During
a time of prayer on Saturday, I asked the Lord for an encouraging word for those
I would be addressing in a Sunday morning live stream. I knew that many were troubled
and sad at the media reports that Joe Biden would be the next president of the
United States.
The request for an
encouraging word was hardly out of my mouth when there dropped into my mind a word
God gave me at a devastating time in my life around 42 years ago. I sensed an
immediate lift in my spirit, and I knew it was the message God wanted me to
share.
A Life-Changing Word from God
About two years
into our marriage and ministry together, Sue and I lost everything. We lost our
place to live. We lost the place where we were having meetings for the congregation
and ministry we were planting in eastern Canada. Everything was gone. The God-given
vision and mandate had died.
In the midst of this
devastation we sat on a park bench with two friends lifting our hearts in
prayer. I remember their 5-year old daughter, Cara, sitting with us and praying
in tongues.
Suddenly, out of
my innermost being, those rivers of living water that Jesus spoke about in John
7:37-39 began to flow, and I began praying in tongues. I realize that we
charismatics have learned to pray in tongues on cue—at the drop of a hat. Such
prayers, however, are usually from the neck up and powerless.
This was prayer
that I could feel flowing out of my spirit. And all the time I was praying, I
could hear the words, “Don’t be afraid of death because I Am the
Resurrection.” I recognized these as the words, in part, that Jesus spoke
to Martha just before he raised her brother, Lazarus, from the dead (John
11:25).
I knew that the
Lord was telling me not to fear the death of the vision and mandate He had
given. I knew He was telling me that it would be brought back to life, not by
my scheming and planning, but by His resurrection life and power.
A resurrection did
occur in our lives and ministry. A yielding to God, a determination not to
quit, a step of obedience, and resurrection power flowed forth. The ministry
that came forth was not the same as before; for it came forth in His
resurrection power and in ways we could never have planned or strategized.
Resurrection and the 2020 Elections
I am not going to
presume to say how the 2020 election will eventually turn out. But I know that
when I asked the Lord for a word of encouragement for those who are discouraged
about the election, He reminded me of those words He spoke so many years ago.
Even apart from
the election, I am convinced that in the days ahead we will see His resurrection
life and power break forth on different fronts. Victory will come forth out of
defeat. Life will emerge out of death. Success will arise out of failure. His
words still ring true, “Don’t be afraid of death because I Am the Resurrection.”
Dr. Eddie Hyatt has
a long history as a pastor, revivalist, and professor of theology in many parts of the world. His book, 1726: The Year that Defined America, provides the basis for America returning to her founding
principles and seeing another Great Awakening. His books are available on
Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment