AN AGNOSTIC ARCHAEOLOGIST DISCOVERS EVIDENCE FOR THE VIRGIN BIRTH

 

Of the four Gospels, Luke gives the most detailed account of the Nativity and mentions Mary 12 times, more than any other biblical writer. In addition to the birth of Christ, he also gives special, detailed attention to the birth of John the Baptist and many see his gynecological interests to be a result of his training as a physician.

The agnostic Oxford professor and archaeologist, Sir William Ramsay, thought he would scientifically prove Luke to be a bogus, unreliable writer by retracing Luke’s account of Paul’s travels in Acts. However, after years of retracing Luke's account of Paul's travels and doing archaeological excavations along the way, Ramsay completely reversed his view of the Bible and first-century history.

He Sets Out to Disprove Luke

Ramsay, considered one of the greatest archaeologists of all time, was a product of the skeptical, German higher criticism of the 19th century. According to these critics, the New Testament was written in the second century by individuals far removed from the events described and, therefore, filled with inaccuracies, myths, and legends.

Ramsay set out to prove these theories, which he taught and had become accepted as facts in much of academia. However, after many years of archaeological research he became convinced that Acts was written in the first century by Luke, the traditional author, and he acquired a very high regard for Luke as a historian. He wrote,

Luke is a historian of the first rank; not merely are his statements of fact trustworthy, he is possessed of the true historic sense; in short, this author should be placed along with the greatest of historians (Hyatt, Christmas is for Real, 10-11).

In 1896, Ramsay began publishing his discoveries in a book entitled St. Paul the Traveler and the Roman Citizen. The book caused a furor of dismay among the skeptics of the world, for its affirmation of the biblical record was totally unexpected. The evidence was, in fact, so overwhelming that many atheists gave up their atheism and embraced Christianity.

Over the next 20 years, Ramsay published other volumes showing how he discovered Luke to be accurate in the tiniest details of his account. In his book, The Bearing of Recent Discovery on the Trustworthiness of the New Testament, he wrote, "You may press the words of Luke in a degree beyond any other historian's and they stand the keenest scrutiny and the hardest treatment" (Hyatt, Christmas is for Real, 11).

To cite just one example, Luke’s use of the term “politarch” to describe officials in Thessalonica was widely considered to be a bogus term since it was unknown in all other ancient literature. But in his archaeological excavations, Ramsay uncovered the term no less than five times in ancient carvings in the city, demonstrating beyond doubt the authenticity and reliability of Luke’s authorship. 

The evidence piled up and became overwhelming. Ramsay eventually gave up his agnosticism and came to faith in Christ. He concluded that if Luke was this careful to get right the most minute facts about words, dates, roads, waterways, and different cultures, then he could also be trusted to have gotten his facts right about the supernatural things he described such as the Virgin Birth.

Indeed, at the beginning of his Gospel, and just before describing the angel’s visit to Mary, Luke says that he has utilized eyewitness accounts of the events described. The detail Luke presents about the Virgin Birth does indicate that he has derived his information from a primary source, either Mary herself or someone to whom Mary had relayed the intimate details of the event.

Conclusion of the Matter

The famous Oxford historian, A.N. Sherwin-White, carefully examined Luke’s references to 32 countries, 54 cities, and nine islands, finding not a single mistake. The noted New Testament scholar, F.F. Bruce, noted that where Luke has been suspected of inaccuracy by modern critics, archaeology has again and again proven Luke to be right and the critics wrong.

The evidence begs the question that if Luke was this careful to get his facts right about names, places, events and dates, can we not be confident that he was just as careful to get his facts right concerning the more important things about which he wrote, such as the Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ?

Charles Wesley, the Anglican cleric and Methodist revivalist, believed so and wrote his magnificent hymn, “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” after hearing London church bells ringing as he walked to church one Christmas day. He wrote,

Hark the herald angels sing,

Glory to the newborn king.

Peace on earth and mercy mild,

God and sinners reconciled.

 

Joyful all ye nations rise,

Join the triumph of the skies.

With angelic hosts proclaim,
Christ is born in Bethlehem.

This article is derived from the book, Christmas is for Real, by Dr. Eddie L. Hyatt and available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehhyatt.com.

