LUTHER'S DISCOVERY THAT TRANSFORMED HIS LIFE AND CHANGED WORLD HISTORY

This Same Truth is Changing Lives Today

On October 31, 1521, Martin Luther nailed 95 short statements to the Wittenberg church door. This was comparable to a modern post on X or Facebook. This post was the fruit of a personal transformation he had experienced and in it he challenged the Roman Catholic teaching about forgiveness of sins and acceptance with God.

His Story

Event though a baptized, confirmed and ordained Catholic, Luther was continually tormented by a sense of sin and guilt. He entered a monastery hoping to purge his soul of the continual pain, and find peace with God.  

With a small cell containing a hard, simple bed, a chair and a desk, Luther gave himself completely to the austere lifestyle of a monk. He arose at 2 a.m. every morning to engage in the saying of the Lord’s Prayer and repeating the Ave Maria during the seven appointed hours of prayer.

In his zeal to be a saint and make his salvation sure, Luther went beyond the required discipline of the monastery. He engaged in extended times of prayer, meditation, fasting, vigils, night watches and other religious exercises. He was held up as a model of sanctity by his fellow monks and later wrote, “If ever a monk got to heaven by monkery, I would have gotten there.”

But in spite of his best efforts, he was still tormented by a sense of corruption in his heart and the fact that he had no peace with God. It was not a particular sin that he could identify, but sin as a corruption of nature and a sense of alienation from God that distressed his mind and brought him to the brink of despair.

His Life-Transforming Discovery

Finally, the truth dawned on his soul and set him free. As he read and taught from the book of Romans, Romans 1:17 came alive in his heart by the Holy Spirit. It reads, For in it [the gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

Luther suddenly saw that righteousness, or acceptance with God, is not something one can earn, but is a gift given to the sinner who puts his/her faith completely in Christ and what He has done. As this light dawned over his soul, he said,

All at once I felt that I had been born again and entered into paradise itself through open gates. Immediately I saw the whole of Scripture in a different light.

This discovery led him to challenge the teachings of the church of his day, which emphasized church-appointed works and the authority of the pope and church hierarchy to forgive sins. It was after this that he challenged this religious system by nailing his 95 theses to the Wittenberg church door, which was read by the masses. 

Luther's discovery of the power of faith for salvation ignited the Protestant Reformation and led to his excommunication from the Roman Catholic Church. It also changed the course of the church and world history.

What about you? Have you discovered Luther's revelation? Have you put your faith completely in Christ and His redemptive work on the Cross? 

This article was derived from Dr. Eddie Hyatt's book, The Charismatic Luther, available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.

THE TWO THINGS YOU CAN DO TO SAVE AMERICA

"The only thing necessary for tyranny to prevail is for people of good conscience to remain silent," said Thomas Jefferson. His statement has never been more appropriate for America than at this moment in time. The 2026 mid-term elections are only a few days away and America's future is hanging in the balance. It is no time for Christians and people of good conscience to "remain silent."

The polarizing of politics and culture in America has made the choice in these mid-term elections stark and clear. The choice is between tyranny and freedom, between Marxism and capitalism, between Christianity and Islam, between Western Civilization and barbarism. People of good will who love freedom, must take this election very seriously and do two things: Pray and Vote.

My Prayer

My prayer for the mid-term elections is “Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as in heaven.” I pray that women and men of righteousness, truth and common sense will be placed in positions of political power. I pray that because of the outcome of this election we will be able to lead quiet and peaceable lives with the freedom to openly proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ in every social venue and on every street corner in America without fear of government reprisal (see I Timothy 2:1-4).

My Vote

My vote will be a straight Republican ticket, not because I think they are so wonderful, but because the Democratic Party has been taken over by the most radical elements of our society. It is now the party of drag queens, open borders, defund the police and abortion on demand right up to the time of birth. They are the party of men participating in women’s sports and using women’s restrooms. They are the party of the new "Democratic Socialists," who are de facto communists. They are the party that now supports Marxists and Islamists, such as Zohran Mamdani and Abdul El-Sayed, for political office.

