TRUMP AND THE CHURCH: RECOGNIZING A HIDDEN DANGER

I applaud Donald Trump for his pro-Christian policies. His first cabinet meeting (above) was opened with prayer in the name of Jesus. He has banned biological men from participating in women’s sports and using women’s restrooms and locker rooms. He has instituted the Office of Faith at the White House “to assist faith-based entities and houses of worship in their efforts to strengthen American families and protect religious liberty.”

This is a great relief after the anti-Christian policies of the Biden administration. However, amid all this there is a hidden danger for the Church of which we must be on guard. In essence, the danger is that we as Christians become dependent on politics, politicians, and government legislation, rather than the power of the Gospel, to change society.

The government can change laws, but only God, through the preaching of the Gospel, can change hearts. If hearts are not changed, then society and culture are not changed. If culture is not changed, then a new and hostile government will soon come along, and we will be worse off than we were before.

A Lesson from the Past

Winston Churchill said, “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” A lesson of which America’s Founders were very aware, was what happened when the Roman emperor, Constantine, embraced Christianity and began providing pastors and bishops with comfortable salaries, building beautiful cathedrals for them, and granting all sorts of social perks.

Christian leaders became compromised in their newfound political acceptance. Maintaining acceptance and favor with the emperor was now more important than being a bold prophetic voice to the emperor and empire. 

With this new political favor, the power of the state, rather than prayer and the preaching of the Gospel, became the accepted means to advance the Church's cause. As a result, both the Church and the empire became spiritually dead and morally corrupt. The famous church father, John Chrysostom (347-407), wrote,

If anyone is trying or intending to corrupt a woman, there is no place that seems more suitable, I suppose, than the Church. And if anything is to be sold or bought, the Church appears more convenient than the market. Or if any wish to hear or say any scandal, you will find this to be had here more than the forum without (Hyatt, 2000 Years of Charismatic Christianity, 34-35).

All this happened after Christianity became the official religion of the empire. It is from the time of Constantine, and his merger of the Church with the state, that we find both the fruit and miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit disappearing from the Church. A.J. Gordon, the Baptist pastor and founder of Gordon College in Boston, was correct when he wrote,

It is not altogether strange that when the Church forgot her citizenship in heaven and began to establish herself in splendor and luxury on earth, she should cease to exhibit the supernatural gifts of heaven (Hyatt, 2000 Years ofCharismatic Christianity, 36).

America's Founders Understood the Danger

America’s Founders wanted Christian influence in every area of the nation they were founding. They did not, however, want a Constantinian type Church that is a ward of the state and lacking in spiritual and moral strength.

This is why the early Puritans in America would not allow their pastors to hold political office. It was not to keep them out of politics; it was to keep politics out of them. They were historically aware of what happened to the Church when it became dependent on the state for its existence and welfare. This is why James Madison, the chief architect of the U.S. Constitution, wrote,

We are teaching the world a great truth, that governments do better without kings and nobles than with them. The merit will be doubled by the other lesson: that Religion flourishes in greater purity without, than with the aid of government (Hyatt, 1726:The Year that Defined America, 146).

The First Amendment was not written to keep Christian influence out of politics; it was written to keep political influence out of Christianity. The Founders wanted a Church that is free to be a prophetic voice, able to bring both encouragement and correction to the state and society in general.

I Saw this Danger Manifest on a Local Scale

One of the greatest revivals I ever saw and experienced was with a church that did not have a pastor. Sadly, the revival ended after they installed their first pastor. Their story is a stark example of the danger I am warning about in this article.

It was the first year of our marriage and Sue and I travelled from Texas to her home province of New Brunswick, Canada. The church she had attended before moving to Texas to attend Bible school had split and about 150 people had left and were having services in a vacated Anglican Church building.

We visited both churches and it was obvious that God was powerfully at work among the “rebels” who had left. None of them felt adequate to preach or pastor and so there was much desperate prayer throughout the week. The men would have a prayer gathering at the church on Saturday night and I remember joining them in walking the floors, calling out to God, and even anointing the seats with oil.

The women were also having prayer meetings through the week and when they would all meet on Sunday and Wednesday night, there would be great outpourings of the Holy Spirit. There were genuine manifestations of the Holy Spirit I had not seen before and have not seen since. It was wonderful!

