Y'all I am SO SORRY. I am having ot push it back another hour it looks like. Looks like we are having some major internet connection issues over here in rural Delaware. It has been uploading for almost 4 hours now. So SO so so sorry guys .
I think I can speak for the rest of us watching your channel, we love your content, and you give a perspective on things most can't give. No matter when it gets the chance to be uploaded.
This is Very Helpful. Its Scary to see how much the Scriptures are Twisted to fit their ideas and Make it work for their own benefit. I jus cant imagine how much Damage that this Fake ministry has messed people up. Thank You for talking about this.
This is so helpful. The last church I attended threw that word around with everything. I never could get an explanation of its meaning. I recognize now the counseling session I received as a counseling SOZO. I was asked a lot of leading questions, asked what I saw in my mind, what was Jesus saying to me?etc. There were a several other people present taking notes which were handed to me afterwards. Nothing changed by this experience. I was just as traumatized as before. God took me on my own journey of healing, just spending time with Him, allowing Him to bring painful memories to surface, and actively forgiving that person for that specific hurt. It took a long year, one memory at a time, allowing me to process it all and walk in forgiveness. The Holy Spirit illuminated the truth with scripture to replace the lies I had believed. There was no work on my part except to rest in Him. He is the Wonderful Counselor. It has been a process. No leading questions or suggestions. No visualizing Jesus, and what He was saying to me. It was a gentle process allowing me all the time I needed before the next memory surfaced. I was not digging in my memory bank. Things I had repressed were released one at a time with a week or more passing before the next memory came up as I was just out on a walk. He does heal the broken heart. His healing is gentle. He takes us only as fast as we can go. There is no performance or demands made. Just His reassurance. How sweet that was compared to what the Counselor pressed upon me. ❤
Beautifully said! God alone, through His Word, gave you the peace that passes understanding. The Holy Spirit always points us to Jesus, and He is a gentleman, never forceful, knocking at the door. I love how you said that His healing is gentle ❤
As someone with a Masters degree in psychology and practical counseling experience, I can identify some of the Sozo techniques borrowed from psychology. Going back to painful memories asking Jesus to “do” or “show” something in that past situation is similar to cognitive restructuring or Narrative therapy where a client is guided to re-interpret past events where hurt occurred. The relationship to each part of the God head you mentioned, which is unbiblical I agree, seems to me like a “spiritualized” way of exploring one’s relationship with one’s parents. I can see how Sozo could be effective but mostly because of its borrowing from psychological observations and techniques. There could also be risk of re-traumatizing clients if you ask them to revisit traumatic events, like child sexual abuse or rape, which could have negative consequences. If the person leading the Sozo doesn’t have some counseling training they could end up doing harm. Bethel has concerned me for a long time now as I’ve seen elements of it taking root in local churches in Europe and I am glad for your reconstructing back to God.
That's true. But it also goes further. Agnes Sanford started with the inner healing stuff. She was very much influenced by Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. She borrowed ideas from them. Both Freud and Jung were involved in the occult. Freud had a cocaine addiction and Jung had his own spirit guide. Both were very interested in eastern religions. For example, the collective consciousness (Jung) originates from Buddhism. Inner healing and sozo are eastern religion based and rooted in occultism.
Thanks for the comment! I was led through sozo at my bible school, and actually had a profound experience that I found very helpful to understanding some patterns and forgiving my own father. Don’t know what to make of it 🤷🏻♀️
@@ruchi750I think I went through something similar at a discipleship program. The experience did help me to forgive my parents for hurts throughout my childhood. But reading the Bible is just as effective. The parable of the servant and his master covering his debt comes to mind as an example to follow to healing and freedom.
@@awake780 my experience was that it revealed something I didn’t realise about my relationship with my father. Of course the Lord can work in any way but I’ve read the bible and prayed many many times and that particular issue never surfaced through that
Our church in Canada was starting to get into that type of "healing" prayer too. I was training how to do it. I'm so thankful that He took us out of that. I've found more "healing" in the last year of being out and spending time with God on my own than I did with 3 years of healing ministry! God is SO good!
Sozo is highly manipulative, it stirs up "trauma" and offences where there may be none, for the highly suggestible they create false memories, they teach a false concept of the Trinity (loved your explanation on this) and they are not teaching these young people how to be grounded and rooted in Christ. And the icing on top is how this is very New Age. I do wonder how many lives are actually destroyed in the end.
We did something very similar at my previous "non-denominational" church called the "Immanuel Approach". Had no idea how dark & unbiblical it was until we left and joined a solid, Bible teaching church. What's crazy is that I grew up in a baptist church, didn't understand the gospel and wondered why I struggled so much with my faith. As I got older and was exposed to this "non-denominational" hyper-charismatic church, I thought they had what I had been missing all along. In reality, it made things way more complicated and frustrating; I was beyond confused. It was a strange type of legalism, wrapped in "freedom in the Spirit." Praise to God for opening my eyes. I'm so thankful for this Jesse, keep it up!!!
Sozo is one of the most evil forms of counselling. I know...I went on one twice and they accused my very godly father of mis representing God and told me I had to forgive him. I refused and finished the session. My dad was the most godly man I know and lived a really holy life of commitment to the Lord he lived. Totally awful system...its inspired by demons! Keep away from it!
This was great! I just watched other channels who have also done a video on sozo (long for truth, Melissa Dougherty, and Doreen Virtue) and I enjoy how everyone brings different issues out.
Thank you sooo much for this video. It's the best one I have watched explaining the concerns around Sozo. When you talked about having the correct biblical view of the God head (trinity) it made total sense to me. Also thank you for being vulnerable. It's up to you if you want to do live broadcasts as long as it doesn't interfere with family time.
Sounds exactly like Ellel deliverance ministries - I went through ‘Healing Prayer’ at my old church. So thankful the Lord brought me out and onto solid ground of Biblical teaching.
I saw a Christian counsellor and she suggested my mother had traumatised me by her over bearing high expectations. I felt the idea pollute my relationship with my mother and my attitude towards her, and rejected it, but I nearly wanted to rake back and reinterpret, but the counsellor didn’t know, she wasn’t there! I’m getting the impression there are lots of suggestions and leading questions being asked in these sessions which could bring up an idea we want to latch onto, but not necessarily true, or lacking the other side of the story.
It does not half to be a direct suggestion. Simply the knowledge that others have "recovered" memories is enough suggestion to result in false recovered memories.@@bella-bee
From a marketing perspective the volume of books and resources for sale within SOZO reminds me of Scientology. It’s a “cash cow” of products and practices to help you become a better YOU! Thanks for sharing this information. - John 8:32… Always.
Thank you for exposing SOZO, I was baffled as to why any church would have this type of counsel, for a price of 80 bucks for one hour, at one church I went to for a season, I was very tempted to visit the sozo within this church but I could not feel right with the whole concept of paying for this so called spirit help, I know truly that this job belongs to HOLY SPIRIT through personal prayer communication with our Holy Father.
I've been to a prayer meeting where some of these concepts of visualization were used. It's a long story, but I never did attend a meeting like that again. Every time I planned to go, something came up that I couldn't. I've listened to Melissa's interview about sozo. And listening to you talk about the methods used gives me a very uneasy feeling. I sense God kept me from becoming involved in what seems to be a false doctrine of prayer.