This same party that embraces Marxists and Islamists called Speaker Mike Johnson “a threat to democracy” and compared him to the Taliban simply because he identified himself as a “Bible-believing Christian.” They obviously detest and fear evangelical Christians who take their faith seriously.

Indeed, after the 2012 Democratic Party National Convention, the Washington Times carried an article whose headline read, "Democrats Have Officially Abandoned God." Other news outlets carried headlines that read, “Democrats Dump God” and “Democrats Boo God.” The articles were reporting on the loud and boisterous response of delegates to the announcement that a reference to God would be left in the party platform. Loud boos erupted throughout the convention hall.

It is, therefore, not surprising that in 2019 the Democratic National Committee (DNC) unanimously passed a resolution affirming atheism and declaring that neither Christianity nor any religion is necessary for morality and patriotism. In doing so, they officially rejected the America of Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Lincoln and King.

The Democratic Party, the party of my parents and grandparents, has lost its way, has no integrity and is a threat to the future of America. I cannot vote for anyone associated with that party.

We Can Save America

Yes, much is riding on this election, and you and I can make a difference. In Mark 9:23, Jesus said, All things are possible to him who believes. Make a commitment now to do two things: Pray and Vote. You are welcome to utilize the above prayer if you find it helpful.  We can save America but we can't be passive. We must Pray and Vote. 

That America was founded by Bible-believing Christians who took seriously their faith and their Bible, is documented in Eddie Hyatt's books, The Book that Made America Great and America's Reawakening, both available from Amazon and the Hyatt website at https://eddiehyatt.com. Help us spread these books to every corner of the nation.

GEORGE WASHINGTON'S HISTORIC VISIT TO A JEWISH SYNAGOGUE

A ten-year study to determine where America's founders got their ideas for the nation's founding documents, found that they quoted the Bible far more than any other source. The study also revealed that they quoted Deuteronomy more than any other book of the Bible. They quoted Deuteronomy because it is about nation building and they were seeking wisdom as to the best form of government to implement.

Being children of the Reformation and its emphasis on the authority and priority of Scripture, they realized that it was the Jews who had given the world the Bible. It was also the Jews who were the human instruments God used to bring the Messiah and Savior of mankind into the world. This is the basis for John Adams’ following statement:

The Hebrews have done more to civilize men than any other nation. If I were an atheist, and believed blind eternal fate, I should still believe that fate had ordained the Jews to be the most essential instrument for civilizing the nations (Hyatt, America’s Reawakening, 180).

Many of the early immigrants to America considered themselves a Second Israel and looked to the story of Israel in the Old Testament for guidance and inspiration. They drew heavily on the Old Testament image of God delivering Israel from Egypt’s bondage and many saw themselves as a sort of new Israel and King George as a modern Pharaoh.

 It is then not surprising that in 1790 George Washington visited the Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island where he was warmly received by this Hebrew congregation. In his official welcome, Moses Seixas compared the Revolutionary War to the struggles of ancient Israel and Washington to King David and to Daniel, saying,

With pleasure we reflect on those days—those days of difficulty and danger when the God of Israel, who delivered David from the peril of the sword, shielded your head in the day of battle: and we rejoice to think, that the same Spirit who rested in the Bosom of the greatly beloved Daniel enabling him to preside over the Provinces of the Babylonish Empire. rests and ever will rest upon you, enabling you to discharge the arduous duties of Chief Magistrate in these States (Hyatt, America’s Reawakening, 180).

Washington was obviously moved by these sentiments and responded that same day in a letter in which he addressed the members of this congregation as “children of the stock of Abraham.” He assured them that because of America’s commitment to religious liberty they could expect to experience the words of the Old Testament prophet, who in Micah 4:4 said, Each one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig-tree and there shall be none to make him afraid. Washington went on to say,

For happily the Government of the United States gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support (Hyatt, America’s Reawakening, 181).

