I had a dream just before I woke up this morning. When I dream that vividly, it is usually a spiritual dream, so I always ask, “Lord was that dream from You, from the evil one or me –too much pizza?” As I said, when they are that vivid, it is rarely a ‘pizza dream.’
In my dream I was with a bunch of people I know and love. We were all a lot younger and truly enjoyed being together as a team or small group. We were talking about how is it even possible that a strong Christian couple would divorce. Many were giving their opinions, some of which sounded very humanistic and lacking in spiritual insight. One couple was not sitting together in the dream. They divorced several years ago. How is that even possible?
In Sozo ministry, we have learned to facilitate encounters with Jesus (or Father God or Holy Spirit) where we see Isaiah 61:1 or Luke 4:18 being worked out. Jesus was reading the Isaiah 61 scroll in Luke 4:18 when it is recorded He said,
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
In Isaiah 61:1, Jesus spoke of setting “captives and prisoners” free. They are not the same thing. Captives are those who have been harmed or “held captive” by something others have done or said, or maybe failed to do or say. It might have been someone they loved who sinned against them. They have forgiven them, but just can’t get beyond what was done to them. They feel ‘slimed,’ slighted, disappointed, or let down somehow. The captive can’t seem to find closure on the issue.
A prisoner is one who has judged another for what they did or failed to do. A prisoner needs to “forgive from the heart” the people who have hurt or wounded them in order to get out of prison. The captive needs prayer for cleansing and healing and maybe a little help fully forgiving from the heart.
The prisoner must take Jesus’ hand and choose to release their judgment to Him so they can fully forgive from the heart. Remember, Jesus said, “Father forgive them, they know not what they are doing.” He wasn’t just speaking of the Roman’s who nailed Him to the cross or of the Jewish leaders who turned Him over to Pontius Pilate. He was speaking of all mankind.
Then it dawned on me –I was being ‘held captive’ due to that couples divorce. Inside, I had carried the thoughts, “How can this be happening? Why didn’t they ask for help? If I’d only known, I could have done something to help.” That last statement was a lie I was believing that was holding me captive. The truth Jesus gave me is this –I could not have done anything to change it. I am free to release it to Him to be born on the cross, removed as far as the east is from the west.
Because I have done Sozo ministry for over 8 years, I was quickly able to deal with this in a personal sozo moment with Jesus. I fully forgave that couple from my heart, choosing to NOT remember their sin against them. After renouncing the lie I had believed, I asked the Lord to give me His truth, His view of them. I want to see them as He sees them and not through the filter of their past behavior.
I haven’t fully worked this sozo out but I will press into Jesus for His complete work to be done in my heart. I asked Him in prayer some time ago to point out any “record of wrongs” I was keeping in my heart so I could get rid of it at the cross, turn away from it and begin thinking like heaven. Love keeps no record of wrongs.
If you are in turmoil, chaos, temptation or just feeling hopeless, helpless, anxious or depressed and alone, PLEASE find the three little lines in the upper right corner of this page and click on them. Find & click on “Sign up.” Someone will contact you in a day or two and set your personal, confidential encounter with Jesus where He will set you free and release you from any prison you are in. He will restore your sight so you can see as He sees. He will bind up your broken heart and make it whole. You will find He is with you and He is for you! He will give you His vision for your life. Don’t delay. Sign up today!
Blessings,
Pastor Bill Kline
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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