A GREAT AWAKENING ERUPTED WHEN THEY REALIZED THE MODERN CHURCH IS A MISSION FIELD

"I who went to America to convert the Indians had never been converted myself," wrote John Wesley, a baptized, confirmed, and ordained Anglican clergyman. He stated this after coming to the realization that his faith had been in the outward, institutional forms of Christianity rather than in Christ Himself. He had accepted the Christian religion but not Jesus Christ Himself.

Wesley's Heart-Warming Encounter with Christ

The change for Wesley came while attending a Moravian revival meeting and hearing someone read Martin Luther’s explanation of the change of heart that comes when a person puts their faith in Christ and Him alone. Wesley afterwards wrote,

I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt that I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for my salvation and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sin, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.

Wesley always considered this to be the time that he became a true Christian, and he was never the same. After this conversion experience, he spearheaded the great Methodist Revival that transformed the British Isles and impacted the Church around the world. He insisted on a real heart conversion to Christ and in his Journal dated June 10, 1741, he wrote,

I preached in the morning on the inward kingdom of God. And many, I trust, found they were Heathens in heart, and Christians in name only.

This new understanding  that it is faith in Christ alone that makes one a real Christian, had a two-fold impact on Wesley and his preaching: (1) Although he did not dispense with the outward forms of the Anglican Church, he now emphasized that those forms were “dead works” apart from faith in Christ and (2) he realized that many who were not Anglicans—Baptists, Quakers, Nonconformists—were real Christians even though they did not identify with the order and liturgy of the Anglican Church.

George Whitefield and the Great Awakening

Wesley’s colleague and protégé, George Whitfield, brought this same message of personal faith to colonial America where he spread the Great Awakening up and down the eastern seaboard. He too was a baptized, confirmed, and ordained Anglican minister and, like Wesley, had experienced a personal conversion or “new birth” as he liked to call it.

Whitefield emphasized that many professing Christians had built their faith on faulty foundations, such as church membership, good deeds, family pedigree, social status, and cultural refinement. He emphasized that these old foundations must be overturned and faith in Jesus Christ alone must be laid as the only foundation for acceptance with God.

As a result, thousands in colonial America realized that they had never truly been converted to Christ. They realized that they had adopted the religion of their parents and grandparents but had never put their faith in Christ and him alone. Whitefield brought this vividly to the minds of the populace with his message on the parable of the ten virgins found in Matthew 25:1-13.

Although his words may sound harsh to modern ears, they needed to be said. He pointed out that all ten were virgins and all had lamps, which he said symbolized their outward profession. However, only the five wise virgins had oil in their lamps, which Whitfield said symbolized a new heart brought about by a living faith in Christ alone. He told of the five foolish virgins, who had no oil, knocking at the door of the wedding but being turned away by the Lord.

“Lord, Lord,” say they, as though they were intimately acquainted with the holy Jesus. Like numbers among us who, because they go to church, repeat their creeds, and receive the blessed sacrament, think they have a right to call Jesus their Savior and dare call God their Father, when they put up the Lord’s Prayer. But Jesus is not your Savior. The devil, not God, is your father, unless your hearts are purified by faith and you are born again from above (Hyatt, George Whitefield, 54-55).

Both Wesley and Whitefield came to realize that the church to which they adhered, the Anglican Church, was a mission field with many members who had never been converted to Christ. Many were merely following in the footsteps of their parents and grandparents.

Their message of personal faith in a personal Savior bore much fruit. Entire cities were transformed. Benjamin Franklin told of the change that came over his hometown of Philadelphia after Whitefield spent several days there preaching to thousands from the steps of the courthouse. Franklin wrote,

From being thoughtless or indifferent about religion, it seemed as if all the world were growing religious so that one could not walk through the town in an evening without hearing psalms sung in different families of every street (Hyatt, America’s Reawakening, 101).

So, the great Methodist Revival in England and the Great Awakening in America were not with people who had never heard the Gospel. Their impact was with religious people and church members being awakened to the fact that “religion” alone would not save them apart from a living faith in the living Christ

This Same Message is Needed Today

A new spiritual hunger is obviously sweeping across the land. Bible sales are surging and many of the younger generation are returning to church. Revival meetings on college campuses are being attended by thousands of students who are seeking something more than contemporary culture has to offer.

We as Christians and Christian leaders must be ready to offer them more than the Christian religion. We must point them to Christ Himself. We must let them know that they can encounter Christ for themselves and have that New Birth of which Jesus spoke in John 3:3. Everything in their lives must flow from that central point of faith in Christ.  C. S. Lewis nailed it when he wrote,

The Church exists for nothing else but to draw men to Christ, to make them little christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time.

This article is derived from Dr. Eddie Hyatt's latest book, America's Reawakening, available from Amazon and his website at http://eddiehyatt.com.

RISEN INDEED! A WORLD-FAMOUS LAWYER IS CONVINCED BY THE EVIDENCE

Sir Lionel Luckhoo was called “the most successful lawyer in history” by the Guiness Book of World Records. He was given this designation because he won 245 consecutive murder trials as a defense attorney. A native of British Guyana, he was named to the Queen’s Counsel in 1954. The Queen’s Counsel is a senior lawyer appointed by the monarch (in this case Queen Elizabeth) to act as their representative. He was also twice knighted by Queen Elizabeth.

For a person to have this kind of success they must possess a very sharp mind and tremendous analytical skill. They would have to know how to sort the evidence and be able to decide what can be trusted and what must be discarded. Sir Lionel possessed these characteristics as many prosecuting attorneys discovered while facing him in the courtroom.