Washington's visit to this synagogue and his remarks were historic.  Yaari Taal, of George Washington University, says that Washington’s remarks to this congregation established a precedent for protecting religious liberty and pluralism in the United States that persists to this day.

Washington's inclusive attitude towards Jews was characteristic of early America. Dr. Benjamin Rush (1745–1813), Founding Father and signer of the Declaration Independence, in describing an early July 4th parade in Philadelphia, said,

The rabbi of the Jews locked in the arms of two ministers of the Gospel was a most delightful sight. There could not have been a more happy emblem (Hyatt, America’s Reawakening, 187).

Early America’s embrace of the Jewish people resulted in America becoming a haven for persecuted Jews from all over the world. This resulted in America becoming home for the largest Jewish population in the world. This remained true until 2003 when the Jewish population in Israel surpassed that in America.

It is, therefore, disheartening to see the antisemitism that has erupted on college campuses and in the large cities of America. Such antisemitism is completely out of sync with America’s founding principles of Faith and Freedom. Such Jewish hatred had no place at America’s founding and should be given no place in America today. George Washington would be in complete agreement.

 The above was derived from Dr. Eddie Hyatt’s latest book, America’s Reawakening, available from Amazon and his website at https://eddiehyatt.com.

HOW INFINITE JUSTICE AND INFINITE LOVE MET AT THE CROSS

Our God and Creator is infinite and perfect in all His ways and attributes. But infinite justice, it seems, would clash with infinite love.

For example, God’s infinite justice demands payment for every evil thought and misdeed. Because the human race became a fallen and rebellious race, God would have been just to send us all to hell. There would have been no protests in heaven, but only a sense of satisfaction that justice had been served.

 Our Creator, however, is not only a Being of infinite justice but also a Being of infinite love, and love will find a way. Because infinite justice must be satisfied, the holiest individual on earth could not make satisfaction for the sins of humanity. Neither could satisfaction be made by Michael, Gabriel or any angelic being.

Infinite justice could only be satisfied with an infinite payment for sin. This is why God Himself came down from heaven and took on human flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. Through His sufferings and death on the Cross, which included a sense of abandonment by God, He became the infinite sacrifice that was necessary to satisfy infinite justice.

Because infinite justice and infinite love met in one dazzling cosmic display at the Cross of Christ, God can now maintain His infinite justice and offer forgiveness and reconciliation to all who will put their faith in Jesus Christ. There is only one way back to God for rebellious humanity, and God Himself has provided the way—faith in Jesus Christ.

If you have not made Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior, I invite you to pray this prayer with me.

Almighty God, I know that I am a sinner, and I come to you now through Jesus Christ the Lord. I ask you to forgive me and cleanse me of my sins. I choose this day to turn from my own way and to trust Jesus Christ and Him alone for my salvation. I choose this day to follow Jesus Christ and be His disciple for the rest of my life.

Welcome to the family God!

If you prayed this prayer, we would like to send you a free book by Dr. Eddie Hyatt entitled, Why I Believe in God. You can request it in the comments below or by sending an email to dreddiehyatt@gmail.com. Check out his latest book, America's Reawakening, available from Amazon and his website at https://eddiehyatt.com.

HOW I KNOW THAT GOD IS NOT FINISHED WITH AMERICA

A Surprising Encounter with the Holy Spirit Changed Everything

By 2010 I had come to the place where I thought God was finished with America. I had given up hope that America would ever see another great national spiritual awakening such as I had written about in my book, 2000 Years of Charismatic Christianity. The revivals of the 1990s, it seemed, had turned inward, becoming self-serving, and were powerless to stem the cultural and moral decline of the nation.

Although I believed there could still be individual and local revivals, I had reluctantly succumbed to the popular eschatological idea that there would not be another great revival and that America’s time in the sun was over and done. But then, I was surprised by the Holy Spirit.