I'm seeing these kinds of beliefs in Switzerland where I live and it's so dismaying to me these people are really deeply hooked into it and it's so hard to talk to them... Please pray brothers and sisters 🙏
Thank you for your ministry and this video… I have seen Melissa’s and the Long’s video as well as Doreen Virtue’s… actually after I had been sozoed… which is odd that I never had it presented to me as such, ( which Bethel can be held accountable for every subset of their unbiblical doctrine, unless they rend their hearts and repent) in fact our last church pastor and his wife, called it another “resource” and “prayer” I came to know the truth of this by only what I can describe as total wisdom from the Holy Spirit, as well as Melissa video popping up in my UA-cam feed almost a year ago… I had no idea what prayer session or rendition of prayer/inner healing was acted upon me… As a victim of it, bc yes whether you agree to this practice knowingly or not, it is a victimization of guilt, undue pressure and I will say in conjunction with a cultish environment abuse At minimum… I relived aloud a trauma that I was supposed to envision Jesus in ( first of all this was purposed to me as a way of experiencing God, after I was shamed for only learning about Him by reading the Word) I have just now gathered some semblance of 1)it’s just divination, 2) it’s also not actually biblical counsel 3) most of our understanding of sin is lack of recognition of what it is, lack of repentance and finally understanding that you are forgiven… if you are in Christ…if we examine any other relationship similarly we wouldn’t practice anything mystical, we would try to figure out what our part was, their part and also how we can grow… except with God he is holy so it’s just his desire to be in communion with us unhindered with fig leaves or our own ways or hiding and self deception 4) and most importantly in the case of trauma… it wasn’t your fault, Jesus isn’t just standing idly by, in the case of abuse, God is more upset than even we can imagine at what occurred, and we can forgive not because of what they (the perpetrator) did but as many have said… because Christ forgave us, because the cross took all of our sin and finally because the judgements of God stand against those who refuse Him, his grace and mercy… far worse than our words, He is the true and righteous Judge of all. Healing is not needed by means of your own ability to pin point, analyze, broad stroke or minimize every detail, the agony, the pain, the shame and guilt, all paid for on the cross… Or as Mike Winger has said, either Jesus paid for it on the cross or those who refuse will pay for it at judgment. I’m still healing from thr session, the trauma opened by it and the healing journey is sanctifying. For those creating systems of sozo your illusion will be the disillusion of those you think you’re helping, don’t aid in more suffering for them albeit their own sin issues and need for repentance and also don’t stand in their need for true counseling regarding trauma. This psalm comes to mind: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” Psalm 1:1-6
Hi Friends, Yeah I know what you mean by the Sozo, I am a christian of a few years now and for for 40 yrs I thought all Christians were weak and mis-led and never to be trusted, but that changed and I accepted Jesus into my heart (long story), about 5yrs ago I had a Sozo at our church, I signed up as I had issues with anger ,frustration which would boil over into verbal nastiness to my family -and others at any moment. I did the sozo I saw god as a punisher of my bad deeds a disciplinarian far away from me waiting to punish me, In the Sozo I forgave my worldy father for not being there for me and all the anger and disfunction he put into our family, i then saw God approaching me arms wide wanting to hug and love me, my anger and frustration left, my daughter later asked her mum what happened to me as i am different i no longer grumpy and angry.my friends say im the most patient man ive ever met, I guess something happened. funny when I was 21 I celebrated when my father died, now I love him and miss him. yes be suspicious i was i always think good fruit does not come from a bad tree.my Sozo was 5yrs ago. TY
I started searching about this topic after founding this channel. And there’s a great academic article you can find if you search “Kundalini and Holy spirit”. It’s free to download and quite straight to the point and eye opening. Happy reading!
My opinion, no. I would be less embarrassed for them if the craziness were due to the demonic. I've attended Bethel and many churches like it where people are shaking, grunting, convulsing. This is all play-acting for each other. Sozo, on the other hand, is definitely a doctrine of demons. Do I think some of the wild crazy stuff could be demonic? Of course. However, I know group acting when I see it and I have seen it many times. Anyone in a prayer line where everyone is "slain-in-the-spirit" either pretends and drops to the ground or is looked at like a pharisee. It seems impossible this many people could all pretend but is a common group dynamic. Who wants to be the cheese standing alone?
A former church my wife and I went to had everybody who was leading a small group go through a Sozo. We had no idea what it was but went ahead with it cause we needed to. It costs $75, which wasn’t mandatory but heavily implied that we should pay for the time of the counselors. Anyway, during the Sozo I felt a little strange at times. They, an older couple, basically asked a bunch of basic questions (e.g. have you ever done occult things, any unforgiveness you can think of, unrepentant hidden sin). All of that felt normal to talk about because there were some things I had forgot about that I needed to let go of. Buuuut then it got weird when they’d pause and almost trance-like “talk to Jesus” directly. She would stair at the ceiling and have an open conversation about me with who she said was Abba. Like you said, there are three segments of the Sozo (the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit). Where we would try to experience a new revelation of each Godhead. Eventually, it became kind of uncomfortable and I felt really off about it. Now, I know it was the Holy Spirit helping me discern that this was not biblical or good. I do think Christian’s need to be open and vulnerable with mentors or counselors, through one-on-one discipleship, but this was not a setting I would recommend, especially with strangers who don’t even attend the church (yep, how wild is that). It turns out that the church was heavily mimicking Bethel in every way. Also, everything you detailed about the setting and how the convo went was pretty spot on with my experience. Edit: Forgot to mention that the pastor of the church told us leaders that going through a Sozo was like a “spiritual oil change” that he does every year.
I went through this Healing book by Francis Mcnutt after going to a conference, and I specifically remember a guy telling my ‘God is, now I know this is strange, telling me you have to forgive Him for taking your mom away, not that He sinned, but that your expectation was let down.’ I was shocked but went with it. My mom did die and this guy should not have known this, so of course I paid attention. I fortunately repented later. My goodness it lines up with this, without the sozo label. It from a “Kingdom” class from an Anglican church believe it or not. And yeah the porn issue was talked about too! It lines up! I fell back in (now I’m out but regardless,) i needed to keep ‘searching’ for help… ugh this movement
I had a inner healing session under Francis McNutts ministry and a SOZO under a Bethel graduate. They weren’t the same. SOZO was actually guiding and making suggestions
Just FYI on Gen 1:26, folks may want to check Dr. Michael Heiser's explanation. Likely not an example of the trinity. But, we definitely see the trinity in other ways throughout scripture!
My pastor is doing a sermon series inspired by reading Uprising by Chris Valloton. The small groups in the church are going through the book together. I've never heard my pastor teach anything that isn't biblical but this worries me. Do you have any advice?
Hi Jesse. No need for apologies. Video was great and helpful. Yeah the Sozo stuff found it’s way to Ireland. The church I was at then didn’t promote it as far as the leadership went, but influential members , some of whom were Bethel Alumni , got very enthusiastic about it. I ended up getting sozoed ( as a volunteering subject ) and then went on a training weekend. Thankfully, I didn’t pursue it further as the training was just too weird for me. I thought the whole breakdown of the Trinity was confusing and the whole visualisation /spirit guiding was uncomfortable to put it mildly. I did experience a kind of emotional high after my session but it was short lived. It’s another income generating resource for Bethel with very negative consequences. Like you , I also have a close connection with Mormon friends here. Long story short , God used that connection in 2019 to make me realise how biblically ignorant I was and that in turn led to my eyes being opened to all the deception I was entrenched in. And live videos would be great but I’m guessing our time difference might mean I’d miss them. Blessings to you and family.
Sozo is a tool they use to throw back at you when the time suits them....I was a part of a Bethel associated church in Australia....Was sozo'd ....Then my teenage son died suddenly as a part of the youth group in the church....The Pastor popped in once to organise the funeral....After that he never came near us they were kind to give us a Teddybear and movie tickets hmmm.....Then after months of going to another church for counselling a friend in the church encouraged me to go to the Pastor and talk to him about the lack of support....His response was "Its not my love language to visit people every week" Not that I even asked him too and told me the reason I was feeling rejected is because I have daddy issues gleened from the Sozo experience....The youth group pastor at the time (the pastors son) never spoke to us at all....He is now the head pastor of this church....God provided for our healing just not from out supposed church family...
I’m so sorry about your loss! 🥹🙏🏼 I see this attitude in many churches. Indeed, a lot of the flesh these people are serving in the flesh not in serving to our holy God!
Never had Sozo, went to a seminar about it. Did have lots of inner healing prayer, which really really helped me. Healed a LOT of issues. Never had to 'hang on to it' - It was God's work and he holds all that for me. Certainly lots to be concerned about with Sozo, and Bethel, thrown all their books away and music away 3 years ago.
This 'Sozo' is very much like what they use in Scientology. They call it 'Euditing' which is a process the auditor councils a person through past lives to rid them of negative feelings or influences. Very dangerous stuff. Anyway, thanks for exposing this. I love the way you used Scripture to explain the Trinity. Another great passage is 1John 5:7 'For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word (Jesus who is the Word John 1 ) and the Holy Spirit and these three are One.' NKJV. God bless.
Hold up… they get people to repent for being traumatised? 🤯 That’s horrible. I’m studying psychology, I can’t imagine anything like that being implemented in therapy
Thank you for making this video. Very enlightening. The explanation related to the Trinity was useful. I’d be interested in live videos, if you started doing them. The problem is that I live part of the year in Kenya and part in Japan, so the time difference often makes it impossible for me to be there for live events in the US. Still, I’d attend if the schedule allowed.
Hi Jesse, You need to read John 10:17 and Romans 8:11 again. In John 10:17, the Greek verb typically translated 'take' (though sometimes as 'receive' - e.g. CEV) is lambanó. Lambanó essentially means to "accept with initiative" emphasizing the assertiveness of the receiver. As is attested everywhere else in the New Testament, it is the Father who raised Jesus from the dead (i.e. The Father offered Jesus his life again, which offer Jesus actively took up). The same Greek verb is used at the Last Supper, where Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is my body" (Matthew 26:26) and when Jesus breathed on the disciples and said "Receive the Holy Spirit" (John 20:22). Romans 8:11 doesn't say "If the spirit who raised Jesus...", but "If the spirit *of him/the one* who raised Jesus...", referring to the Father.
Sozo Instructor: "You feel close to God the Father and Jesus but disconnected with the Holy Spirit? You probably need to reconcile with your mother." Lutheran Satire: "That's partialism, Patrick!"