TEXAS, THE BIBLE & THE U.S. CONSTITUTION

The inclusion of Bible stories in Texas Public School curriculum is being challenged with the claim that it violates the U. S. Constitution. This, however, is a fallacious claim, based on a contorted interpretation of the First Amendment wrenched from its historical setting.

The truth is that the Bible in public schools is in complete harmony with the thinking of America’s founding generation. This is obvious from the following examples from America’s early history.

The first English Bible printed in America in 1782 included an endorsement from Congress. The producer of this Bible, Robert Aitken, called it, “a neat Edition of the Scriptures for the use in schools.” Congress enthusiastically responded to his request for an endorsement and offered the following recommendation, which was included in this first English Bible printed in America.

Resolved: That the United States in Congress assembled, highly approve the pious and laudable undertaking of Mr. Aitken, as subservient to the interest of religion as well as an instance of the progress of the arts in this country, and being satisfied from the above report, of his care and accuracy in the execution of the work they recommend this edition of the Bible to the inhabitants of the United States and hereby authorize him to publish this recommendation in the manner he shall think proper.

This was neither surprising nor controversial for the Bible was the most popular book in America at the time of its founding. America’s founding generation found in the pages of the Bible its moral compass, its guide for ethics, and the intellectual underpinnings for its worldview.

This is why, on September 5, 1774, the First Continental Congress opened with the reading of the entire 35th Psalm followed by an extended time of prayer. John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, of the impact of the Bible reading on the delegates, which included himself, George Washington, Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, and other founding fathers. He wrote,

It was enough to melt a heart of stone. I never saw a greater effect upon an audience. It seems as if heaven had ordained that Psalm to be read that day. I saw tears gush into the eyes of the old, grave pacific Quakers of Philadelphia. I must beg you to read that Psalm (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 108).

A ten-year study to determine where the founders got their ideas for America’s founding documents discovered that they quoted the Bible far more than any other source (Hyatt, 1726: The Year thatDefined America, 167-68). This is why no one was surprised when George Washington took the first presidential oath of office with his hand on a Bible by which he made clear that he saw this public act as a sacred oath before God.

A December 27, 1982 article in Newsweek magazine, entitled “How the Bible Made America,” highlighted this profound impact of the Bible on America’s founding generation. The authors wrote,

For centuries, the Bible has exerted an unrivaled influence on American culture, politics, and social life. Now historians are discovering that the Bible, perhaps even more than the Constitution, is our founding document: the source of the powerful myth of the United States as a special, sacred nation, a people called by God to establish a model of society, a beacon to the world.

The First Amendment, which reads, “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion or hindering the free exercise thereof,” was formulated to block Congress from ever establishing a government-run national church. That it was created to keep the Bible out of the public arena, is a new and novel concept rooted in a secularist worldview.

The First Amendment was created to keep government influence out of the church, not the other way around. We must remember the words of John Adams, who as America’s second president, declared, “Our constitution was made only for a religious and moral people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other” (Hyatt, 1726:The Year that Defined America, 168).

This article is derived from Eddie Hyatt's book, 1726: The Year that Defined America, and is available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com. He is the founder of the "1726 Project" whose purpose is to recover America's Godly Heritage of faith and freedom. 

THE CHRISTIAN ROOTS OF OUR "THANKSGIVING" HOLIDAY

America’s national “Thanksgiving” holiday is rooted in the nation’s overt Christian origins and the custom of its first immigrants to set aside special days for giving thanks to God for His goodness and blessings. This custom was continued by succeeding generations and eventually found its way into the national consciousness and calendar. 

The Pilgrims Maintained an Attitude of Gratitude Even During Great Loss

The Pilgrims who landed on Cape Cod in November of 1620 were devout followers of Christ who had left the comforts of home, family, and friends to pursue their vision of a renewed and reformed Christianity. Although facing insurmountable challenges and much suffering they maintained an attitude of gratitude through every trial.

They were a thankful people. They never wavered in their faith even during their first winter in the New World (1620-21) when sickness ravaged their community and half of them, about fifty in number, were taken away in death.

The first Thanksgiving was celebrated by the Pilgrims the following fall of 1621 after they had gathered in their fall harvest. Although their hearts were still heavy from the losses suffered the previous winter, there were at least 3 areas for which they felt particularly grateful to God: (1) With the arrival of spring the sickness that had immobilized the community and taken many of them in death had lifted; (2) their new Native American friends who were such a blessing, serving as guides and interpreters; and (3) the abundant harvests they had experienced during the summer and fall of 1621.