Surprised by the Holy Spirit

Without any expectation of such a thing happening, in September of 2010 I experienced a seven-hour visitation of God that completely upended my thinking in this regard. It began on a hot summer day in Tulsa, OK when I began a two-hour drive to Kingfisher, OK where I would be preaching the following day in a Sunday morning service.

Without any warning or anticipation of such a thing happening, the Holy Spirit seemed to fill my car and I suddenly felt enveloped in God’s presence. At the same time my mind and heart began to be flooded with thoughts of hope and faith that America “could” see another great, national spiritual awakening that would impact the culture and alter the course of the nation.

As I drove along the highway, I was hardly aware of my surroundings. By the time I arrived at my hotel, my heart was so full I could hardly contain myself. I could hardly wait to open my  PC and began writing down the thoughts that continued to flood my mind. That experience lasted far into the night as I sat on the hotel bed and prayed and praised God and wrote.

The Fruit of That Experience

This was a defining moment and changed the course of my life and led to the writing and publication of several books that document how the First Great Awakening had a direct bearing on the founding of America and the ending of slavery. The first book was America's Revival Heritage and then came Pilgrims and Patriots.

In 2019, I sensed the Holy Spirit stirring my heart to write a book about how it was the Great Awakening that brought about the end of slavery in America. I therefore, wrote, 1726: The Year that Defined America and Abolitionist Founding Fathers. Somewhere in the midst of all this also wrote and published The Faith and Vision of Benjamin Franklin and 5 Pillars of the American Republic.

Finally, in commemoration of the 250 year birthday of the United States of America and inspired by the amazing Memorial Service for Charlie Kirk, I wrote and published America's Reawakening. This book shows signs that a national Awakening has begun across America and documents how it is rooted in America's Christian and Revival heritage. 

More than once I have been amazed at how I was providentially led to resources to confirm the vision I had seen and to fill out the historical narrative to document America’s spiritual birth. This was important for as the noted historian, Carl   said, “When a nation goes down or a society perishes, one condition may always be found: they forgot where they came from." 

This research and writing has solidified in me the truth that was revealed to me that summer day in 2010. God brought forth America for a special purpose, and that purpose is not yet fulfilled. We are people of Destiny and have a God-given task to fulfill.

God is Ready to Do it Again

Jonathan Edwards once said that when God determines to do a thing in the earth, He first sets His people to praying for the very thing that He has determined to give. It is obvious that there is a new hunger stirring across the body of Christ for a Divine awakening from heaven. Not something skillfully worked up by a religious maestro, but a Divine visitation that is prayed down from heaven.

Recently, I was providentially led to Zechariah 10:1, which reads, Ask the LORD for rain in the time of the latter rain. The LORD will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, grass in the field for everyone. It was a fresh prod from the Lord to ask for the rain of the Holy Spirit in these days of the latter rain when God is pouring out His Spirit on all flesh as prophesied in Acts 2:17-18.

Yes, I am convinced that God is not through with America and that a fresh wind from heaven is already beginning to blow across the land. 

Dr. Eddie Hyatt is a historian, Bible teacher and ordained minister. He has a passion to see America reconnect with her Christian roots and experience another great, national spiritual awakening. To contact him about sharing his "America's Reawakening" PowerPoint presentation to your congregation or group, send him an email at dreddiehyatt@gmail.com. Check out his books on Amazon and visit his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.

GEORGE WASHINGTON'S PROPHETIC WARNING TO AMERICA

A Note from the Author: "I am not writing as a political partisan. I am not a member of any political party. I am writing as follower of Christ who is also an  American citizen and deeply concerned about this nation."

Did George Washington speak prophetically in his Farewell Address after serving two terms as the nation’s first president? Indeed, in this address, published on September 19, 1796, Washington warned the fledgling nation to reject a certain mindset and way of thinking that has now become characteristic of a major political party.

There is no question that the modern Democrat Party has radically changed. My parents voted Democrat as did my grandparents. They would, however, be repulsed by the platform and policies of the modern Democrat Party.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has stated more than once that his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, and his father, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, would not be welcome in this new Democrat Party.