The revival came to an end, however, when they found a pastor. It was not the pastor’s fault for he was a good and godly man. The problem was the attitude change that occurred in the people--from one of desperation toward God to an unhealthy dependence on the pastor. Their attitude seemed to be, “We now have a pastor who will do the praying and preaching, so we can relax and return to a ‘normal’ life”

They stopped having those prayer meetings that were born of desperation, and those wonderful outpourings of the Spirit soon ceased. Before long, they were another typical Pentecostal church going through the external programs and rituals. Not long thereafter, a squabble broke out and they had a church split. Eventually, they shut down and closed their doors.

The hidden danger, which they did not recognize, destroyed them. The hidden danger was that they ceased their desperate seeking after God and placed all the responsibility and an unhealthy reliance on the new pastor to make everything happen.

I thank God for Donald Trump, but we must guard against an unhealthy reliance on him and his administration to make America what it ought to be. We must not repeat that mistake.

We Must Seize the Moment

The next four years represent a window of golden opportunity for the American Church that we must not squander. We must not forget that this window could close four years from now. As Jesus once said, I must work the works of Him who sent me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work (John 9:4). In other words, “I must seize this moment!”

We too must seize this moment. Now that we have celebrated our victory at the polls, there must be a new consecration and commitment to make the most of these next four years by preaching and teaching the unadulterated Gospel of Jesus Christ everywhere and at every opportunity.

If we truly see another Great Awakening, then American society and culture will be changed and that will chart America’s future for another generation no matter which political party comes to power.

Dr. Eddie L. Hyatt is a historian, Bible teacher, and revivalist. This article is derived from his books, 2000 Years of Charismatic Christianity (published by Charisma House) and 1726: The Year that Defined America, both available from Amazon and his website at http://www.eddiehyatt.com.

AN ELDERLY NATIVE CHIEF PROPHESIES THE DESTINY OF GEORGE WASHINGTON AND AMERICA

 

He cannot die in battle. The Great Spirit protects that man and guides his destinies. He will become chief of nations, and a people yet unborn will hail him the founder of a mighty nation (Hyatt, America's Revival Heritage-Second Edition, 73).

According to historian, Georg Bancroft, these words were spoken by an old Native American chief concerning George Washington several years before the Declaration of Independence. He spoke these words as he reminisced with Washington and others about a battle, 15 years previous, when they were on opposite sides during the French and Indian Wars.

The Chief Saw God’s Hand on Washington

It was the Battle of Fort Duquesne in July 1755 when 1,459 British soldiers were ambushed by a large contingent of Native American warriors who had joined the French in their fight with the British for control of the North American continent.

It proved to be one of the bloodiest days in Anglo American history with 977 British soldiers killed or wounded. It was a day, however, when Washington's reputation for bravery began to spread throughout the land.

Washington, in his early 20s, had been recruited by the British because of his knowledge of the ways of the wilderness and the American Indians. He had acquired this knowledge in his work as a surveyor of wilderness territory.

Assigned to travel with the British General Braddock to take Fort Duquesne (present day Pittsburgh), Washington found his advice for traveling through the wilderness and dealing with the Indians ignored by Braddock who considered him a young, upstart colonist.

But when the ambush occurred and Braddock himself was wounded, Washington took charge and organized an orderly retreat while at the same time putting his own life at risk, rescuing the many wounded and placing them in wagons. During this time, two horses were shot out from under him and his clothes were shredded with bullets.

He emerged unscathed and gave glory to God, saying, "I was saved by the miraculous care of Providence that saved me beyond human expectation." From that day, his reputation for bravery and leadership spread among both the English and the Native Americans.