The Pilgrims were not whiners. They were not complainers. They were the ultimate optimists because of their faith in God and their firm belief that He had called them to this New World.

The First Thanksgiving Day

An approximate equal number of English Pilgrims and Native Americans attended the first Thanksgiving. In addition to the natives who lived with them, such as Squanto, Samoset, and Hobomok, Massasoit, chief of the Wampanoag, arrived with ninety of his people, and five dressed deer to add to the meals the Pilgrims had prepared.

The Pilgrims did not seek to force their faith on the Indians but neither did they hide their faith. After all, in the Mayflower Compact they had stated that they had come to the New World “for the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith.” Their approach was what some modern missiologists would call “friendship evangelism.”

One can only imagine the emotions that filled their hearts as, in the presence of their new Native American friends, they joined their spiritual leader, Elder William Brewster, in lifting their hearts in praise and thanksgiving to God.

The day turned out to be more than they could have imagined. Not only did they enjoy meals together with thankful hearts, but they engaged in shooting matches and other friendly forms of competition. It was such an enjoyable time that the one Day of Thanksgiving was extended for three full days.

And yes, it is almost certain that there was turkey at the first Thanksgiving. According to the account of an unknown Pilgrim, Governor Bradford sent out four men to hunt for “fowl” who returned with enough “fowl” to last them an entire week.

“Fowl” probably refers to ducks, which were plentiful at that time of the year. Bradford’s account, however, specifically mentions turkeys in addition to the fowl. He wrote,

And besides waterfowl there was a great store of wild turkeys, of which they took many, besides venison, etc. (Hyatt, The Pilgrims, 47).

A Day of Thanksgiving During the Revolutionary War

Special days of Thanksgiving continued to be observed by the Pilgrims and new immigrants, especially those who settled in New England. As the colonies began to form themselves into a nation, these days of Thanksgiving began to be nationalized and made part of the national consciousness and calendar.

For example, during the fall of 1776, when the morale of the Revolutionary Army and the American populace had sunk to an all-time low because of poor harvests and hardship on the battlefield, Congress proclaimed December 11, 1776, as a Day of Prayer, Fasting and Repentance.

After this National Day of Prayer, there was an amazing turnaround, that in 1779 Congress issued a proclamation setting aside a Day of Thanksgiving because “it hath pleased Almighty God, the father of mercies, remarkably to assist and support the United States of America in their important struggle for liberty” (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 124).

This Day of Thanksgiving was observed throughout the newly formed nation with people gathering in churches and other public venues to give thanks to God for His mercy and help in their time of need.

George Washington Continues the Tradition

Shortly after being sworn in as president, George Washington issued a proclamation designating November 26, 1789, as a Day of Thanksgiving, which was the first Thanksgiving Day designated by the new national government of the United States. The proclamation reads in part,

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor, and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me “to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness. Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

Abraham Lincoln Proclaims a Day of Thanksgiving

A Day of Thanksgiving to be observed on the last Thursday in November 1863, was proclaimed by Abraham Lincoln in the midst of the Civil War. As in the Revolutionary War, this Day of Thanksgiving came on the heels of a remarkable turnaround in favor of the Union after a designated Day of Prayer and Repentance on April 30, 1863.

Although still at war, Lincoln enumerated the many reasons the inhabitants of America had for being thankful to God and then said,

It has seemed to me fit and proper that these blessings should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.

The final Thursday in November, set by President Lincoln, continued to be the observed “Thanksgiving” until December 26, 1941 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a joint resolution of Congress changing the national Thanksgiving Day from the last Thursday in November to the fourth Thursday.

Concluding Thoughts

This national holiday that we know as Thanksgiving was brought forth by people of faith who knew the importance of nurturing a thankful heart in every situation. It was their faith in God that enabled them to be thankful even during the greatest of trials. They maintained an attitude of gratitude through it all.

This Thanksgiving let us remember our heritage and determine that we too will be a thankful people, as were the spiritual foremothers and forefathers who brought this nation into existence. Let’s follow them and the words of the old hymn that says,

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

This article is derived from the books, 1726: The Year that Defined America and The Pilgrims by Dr. Eddie L. Hyatt. They are available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.

