WILL AMERICA'S COVENANT WITH GOD BE RENEWED AT THIS TIME?

On Monday January 20, Donald J. Trump will lay his hand on a Bible and repeat 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 will pray, including Franklin Graham, the well-known evangelist and devout follower of Christ. Members of Trump's cabinet have unashamedly declared their faith in Jesus. The inauguration ceremonies will conclude on Tuesday with a National Prayer Service dedicated to seeking God's guidance for the nation.

Could this be the time the American Covenant with God is renewed? Are we on the verge of a Fifth Great Awakening? (Hyatt, America's Revival Heritage, 101-108).

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.

HOW DR. KING WAS INSPIRED BY AMERICA'S "SACRED HERITAGE"

Writing in 1963 from the Birmingham City Jail where he had been incarcerated, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. expressed his conviction that his fight for civil rights would succeed because of America’s unique and godly heritage. He wrote,

Our destiny is tied up with the destiny of America . . . We will win our freedom because the “sacred heritage” of our nation and the eternal will of God are embodied in our echoing demands.

Calling America’s heritage “sacred” indicated that Dr. King believed that there was something special and godly in the founding of America. He obviously considered the Jim Crow South where he lived and worked to be a sharp departure from America’s founding vision.

Frederick Douglass (1816-1895), the former slave and abolitionist, came to the same conclusion 100 years before Dr. King. In his early years, Douglass felt he had no part in America; but after years of research he completely changed his thinking. In a July 4th speech in 1852, he called the U.S. Constitution “a glorious liberty document,” and declared,

I am not wanting in respect for the fathers of this republic. The signers of the Declaration of Independence were brave men. They were great men too—great enough to give fame to a great age. It does not often happen to a nation to raise, at one time, such a number of truly great men.

Douglass called the founders “brave men” because they took a bold stand against slavery at a time it was accepted and practiced in most of the world. The eminent Black scholar, Dr. Thomas Sowell, has said,

Slavery was just not an issue, not even among intellectuals, much less among political leaders, until the 18th century–and then it was an issue only in Western civilization. Among those who turned against slavery in the 18th century were George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry and other American leaders. You could research all of 18th century Africa or Asia or the Middle East without finding any comparable rejection of slavery there (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 90).

It was the Great Awakening (1726-1770) in Colonial America that shattered racial and cultural barriers and unleashed anti-slavery outrage throughout the Colonies. This Christian Awakening resulted in virtually every founding father, even those who owned slaves, taking a public stand against it.

For example, in an April 12, 1786 letter to Robert Morris, George Washington wrote, "There is not a man living who wishes more sincerely than I do to see a plan adopted for the abolition of slavery" (Hyatt, Abolitionist Founding Fathers, 41). By the time of the writing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the U.S. Constitution in 1787, virtually every founder agreed with John Adams, America’s 2nd president, who declared,

Every measure of prudence ought to be assumed for the eventual total extirpation of slavery from the United States. I have throughout my whole life held the practice of slavery in abhorrence (Hyatt, Abolitionist Founding Fathers, 36).

Because of this cosmic shift, America’s founders formulated founding documents that contain no classifications based on race or skin color. The words “slave” and “slavery” are nowhere to be found. Instead, the Constitution speaks of “citizens,” “persons,” and “other persons.”

America’s Founders believed they had set the nation on a course for the soon elimination of slavery at a time it was practiced throughout the world. They did not, however, anticipate the invention of the cotton gin in 1798 nor how succeeding generations would backtrack on their vision of liberty for all.

Abraham Lincoln (1809-65) understood this and insisted that his fight against slavery was a continuation of the fight begun by America’s founders. He said,

In the way our Fathers originally left the slavery question, the institution was in the course of ultimate extinction . . . All I have asked or desired is that it should be placed back again upon the bases that the Fathers of our government originally placed it upon (Hyatt, Abolitionist Founding Fathers, 59-60).

Like Lincoln, Dr. King believed his fight for racial equality to be rooted in America's founding vision--in her "sacred heritage." Modern secularists have almost destroyed this heritage, scrubbing it from textbooks and classroom lectures. This is why this present generation must rediscover and reconnect with this "sacred heritage" if the America of Washington, Douglass, Lincoln and King is to survive.

