Category: Insights

Today at Victory I shared about the Greek word “sozo”.  It’s a beautiful word full of much meaning.   Here’s a screen shoot from my Strong’s Concordance on my device.

This is from the story of the women with the ‘issue of blood’.  You can read the above in Mark 5:21-43.  However it’s also in Matthew 9:18-26, Luke 8:40-56.  What does that mean?

It is such a powerful story, Matthew, Mark, and Luke all talked about it.  What is SOZO?  Sozo is so deep. Here’s more from the Strong’s concordance.

g4982. σώζω sōzō; from a primary σῶς sōs (contraction for obsolete σάος saos, “safe”); to save, i. e. deliver or protect (literally or figuratively):— heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole ( STRONG’s Concordance)

Matthew 4:22 (GWT)

…and they immediately left the boat and their father and followed Jesus.

Sometimes you have to put it all down, stand up, and step out. Especially if you want to be of strong faith.

For many of us, our extended family (father, mother, and siblings) can be the biggest thing holding us back. It’s common for these relatives to try to hold us back in whatever mold or image they have for us.  They just see us as the sister or brother. They don’t see us in faith, like we can see ourselves when we believe.

When God told Abraham, the father of our faith, to step out into his calling, He told him to leave his family and depart from the area he was raised.

Genesis 12:1-3 (GWT)

The Lord said to Abram,

“Leave your land,

your relatives,

and your father’s home.

Go to the land that I will show you.

I will make you a great nation,

I will bless you.

I will make your name great,

and you will be a blessing.

I will bless those who bless you,

and whoever curses you, I will curse.

Through you every family on earth will be blessed.”

Abraham was told, in order to receive the promise and fulfill the potential, that he had to leave his extended family and relatives behind. He had to leave his past and the area where he grew up so God could help him to be all that his faith potential would make him.  Extended family members are all trying to shove you in a box.  I’ve had siblings call me ‘little brother’.  When you get over 25 years old, you can probably stop calling your brother or sister little.  Especially, when you are physically smaller than them.  But just this saying shows how people try to put you in a box of how they see you.  That is why you MUST get out of it.  Get out of that boat.  Get away from those family members that have weak or no faith to realize their God-potential.

If you are straddling the past and your faith future, it’s time to choose.  You have to be like Abraham, pick up your stuff and go.  Break the chains of the past and step away from anyone who tries to hold you there.  Once you do this, watch where God takes you.

Matthew 4:17 (GWTransl)
From then on, Jesus began to tell people, “Turn to God and change the way you think and act, because the kingdom of heaven is near!”

Relationships are about thinking and acting. 

Matthew 4:3-4 (GWTransl)The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”
Jesus answered, “Scripture says, ‘A person cannot live on bread alone but on every word that God speaks.’ ”

The enemy will try to attack, but they can’t take you down if you know the Word. 

Pastor Bill Johnson will be in Tokyo January 7 and 8 this year.

Last year, many of us went from Victory to the meeting with Pastor Bill Johnson of Redding California’s Bethel Church.  I was very refreshed and happy to be able to listen to a Spirit-filled teacher that actually understood Bible faith, healing, and how to operate under the Holy Spirit’s direction.  Very glad to hear he is back again this year.

You can download the flier here.  Come if you can!

Families are under attack. But if we, God’s people, unify, nothing can stop us

**Great word from Kenneth & Gloria Copelands devotional, From Faith To Faith. 

  Sunday was fantastic. We celebrated Christmas at Victory with some 50 or 60 very enthusiastic people. Rocky opened the worship with a good word. Gigi led the worship with a fantastic band of keyboards, guitars, and drums, singing and shouting praises to the King of Kings, and the Lord Of Lords. The Victory family all entered into to a fantastic time of worship that didn’t finish until one hour and 15 minutes from the time we started.

Following the worship, there was a call for people who felt God was calling them into the ministry. It was particularly targeted at men. Three guys came forward that felt they had the call of God on their lives to go into the ministry.

Pastor preached on “Faith Walking” or in Japanese it was “信仰でやる”. He shared Mark 11:22-25 and how Jesus spoke to the fig tree when he found there were no figs on that tree. It was out of season, but Jesus cursed the fig tree. The next morning, the disciples saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.

Following the service, one of our ladies gave a demonstration of her Karate test, pastor called it “Christmas Karate” jokingly. Kids and adults enjoyed watching the kicking and punching techniques, as she demonstrated the black belt test moves. Then the party began!

Yoko led the whole group in some very creative games. One was recalling the descriptions of God in Japanese or English. Another welcomed in the “Candy Man” for the kids. Emily, Sara, and Gycela, ran the ever popular Musical Chairs game… Victory folks are pretty strong on this one! The kids enjoyed a game of Freeze Dancing.

Many people came at 930 or 10am, and were still at Church at nearly 5PM. People didn’t want to go home. We’d say that was a successful Christmas!