HOW SOCIALISM ALMOST DESTROYED THE PILGRIMS

 

Before the Soviet Union, China, Cuba, and Venezuela, socialism was tried right here on American soil and utterly failed. The Pilgrims, who established the first permanent English settlement in New England in the fall of 1620, at first attempted a socialist style of living. They disbanded it, however, when it became obvious that their community could not survive with such a system.

Socialism Forced on Them

The Pilgrim’s journey to America was funded by a group of venture capitalists who provided the ship and supplies for their journey to the New World. In return, the Pilgrims agreed to live communally until the debt, including interest, was paid. Everyone would receive the same recompense for their work, and everything above their basic necessities would go into a common fund to be used to pay their creditors.

In other words, there was no economic inequality. Income produced by farming, fishing, and fur trading was spread around and evenly divided among members of the community. They were all equal with only one economic class. They had what modern politicians call "equity," which is a guaranteed equal outcome 

William Bradford, who served as governor of Plymouth for many years, told of the challenges of this socialist system and how it almost destroyed their community (Hyatt, Pilgrims and Patriots, 36-38).

Four hard lessons the Pilgrims learned about socialism were: (1) Socialism destroys initiative; (2) Socialism fosters irresponsibility; (3) Socialism extinguishes hope and generates strife; and (4) Socialism is incompatible with human nature.

Lesson #1

Socialism Destroys Initiative

Under this socialist system, everyone received the same recompense for their work. No matter how hard, or how little, they worked, all received the same income. With no reward tied to their labor, initiative was destroyed, and everyone put forth their least effort.

Why work and dream when you are trapped in a socialist system that mandates equality of outcome for everyone? This socialist system destroyed initiative and almost destroyed the Pilgrim community.

Lesson #2

Socialism Fosters Irresponsibility

Young men, Bradford said, resented getting paid the same as older men when they did so much more of the work. As a result, they tended to slouch and slack since they knew they would receive the same no matter how hard they worked.

Knowing they would receive the same no matter how hard or how little they worked, the women often refused go to the fields to work, complaining of sickness and headaches. To have compelled them to go, Bradford said, would have been considered tyranny and oppression.

With no individual reward tied to their innovation and labor, everyone gave their least effort. Irresponsibility became obvious throughout the community and many became gripped with a sense of hopelessness.

Lesson #3

Socialism Extinguishes Hope and Generates Strife

This socialist system led to a widespread sense of hopelessness. With everyone locked into a closed economic system, there was nothing individuals or families could do to improve their personal lot. Feeling caught in a trap, bickering and strife began to emerge.

The older men, Bradford said, felt they deserved more honor and recompense because of their age and resented getting paid the same as the youngsters in their midst. The young men, on the other hand, resented getting paid the same as the older men when they often did more of the work.

This sense of hopelessness and the ensuing strife drained energy and discouraged innovative thinking and led to very serious complications for the community.

Lesson #4

Socialism is Incompatible with Human Nature

Bradford believed that socialism did not work because it runs counter to human nature as created by God. In Scripture, God rewards individuals for their labor and good works. Capitalism works because it is compatible with the reality of human nature and the world in which we live.

I will never forget visiting eastern Europe shortly after the fall of the Soviet Empire. I was struck by the grey, drab environment. Even the buildings seemed so plain, flat and lackluster.

It was obvious that the Marxist system had robbed the people of life, energy and creativity. I am here reminded of the words of Winston Churchill, “Those who do not learn from history, are doomed to repeat it.”

To Survive, They Had to Change

When it became obvious that lack and perhaps starvation would be their lot, Bradford and the leaders of the colony decided to make a change. After much prayer and discussion, they decided to dispense with that part of the agreement with their creditors that required them to live communally until their debt was paid. In its place, they implemented a free entrepreneurial system that included private ownership of property (Hyatt, Pilgrims and Patriots (Second Edition), 34-36).

They Experience the Blessing of Free Enterprise

According to Bradford, they divided the land around them, allotting to each family a certain portion that would be theirs to work and use for their own needs. Bradford said there was an immediate change. The young men began to work much harder because they now knew they would eat the fruit of their own labors.