I have a seriously dysfunctional family all around, they would say i am simply disconnected from all of God. I guess God needs help drawing me to himself.
@@Rose-xc7wz I'm sorry that they told you that because it simply is not true. We can sight so many Bible verses on how someone that is considered blessed by God and yet either they were the cause of sin(s) that affected others like their family, or their own family act in such a way that was sinful that affected a key person mentioned in scripture. Some references that comes to mind is Adam and Eve had two sons and one murdered the other. After the flood, Noah's own son saw him naked after he drank himself unconscious and told his two other brothers what he saw instead of covering his father. Joseph had bride, which caused his brothers to sell him into slavery and they lied to their father by purposefully tearing Joseph's cloak, drenching it in blood of an animal, and gave it to their father. Even Jesus's own family had their issues because Jesus's family too are sinners and therefore had their own dysfunctional moments like Joseph (Jesus's father) could have Mary (the mother) stoned her because he believed she committed adultery, which made Jesus an illegitimate son to Joseph due to biology. Does this mean somehow Jesus was no longer in perfect fellowship with God the Father and Holy Spirit due to sin in his own family? No, just means sin wrecks havoc in families since Adam and Eve until Christ returns again. We can read every person mentioned in Matthew 1:1-16 and see how dysfunctional the genealogy of Jesus truly really was and yet God used every person to bring about the Messiah who'd one day to die on the cross to redeem sinners. It is never the biblical ideal that our families to become dysfunctional in whatever way but God uses those dysfunctions so that we can minister to those who deals with those dysfunctions because we can sympathize with them and introduce to them the good news. God uses our imperfections to show how great God is because we are simply redeemed messengers and it is power within that message of Jesus that saves us and sanctifies us from sin. I hope that makes sense, and again, I am sorry they misinformed you because to say we are disconnected from the trinity because of our family means our fellowship with God is dependent upon others, which is not true. I have a dysfunctional family too but I am thankful for God's word because I know I can be in good fellowship with God regardless of how healthy my family is.
@Eugene Stevens II I appreciate your comments. I know my relationship with God is not at all dependent on my relationship with my family. God is sovereign and he has given me a spiritual family that helps to fill the needs that family dills. It has been a few years since that and I have grown in my understanding and biblical foundation since then by God's grace. But it does underline the issue with this ...... process.
I left my church after 12 years, felt that things were not right and still believe that most of it was me not being in the word of God and not praying like I should. But I have been sozo’d, I have done Sozo by their standard of teaching coming from the Bethel school of ministry and they Firmly believe in the Bethel school of ministry…. Trying to wrap my head around all of this. I feel like I have partnered with some very wrong beliefs not only here but other things I’ve read and been taught. God, I pray for clarity for you or not the author of confusion I pray for truth to be revealed and Holy spirit. Please guide me down the right path in Jesus name I pray for all the others that have been misled as well.
When I saw this title it made me think of Led Zeppelin’s album, Sozo. Back in the day I never knew what that was. I can’t stand to hear Zeppelin now. This will be an interesting listen.
I would love to hear you dive into why you believe this practice is unbiblical. I don't know enough about it to make a statement on the issue, but I have had friends go through similar practices in other churches (oddly enough even in Baptist churches) and I'm trying to get a sense of where or what the issue is from your more personal experience.
Jesse, I knew Bethel was a false church for many years. When I got out of the New Age/Occult arena and got truly saved, I started seeing the infiltration in the mega churches so clearly. Now the Bethel worship team is coming to my church and I'm sick to my stomach. I have so much to share from my experiences but no one seems to want to listen. Thank you for being so articulate in sharing the truth of this deception. SOZO is just another occult practice done to emotionally manipulate an atmosphere, and the people in it. It's done in yoga, energy healing, shamanism, witchcraft, etc. It's all manipulation, it's our will not God's will. I may email you but I have difficulty being concise on this topic. :) God bless you and your family!
The use of every possible definition for a particular word, regardless of context, is why I have a problem with the Amplified Bible. It includes irrelevant glosses of words selectively, implying that those meanings are authoritative as Scripture.
At the church I was a part of we did a cleaning streams class (which was put together by Jack Hayford I believe). That was a half year class that ended with a retreat where you broke off generational curses etc. but then there was a personal ministry (deliverance ministry) that you could go to for an “inner healing” event that was encouraged for everyone to go through. I went through the class with my mom and even at the time we didn’t feel it was very helpful. The inner healing sessions (our church named it our Isaiah 61 ministry) seemed very new-agey from what I heard.
I gotta say, I'm quite upset after seeing your video because I unknowingly went to a licensed mental health provider who was VERY into all of these NAR practices and she used these strategies on me without me knowing and our sessions did more harm than good. I paid out of pocket for this person to use these strategies that are anti-biblical AND have no scientific back up.
Yes. Great points about how they say we relate to the Persons of the Trinity based on familial traumas. My mom who is very into sozo had big issues with her dad so she really feels sozo has helped her in the last 5 or so years. Ironically she seems more bitter toward her dad than she ever has been🤷🏻♀️ so it does seem to have stirred the pot for her. She and I have not agreed on many doctrine related things over the years, and she told me a couple of years ago that the reason I have a “hard time with the Holy Spirit” (I don’t?🤷🏻♀️) is because I have a hard relationship with her. She equates my lack of support for bethel’s teachings as me having a hard time with the Holy Spirit. I think so often about how different their “experience” of the Holy Spirit is from what I have come to know as a believer, which is actually described in the scripture. Conviction of sin, righteousness and judgement, His bringing to remembrance the Word and being lead into truth,etc. We truly do seem to be in relationship with different spirits.
..is their experience of the HS more like electricity... I notice bill johnson in the physics of heaven describes his experience of the HS as being plugged into 1000 volts of electricity, he was unable to function for a couple of days.. he also had to rationalise it, it sounds like it was a bad experience but he says because it was him, it was glorious... (kindle 149 & 147ff - Ch14 Whole lotta shakin) The fruit of the HS is self control... God doenst take people over... ...also people end up looking like they are drunk but in scripture that is Gods judgement.. at pentecost they were not incompacitated as Peter was able to get up and give an eloquent sermon...
Thank you for exposing this movement. I have 14 years of study and investigation of Sozo after losing a family member to Bethel Sozo in Redding California. Sozo emphasizes fresh, current, extra-biblical revelation over the written word. They pay lip-service to the “bible” but usually only quote enough passages-usually out of context-to sway the “clients” into believing it is a biblical practice; it is not. The regressive memory therapy movement (RMT) died out in the mid to late 1990s after malpractice lawsuits and overturned convictions resulting from those accused based on false recovered memories. Then, much of the public understood the dangers, however time and events have swept this knowledge from public consciousness. The movement morphed into churches and Bethel Sozo sprang upon the scene, arising from total ignorance of the false recovered memory movement-I have documented proof of this-and now it is growing exponentially. I am in contact with victims from all over the globe who have suffered devastating tragedy and loss, and currently filming a documentary of those harmed.
A good book on the subject is Memory Warp, How the Myth of Repressed Memories Arose and Refuses to Die, by Mark Pendergrass. It is intense and very detailed. He makes that case that RMT has not, and probably will not die out. Many celebrated the apparent death of the RMT movement in the late 1990's after effective lawsuits against the RMT therapists tamped down the practice. Also, many of those imprisoned due to accusations of abuse stemming from rampant false memories were exonerated and released which embarrassed the judicial system. The movement has morphed and now refers to RMT as dissociative disorder and there is a lengthy article online documenting this. Elizabeth Loftus is one of the contributers. Perhaps the best book for Christian to read is Second Thoughts, Understanding The False Memory Crisis And How It Could Affect You, by Dr. Paul Simpson. He is a Christian and a brilliant psychologist, who was a leading proponent of RMT and slowly came to doubt and eventually rejected the practice. He then formed an organization to mediate between and help mend families destroyed by false memories of abuse. Every Sozo practitioner needs to read his book. @@michellepeterson6320
Thank you so much for explaining this. I was paying to go through a deliverance ministry and their "inner healing" program. Afterward, I learned that Scientology has a similar practice called Dianetics. Now, apparently Bethel has "Sozo". It's all the same process. Going through your past memory by memory to find breakthroughs and level up. Have yet to find any of that in scripture.
Thank you for this TRUTH! I'm super glad to be educated on this! I love your teaching because of your experience and involvement in a false church. A lot of us have been there and it is hard to find out how wrongly we were taught and deceived. I found Chris Rosebrough about 6 or so years ago and I don't usually listen to anyone else unless Pastor R approves, I'm so glad to have found your teaching (or UNteaching) keep it up! God bless
Inner healing counselling saved my life! I worked with a local counselor who used inner healing and practical techniques. Deliverance programs like cleansing stream also helped me. I had major, major childhood trauma and was racked with mental health issues and demonic oppression. Jesus saved me and he did use inner healing, Elijah house style and deliverance ministry as some tools in my healing journey.