The Prophecy Comes Forth

Years later, according to Bancroft, Washington and a friend were exploring an area along the Ohio River when they encountered a group of Native Americans. Recognizing Washington, the natives invited the men back to their camp to meet with their chief, whom it turned out had fought on the side of the French in the Battle of Duquesne. They had a cordial visit and then the old chief, motioning toward Washington, spoke these amazing words. He said,

I am chief and ruler over all my tribes. My influence extends to the waters of the Great Lakes, and to the far blue mountains. I have traveled a long and weary path that I might see the young warrior of the great battle. It was on the day when the white man's blood mixed with the streams of our forest that I first beheld this chief. I called to my young men and said, 'Mark yon tall and daring warrior? He is not of the redcoat tribe—he hath an Indian's wisdom, and his warriors fight as we do—himself alone is exposed. Quick, let your aim be certain, and he dies.' Our rifles were leveled—rifles which, but for him, knew not how to miss. Twas all in vain; a power far mightier than we shielded him from harm. He cannot die in battle. The Great Spirit protects that man, and guides his destinies. He will become chief of nations, and a people yet unborn will hail him the founder of a mighty nation (Hyatt, America's Revival Heritage-Second Edition, 73).

The prophecy came to pass. Several years later the colonies declared their independence from Great Britain. Washington was appointed commander in chief of the colonial army and led his outnumbered, outgunned troops to an amazing victory over the British through numerous providential events. He later presided over the Constitutional Convention, was unanimously elected the first president of the United States and became known as “the father of his country.”

What We Must Learn from Washington

Washington was devout in his Christian faith and respectful toward the Native people and culture, but he never allowed the two to be in conflict. He was always clear in his belief in Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world, and that only Christianity offered the moral and intellectual underpinnings for a successful nation.

He clearly expressed this in a 1779 meeting with chiefs from the Delaware tribe who had expressed a desire for their children to be trained in American schools. Washington responded cordially, calling them "Brothers," and assured the chiefs the new nation would look upon their children as their own. He then commended the chiefs for their decision and said,

You do well to wish to learn our arts and our ways of life and above all, the religion of Jesus Christ. These will make you a greater and happier people than you are. Congress will do everything they can to assist you in this wise intention (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 172).

For Washington, sharing the gospel was like sharing bread with a starving man. It was the just and righteous thing to do. This is why, in his Farewell Address after serving two terms as the nation's first president, he exhorted the fledgling nation to cling to "religion [Christianity} and morality," which he called "indispensable" supports for a free and prosperous nation. 

In our world of multiculturalism and religious pluralism, we need to take a lesson from Washington in this regard. Neither Islam, Marxism, nor secularism offer the moral and intellectual belief system for a peaceful, civil and free society. This is obvious from merely observing the nations where those doctrines hold sway.

We, therefore, must never be shy or apologetic about our Christian faith. It is what made America great in the first place; and only a revival of Biblical Christianity will make America great and peaceful again.

Like Washington, we can be tolerant and respectful of those of different religions and cultures, but we do an injustice to them and ourselves when we do not stand for the truth that is in Jesus. In the words of the Old Testament prophet, we forsake our own mercies (Jonah 2:8) when we compromise our faith for political or cultural convenience.

Washington was very clear in his belief that only a Christian worldview would sustain America. In his first Inaugural Address, he warned the fledgling nation,

The propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the external rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained (Hyatt, Pilgrims and Patriots-Second Edition, 173).

Concluding Prayer

As we remember George Washington on his birthday (Feb. 22), let us remember the prophecy of the old chief, and let it be a reminder that we are not here by accident or coincidence. God raised up George Washington and America for a Divine purpose, and I am certain that purpose is not yet fulfilled.

Some years ago I thought, perhaps, that God was finished with America as a nation. But then I experienced an unusual visitation of God, such as I had not known before or since. Over several hours, He renewed my hope that America “could” see another Great Awakening, and I clearly saw for the first time that America was birthed out of a Great Awakening and Providential acts of God.

So, I ask you to join me in praying the prayer of the Psalmist in Psalm 85:6-7. He prayed, "Will you not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in you? Show us Your mercy LORD and grant us Your salvation."

Yes, do it once again in America, O Lord!

Dr. Eddie L. Hyatt is an author, revivalist, and ordained minister. This article is derived from his books  America's Revival Heritage-Second Edition, 1726: The Year that Defined America, and Pilgrims and Patriots-Second Edition, available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com. 

