Pastor Larry Gatlin - "SOZO"

Pastor Larry Gatlin, S Oregon

Easter has just passed but I can't help but dwell on the Cross and the AWESOME work Jesus accomplished for us. We will forever be thankful for the fact that Jesus brought a work of Grace and Mercy that endures throughout all generations. That Greek word for salvation, SOZO, is a constant reminder of Gods great LOVE for his creation. I will forever and a day upon days without end be grateful!

I am certain that we all are aware of the definition of that Greek word SOZO. It means that we are Saved, Healed, and Delivered from the curse of the Law and the power of sin.

But there are more reasons than that that Jesus died. He also died so that we;
#1. Could receive and release His Glory. I know that there are many who would say that we are just Saved and if in the process of getting to Heaven we are able to influence and bring a few other people to Christ it was worth the trip. But He died for so much more than that. He died so that we could walk in His presence and bring His Glory into every situation in life that we come into. Yes, He died so that we could bring His Glory into our homes, work, school, church, times of recreation and more. So that everywhere I go and everything I do I am releasing His glory into all of my life and the areas of influence that I have.

#2. He also died so that we could release His Authority everywhere we go. All to often we are content to walk in a very low degree of Spiritual Authority. In Matthew 28 Jesus made it clear that all authority in Heaven and on Earth was given to Him.

Matt 28:18-20 NKJ And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

When we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior we are actually taking all that He, was, is, and is going to be into our lives. He abides in us by the Power of The Holy Spirit working in us. That being true means that all of His Authority is available to us if we will allow it to be released in, through, and out of our lives.

#3. He died so that we would take on His identity. So that when people see us they actually see Jesus instead of us. We constantly hear of people who claim to have an identity crisis or they feel that they just have no identity at all.
But when we have Christ in our hearts, we have the King of Kings at residence in our lives.

Col 1:24-27 KJV “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

So we can know His Authority, Glory, and Identity in our lives.

#4. Another reason that Christ died is so that as we walk in His presence and will we would represent Him in all that He is.

How are we representing Him? Re----Presenting Him? Are we doing it such a way as to let every one know His Awesomeness? Paul writes that we are ambassadors of Christ. Here in the United States if one is selected to be an Ambassador to another nation they are required to represent us with an accurate example of what our nation is and all that it stands for. If they fail to do so they are usually recalled and relieved from their duties.

In the Kingdom of God we are called to represent Christ in an accurate and active way. The Kingdom of God came in Power and we are to live a life filled with His Power.

Matt 10:1 NKJ “And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.”

Luke 10:19 NKJ "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Luke 10:20 NKJ "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."

Acts 1:8 NKJ "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Rom 1:16 NKJ “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”

1 Cor 2:4 NKJ “And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.

Eph 3:20 NKJ “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.

These are just a few scriptures that speak of the Power of God working in Christ and in us. If we are to Re-----Present Him to a world that it lost and dying we must do it in a manner that is in keeping with His intent and design. A manner that will accurately present all that He was, is, and is going to be.

The great thing about it is that we get to do it here on earth now and in days to come.

Jesus didn't just die to cause us to be safe little Christians. But He died so that we would become a Church that would be dangerous to the forces of darkness and would live our lives in such a way as to constantly be pushing back the darkness. Jesus said that we are to be a light. Light always pushes back darkness.

So when you think of the Cross and all that Jesus means to you, also remember all that He desires for us to be. Then go out and Re----Present Him in POWER!

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