I came across a great truth which opened up how new moves of God are born. This blog explains the foundation/origin of the Foursquare Church. The Foursquare Church has had massive influence in the world and there seems to be a re-surfacing of the these truths afresh.
Christ for the Nations (CFNI) in Dallas Texas has sent countless graduates into the field. My wife and I are graduates.
I owe a lot to this foundation as CFNI was founded on the four-square movement of Aimee Semple McPherson.
Aimee’s own description:
“It was … during this revival in Oakland in July 1922. The great tent was packed, with multitudes standing around its borders, unable find a seat beneath the bigtop. The Spirit of God was manifested in a wonderful degree. The great audience listened with rapt attention to my message on “The Vision of Ezekiel”.
“My soul was awed, and my heart a thrill, for the blazing story of that heavenly vision seemed to fill and permeate not only the tabernacle but the whole earth. In the clouds of heaven which folded and unfolded in fiery glory, Ezekiel had beheld the Being whose glory no mortal can describe. As he gazed upon the marvelous revelation of the Omnipotent One, he perceived four faces, those of a man, a lion, an ox and an eagle. In the face of a Lion, we behold that of the mighty baptizer with the Holy Ghost and fire. The face of the Ox typifies the great burden-bearer, who himself took our infirmities and carried our sicknesses, who in his boundless love and divine provision has met our every need. In the face of the eagle, we see reflected soul-enrapturing visions of the coming King, whose pinions soon will cleave the shining heavens, whose voice will vibrate through the universe in thrilling cadences of resurrection power as he comes to catch his waiting bride away. And in the face of a man of sorrows, acquainted with our grief, dying upon the tree for our sins. Here is the perfect gospel, a complete gospel, for body, for soul for spirit, and for eternity, a gospel facing squarely in every direction.
“The whole tent was enveloped as I developed the expository of God’s word. It was as though every soul there was aquiver with the harmony of celestial music. In my soul was born a melody that seemed to strike and be sustained upon four full quivering strings, as I thought upon the vision of the prophet Ezekiel. I stood still for a moment and listened, gripping the pulpit, almost shaking with wonder and joy. Then there burst from the white heat of my hearty the words, – ‘Why … why, its the Foursquare Gospel!’… Instantly the Spirit bore witness. Waves, billows, oceans of praise rocked the audience, which was borne aloft on the rushing winds of the Holy Ghost revival.
“Since that day when the Lord gave me that illustration, the term Foursquare Gospel has been carried around the world, as vividly and fittingly distinguishing the message he had commissioned me to preach of jesus the Savior, Jesus the Baptizer with the Holy Spirit, Jesus the Healer and Jesus the Coming King”.