Hi Jesse. My name is Tracey Burroughs and I am watching this video from South Africa. I have a question for you? You mentioned sozo and something about it having Jewish ideas? Maybe i heard wrong? I dont know much about SOZO at all. Its very new to me. Thank you for this video Jesse. Blessings to you from South Africa 🇿🇦
Jessie! We need to talk about white balance. You look like a ghost. Loving the new AV/ audio set up. Much more crisp. In unrelated news, great video. I've never really delved into this topic, its very unnerving how this has been appropriated. Keep on keeping on!
@@thewestwoodhome 'the Westwoods don't do 'easy'!' Late night recording is always sub optimal. No natural or ambient light, those gross tungsten vibes. I can never ever get it right. On the plus side it's much quieter, there's way less environmental noise. I hope you're feeling better and back on your feet soon man. I hear there's a church in California that does healing, I can hook you up with someone there and they'll create the right atmosphere for you to claim your victory over this unwellness 🤣
I was involved in a cult called the Way international back in the day. Bethel sounds almost exactly like them right down to the “sozo “. Thanks for this🙏🏽
I would like to piggy back on your comment and mention a church that has very similar ungodly practices based on the twisting of scripture called God Will Provide. They have churches across the world. I frequently worry about anyone involved in that church. I thank God I'm not there anymore. God help those involved in such churches.
Sozo, Theophostic, and Restoring The Foundations all engage in the debunked practice of repressed memory therapy (RMT). RMT is dangerous with trained professionals yet these so-called prayer ministries conduct the sessions with amateurs. Each of these promise the Holy Spirit will speak during the sessions. The hubris it takes to make such a promise is breathtaking. The client either claims they experience God during the session or is deemed to be partnering with a religious spirit. Perform or else.
Thank you so much, Jesse, for your videos. I look forward to each and every 1. I wish I could send them to my children to listen to. Having the connection that we have had with Bethel, and they still enjoy Bethel, I just wish I could send them your videos without them hating me, lol.
Great video.. clear definitions.. even paced... you keep it interesting without going too fast. I will definitely check out more of your content. I just heard of this Sozo and I had my usual suspicions but wanted to keep an open mind. I trust in the power of the blood of Jesus and my soul has been sanctified trough Him. I go to medical and psychological professionals for carnal healing. I suspected a works program and you saved me alot time. The only thing on this earth that gives me 100% peace is the gift of Grace.
The arrogance of someone believing that they have the authority to release the Holy Spirit in a room as if He is some kind of attack dog under our control.
I just heard of this practice and for some reason just the word didn’t sit right with me. Now I see why. It feels very “witchcrafty” to me. Thank you for your breakdown and sharing your testimony with this practice.
What about: when someone got SOZOed they accused their father (who apparently didn't) of sexual abuse and never wanted to contact their parents ever again and was encouraged by the church to disconnect with their real family.
I was in the first training group to learn basic Sozo, same time as Donna learned it. Giving legal access and there being four basic entry points are scripturally supported. One can build upon that carefully by models throughout the Bible. I am a Christian counselor as we all who call ourselves Christian should be, having the indwelling spirit of Christ. I am troubled by the exchange process that they teach. Much of why we need Sozo has usually our own sin as a root cause that needs to be confessed and turned away from and when we do God reinstates his covering over us. It is God's choosing what blessings we are to receive and when because he knows best and wants that for you and me. He knows us better than we know ourselves, so we should never enter that area like the disciples asking for blessings to sit on each side of Jesus, they ended drinking the same cup, which is something we all must do. While living we should be practicing dying to self completely, daily.
Sir I’m doing research about this right now because I started to see a lady at church about this and the Lord has been showing me a lot of red flags about this woman she’s very nice and kind, it looks like you said that you are a Christian Counselor are you still practicing? How can I get a hold of your practice I’d like to maybe possibly hire you shalom.
Sounds very similar to the process scientology takes a person through to free them from past hurts, as well as using NLP with the "tool" to help you. Very interesting! God does all this in our relationship with Him if we just get in His presence. He puts His finger on the struggles in our hearts and helps us to see His Son took sin on so we can forgive. As well as the love from Jesus fills us to overflowing so it comes out of us towards others that have sinned, sin now, and will sin against us.
I agree with this. I did Cleansing Streams, but I didn't feel like it was much more helpful that just reading the Word. Both my husband and I felt like some of the Scripture and focus was good, especially to do it together, however there were extra pieces.
I Think you may misunderstand the difference between guided meditation and imagery and spirit guides. What you are describing with SOZO is a form of guided meditation with imagery. Spirit guides are guides or entities you meet during your meditation. Both dangerous and both new age practices.
I received a sozo session. I felt like it was manipulated. I was definitely uncomfortable and had a feeling that it was guided. Also had to PAY for session
Our very good friends are/got into this. They have numerous doctorate degrees, and I’m a lowly BA in Bible girl. However, I do NOT feel right about it. I’m supposed to go through this training, by a Bethel higher up, on Aug 19. Anytime I think about it, my heart skips a beat, and I get a sinking feeling in my gut. I don’t know how I’m going to maneuver this. They read hundreds of Christian books a year, and I only read The Bible. (The Bible was written by God, but books are written by men. ) I learned years ago, that just bc someone says they’re “Christian,” does NOT mean they are, or even Scripturally sound. We’ve been very close friends for over 13 years. We vacation w/ them, etc…I don’t know what to do, or say. Help from anyone, is appreciated. TIA
Yeah this is a hard one. Feel free to send them to my channel or if it helps we can correspond via email as well. My contact information is in the about section of my channel
My old church was (and is) very close with Bethel and Bill and everyone from Bethel. And Randy Clark, The Bakers, The Campbells and Arnotts and everyone! It ain't all happy happy joy joy! Point people back to SOUND DOCTRINE!
Y'all I am SO SORRY. I am having ot push it back another hour it looks like. Looks like we are having some major internet connection issues over here in rural Delaware. It has been uploading for almost 4 hours now. So SO so so sorry guys .
Of course it's taking forever to upload, you have so-zo internet connection.
@@michaeljguy 😂😂😂😂
I think I can speak for the rest of us watching your channel, we love your content, and you give a perspective on things most can't give. No matter when it gets the chance to be uploaded.
This is Very Helpful. Its Scary to see how much the Scriptures are Twisted to fit their ideas and Make it work for their own benefit. I jus cant imagine how much Damage that this Fake ministry has messed people up. Thank You for talking about this.
I actually did a drive through DE Friday Morning.
This is so helpful. The last church I attended threw that word around with everything. I never could get an explanation of its meaning. I recognize now the counseling session I received as a counseling SOZO. I was asked a lot of leading questions, asked what I saw in my mind, what was Jesus saying to me?etc. There were a several other people present taking notes which were handed to me afterwards. Nothing changed by this experience. I was just as traumatized as before. God took me on my own journey of healing, just spending time with Him, allowing Him to bring painful memories to surface, and actively forgiving that person for that specific hurt. It took a long year, one memory at a time, allowing me to process it all and walk in forgiveness. The Holy Spirit illuminated the truth with scripture to replace the lies I had believed. There was no work on my part except to rest in Him. He is the Wonderful Counselor. It has been a process. No leading questions or suggestions. No visualizing Jesus, and what He was saying to me. It was a gentle process allowing me all the time I needed before the next memory surfaced. I was not digging in my memory bank. Things I had repressed were released one at a time with a week or more passing before the next memory came up as I was just out on a walk. He does heal the broken heart. His healing is gentle. He takes us only as fast as we can go. There is no performance or demands made. Just His reassurance. How sweet that was compared to what the Counselor pressed upon me. ❤
Beautifully said! God alone, through His Word, gave you the peace that passes understanding. The Holy Spirit always points us to Jesus, and He is a gentleman, never forceful, knocking at the door. I love how you said that His healing is gentle ❤
You brought tears to my eyes. So beautiful!
As someone with a Masters degree in psychology and practical counseling experience, I can identify some of the Sozo techniques borrowed from psychology. Going back to painful memories asking Jesus to “do” or “show” something in that past situation is similar to cognitive restructuring or Narrative therapy where a client is guided to re-interpret past events where hurt occurred.
The relationship to each part of the God head you mentioned, which is unbiblical I agree, seems to me like a “spiritualized” way of exploring one’s relationship with one’s parents.
I can see how Sozo could be effective but mostly because of its borrowing from psychological observations and techniques.
There could also be risk of re-traumatizing clients if you ask them to revisit traumatic events, like child sexual abuse or rape, which could have negative consequences. If the person leading the Sozo doesn’t have some counseling training they could end up doing harm.
Bethel has concerned me for a long time now as I’ve seen elements of it taking root in local churches in Europe and I am glad for your reconstructing back to God.
