Burt Smith
Burt Smith

As Foursquare, it is in our very heritage that we “go into all the world” (Mark 16:15, NIV) with the Good News. Simultaneously, we have always been a people who seek for God’s power to move in our midst.

Paul had it right when he wrote in 1 Corinthians 2:4: “My message and my preaching were not with wise persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power.” As we activate the whole church to share God’s Good News, we must not forget that the gospel isn’t simply a ticket to heaven. Jesus didn’t only rescue us from eternal separation from a loving Father, but brought hope, healing, peace, provision and power to our lives now—on the earth: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

Our founder, Aimee Semple McPherson, showed us this power in the Foursquare Gospel itself; that when Jesus is preached as Savior, people get saved. But until He is preached as Healer, Baptizer With the Holy Spirit and Soon-Coming King, people cannot believe and respond. That means we must be bold in our message, and we cannot be risk-averse in our prayers. We must not wait to see the miracle before we get on board with God’s miracle-working power.

I’ve often said of Miriam’s song in Exodus 15 that it was the right song on the wrong side of the Red Sea. Could we, as a people, begin to thank and praise Him for moving in our midst before we see it? Could we ask Jesus, the head of the church, to give us another chance, another opportunity to walk in, and minister in, His power? To expect our lives, families and churches to be conduits for the supernatural?

God is building believers who believe the way He does. We are never in a place where God wants us to stay the way we are. Peter’s fishing journeys with Jesus verify the fact. The first time Peter was asked to cast his nets and fish, after the catch he said: “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” (Luke 5:8). The second time, after fishing all night and catching nothing, Peter dove into the water and immediately swam to Jesus (John 21:7). He went from saying he wasn’t worthy to a man who knew exactly where to go when the challenge came.

Impossibility is the name of the game with God. Remember the angel’s encouragement to Mary when she was asked to bear the Messiah: “For with God nothing will be impossible” (Luke 1:37, NKJV). In Mary, God found an instrument willing to endure the journey of delivering Jesus to this world; why not you?

We must be bold in our message, and we cannot be risk-averse in our prayers. We must not wait to see the miracle before we get on board with God’s miracle-working power.

Remember, the devil will always give you a guided tour of your inadequacies and rationale of faith. Things like, what hasn’t happened, when you asked with a sincere heart. But if you are going to see Jesus move through you in power, you must listen afresh, and believe when God speaks to your heart, that contained within that “word” is the power to pull off what God is asking of you. That’s when others will sincerely want to listen and follow you.

The command from our Heavenly Commander is to make disciples who make disciples (Matt. 28:19). So, stick your neck out again. When fear seems to be prevailing, learn the lesson from Miriam: Praise God for what He said He’d do, not what you think, or think you see. She had it right when she sang, “Who is like You—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” (Ex.15:11, NIV).

The journey of a Foursquare leader should be one of pressing toward the mark of miracle manifestations, which is a natural expectation of a growing faith, not the exception. Keep at it! Keep asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking (Matt.7:7), to be an instrument to deliver Jesus’ power to this same world.

Because faith will save the worst of us, and unbelief will destroy the best of us, pray for “situations of impossibility” to exercise the presence and power of God through your words and God-verifying faith. You need it, and so does a sick and dying world.

is the pastor emeritus of Living Water (Olympia Foursquare Church) in Olympia, Wash., and a member of the board of directors of The Foursquare Church and of the Endowment Committee.
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Comments

  1. Good and a reminder of Foursquare heritage,prospering in heavenly language by HolyGhost baptism to exercise Power and Presence of God.

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