THE POWERFUL PRAYERS OF GEORGE WASHINGTON

George Washington’s father died when he was 11, which forced him to become a person of responsibility very early in life. He was profoundly influenced by his mother who was a devout Christian and when he was leaving home as a young soldier, she exhorted him, “Remember that God is our only sure trust.”  She also urged him, “My son, neglect not the duty of secret prayer.”

It is now obvious that Washington took his mother’s admonition to heart. The evidence has accumulated that Washington was a man of prayer both publicly and privately. This should not be surprising for the Great Awakening, which transformed colonial America and was characterized by fervent prayer, was at its height when Washington was a lad.

That the Awakening had a peculiar impact on Virginia was confirmed by the Princeton scholar, Charles Hodge, who in 1839 said of the Great Awakening, “In no part of our country was the revival more interesting, and in very few was it so pure as in Virginia” (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 131).

Washington’s Prayer Journal

In April of 1891, several of Washington’s descendants, including Lawrence Washington, Bushrod Washington, and Thomas B. Washington, sold a collection of his personal items at auction in Philadelphia. Among the items was a little book filled with daily prayers in Washington’s handwriting when he was in his twenties. Entitled, Daily Sacrifice, these prayers are deeply devotional and evangelical in nature. For example, the first entry reads, in part,

Let my heart, therefore, gracious God, be so affected with the glory and majesty of Thine honor that I may not do my own works, but wait on Thee, and discharge those duties which Thou requirest of me (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 132).

The following Monday morning, his prayer reads,

Direct my thoughts, words and work, wash away my sins in the immaculate blood of the Lamb, and purge my heart by Thy Holy Spirit . . . daily frame me more and more in the likeness of Thy Son Jesus Christ.

Also, of note is his prayer, "Bless, O Lord, the whole race of mankind, and let the world be filled with the knowledge of Thee and Thy Son, Jesus Christ."

Commenting on this prayer book, Professor S. F. Upham, of Drew Theological Seminary, wrote,

The “Daily Prayers” of George Washington abound in earnest thought, expressed in simple, beautiful, fervent and evangelical language. They reveal to us the real life of the great patriot and attest his piety. None can read these petitions, which bore his desires to God, and often brought answers of peace, without having a grander conception of Washington’s character. The prayers are characterized by a deep consciousness of sin and by a need for forgiveness, and by a recognition of dependence upon the merits and mercies of our Lord (Hyatt, 1726:The Year that Defined America, 132-33).

Providentially Spared by God

During the time he was keeping this prayer journal, Washington was recruited by the British General Braddock to be a guide for the British in their trek through the wilderness to take Fort Duquesne from the French and Indians. Braddock recruited him because of his knowledge of the ways of the wilderness and the American Indians.

Washington had acquired this knowledge in his work as a surveyor of wilderness territory. However, he found his advice for traveling through the wilderness and dealing with the Indians ignored by Braddock who considered him a young, upstart colonist.

But when an ambush occurred and Braddock himself was wounded, Washington took charge and organized an orderly retreat while at the same time putting his own life at risk, rescuing the many wounded and placing them in wagons. During this time, two horses were shot out from under him and his clothes were shredded with bullets.

He emerged unscathed and gave glory to God, saying, "I was saved by the miraculous care of Providence that saved me beyond human expectation." From that day, his reputation for bravery and leadership spread among both the English and the Native Americans.

He Forms a Praying Army

On May 10, 1775, the Continental Congress asked Washington to become commander-in-chief of the ragtag colonial militias and to transform them into an army that could face the mighty British war machine. Washington accepted the call and immediately began to instill in the colonial troops a sense of the importance of prayer and faith in God

Washington issued an order stating that each day was to begin with prayer led by the officers of each unit. He also ordered that, unless their duties required them to be elsewhere, every soldier was to observe “a punctual attendance of Divine services, to implore the blessing of heaven upon the means used for our safety and public defense.” 

He also forbade profanity, swearing, gambling and drunkenness and expressed his desire that, “Every officer and man will endeavor so as to live and act as becomes a Christian soldier” (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 114).