That's true. But it also goes further. Agnes Sanford started with the inner healing stuff. She was very much influenced by Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. She borrowed ideas from them. Both Freud and Jung were involved in the occult. Freud had a cocaine addiction and Jung had his own spirit guide. Both were very interested in eastern religions. For example, the collective consciousness (Jung) originates from Buddhism. Inner healing and sozo are eastern religion based and rooted in occultism.
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the comment! I was led through sozo at my bible school, and actually had a profound experience that I found very helpful to understanding some patterns and forgiving my own father. Don’t know what to make of it 🤷🏻♀️
@@ruchi750I think I went through something similar at a discipleship program. The experience did help me to forgive my parents for hurts throughout my childhood. But reading the Bible is just as effective. The parable of the servant and his master covering his debt comes to mind as an example to follow to healing and freedom.
@@awake780 my experience was that it revealed something I didn’t realise about my relationship with my father. Of course the Lord can work in any way but I’ve read the bible and prayed many many times and that particular issue never surfaced through that
Thanks for the shout out brother!!
Any time!
Our church in Canada was starting to get into that type of "healing" prayer too. I was training how to do it. I'm so thankful that He took us out of that. I've found more "healing" in the last year of being out and spending time with God on my own than I did with 3 years of healing ministry! God is SO good!
The WHOLE point of going is so that you can get closer to Him.
Sozo is highly manipulative, it stirs up "trauma" and offences where there may be none, for the highly suggestible they create false memories, they teach a false concept of the Trinity (loved your explanation on this) and they are not teaching these young people how to be grounded and rooted in Christ. And the icing on top is how this is very New Age. I do wonder how many lives are actually destroyed in the end.
Yeaaa unfortunately that’s true
You are very correct.
We did something very similar at my previous "non-denominational" church called the "Immanuel Approach". Had no idea how dark & unbiblical it was until we left and joined a solid, Bible teaching church.
What's crazy is that I grew up in a baptist church, didn't understand the gospel and wondered why I struggled so much with my faith. As I got older and was exposed to this "non-denominational" hyper-charismatic church, I thought they had what I had been missing all along.
In reality, it made things way more complicated and frustrating; I was beyond confused.
It was a strange type of legalism, wrapped in "freedom in the Spirit." Praise to God for opening my eyes.
I'm so thankful for this Jesse, keep it up!!!
😬
I'm excited about your upcoming interview with Alisa. (and I'm sure this will be an awesome video too)
Sozo is one of the most evil forms of counselling.
I know...I went on one twice and they accused my very godly father of mis representing God and told me I had to forgive him.
I refused and finished the session.
My dad was the most godly man I know and lived a really holy life of commitment to the Lord he lived.
Totally awful system...its inspired by demons!
Keep away from it!
Thanks for sharing
Seems like the whole system is dependant on finding something wrong in your past that they can spin into a narrative to progress the session.
Jesse, when you use some examples you included the problems you needed to work on and I appreciate your honesty and humility! Thanks
I appreciate that!
Hope you are doing well. Saw your shorts and praying for you. Thank you for your ministry!
Love the new set up!
Thanks boss ✌🏼
Your ministry is so insightful and such a blessing. I'm glad you're better equipped to continue and interested to see where this goes!
Thank you so much!
Hi Jesse
I am really happy for you that The Lord Jesus Christ set you free from many many lies and that you still have kept The Faith
Blessings!!!
This was great! I just watched other channels who have also done a video on sozo (long for truth, Melissa Dougherty, and Doreen Virtue) and I enjoy how everyone brings different issues out.
Thanks 🙏🏼
Thank you sooo much for this video. It's the best one I have watched explaining the concerns around Sozo. When you talked about having the correct biblical view of the God head (trinity) it made total sense to me. Also thank you for being vulnerable. It's up to you if you want to do live broadcasts as long as it doesn't interfere with family time.
Glad it was helpful!
look up Melissa Doughtery on youtube, she has another great video on Sozo titled "is Bethels SOZO mentally and emotionally damaging?"
Sounds exactly like Ellel deliverance ministries - I went through ‘Healing Prayer’ at my old church. So thankful the Lord brought me out and onto solid ground of Biblical teaching.
Yep, like Ellel and theophostic prayer ministry 😬
Thanks 🙏🏼
Interesting, went through similar to Ellel and found it extremely helpful. I agree Sozo is different and not in the same vein at all.
I saw a Christian counsellor and she suggested my mother had traumatised me by her over bearing high expectations. I felt the idea pollute my relationship with my mother and my attitude towards her, and rejected it, but I nearly wanted to rake back and reinterpret, but the counsellor didn’t know, she wasn’t there!
I’m getting the impression there are lots of suggestions and leading questions being asked in these sessions which could bring up an idea we want to latch onto, but not necessarily true, or lacking the other side of the story.
It does not half to be a direct suggestion. Simply the knowledge that others have "recovered" memories is enough suggestion to result in false recovered memories.@@bella-bee
From a marketing perspective the volume of books and resources for sale within SOZO reminds me of Scientology. It’s a “cash cow” of products and practices to help you become a better YOU! Thanks for sharing this information. - John 8:32… Always.
Thank you for exposing SOZO, I was baffled as to why any church would have this type of counsel, for a price of 80 bucks for one hour, at one church I went to for a season, I was very tempted to visit the sozo within this church but I could not feel right with the whole concept of paying for this so called spirit help, I know truly that this job belongs to HOLY SPIRIT through personal prayer communication with our Holy Father.
I agree with U. God wants our heart, not our money ❤❤❤
I've been to a prayer meeting where some of these concepts of visualization were used. It's a long story, but I never did attend a meeting like that again. Every time I planned to go, something came up that I couldn't. I've listened to Melissa's interview about sozo. And listening to you talk about the methods used gives me a very uneasy feeling. I sense God kept me from becoming involved in what seems to be a false doctrine of prayer.
Thanks for sharing ✌🏼
I'm seeing these kinds of beliefs in Switzerland where I live and it's so dismaying to me these people are really deeply hooked into it and it's so hard to talk to them... Please pray brothers and sisters 🙏
Thank you for the emphasis on the Trinity and passages to support it. Appreciate that! Will be using them.
You are so welcome!
Do you have a video out about the Asbury Revival? If not I would like to hear your ideas about it. Thanks
Yup! My video right before thsi one
Thank you for your ministry and this video… I have seen Melissa’s and the Long’s video as well as Doreen Virtue’s… actually after I had been sozoed… which is odd that I never had it presented to me as such, ( which Bethel can be held accountable for every subset of their unbiblical doctrine, unless they rend their hearts and repent)
in fact our last church pastor and his wife, called it another “resource” and “prayer” I came to know the truth of this by only what I can describe as total wisdom from the Holy Spirit, as well as Melissa video popping up in my UA-cam feed almost a year ago… I had no idea what prayer session or rendition of prayer/inner healing was acted upon me…
As a victim of it, bc yes whether you agree to this practice knowingly or not, it is a victimization of guilt, undue pressure and I will say in conjunction with a cultish environment abuse At minimum…
I relived aloud a trauma that I was supposed to envision Jesus in ( first of all this was purposed to me as a way of experiencing God, after I was shamed for only learning about Him by reading the Word)
I have just now gathered some semblance of
1)it’s just divination,
2) it’s also not actually biblical counsel
3) most of our understanding of sin is lack of recognition of what it is, lack of repentance and finally understanding that you are forgiven… if you are in Christ…if we examine any other relationship similarly we wouldn’t practice anything mystical, we would try to figure out what our part was, their part and also how we can grow… except with God he is holy so it’s just his desire to be in communion with us unhindered with fig leaves or our own ways or hiding and self deception
4) and most importantly in the case of trauma… it wasn’t your fault, Jesus isn’t just standing idly by,
in the case of abuse, God is more upset than even we can imagine at what occurred, and we can forgive not because of what they (the perpetrator) did but as many have said… because Christ forgave us, because the cross took all of our sin and finally because the judgements of God stand against those who refuse Him, his grace and mercy… far worse than our words, He is the true and righteous Judge of all.
Healing is not needed by means of your own ability to pin point, analyze, broad stroke or minimize every detail, the agony, the pain, the shame and guilt, all paid for on the cross…
Or as Mike Winger has said, either Jesus paid for it on the cross or those who refuse will pay for it at judgment. I’m still healing from thr session, the trauma opened by it and the healing journey is sanctifying.
For those creating systems of sozo your illusion will be the disillusion of those you think you’re helping, don’t aid in more suffering for them albeit their own sin issues and need for repentance and also don’t stand in their need for true counseling regarding trauma.
