to have wisdom and revelation, so “that you may know him better.”

September 9, 2022 at 4:51 pm

Jason C

Hu Kim, when did Bill Johnson question the deity of Jesus?!
I’m really curious, do you have a link or you YouTube?
Wow, that’s crazy.

September 10, 2022 at 6:32 am

Kim

https://bewatchful.org/beliefs-and-teachings/

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