At one point, during a particularly difficult part of the war, Washington and his men were quartering at Valley Forge. Rev. Henry Muhlenberg (1711–1787), pastor of a nearby Lutheran Church ,observed Washington’s activities. He wrote, “Washington rode around among his army yesterday and admonished each one to fear God.” Muhlenberg went on to say,

This gentleman does not belong to the so-called world of society, for he respects God’s word, believes in atonement through Christ, and bears himself in humility and gentleness. It appears that the Lord God has singularly, yea marvelously, preserved him from harm in the midst of countless perils . . . and hath hitherto graciously held him in His hand as His chosen vessel (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 115).

Although it was a grueling seven years of war, numerous answers to prayer occurred protecting Washington and his troops and giving them victory when victory seemed impossible. For example, in the early part of the war, Washington and his 12,000 troops were trapped on Long Island by a British army at least twice that size. With their backs against the East River, it seemed there was no way to escape.

During the night the Americans prayed and scoured the area for boats of any kind that would take them and their armaments across the East River to Manhattan. As dawn approached, it was obvious they had not achieved their goal. However, at that point a heavy fog rolled in and remained until the army and all its cannon had been moved across the river to Manhattan.

As soon as they were safely across the river in Manhattan, the fog lifted. At this point, the British were amazed to see that the colonial army had disappeared, as if into thin air. This was just one of the many “signal interventions” of which Washington and the author of Federalist 57 made mention (Hyatt, Pilgrims and Patriots (Second Edition), 132-33).

His “Earnest Prayer” for America

That Washington was a devout person of prayer was confirmed by Isaac Potts (1750 – 1803), a Quaker who lived near Valley Forge where the Continental Army, under Washington’s command, was wintering. One day, during this—one of the bleakest periods of the war—Potts was riding through the woods when he came upon Washington during a time of private prayer. For Potts, this was a life-changing experience. As a Quaker, he was a pacifist, but his encounter of Washington in prayer caused him to rethink his view. He said,

I heard a plaintive sound as of a man at prayer. I tied my horse to a sapling and went quietly into the woods and to my astonishment I saw the great George Washington on his knees alone, with his sword on one side and his cocked hat on the other. He was at Prayer to the God of the Armies, beseeching to interpose with his Divine aid, as it was ye Crisis, and the cause of the country, of humanity and of the world. Such a prayer I never heard from the lips of man. I left him alone praying. I went home and told my wife I saw a sight and heard today what I never saw or heard before, and just related to her what I had seen and heard and observed. We never thought a man could be a soldier and a Christian, but if there is one in the world, it is Washington (Hyatt, 1726: The Yearthat Defined America, 115-16).

Along with Washington’s prayers, the Continental Congress issued no less than fifteen calls for days of prayer, fasting, and repentance during the war. Their prayers were answered, and to the astonishment of the entire world, the British General Cornwallis surrendered his entire British force to Washington on October 19, 1781.

With the war now over, Washington issued a letter of resignation as Commander-In-Chief to the Continental Congress. He then wrote what could be described as a pastoral letter, dated June 14, 1783, to the governors of the various states. The letter included his “earnest prayer” for the governors and their people and his desire that all Americans would follow the example of Jesus Christ. He wrote,

I now make it my earnest prayer that God would have you, and the State over which you preside, in his holy protection; that he would incline the hearts of the citizens . . . to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another . . . and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind, which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without a humble imitation of His example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy nation (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 120).

Because of his sacrificial service, humility, piety and strong, unwavering leadership, Washington won the hearts of Americans as no one before or after. He is the only president to receive every electoral vote, not once, but twice. When he died on December 14, 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte ordered ten days of mourning throughout France. In America, thousands wore mourning clothes for months.

 “First in war; first in peace; and first in the hearts of his countrymen” was the adage ascribed to Washington by his generation.

This article was derived from Dr. Eddie Hyatt's latest book, 1726: The Year that Defined America, available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com. He is the founder of the "1726 Project" whose purpose is to reconnect America's severed roots out of the Great Awakening.

WAS TOM HOMAN RIGHT TO REBUKE THE POPE?

In an open letter to the U.S. Catholic bishops, Pope Francis rebuked the Trump administration for its deportation of illegal immigrants. Francis insisted that assigning criminality to illegal status is contrary to Christianity and warned that such an approach will “end badly.”