There were no more complaints from the older men for the same reason. And now the women were seen going into the fields to work, taking the children with them, because they knew they and their family would personally benefit.

Instead of lacking food, each family now grew more food than they needed, and they began to trade with one another for furnishings, clothes and other goods. They also had enough excess to trade with the Indians for furs and other items. In short, the colony began to prosper when they got rid of their socialist form of government and implemented a free, entrepreneurial system.

Of their experience with socialism, Bradford wrote;

This community [socialism] was found to breed much confusion and discontent and retard much employment that would have been to their benefit and comfort . . . and showed the vanity of that conceit of Plato’s, and applauded by some of later times, that the taking away of property and bringing in community into a commonwealth would make them happy and flourishing; as if they were wiser than God (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 25).

Christianity & Capitalism

During the recent presidential election we heard Kamala Harris and those on the Left using the word "equity." Equity is not equality. Equity would use government mandates to guarantee equal outcome, not equal opportunity. Equity and its twin sister, DEI, are innocent sounding phrases designed to slip Marxist ideology into the thinking of an unsuspecting public.

As Christians, our responsibility is to call people to Christ and help them live out their Christianity in the real world. Living out our Christianity means a life of responsibility, not looking for government hand-outs but working and prospering in a way that we can give a hand-up to those in need.

We desire the best for the greatest number of people which is why we must reject the contemporary vision of those on the Left for government-mandated socialist system in America. The Pilgrims would wholeheartedly agree.

This article was derived from Dr. Eddie Hyatt’s books, 1726: The Year that Defined America and Pilgrims and Patriots (Second Edition), available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.

THE VISION THAT DREW THE PIGRIMS TO AMERICA

I was presenting a “Revive America” event at Abounding Grace Christian Church in Schenectady, NY when the Lord highlighted, in a somewhat dramatic fashion, the Pilgrims’ purpose in coming to America.

As I was preparing for an evening session, I sensed the Holy Spirit instructing me to have the audience repeat after me the two reasons the Pilgrims gave, in the Mayflower Compact, for coming to America.

Later that evening, at the appropriate moment, I had the words of the Mayflower Compact flashed on the large screen and asked the audience to read aloud with me their two reasons for coming to the New World. We read together: (1) For the glory of God and (2) the advancement of the Christian faith. We then read it a second time.

At the end of the service, a young man, who looked to be about twenty years of age, approached me with his face glowing and a note of excitement in his voice. He said,

I am attending a local community college and taking a course in American history. Just this week the professor told us that the Pilgrims did not come here for religious reasons. He said they came for monetary reasons.

He paused and then exclaimed, “But there it is in their own words!” He then stated how he was now inspired to study and teach America’s true origins. I then understood why God had instructed me to have everyone speak aloud the two reasons the Pilgrims gave for coming to America.

Indeed, even before the Mayflower Compact, while still in Holland, their missionary vision was clearly stated. William Bradford, who served as governor of Plymouth Colony for over thirty years, explained why they made plans to come to America. He said that they had "a great hope and inward zeal for the propagating and advancing of the gospel of Jesus Christ in those remote parts of the world" (Hyatt, The Pilgrims, 25).

The Pilgrims practiced what modern missiologists would call “friendship evangelism.” They made friends, not only with Squanto, but with countless other individuals and tribes. They established a treaty with the Wampanoag tribe in which they promised to defend each other if either was attacked by an outside aggressor. Dr. Samuel Eliot Morison says the Pilgrims treated the natives with, “A combination of justice, wisdom and mercy” (Hyatt, The Pilgrims, 38).

A number of natives came and lived among the Pilgrims. These included Squanto, Samoset, and Hobomok who served the Pilgrims as guides and interpreters. Living in Plymouth, they would have attended the church services of the Pilgrims. 

Their friendship evangelism bore fruit. Bradford told of Squanto falling sick and dying. The Pilgrims cared for Squanto in his sickness, and Bradford said that before he passed, Squanto asked him to pray for him that he would go to the God in heaven he had learned about from the Pilgrims. Bradford described Squanto’s death as "a great loss.”