This psalm comes to mind:
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”
Psalm 1:1-6
Hi Friends, Yeah I know what you mean by the Sozo, I am a christian of a few years now and for for 40 yrs I thought all Christians were weak and mis-led and never to be trusted, but that changed and I accepted Jesus into my heart (long story), about 5yrs ago I had a Sozo at our church, I signed up as I had issues with anger ,frustration which would boil over into verbal nastiness to my family -and others at any moment. I did the sozo I saw god as a punisher of my bad deeds a disciplinarian far away from me waiting to punish me, In the Sozo I forgave my worldy father for not being there for me and all the anger and disfunction he put into our family, i then saw God approaching me arms wide wanting to hug and love me, my anger and frustration left, my daughter later asked her mum what happened to me as i am different i no longer grumpy and angry.my friends say im the most patient man ive ever met, I guess something happened. funny when I was 21 I celebrated when my father died, now I love him and miss him. yes be suspicious i was i always think good fruit does not come from a bad tree.my Sozo was 5yrs ago. TY
Jesse do you think the manifestations of the spirit at bethel are demonic?
I started searching about this topic after founding this channel. And there’s a great academic article you can find if you search “Kundalini and Holy spirit”. It’s free to download and quite straight to the point and eye opening. Happy reading!
Idk still working that out
My opinion, no. I would be less embarrassed for them if the craziness were due to the demonic. I've attended Bethel and many churches like it where people are shaking, grunting, convulsing. This is all play-acting for each other. Sozo, on the other hand, is definitely a doctrine of demons. Do I think some of the wild crazy stuff could be demonic? Of course. However, I know group acting when I see it and I have seen it many times. Anyone in a prayer line where everyone is "slain-in-the-spirit" either pretends and drops to the ground or is looked at like a pharisee. It seems impossible this many people could all pretend but is a common group dynamic. Who wants to be the cheese standing alone?
A former church my wife and I went to had everybody who was leading a small group go through a Sozo. We had no idea what it was but went ahead with it cause we needed to. It costs $75, which wasn’t mandatory but heavily implied that we should pay for the time of the counselors.
Anyway, during the Sozo I felt a little strange at times. They, an older couple, basically asked a bunch of basic questions (e.g. have you ever done occult things, any unforgiveness you can think of, unrepentant hidden sin). All of that felt normal to talk about because there were some things I had forgot about that I needed to let go of. Buuuut then it got weird when they’d pause and almost trance-like “talk to Jesus” directly. She would stair at the ceiling and have an open conversation about me with who she said was Abba.
Like you said, there are three segments of the Sozo (the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit). Where we would try to experience a new revelation of each Godhead.
Eventually, it became kind of uncomfortable and I felt really off about it. Now, I know it was the Holy Spirit helping me discern that this was not biblical or good.
I do think Christian’s need to be open and vulnerable with mentors or counselors, through one-on-one discipleship, but this was not a setting I would recommend, especially with strangers who don’t even attend the church (yep, how wild is that).
It turns out that the church was heavily mimicking Bethel in every way.
Also, everything you detailed about the setting and how the convo went was pretty spot on with my experience.
Edit: Forgot to mention that the pastor of the church told us leaders that going through a Sozo was like a “spiritual oil change” that he does every year.
Sheeeeesh man thanks for sharing 🙏🏼
@@thewestwoodhomeof course! Weird stuff when thinking back at it haha
Great vid, thanks. Subscribed :)
Thanks for the sub!
@@thewestwoodhome My pleasure.
I liked the clap at the beginning. Didn't have any idea why you had done that, but now I know, and it is gone.
I was going to say the same thing! 🤣
Lol yup
I love that approach to explaining the trinity!!!
Thank you 🙏🏼
I went through this Healing book by Francis Mcnutt after going to a conference, and I specifically remember a guy telling my ‘God is, now I know this is strange, telling me you have to forgive Him for taking your mom away, not that He sinned, but that your expectation was let down.’ I was shocked but went with it. My mom did die and this guy should not have known this, so of course I paid attention. I fortunately repented later. My goodness it lines up with this, without the sozo label. It from a “Kingdom” class from an Anglican church believe it or not. And yeah the porn issue was talked about too! It lines up! I fell back in (now I’m out but regardless,) i needed to keep ‘searching’ for help… ugh this movement
Sorry to hear that
I had a inner healing session under Francis McNutts ministry and a SOZO under a Bethel graduate. They weren’t the same. SOZO was actually guiding and making suggestions
Just FYI on Gen 1:26, folks may want to check Dr. Michael Heiser's explanation. Likely not an example of the trinity. But, we definitely see the trinity in other ways throughout scripture!
I’ll have to check that out
Hi, I am just wondering… what about Danny Silk?
His book culture of honor was teaches at the school?
My pastor is doing a sermon series inspired by reading Uprising by Chris Valloton. The small groups in the church are going through the book together. I've never heard my pastor teach anything that isn't biblical but this worries me. Do you have any advice?
Don’t read it tbh. That is man that has preached little gods doctrine and not repented of false prophecy
Chris Valloton is a dangerous heretic
Had to watch a second time. I had my little girls giggling in my ear, and they trump YT. But this is a really great video.
Thank you!
Hi Jesse. No need for apologies. Video was great and helpful. Yeah the Sozo stuff found it’s way to Ireland. The church I was at then didn’t promote it as far as the leadership went, but influential members , some of whom were Bethel Alumni , got very enthusiastic about it. I ended up getting sozoed ( as a volunteering subject ) and then went on a training weekend. Thankfully, I didn’t pursue it further as the training was just too weird for me. I thought the whole breakdown of the Trinity was confusing and the whole visualisation /spirit guiding was uncomfortable to put it mildly. I did experience a kind of emotional high after my session but it was short lived. It’s another income generating resource for Bethel with very negative consequences.
Like you , I also have a close connection with Mormon friends here. Long story short , God used that connection in 2019 to make me realise how biblically ignorant I was and that in turn led to my eyes being opened to all the deception I was entrenched in.
And live videos would be great but I’m guessing our time difference might mean I’d miss them. Blessings to you and family.
Thanks for sharing! Live video coming soon
Sozo is a tool they use to throw back at you when the time suits them....I was a part of a Bethel associated church in Australia....Was sozo'd ....Then my teenage son died suddenly as a part of the youth group in the church....The Pastor popped in once to organise the funeral....After that he never came near us they were kind to give us a Teddybear and movie tickets hmmm.....Then after months of going to another church for counselling a friend in the church encouraged me to go to the Pastor and talk to him about the lack of support....His response was "Its not my love language to visit people every week" Not that I even asked him too and told me the reason I was feeling rejected is because I have daddy issues gleened from the Sozo experience....The youth group pastor at the time (the pastors son) never spoke to us at all....He is now the head pastor of this church....God provided for our healing just not from out supposed church family...
I’m so sorry about your loss! 🥹🙏🏼
I see this attitude in many churches. Indeed, a lot of the flesh these people are serving in the flesh not in serving to our holy God!
Never had Sozo, went to a seminar about it.
Did have lots of inner healing prayer, which really really helped me. Healed a LOT of issues. Never had to 'hang on to it' - It was God's work and he holds all that for me.
Certainly lots to be concerned about with Sozo, and Bethel, thrown all their books away and music away 3 years ago.
👍🏼
Whats that inner healing prayer you're talking about? Thanks :)
This 'Sozo' is very much like what they use in Scientology. They call it 'Euditing' which is a process the auditor councils a person through past lives to rid them of negative feelings or influences. Very dangerous stuff. Anyway, thanks for exposing this. I love the way you used Scripture to explain the Trinity. Another great passage is 1John 5:7 'For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word (Jesus who is the Word John 1 ) and the Holy Spirit and these three are One.' NKJV. God bless.
Never though of it like that
Hold up… they get people to repent for being traumatised? 🤯 That’s horrible.
I’m studying psychology, I can’t imagine anything like that being implemented in therapy
😬
Looking solid, sir!
Thank you kindly
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Thank you so much, once again, for your ministry. How could one support you, financially, if we wanted to?
hey thanks! Just set these up
Buy Me A Coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/thewestwoods
Patreon: patreon.com/TheWestwoods
Thank you for making this video. Very enlightening. The explanation related to the Trinity was useful.
I’d be interested in live videos, if you started doing them. The problem is that I live part of the year in Kenya and part in Japan, so the time difference often makes it impossible for me to be there for live events in the US. Still, I’d attend if the schedule allowed.
Thanks for sharing!
Hi Jesse,
You need to read John 10:17 and Romans 8:11 again.
In John 10:17, the Greek verb typically translated 'take' (though sometimes as 'receive' - e.g. CEV) is lambanó. Lambanó essentially means to "accept with initiative" emphasizing the assertiveness of the receiver. As is attested everywhere else in the New Testament, it is the Father who raised Jesus from the dead (i.e. The Father offered Jesus his life again, which offer Jesus actively took up). The same Greek verb is used at the Last Supper, where Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is my body" (Matthew 26:26) and when Jesus breathed on the disciples and said "Receive the Holy Spirit" (John 20:22).