This is not the first time the pope has taken issue with Trump and his approach to immigration. In 2016 Francis held a mass near the Texas/Mexico border where Trump was planning the building of the border wall. He afterwards declared that anyone who builds a wall, rather than a bridge, to keep out migrants "is not a Christian.”

Trump's Border Czar, Tom Homan, who is a lifelong Catholic, took Francis to task and rebuked him for his criticisms. Here are three reasons Homan is right to rebuke the pope.

Reason #1
He’s Too Far Removed from the Situation

Is it not strange that an Argentinian pope who resides in splendor in Rome feels he has the right to instruct America how to handle its border crisis and immigration system? In his response to the pope's criticism, Homan said, “I have harsh words for the pope. He ought to fix the Catholic Church, and concentrate on his work, and leave border enforcement to us.” As documented in my book, Infallible Pope: Key to Unity or Source of Division, the papal office has a long history of meddling in issues and with people that are of no concern to it.

Reason #2
The Border is Not His Concern

According to Roman Catholic doctrine, the pope derives his authority to speak from Peter through a long line of ecclesiastical succession. However, in Scripture, Peter is presented as a very fallible individual who denies the Lord (Luke 22:55-62), waffles concerning true doctrine (Galatians 2:11-14), and is rebuked by Jesus for trying to meddle in John’s ministry and calling (John 21:20-22).

Concerning being rebuked by Jesus, this occurred in a post-resurrection appearance to His disciples recorded in John 21. In this appearance, Jesus addressed Peter and asked him three times, Do you love Me? When Peter answered in the affirmative, Jesus then exhorted him to Feed My sheep and to Follow Me.

Peter then turned, looked at John, and said to Jesus, But Lord, what about this man? With a gentle rebuke Jesus replied, If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow me (John 21:22).

In other words, there were issues and things about other believers that did not concern Peter. John had a relationship with Jesus that was of no concern to Peter. Peter must give himself to his own task and not meddle in the affairs of others.

In the spirit of the words of Jesus to Peter, Homan said of the pope, “I wish he would stick to the Catholic Church and fix that and leave border enforcement to us.” Yes, as Jesus said to Peter when he meddled with John’s business and calling, What is that to you? You follow Me!

Reason #3
His Actions Do Not Match His Words

The pope’s words would carry more force if he practiced what he preaches. But while rebuking the Trump administration for its deportations and national security, he lives in splendor behind the high walls and tight security of the Vatican. Homan rhetorically asked, “So, he’s got a wall to protect his people and himself, and we can’t protect the people of the United States?”

Pope Francis reminds me of the wealthy elite on Martha’s Vineyard who had proclaimed themselves a “sanctuary city.” But when Governor Ron DeSantis bused illegal migrants to Martha’s Vineyard, the residents there found a way to very quickly have them removed. It is like Hollywood elites who verbally champion the rights of the homeless and illegal migrants to live anywhere they choose . . . except inside the high walls of their gated communities.

Talk is cheap. Leaders must lead by their actions, not just their words. Otherwise, it comes across as mere "virtue signaling."

The Best Way to Lift the Poor 

As Christians we have a responsibility to care for the homeless, the poor, and honest migrants who have been trapped in an unfortunate political situation. One way we do this is by direct charitable actions.

However, we do this on an even wider scale by supporting a form of government that lifts the poor by creating and maintaining a prosperous economy that provides opportunity and well-paying jobs for the greatest number of people. Millions of immigrants arrived to this land poor, but because of the opportunities afforded them, they discovered what has been called "the American Dream."

But to have such a government and economy, we must return to our founding principles of Faith and Freedom. We must have a secure border and a form of government that facilitates and encourages individual liberty and Christian morality. The church in America has a vital part to play if this is to be a reality once again.

The Key to America's Greatness

The vital role of the church in America's greatness was highlighted in a statement by the French sociologist, Alexis de Tocqueville, after a six month visit to America in 1831. He came to study the nation’s penal system and see if he could discover the reason for the young nation’s rapid rise to influence and power in the earth.

The following quote is not found in Tocqueville’s writings, but it has been historically attributed to him and has the sound and feel of Tocqueville. It was probably included in one of his many lectures, which someone wrote down and it later found its way into the written narrative.