This article is derived from Dr. Eddie Hyatt’s books, 1726: The Year that Defined America and Abolitionist Founding Fathers, available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.

2025 IS A SIGNIFICANT YEAR FOR THE "1726 PROJECT"

http://www.eddiehyatt.com/project1726.html

In 2010 I thought God was through with America and I had given up hope that she would ever see another great, national spiritual awakening. That all changed with a 7-hour visitation from the Lord in which my hope was renewed, and I saw that the Great Awakening, which began in 1726, had a direct bearing on the founding of the nation and the ending of slavery. Out of that experience came a commission to recover America’s godly heritage, which has led to the publication of several books, such as 1726: The Year that Defined America," and the creation of a PowerPoint presentation depicting these important and inspiring facts about America’s origins. This information concerning our Christian past is vital for as George Orwell said, “Whoever controls the past, controls the future.”

The election of Donald Trump has opened a window of opportunity that we must maximize. To do our part in ensuring America’s future, we will continue to educate America about her overt Christian birth with articles and by getting the books in the hands of Christian leaders, educators, and politicians. I also plan to prepare a new book, entitled Sacred Heritage, and have it ready for the widespread celebrations of America’s 250-year birthday in 2026. If you would like to schedule me to bring the PowerPoint presentation about America’s unique Christian birth to your church or ministry, email me at dreddiehyatt@gmail.com. And please pray for the success of the "1726 Project" in 2025.

http://www.eddiehyatt.com/project1726.html

Dr. Eddie L. Hyatt is a revivalist, Bible teacher, and ordained minister. He is the author of over 20 books on revival, which can be found on Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com. He is also the founder of the "1726 Project" with the goal of educating this generation about America's godly heritage out of a great, spiritual awakening.

HOW I KNOW GOD IS NOT FINISHED WITH AMERICA

On July 4, 2026, America will celebrate her 250th birthday. She is the oldest constitutional republic in the world and many Christians, for various reasons, believe her best days are behind her and that she will now decline into insignificance. I too once believed that God was through with America, but that all quickly changed on a hot summer day in 2010.

Ever since my commitment to Christ I have been a student and proponent of revival. By 2010, however, I had given up hope of America ever seeing another great, national spiritual awakening. 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.

Surprised by the Holy Spirit

That all changed, however, in the summer of 2010 when I experienced an 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 notebook 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

Two significant changes came out of that experience. Firstly, my hope was renewed for another national, spiritual awakening in America that would impact the culture and stem the tide of immorality and false religion that is flooding the land. Secondly, I saw for the first time that there was a direct bearing of the First Great Awakening on the founding of this nation. I saw that America had had a spiritual birth.

Out of that experience came my book America’s Revival Heritage and then The Faith and Vision of Benjamin Franklin. More than once I was 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 George Orwell said in his classic, 1984, “Whoever controls the past, controls the future.”

When America’s Revival Heritage sold out, and I began an edit for republication, there was so much new material that it soon became obvious that a new book was emerging. As a result, I published Pilgrims and Patriots, which expanded the historical narrative of America’s spiritual birth and showed, in even more detail, the role of prayer and the Great Awakening in her founding. 

In 2019 I sensed a deep stirring to do another edition of the original book and add a chapter on how the First Great Awakening had a direct bearing on the ending of slavery on this continent. Again, I was amazed at how I was providentially led to the resources I needed for this project. In fact, this new edition became so expansive that it was published under a new title, 1726: The Year that Defined America. 

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.

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. One thing obvious is 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 "1726" 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.

THE ORIGINAL AMERICAN VISION

 America's founding generation envisioned a land of religious and individual liberty from whence the Gospel would be spread to the ends of the earth. This is documented in several of my books including 1726: The Year that Defined America. Check out our mandate to recover this original American vision at http://www.eddiehyatt.com/project1726.html.

THE KEY TO BEING AN OVERCOMER IN 2025

An Important Lesson from Paul and Trump

I am in no way comparing Donald Trump with the great Apostle. I am merely pointing out a characteristic in Trump that was highlighted by Paul in his letter to the Philippian believers.