The Democrat Party has become a party without a moral compass, embracing just about everything and everybody, except evangelical, Bible-believing Christians. It is quite amazing that Washington warned of this very thing 230 years ago this month.

Washington's Amazing Farewell Address

In his Farewell Address, Washington urged the new nation to maintain "religion" and "morality," which he called "indispensable" supports for national prosperity. Washington obviously did not see religion as something to be “tolerated” in America, but as something “indispensable” for the life of the nation.

The new Democrat Party, however, sees Christianity and morality as unimportant and dispensable. In 2019 the Democrat National Committee (DNC) unanimously passed a resolution affirming atheism and declaring that neither Christianity nor any religion is necessary for morality or patriotism. Not a single Democrat leader spoke out in opposition to this rejection of God in the affairs of the nation.

Washington boldly rejected this agnostic way of thinking, calling religion and morality “those great pillars of human happiness.” He also warned against indulging the supposition that morality could be had apart from religion. “Both reason and experience,” he said, “forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle” (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 165).

When Washington and any of the Founders speak of “religion” they are referring to Christianity. Christianity was the only religion they knew. And while they were tolerant of other religions, they were not “religious pluralists” in the modern sense. They unashamedly derived their morals and values from the Bible and Christianity.

In this same Address, Washington insisted that anyone who would seek to subvert morality and Christianity could not claim to be a “patriot,” i.e., someone who loves their country. He said,

In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them.

In other words, any pastor, politician, government official, educator or entertainer who would undermine the influence of Christian morality in America is, in the words of our Founding Father, “unpatriotic.”  They do not love America.

Thomas Jefferson completely agreed with Washington's Farewell Address, and he made it required reading at the University of Virginia, which he had founded. Two years later in 1798, President John Adams declared, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people and is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

The Democrat Party’s Slide into Secularism

The Democrat Party has obviously devolved into a radical secularist party that personifies the very thing Washington warned the nation to avoid. They embrace people with Nazi tattoos, agnostics, Marxists, Islamists, antisemites and liberal Christians who deny the uniqueness of Jesus Christ, but they are vehemently opposed to people who take seriously their faith in Jesus Christ.

This hostility towards Christians who take their faith seriously was on full display when the newly elected Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, described himself as a “Bible-believing Christian.” The mainstream media and Johnson’s Democrat colleagues in Congress, who pride themselves on being tolerant, had a total meltdown.

MSNBC host, Jen Psaki, called Johnson a "religious fundamentalist" and mocked his faith. The Daily Beast compared Johnson to the "Taliban and the mullahs in Iran." Hakeem Jeffries, the Minority leader in the House, ripped into Johnson, calling him an “extreme, right-wing idealogue.” Others referred to him as "dangerous" and a "threat to democracy."

This was not a surprise to those who had observed the party’s slide into secularism. For example, at the 2012 Democrat National Convention there was a voice vote on whether to include the word "God" in their platform. For many present, it sounded as though the nays were clearly in the majority. When, therefore, leadership gave it to the ayes and declared that God would be included, loud boos erupted throughout the auditorium.

The majority did not want even a superficial reference to God in their platform. The Angeles Times carried a headline that read, “Democrats Booed God” and a headline in the Washington Times declared, “Democrats Have Officially Abandoned God.”

On August 24, 2020, the same DNC that one year earlier had declared religion and morality unimportant, doubled down by passing another resolution praising the values of the "religiously unaffiliated." This resolution was championed by the Secular Coalition of America, an organization that lobbies on behalf of atheists, agnostics, and humanists on public policy.

So, in the resolutions of 2019 and 2020, the DNC was simply putting in writing the change that for decades had been taking place in their party. For some time, the Party had also supported the removal of Ten Commandment displays, crosses, and other Christian symbols from public property. They also supported banning prayer and Bible reading from public schools.

When President Obama spoke at Georgetown University, a Catholic institution, he demanded that the Christian symbol behind the podium where he was to speak be removed. And when the Democrat Party took control of the House of Representatives in 2018, they ordered the removal of the phrase "so help me God" from the oaths that witnesses would take before their committees. 

