On January 8th I wrote about a wrong spirit and how Jesus’ disciples can be influenced by an evil or wrong spirit.
In Sozo ministry we minister to many believers in Jesus who have been influenced or even controlled by a wrong spirit. We follow the Holy Spirit as He reveals the root cause. “Pull up the root and the tree stops producing its fruit…” Plant a new tree in its place and you will eventually enjoy the right fruit.
Normally, the Holy Spirit reveals a lie the Sozo Guest believed in the midst of trauma or wounding. The lie got planted in the soul at the moment of wounding or trauma, and it was nurtured through circumstances and thoughts, many of which the enemy supplies. The lie sprouts and grows into a huge tree producing its unwanted fruit –anxiety, bitterness, resentment, unforgiveness, confusion, worthlessness, powerlessness, and so on.
Listen up! This list is NOT to be present in the hearts of Jesus’ followers! The fruit of a Right Spirit is ‘love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.’ (Galatians 5:22) The more we fellowship with the Right Spirit, the more He conforms us to the likeness and image of Jesus. The more like Jesus we become, the more we display all the aspects of our Father’s nature –compassion, grace, slow to anger, mercy, truth, faithfulness, forgiveness—Exodus 34:6-7.
Here’s the good news. Jesus is with us and He is for us. He never rejects us, even when we partner with a wrong spirit. He might rebuke us, but He always does it in love with the intention of bringing us into greater righteousness, peace (shalom) and joy, His Kingdom in us.
The Word says, “My people perish for lack of knowledge. “(Hosea 4:6) I know that in context, this speaks of God’s people not turning to Him for the knowledge they need. We perish without knowing what God knows. I asked the Lord to show me what I need to know about me and why I occasionally stumble into the enemy’s snare when I feel rejected, ignored or disappointed by the response of others to me. You want to know what He said to me? It wasn’t what I was expecting.
There was no direct connection between me being offended and my body responding with a sinus infection. The sinus infection had been ‘building’ up over a period of time (several days if not weeks) and I had not taken proper precautions to strengthen my immune system and keep my sinuses clear. That’s the long and short of it.
The really good news is I am almost completely free of all cold symptoms now, and by His grace, I will do what is needed to strengthen my physical and spiritual immune system.
Holy Spirit, come, continue Your work in me, conforming me to the likeness and image of Jesus. Connect my mind and thoughts to the Mind of Christ in deeper and more intimate ways that I may truly know Him and be fully confident that He knows me. Give me more grace to rest in You, depend upon You, and trust You more fully in every aspect of my life. It is in You I live and move and have my being. To God be all the glory. AMEN!
Romans 8:6-8
6 Having one’s mind controlled by the old nature is death, but having one’s mind controlled by the Spirit is life and shalom. 7 For the mind controlled by the old nature is hostile to God, because it does not submit itself to God’s Torah (Word) — indeed, it cannot. 8 Thus, those who identify with their old nature cannot please God. CJB
About The Author: Bill Kline
Pastor Bill Kline is founder and leader of Sozo Freedom Steps Ministry. He also serves the International Bethel Sozo Network (IBSO) as Rocky Mountain Regional Sozo Facilitator. He is a certified Bethel Basic Sozo trainer. He helps churches and ministries start and develop Sozo ministry in Colorado and all the surrounding states. Pastor Bill is married to Debby and together they have four children and eight grandchildren.
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