Romans 8:11 doesn't say "If the spirit who raised Jesus...", but "If the spirit *of him/the one* who raised Jesus...", referring to the Father.
Spot on!
Sozo Instructor: "You feel close to God the Father and Jesus but disconnected with the Holy Spirit? You probably need to reconcile with your mother."
Lutheran Satire: "That's partialism, Patrick!"
😂😂😂
I have a seriously dysfunctional family all around, they would say i am simply disconnected from all of God. I guess God needs help drawing me to himself.
@@Rose-xc7wz I'm sorry that they told you that because it simply is not true. We can sight so many Bible verses on how someone that is considered blessed by God and yet either they were the cause of sin(s) that affected others like their family, or their own family act in such a way that was sinful that affected a key person mentioned in scripture.
Some references that comes to mind is Adam and Eve had two sons and one murdered the other. After the flood, Noah's own son saw him naked after he drank himself unconscious and told his two other brothers what he saw instead of covering his father. Joseph had bride, which caused his brothers to sell him into slavery and they lied to their father by purposefully tearing Joseph's cloak, drenching it in blood of an animal, and gave it to their father.
Even Jesus's own family had their issues because Jesus's family too are sinners and therefore had their own dysfunctional moments like Joseph (Jesus's father) could have Mary (the mother) stoned her because he believed she committed adultery, which made Jesus an illegitimate son to Joseph due to biology. Does this mean somehow Jesus was no longer in perfect fellowship with God the Father and Holy Spirit due to sin in his own family? No, just means sin wrecks havoc in families since Adam and Eve until Christ returns again.
We can read every person mentioned in Matthew 1:1-16 and see how dysfunctional the genealogy of Jesus truly really was and yet God used every person to bring about the Messiah who'd one day to die on the cross to redeem sinners. It is never the biblical ideal that our families to become dysfunctional in whatever way but God uses those dysfunctions so that we can minister to those who deals with those dysfunctions because we can sympathize with them and introduce to them the good news. God uses our imperfections to show how great God is because we are simply redeemed messengers and it is power within that message of Jesus that saves us and sanctifies us from sin.
I hope that makes sense, and again, I am sorry they misinformed you because to say we are disconnected from the trinity because of our family means our fellowship with God is dependent upon others, which is not true. I have a dysfunctional family too but I am thankful for God's word because I know I can be in good fellowship with God regardless of how healthy my family is.
@Eugene Stevens II I appreciate your comments. I know my relationship with God is not at all dependent on my relationship with my family. God is sovereign and he has given me a spiritual family that helps to fill the needs that family dills. It has been a few years since that and I have grown in my understanding and biblical foundation since then by God's grace. But it does underline the issue with this ...... process.
You’re so fun to watch. Gentle. Humble.
Thank you 🙏🏼
Please list those verses for witnessing. Thank you.
Wil do!
Well done analysis
I left my church after 12 years, felt that things were not right and still believe that most of it was me not being in the word of God and not praying like I should. But I have been sozo’d, I have done Sozo by their standard of teaching coming from the Bethel school of ministry and they Firmly believe in the Bethel school of ministry…. Trying to wrap my head around all of this. I feel like I have partnered with some very wrong beliefs not only here but other things I’ve read and been taught. God, I pray for clarity for you or not the author of confusion I pray for truth to be revealed and Holy spirit. Please guide me down the right path in Jesus name I pray for all the others that have been misled as well.
When I saw this title it made me think of Led Zeppelin’s album, Sozo. Back in the day I never knew what that was. I can’t stand to hear Zeppelin now. This will be an interesting listen.
Its not Sozo. Its ZOSO. You just dont like Zeppelin anyway.
I would love to hear you dive into why you believe this practice is unbiblical. I don't know enough about it to make a statement on the issue, but I have had friends go through similar practices in other churches (oddly enough even in Baptist churches) and I'm trying to get a sense of where or what the issue is from your more personal experience.
Love the intro montage!
Thanks!
Jesse, I knew Bethel was a false church for many years. When I got out of the New Age/Occult arena and got truly saved, I started seeing the infiltration in the mega churches so clearly. Now the Bethel worship team is coming to my church and I'm sick to my stomach. I have so much to share from my experiences but no one seems to want to listen. Thank you for being so articulate in sharing the truth of this deception.
SOZO is just another occult practice done to emotionally manipulate an atmosphere, and the people in it. It's done in yoga, energy healing, shamanism, witchcraft, etc. It's all manipulation, it's our will not God's will.
I may email you but I have difficulty being concise on this topic. :)
God bless you and your family!
Thank you 🙏🏼
The use of every possible definition for a particular word, regardless of context, is why I have a problem with the Amplified Bible. It includes irrelevant glosses of words selectively, implying that those meanings are authoritative as Scripture.
Lives would be great! Thank you for your great truthful information
Can’t wait for this.
Me too!!!
Gosh, the more I dig into Bethel, the more parallels I see between Scientology.
Dude I know. I love learning about Scientology too lol
At the church I was a part of we did a cleaning streams class (which was put together by Jack Hayford I believe). That was a half year class that ended with a retreat where you broke off generational curses etc. but then there was a personal ministry (deliverance ministry) that you could go to for an “inner healing” event that was encouraged for everyone to go through. I went through the class with my mom and even at the time we didn’t feel it was very helpful.
The inner healing sessions (our church named it our Isaiah 61 ministry) seemed very new-agey from what I heard.
Yea it’s new agey for sure
@@thewestwoodhome do you have a specific breakdown or knowledge of Cleansing Streams?
Good info! Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
I gotta say, I'm quite upset after seeing your video because I unknowingly went to a licensed mental health provider who was VERY into all of these NAR practices and she used these strategies on me without me knowing and our sessions did more harm than good. I paid out of pocket for this person to use these strategies that are anti-biblical AND have no scientific back up.
Yikes 😳
Yes. Great points about how they say we relate to the Persons of the Trinity based on familial traumas. My mom who is very into sozo had big issues with her dad so she really feels sozo has helped her in the last 5 or so years. Ironically she seems more bitter toward her dad than she ever has been🤷🏻♀️ so it does seem to have stirred the pot for her.
She and I have not agreed on many doctrine related things over the years, and she told me a couple of years ago that the reason I have a “hard time with the Holy Spirit” (I don’t?🤷🏻♀️) is because I have a hard relationship with her. She equates my lack of support for bethel’s teachings as me having a hard time with the Holy Spirit.
I think so often about how different their “experience” of the Holy Spirit is from what I have come to know as a believer, which is actually described in the scripture. Conviction of sin, righteousness and judgement, His bringing to remembrance the Word and being lead into truth,etc.
We truly do seem to be in relationship with different spirits.
..is their experience of the HS more like electricity... I notice bill johnson in the physics of heaven describes his experience of the HS as being plugged into 1000 volts of electricity, he was unable to function for a couple of days.. he also had to rationalise it, it sounds like it was a bad experience but he says because it was him, it was glorious... (kindle 149 & 147ff - Ch14 Whole lotta shakin)
The fruit of the HS is self control... God doenst take people over... ...also people end up looking like they are drunk but in scripture that is Gods judgement.. at pentecost they were not incompacitated as Peter was able to get up and give an eloquent sermon...
Thank you for exposing this movement. I have 14 years of study and investigation of Sozo after losing a family member to Bethel Sozo in Redding California. Sozo emphasizes fresh, current, extra-biblical revelation over the written word. They pay lip-service to the “bible” but usually only quote enough passages-usually out of context-to sway the “clients” into believing it is a biblical practice; it is not. The regressive memory therapy movement (RMT) died out in the mid to late 1990s after malpractice lawsuits and overturned convictions resulting from those accused based on false recovered memories. Then, much of the public understood the dangers, however time and events have swept this knowledge from public consciousness. The movement morphed into churches and Bethel Sozo sprang upon the scene, arising from total ignorance of the false recovered memory movement-I have documented proof of this-and now it is growing exponentially. I am in contact with victims from all over the globe who have suffered devastating tragedy and loss, and currently filming a documentary of those harmed.
Interesting on the RMT falling out of favor.
A good book on the subject is Memory Warp, How the Myth of Repressed Memories Arose and Refuses to Die, by Mark Pendergrass. It is intense and very detailed. He makes that case that RMT has not, and probably will not die out. Many celebrated the apparent death of the RMT movement in the late 1990's after effective lawsuits against the RMT therapists tamped down the practice. Also, many of those imprisoned due to accusations of abuse stemming from rampant false memories were exonerated and released which embarrassed the judicial system. The movement has morphed and now refers to RMT as dissociative disorder and there is a lengthy article online documenting this. Elizabeth Loftus is one of the contributers. Perhaps the best book for Christian to read is Second Thoughts, Understanding The False Memory Crisis And How It Could Affect You, by Dr. Paul Simpson. He is a Christian and a brilliant psychologist, who was a leading proponent of RMT and slowly came to doubt and eventually rejected the practice. He then formed an organization to mediate between and help mend families destroyed by false memories of abuse. Every Sozo practitioner needs to read his book. @@michellepeterson6320
Thank you so much for explaining this. I was paying to go through a deliverance ministry and their "inner healing" program. Afterward, I learned that Scientology has a similar practice called Dianetics. Now, apparently Bethel has "Sozo". It's all the same process. Going through your past memory by memory to find breakthroughs and level up. Have yet to find any of that in scripture.
