Ministering to people
Jesus Christ, The Savior
The first & foremost aspect of the Foursquare Gospel is Jesus Christ, the only hope of mankind. The salvation He brings is set forth in His inaugural address, where He quoted the prophet Isaiah: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor, He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord" (Lk. 4:18,19)
Jesus Christ, the Healer
The symbol of modern medicine is a brazen serpent, a replica of the very one Moses lifted to stay the plague on Israel. Jesus said, "If I be lifted up, I will draw all men to Me." He draws us to Himself in love, then touches us with healing power. Jesus provided a double cure for a double curse. When man fell in the garden, he opened himself up to sin and sickness. Jesus paid for our sins on the cross and took stripes for our sickness just before He was crucified.
Isaiah looked ahead and saw the Son of God as both Savior and Healer: "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement for our peace was upon Him; and by His stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5) Jesus not only fulfilled that prophecy, He continues today. "He cast out the spirits with a sword and healed all who were (missing text)
Jesus Christ, The Baptizer with the Holy Spirit
While we face a great challenge termed "The Energy Crisis," there is no energy shortage in the spiritual realm! The early Church was commanded not to attempt ministry in their own power, but to wait in the city of Jerusalem, "until you are endued with power from on high" (Luke 24:49). Jesus' last words to His disciples concerned power. They were given the promise of it, and the purpose for it: "You shall receive power... and you shall be witnesses to Me..." (Acts 1:8)
You see, Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, the all powerful, Almighty God, confined Himself to a body when He came to earth to die for us. Yet, as He ascended to the right hand of the Father, He once again confined Himself to a body, the Body of Christ. That's us! In baptizing us with the Holy Spirit, He permeates every fiber of our being with His presence, He calls us to do a task, but follows through making the power available to do it.
Jesus Christ, The Soon Coming King
He's coming back! We live in a kingdom, a spiritual territory with well-established boundaries. Jesus Himself said, "The kingdom of God is within you." We have been given the authority to do the Father's business, to take charge of the affairs of the Kingdom. But one day soon, our King is returning! "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God." (I Thessalonians 4:16). He will rule from earth and the government will be upon His shoulders.
As if that isn't enough to look forward to, Jesus is coming as the Bridegroom for His bride! "The dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we shall always be with the Lord." (I Thessalonians 4:17). He fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament concerning His first coming. Just as perfectly, He will fulfill the more than 300 New Testament references to His second coming. Our hearts echo the writer of
Revelation, saying, "Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus."