This characteristic came alive in my heart New Years Eve while enjoying a quiet time of prayer and fellowship with the Lord. When I asked if there was anything He wanted to say about 2025, I was immediately drawn to Paul’s exhortation in Philippians 4:12-14 about the importance to, “Press On!”

Paul “Pressed On” through Every Trial and Difficulty

In Philippians 3:12-14, Paul delineates how this was so important in his own life. He wrote this while under house arrest in Rome, chained to a Roman soldier. He said,

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has laid hold of me. I do not count myself to have apprehended, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

The word “press” in this passage is from the Greek word diokow, which is a very intense word that means to "chase," "pursue," and "hunt down." In vs.12, he tells what he is pursuing. It is to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus had laid hold of him.

Christ Jesus had laid hold of Paul for a purpose and he is now pressing on to lay of that purpose, which is his Divine destiny and calling. To fulfill his Divine destiny, he must continually “press on” and not yield to the attacks, challenges, and disappointments. Consider some of the things from which Paul had to press on.

In Antioch Pisidia he was persecuted and expelled from that region (Acts 13:50). He pressed on!

In Iconium he had to flee a mob that wanted to kill him (Acts 14:5-6). He pressed on!

In Lystra he was stoned, dragged out of the city and left for dead (Acts 14:19). He pressed on!

In Philippi he was arrested, publicly beaten and jailed with his feet in stocks
(Acts 16:22-24). He pressed on!

In Thessalonica he had to leave town at night to escape a vicious mob
(Acts 17:5-10). He pressed on!

In Jerusalem he was attacked by a mob but then rescued by the Romans who sent him to Rome for trial where he was placed under house arrest, chained to a Roman guard (Acts 21:30-31; 28:17-31). He pressed on!      

As Paul Pressed On He Saw the Hand of God at Work

It was from this Roman imprisonment that Paul wrote the Philippian letter exhorting his readers (and us) to press on. As he pressed on through each challenge and difficulty, he saw God work mightily all along the way.

For example, when he and Silas prayed and sang praises to God at midnight in the Philippi jail, a mighty earthquake came that shook the foundations of the prison, caused everyone's chains to fall off, and opened every prison door. There was also a spiritual earthquake with the jailer and his entire household turning to Christ as well as many of the prisoners who refused to leave the presence of Paul and Silas, even when all the prison doors were opened.

Now under house arrest in Rome, he is guarded by the elite Roman unit known as the Praetorium, which also was assigned to guard Caesar’s palace and household. A rotation of these soldiers was chained to Paul 24/7 but he was free to receive visitors and write letters (Acts 28:30-31).

It is obvious that many of these guards are coming to Christ and spreading the word about why Paul is incarcerated—because of his faith in Jesus Christ. Paul spells this out in chapter one where he says that the things that have happened to him have turned out to the furtherance of the Gospel.

Then, in his closing, he says to the Philippian believers, All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household (Philippians 4:22). Because Paul continued to press on through every challenge and difficulty, there are now Christians in Caesar’s household.

Trump Pressed On

Whether or not you voted for Donald Trump, you cannot help but admire his resilience, perseverance, and “never quit” attitude. He "pressed on" through two impeachments, numerous lawsuits and indictments, his home being raided by the FBI, continual attacks and smears by the media, two assassination attempts, and so much more.

While many would have given up along the way, he pressed on, won an overwhelming victory in November and is now the 47th president and far more popular than he was during his first term.

Final Exhortation

So, no matter what kind of disappointment you experienced in 2024, you must press on in 2025. No matter what kind of loss you suffered in 2024, you must press on in this New Year. As we press on in 202,5 I believe God will surprise us with unexpected blessings and breakthroughs, for Ephesians 3:20 says, Now to Him who able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we can ask or think, according to the power that works in us.

Dr. Eddie Hyatt is a revivalist, Bible teacher, and revivalist historian. He is the founder of the "1726 Project" whose purpose is to educate the nation regarding America's overt Christian birth. He has written over 20 books, including 1726: The Year that Defined America, which documents how the First Great Awakening had a direct bearing on both the founding of America and the ending of slavery on this continent.