So, their unhinged reaction to Johnson was not a total surprise but it did clearly demonstrate that the Democrat Party is no longer a supporter of the Judeo-Christian principles and values on which this nation was founded. 

Conclusion

I am here reminded of the words of Ronald Reagan when he left the Democrat Party in 1962. He clarified his decision, saying, “I did not leave the Democrat Party, the Democrat Party left me.” If that was true in 1962 how much more is it true today with the Democrat Party now being led by Bernie Sanders, AOC, Zohran Mamdani, Gavin Newsome and Kamala Harris. 

Despite the apostasy of the Democrat Party, there is hope for America’s future. Christians in America, however, must awaken. They must get out and vote this November 4 and they must join me and thousands of others in praying for another Great Awakening to sweep across the land. George Washington would wholeheartedly agree.

Dr. Eddie Hyatt has been in full-time ministry for over 50 years as a professor of theology, pastor, Bible teacher, revivalist and missionary. He is the author of over 30 books and this article is derived primarily from America's Reawakening and 1726: The Year that Defined America, both available from Amazon and his website at https://eddiehyatt.com.

REST FOR YOUR SOULS

The Power that Comes with Meditating in God's Word

In the night I lay awake feeling troubled about life -- about the state of the nation, the church and the world. I purposely began thinking on the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30, turning those words over and over in my mind and even whispering them aloud. Suddenly, my soul was in a state of complete Rest and Peace and I went off into a deep and restful sleep. Hallelujah!! The words of Jesus on which I meditated were these;

Come to Me , all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

Now, it is interesting to note that the word "meditate" in Scripture does not refer to an emptying out or blanking out of your mind. That is an Eastern and New Age approach to meditation. The Hebrew word for “meditation is hagah and it means “to ponder” and “to mutter” and “to go over a matter in one’s mind.”

There are many promises in Scripture to those who meditate in God’s word. Consider Joshua 1:9, which reads, This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth but you shall meditate in it day and night . . . then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have good success. Psalm 1:1-2 says, Blessed is the man . . . whose delight is in the law of the LORD and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers or water and whatever he does shall prosper.

I can’t tell you how important this has been to me personally. I remember lying on a gurney in the ER waiting to find out why my urine flow had become completely blocked.  As I lay there, I began meditating—thinking on and muttering—God’s word. I particularly began thinking about His attributes such as His sovereign and creative power, His goodness, His faithfulness, etc. Peace and rest filled my heart and I began to praise Him out of my heart for His greatness and His goodness to me.

I spent a week in the hospital at that time because of an enlarged prostate and a serious UTI. I can testify that I never felt down, depressed or despondent. The reason was that I made myself continually meditate on God’s word. I went over and over -- thinking and muttering -- His promises of answered prayer and promises of healing. I went over Scriptures describing His greatness and how there is nothing impossible with Him.  

My heart was daily nourished and encouraged as I meditated on His word. As a result, I returned home with my faith stronger than when I had gone into the hospital. I am completely well and after my last physical at the VA clinic the doctor told me that I was rare because at my age (79) I did not require any medication. 

Now, I am sure someone is asking, "How do I start?" Find promises in Bible that are appropriate to your situation and memorize them. As a starter, I would suggest Isaiah 41:10, Psalm 23 and John 14:27. An easy way to memorize is to write a passage on a 3 x 5 card and carry it with you throughout the day. At every opportunity, pull it out of your pocket or purse and read it. Read it aloud if possible. By the end of the day it will be etched in your memory.

Meditating on God's word will build your faith and revolutionize your walk with the Lord. I leave you with the words of Jesus in John 15:7, If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it will be done for you.

Dr. Eddie Hyatt holds earned degrees in Bible, theology and ministry. He has been in full time ministry for over 50 years and is the author of over 30 books including his latest, America's Reawakening, which is available from Amazon and his website at https://eddiehyatt.com.