Thank you for this TRUTH! I'm super glad to be educated on this! I love your teaching because of your experience and involvement in a false church. A lot of us have been there and it is hard to find out how wrongly we were taught and deceived. I found Chris Rosebrough about 6 or so years ago and I don't usually listen to anyone else unless Pastor R approves, I'm so glad to have found your teaching (or UNteaching) keep it up! God bless
Pastor Chris R has also led me to other solid Bible teachers over the years.✝️
Do you know how it compares to Cleansing Streams?
Inner healing counselling saved my life! I worked with a local counselor who used inner healing and practical techniques. Deliverance programs like cleansing stream also helped me. I had major, major childhood trauma and was racked with mental health issues and demonic oppression. Jesus saved me and he did use inner healing, Elijah house style and deliverance ministry as some tools in my healing journey.
Hi Jesse. My name is Tracey Burroughs and I am watching this video from South Africa. I have a question for you? You mentioned sozo and something about it having Jewish ideas? Maybe i heard wrong? I dont know much about SOZO at all. Its very new to me. Thank you for this video Jesse. Blessings to you from South Africa 🇿🇦
Jessie! We need to talk about white balance. You look like a ghost.
Loving the new AV/ audio set up. Much more crisp.
In unrelated news, great video. I've never really delved into this topic, its very unnerving how this has been appropriated.
Keep on keeping on!
Thanks brother! This one was a last min shoot but I’m up for it
@@thewestwoodhome 'the Westwoods don't do 'easy'!'
Late night recording is always sub optimal. No natural or ambient light, those gross tungsten vibes. I can never ever get it right. On the plus side it's much quieter, there's way less environmental noise.
I hope you're feeling better and back on your feet soon man. I hear there's a church in California that does healing, I can hook you up with someone there and they'll create the right atmosphere for you to claim your victory over this unwellness 🤣
@@acecreates 😂😂😂😂 you dog
@@thewestwoodhome name it and claim it brother! If only you had enough faith! Haha
Bethel is practicing Psychiatry without a license. These people are so dangerous. Thanks for your good work brother
A head doctor would have a big payday treating Bethel craziness
Yup
I was involved in a cult called the Way international back in the day. Bethel sounds almost exactly like them right down to the “sozo “. Thanks for this🙏🏽
I would like to piggy back on your comment and mention a church that has very similar ungodly practices based on the twisting of scripture called God Will Provide. They have churches across the world. I frequently worry about anyone involved in that church. I thank God I'm not there anymore. God help those involved in such churches.
How is sozo different from intense christian counseling/therapy(not to be confused with biblical counseling)? Is sozo multiple sessions?
Sozo, Theophostic, and Restoring The Foundations all engage in the debunked practice of repressed memory therapy (RMT). RMT is dangerous with trained professionals yet these so-called prayer ministries conduct the sessions with amateurs. Each of these promise the Holy Spirit will speak during the sessions. The hubris it takes to make such a promise is breathtaking. The client either claims they experience God during the session or is deemed to be partnering with a religious spirit. Perform or else.
Thank you so much, Jesse, for your videos. I look forward to each and every 1. I wish I could send them to my children to listen to. Having the connection that we have had with Bethel, and they still enjoy Bethel, I just wish I could send them your videos without them hating me, lol.
You are so welcome!
Thanks for all you are sharing. Are there German subtitles available?☺️
Is that an MXL880?
Yup 👍🏼
Great video.. clear definitions.. even paced... you keep it interesting without going too fast. I will definitely check out more of your content. I just heard of this Sozo and I had my usual suspicions but wanted to keep an open mind. I trust in the power of the blood of Jesus and my soul has been sanctified trough Him. I go to medical and psychological professionals for carnal healing. I suspected a works program and you saved me alot time. The only thing on this earth that gives me 100% peace is the gift of Grace.
Do they do sozo for pets?
😂😂😂
Thank you so much.
You're welcome!
Thank you, Mr. Westwood.
Thanks!
The arrogance of someone believing that they have the authority to release the Holy Spirit in a room as if He is some kind of attack dog under our control.
Truth
At 22:45 Actually when he says, " let us make man in our image he's talking to his holy counsel. Dr. Heiser Unseen Realm
I just heard of this practice and for some reason just the word didn’t sit right with me. Now I see why. It feels very “witchcrafty” to me. Thank you for your breakdown and sharing your testimony with this practice.
How did your SOZO guiding you to father issues impact your relationship with your father?
0 impact lol
@@thewestwoodhome great to hear. I’ve heard worse outcomes from others.
What about: when someone got SOZOed they accused their father (who apparently didn't) of sexual abuse and never wanted to contact their parents ever again and was encouraged by the church to disconnect with their real family.
I was in the first training group to learn basic Sozo, same time as Donna learned it. Giving legal access and there being four basic entry points are scripturally supported. One can build upon that carefully by models throughout the Bible. I am a Christian counselor as we all who call ourselves Christian should be, having the indwelling spirit of Christ.
I am troubled by the exchange process that they teach. Much of why we need Sozo has usually our own sin as a root cause that needs to be confessed and turned away from and when we do God reinstates his covering over us. It is God's choosing what blessings we are to receive and when because he knows best and wants that for you and me. He knows us better than we know ourselves, so we should never enter that area like the disciples asking for blessings to sit on each side of Jesus, they ended drinking the same cup, which is something we all must do. While living we should be practicing dying to self completely, daily.
Sir
I’m doing research about this right now because I started to see a lady at church about this and the Lord has been showing me a lot of red flags about this woman she’s very nice and kind, it looks like you said that you are a Christian Counselor are you still practicing? How can I get a hold of your practice I’d like to maybe possibly hire you shalom.
Dude you went straight to the top with Alisa Childers! 👏
Not gonna lie…I’m gonna miss the clap. ☺️
Thank you for you and all the truth you so graciously share!
I keep thinking this sounds similar to what Scientologists do as part of trying to get "clear".
Dude so true
Sounds very similar to the process scientology takes a person through to free them from past hurts, as well as using NLP with the "tool" to help you. Very interesting! God does all this in our relationship with Him if we just get in His presence. He puts His finger on the struggles in our hearts and helps us to see His Son took sin on so we can forgive. As well as the love from Jesus fills us to overflowing so it comes out of us towards others that have sinned, sin now, and will sin against us.
Truth 🙏🏼
I agree with this. I did Cleansing Streams, but I didn't feel like it was much more helpful that just reading the Word. Both my husband and I felt like some of the Scripture and focus was good, especially to do it together, however there were extra pieces.
I Think you may misunderstand the difference between guided meditation and imagery and spirit guides. What you are describing with SOZO is a form of guided meditation with imagery. Spirit guides are guides or entities you meet during your meditation. Both dangerous and both new age practices.
10:30 the face when someone says you need to be sozo'd
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 killing me here
Live will be great!
Thank you dear brother. This was my exact experience and observations. Sozo is occultic. Period.
May we all have discernment directly from God.
I received a sozo session. I felt like it was manipulated. I was definitely uncomfortable and had a feeling that it was guided. Also had to PAY for session
Our very good friends are/got into this. They have numerous doctorate degrees, and I’m a lowly BA in Bible girl. However, I do NOT feel right about it. I’m supposed to go through this training, by a Bethel higher up, on Aug 19. Anytime I think about it, my heart skips a beat, and I get a sinking feeling in my gut. I don’t know how I’m going to maneuver this. They read hundreds of Christian books a year, and I only read The Bible. (The Bible was written by God, but books are written by men. ) I learned years ago, that just bc someone says they’re “Christian,” does NOT mean they are, or even Scripturally sound. We’ve been very close friends for over 13 years. We vacation w/ them, etc…I don’t know what to do, or say. Help from anyone, is appreciated. TIA
Yeah this is a hard one. Feel free to send them to my channel or if it helps we can correspond via email as well. My contact information is in the about section of my channel
You sure waste a lot of time describing this whole thing and never labeling it what it is. Pagan, mysticism, non Christian and unbiblical.
Thank you😊
My old church was (and is) very close with Bethel and Bill and everyone from Bethel. And Randy Clark, The Bakers, The Campbells and Arnotts and everyone! It ain't all happy happy joy joy! Point people back to SOUND DOCTRINE!
“That’s modalism, Patrick!” 😂 Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.
😂😂😂😂