The Pilgrims’ commitment to missions contributed to the fact that the first Bible published in the New World was not an English language Bible. The first Bible published in America was in the Massachusett language. It was published in 1660 for the purpose of reaching natives with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Pilgrims’ commitment to missions has had far-reaching ramifications and contributed to America becoming the greatest missionary-sending nation in history. This missionary vision, that began with the Pilgrims, became so pronounced that it caught the attention of the U.S. Supreme Court. In the 1892 ruling of “Church of the Holy Trinity vs. the United States,” the nation’s highest court stated,

The churches and church organizations which abound in every city, town, and hamlet . . . and the gigantic missionary associations, with general support, and aiming to establish Christian missions in every quarter of the globe add a mass of unofficial declarations to the mass of organic utterances that this is a Christian nation (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 170).

 Yes, the Pilgrims were fleeing persecution in England, but that was only part of the story. They had a proactive missionary vision that was pulling them forward. They clearly stated that they had come to America, “For the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith.” 

In retrospect, it is obvious that they were successful in their mission. It is also obvious that the modern, self-obsessed American Church needs to acquire a missionary vision of its own. After all, the Great Commission, in which Jesus commanded us to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20) has never expired.

Dr. Eddie Hyatt is an author and ordained minister with a commission to educate America of  her radical Christian roots in the Great Awakening. This article was derived from his books, 1726: The Year that Defined America and The Pilgrims, both available from Amazon and his website at http://eddiehyatt.com.

DID GOD RESURRECT DONALD TRUMP'S POLITICAL CAREER?

The mainstream media and political pundits were stunned by Donald Trump’s overwhelming victory on November 4. They are still recovering and attempting to fathom how it could have happened. They were so sure his political career was over.

After all, he had lost the 2020 election and had left the White House with two impeachments hanging over his head. His home had been raided by FBI agents looking for classified documents the Biden administration claimed he had stolen. Numerous federal and state lawsuits had been filed against him and the entire mainstream media was arrayed against him. His political career, indeed, seemed to have died. 

But now, with the 2024 election well behind us, they are still wringing their hands and wondering how he could have won in such an astonishing manner. I am confident I have the answer, which I share below.

God Promises a Resurrection

In an article posted on Charisma News dated November 8, 2020, I shared how God had given me a word that His resurrection life would be manifest through Donald Trump. This occurred during a time of prayer on Saturday, November 7, just three days after the 2020 presidential election.

I had asked the Lord for an encouraging word for those I would be addressing in a Sunday morning live stream the following day. I knew that many were troubled and confused at the media reports that Joe Biden would be the next president of the United States. After all, so many “prophets” had declared that Trump would serve two consecutive terms.

The request for an encouraging word was hardly out of my mouth when there dropped into my heart and mind a word God had given me at a devastating time in my own life 46 years ago. I immediately knew it was the message God wanted me to share with the people concerning Trump’s devastating loss.

A Life-Changing Word from God

God reminded me of a powerful, life-changing word He gave when Sue and I were starting out in life and ministry together. This word came at at time when we had 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, Sue and I 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 too often 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 was hearing the words, “Don’t be afraid of death because I Am the Resurrection.” I recognized these as the words 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.

This was the experience that came so powerfully to my mind when I asked God for an encouraging word for the people concerning Donald Trump and his election loss in 2020.

Resurrection and the 2020-2024 Elections

Fast forward to 2024 and Donald Trump has astounded and confused the political and media pundits with his overwhelming, astonishing victory. Despite everything his enemies threw at him, he carried every one of the so-called “swing states” and made incredible gains in every demographic of American society.

I know this did not happen by mere political acumen and human strategy. This happened because God resurrected Trump’s political career. Because of this fact, we can expect his second term to far outshine his first term, for it has come forth in the resurrection life and power of our Lord. 

Trump's election also places a responsibility on the church for we must recognize this as a window of opportunity that has opened, and we make the most of it. I have been impressed with the words of Jesus in John 9:4, I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.

God Has Resurrection Life and Power of You

One thing I learned through that experience is that the resurrection is more than just a future event. Resurrection has been personified in the Person of Jesus Christ and He has come to live in us and through us with His resurrection life and power.

Paul had an experience that he relates in II Corinthians chapter one where he and his companions went through an excruciating experience in which he thought death would be their lot. He said, however, that out of that experience he learned that, We should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.

So, even apart from the 2024 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 sweep across the land. His many books are available on Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.