Arriving on the heels of the Second Great Awakening, Tocqueville recounted how he sought for America’s greatness in her institutions of government, her educational system, her factories, harbors, and vast commerce. He then said,

Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great (Hyatt, Pilgrims and Patriots, Second Edition, 177).

America’s problems stem from a devastating loss of morality, truth, and spirituality, and only an Awakened Church can resolve the the current crises and Make America Great Again.

This article was derived from Dr. Eddie Hyatt's books, Infallible Pope: Key to Unity or Source of Division? and Pilgrims and Patriots,Second Edition, both available from Amazon and his website at http://www.eddiehyatt.com.

 

BREAKING THE PROPHETIC CODEPENDENCY

 

A pastor told of an individual approaching him and saying, “You have lots of good leaders around you but you don’t have any prophets.” He insinuated that this pastor should take him on as the staff prophet. The pastor rightly replied, “I don’t need a prophet; I have the Holy Spirit.”

Indeed, the idea has become widespread that God is raising up an elite group of “prophets” who hear the Lord better than the “regular folk” and that they are necessary for giving spiritual insight and guidance to the church today. Those propagating this view love to quote Old Testament passages such as Amos 3:7 that reads, Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.

A Dangerous Trend

I suggest that those propagating this view are producing a setting that is ripe for abuse and disillusionment. It is all too easy for an insecure individual or congregation to put their trust in a man (or woman) who claims to have a special open line with God and says he hears from God on their behalf. 

The people who buy into this kind of thinking are relinquishing their own responsibility to know God and have a relationship with Him. The “prophet” who takes this approach is taking on a role that was never given him by God--that of mediator between the people and God.

It is the perfect setting for an unhealthy codependency and is deadening to the unlimited work of the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ. This is not something new but has happened throughout history as documented in my book, 2000 Years of Charismatic Christianity. And as Winston Churchill once said, “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

Not Found in the New Testament

This idea of an elite group of prophets that gives guidance to the churches is not found in the New Testament. Paul, for example, addresses his letters to “the saints” in a given locality and never intimates that they are somehow lacking and in need of a “prophet” to guide them. That is an Old Testament concept.

The emphasis of Jesus and the New Testament is on the Holy Spirit being made available to all of God’s people as opposed to the Old Testament where He was given only to certain prophets, judges and kings. Jesus spoke of this when He cried out, If anyone is thirsty let him come to me and drink, He who believes in Me as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water (John 7:37-39).

John then remarks that Jesus spoke this concerning the Spirit whom those believing in Him would receive, for the Holy Spirit was not yet given. “Not yet given,” meaning in the unlimited sense to all of God’s people as prophesied by Joel (Joel 2:28-29) and intimated by Moses (Numbers 11:29).

This unlimited pouring out of the Holy Spirit began on the Day of Pentecost when they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and all began to speak prophetically by the Holy Spirit. I say they spoke prophetically because any speech inspired by the Spirit is prophetic. That is why Peter, in answer to those questioning the speaking in tongues, responded by quoting Joel’s prophecy that predicted that when God’s Spirit would be poured out on all flesh, sons and daughters would prophesy.

All of God’s People Have the Spirit

There is not a single example in the New Testament of anyone seeking out a prophet for direction or advice. There is not a single admonition in any of the letters to churches telling them they need to seek out a prophet to give them guidance.

Instead, Paul admonished them to realize that they are now the sanctuary of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in them both individually and corporately (I Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19). This is a reality of the New Covenant. They are a sort of “prophethood of all believers” as expressed in I Corinthians 14.

When Paul discusses the function of prophecy in the congregation, the assumption is that all of God’s people are included (I Corinthians 14:23-32). There is no elite group of prophets to whom everyone else must bow. When he uses the word “prophets” in vs. 29 it is functional language meaning “the one prophesying” or “the one with a prophecy.”

This is borne out by the fact that the entire Christian community is being addressed and inclusive language is used throughout, as in vs. 32 where he says, For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. Commenting on this passage, Dr. Gordon Fee says,

This does not mean, of course, that all will or do prophesy. It is simply to note that Paul’s concern here is not with a group of prophets, but with the functioning of prophecy in the assembly. The noun “prophets,” therefore, is to be understood as functional language similar to the use of interpreter in v. 28.

Paul’s assumption is that all of God’s people have the Holy Spirit and there is no need to seek out a prophet as in the Old Testament. They themselves are now the sanctuary of God and the Spirit of God dwells in them (I Corinthians 3:16-17). They merely need to realize who they are as God’s New Covenant people.

Time to Awaken

I pray that Christians everywhere will awaken to who they are in Christ. I pray that they will awaken to the blessings and benefits that are theirs through the cross of Christ. I pray that they will awaken to the fact that they, individually and corporately, are God’s dwelling place and His Spirit dwells in them. I pray that they will awaken to the fact that they have a direct line to God through the one mediator, Jesus Christ. I pray that this Divine awakening will spread across America and the world. 

To read more on the gift of prophecy and the role of prophetic ministry in the New Testament, get a copy of Dr. Eddie Hyatt's book, Prophets and Prophecy, available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.

ARE WE ON THE VERGE OF A 5TH GREAT AWAKENING?

On Monday January 20, Donald J. Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States. Two Bibles, both held by Melania Trump, were used in the ceremony. 

One Bible was owned by Abraham Lincoln and the other was given to the president by his mother, and this Bible has an amazing story of Spiritual Awakening behind it. With his right hand raised, Trump repeated these words after Chief Justice John Roberts. 

I, Donald J. Trump, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, so help me God.

It is obvious that the Founders saw the Constitution as a sacred document. That is why George Washington took the first oath of office with his hand on a Bible, and with his hand on the Bible, solemnly swore to protect and defend the Constitution. Although not in the Constitution, Washington is said to have added the words, “So help me God.”

Indeed, many of those who were part of the Constitutional Convention, saw the hand of God in the formulation of the Constitution. James Madison, the Constitution’s chief architect, declared,

It is impossible for the man of pious reflection not to perceive in it a finger of that Almighty hand which has been so frequently and signally extended to our relief in critical stages of the Revolution (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 127).

Benjamin Rush, a signer of both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, was even more blunt, declaring that the Constitution was a work from heaven. A physician from Philadelphia, he declared,

I am as perfectly satisfied that the Union of the United States in its form and adoption is as much the work of a Divine Providence as any of the miracles recorded in the Old and New Testament (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that DefinedAmerica, 155).

This sacred view of the Constitution was obviously inherited from those earliest immigrants, beginning with the Pilgrims, who considered their founding documents to be sacred oaths between their communities and God. This covenantal attitude became a part of the psyche of colonial America and was clearly present in the attitude of the Founders toward America’s founding documents. Historian, Benjamin Hart, says,

The U.S. Constitution has worked because there has been a sacred aura surrounding the document; it has been something more than a legal contract; it was a covenant, an oath before God, very much related to the covenant the Pilgrims signed. Indeed, when the President takes his oath of office he places his hand on a Bible and swears before Almighty God to uphold the Constitution of the United States. He makes a sacred promise; and the same holds true for Supreme Court justices who take an oath to follow the letter of the written Constitution. The moment America’s leaders begin treating the Constitution as though it were a mere sheet of paper is the moment the American Republic—or American Covenant—ends (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 133).

During the inauguration ceremonies on Monday, several ministers, including Franklin Graham, prayed for Trump and America "in the name of Jesus." Members of Trump's cabinet, such as Marco Rubio, Pam Bondi, and Pete Hegseth, are not hesitant to proclaim their faith in Jesus. Rubio, who is the new Secretary of State, immediately ordered all LGBTQ and BLM flags be removed from America's embassies abroad. 

Trump has vowed to protect religious liberty and freedom of speech, the first two freedoms guaranteed in the Bill of Rights, indicating that America's Founders saw them as having priority. This gives American Christians a renewed political freedom to proclaim the Gospel and teach God's word without government interference.

Could this be the time the American Covenant with God is renewed? Are we on the verge of a Fifth Great Awakening? (see Hyatt, America's Revival Heritage, 101-108). Much depends on how we, the people of God, respond to this wonderful window of opportunity that has been opened to us. We must seize the moment!

This article was derived from the books 1726: The Year that Defined America and America's Revival Heritage by Dr. Eddie L. Hyatt and are available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.