KATHARIZO AND SOZO
READ: Luke 17:11-19
And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified god, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
Luke 17:15-16
Saying, “Thank you” completes miracles. Jesus ministered to the ten lepers.. The miracle they had from Jesus was called “cleansing” or katharizo. However, the one leper who came back to say, “Thank you” received something further. Jesus said to him, “Go thy way thy faith has made thee whole.” The thankful leper received wholeness or sozo. The Greek words katharizo and sozo have completely different meanings. The nine lepers received the cleansing, but the one grateful leper received sozo which means salvation, deliverance and complete healing (Luke 17:19).
Many years ago, I was in Tulsa, Oklahoma enjoying a great conference with the great prophet, Kenneth E. Hagin. I felt convicted at a point to present him with an offering. However, as time went by, I felt my conviction waning. One night, the Holy Spirit woke me up and ministered to me. I felt the need to give this offering at all costs. I had been so blessed by Kenneth Hagin’s ministry and God wanted me to say, “Thank you”. There is a sense in which saying, “Thank you” completes a transaction that has taken place. Something is given and something is received. The receiver must of necessity say, “Thank you” in order to complete appropriately the transaction of giving and receiving.
God wanted me to complete the transaction that had started with Kenneth Hagin. Through him, I had received an anointing to teach and it was time for me to say, “Thank you” and honour my prophet. God did not want me to walk away with an incomplete spiritual transaction. Make sure that you complete every spiritual transaction that has taken place in your life.
It was only one leper who had the full spiritual transaction – cleansing and wholeness. Only one leper received both katharizo and sozo!