Sir Lionel also had a political career.  He served as the Mayor of Georgetown, the capital of Guyana, in 1955, 1956, 1960, and 1961. He was also involved in negotiations for the independence of both Guyana and Barbados. He was appointed High Commissioner for Guyana and Barbados in Britain (1966-1970) and was also Ambassador for both countries. From 1967–1970 he served as a joint ambassador for Guyana and Barbados in France, Germany, and the Netherlands.

Sir Lionel confessed that later in life he developed a sense of hopelessness and meaningless about life. He was challenged to examine the biblical claims of Jesus and the Resurrection and decided to accept the challenge. 

He approached the task as a lawyer in the a court of law examining and cross examining the witnesses. After months of sifting through the testimonies of Mathew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, and Paul, he became convinced that the biblical record was true.

He became a devout follower of Christ and became an itinerant Christian speaker and authored a number of pamphlets including, What is Your Verdict. He considered the biblical evidence for Jesus and His Resurrection to be overwhelming. He declared,  

I say unequivocally that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is so overwhelming that it compels acceptance by proof which leaves absolutely no room for doubt.

Because of his reputation, Sir Lionel had the opportunity to address audiences worldwide, including presidents, kings, parliaments, bar associations, and the United Nations. He was not shy about declaring his faith and more than once was heard to declare,

The bones of Muhammad are in Medina, the bones of Confucius are in Shantung, the cremated bones of Buddha are in Nepal. Thousands pay pilgrimages to worship at their tombs which contain their bones. But in Jerusalem there is a cave cut into the rock. This is the tomb of Jesus. IT IS EMPTY! YES, EMPTY! BECAUSE HE IS RISEN! He died, physically and historically. He arose from the dead and now sits at the right hand of God (Hyatt, The Book that Made America Great, 128).

The above was derived from The Book that Made America Great by Dr. Eddie L. Hyatt, which is available from Amazon and his website at http://eddiehyatt.com.

REMEMBERING 50 YEARS OF GOD'S FAITHFULNESS, PART 4

When Life Sprang Forth Out of Death

Sue and I will be married 50 years in May of this year, and about two years into our life and ministry together, we lost everything. We lost our place to live. We lost the place where we were having meetings for the congregation we were planting in eastern Canada.

In the mist of the devastation, I received word that my brother in Oklahoma had been killed in an accident. I flew out to Oklahoma for the funeral and everything stopped on the home front. My mother-in-law later said, “That was when it all died.”

My sister-in-law, who is still a friend and partner in our ministry, asked me to preach the funeral message. I think it was the first time I had preached at a funeral.

The little church in Kiowa, Oklahoma was packed as I shared a message about my brother Harvey and the hope we have because of the Resurrection of Jesus. The presence of the Holy Spirit was manifested in a very tangible way, and I still remember how there was more than a sense of comfort; there was an absolute sense of triumph as I shared about the glory and hope of the Resurrection.

I then returned home to face a different kind of death—the death of a dream and vision. But I discovered, in a dramatic fashion, that the Resurrection is more than a past event and a future hope. It is a present reality in the life of the believer.

After my return, Sue and I met with a couple and their two small children to talk and pray. Ric and Kerry had remined faithful friends through the death and now we sat at a park bench with them and their two small children, David and Cara.

After a time of talking and fellowship, we began lifting our hearts to God in prayer. I will never forget what happened next. Their 5-year-old daughter, Cara, who had shown an unusual love for Jesus and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, began praying in other tongues as in the Book of Acts.

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 other tongues. This was prayer that I could feel flowing out of my spirit. And all the time I was praying in this manner, I could hear the words, “Don’t be afraid of death because I Am the Resurrection.”

 I immediately 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. God brought a born -again, Spirit-filled Catholic man into our lives who was managing properties for a national organization. He opened a building for us and filled the barrels with heating oil in the midst of winter.

We opened our first service with about four people. But in a few weeks the building was filled and people were standing along the back wall because of no place to sit. Over the next six years, before moving back to Texas, we saw many come to Christ including Sue’s father and two brothers.

Life burst forth out of death and victory out of defeat. 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.  And those words I heard will forever be emblazoned in my mind and heart, “Don’t be afraid of death because I Am the Resurrection.”

Yes, as we approach our 50th wedding anniversary on May 17, I am writing this series of articles remembering and reminiscing about God’s faithfulness through the years. And as I said before, if there is one testimony we would leave behind when we depart this world, it is this: He has been faithful!

Drs. Eddie and Sue Hyatt are still active in ministry and their numerous books are available on Amazon and their websites at http://eddiehyatt.com and http://godswordtowomen.org. Of particular significance at this moment in history is Eddie's book, America's Reawakening, and Sue's book, In the Spirit We're Equal, which contains a message that "has the power to begin a mass movement from Islam to Christianity, beginning with the women."

10 LITTLE KNOWN FACTS ABOUT THE FOUNDING OF AMERICA

Derived from America’s Reawakening by Eddie L. Hyatt

1.       The most recognized figure in colonial America was not George Washington or Thomas Jefferson, but a Methodist preacher from Great Britain who preached to massive outdoor crowds from Georgia to Massachusetts until his death in 1770.

2.       The First Great Awakening saw entire towns and cities repent and turn to God as Benjamin Franklin testified of his hometown of Philadelphia.

3.       The First Great Awakening breached the deep theological, cultural and racial divisions in colonial America and made possible the founding of a new nation.

4.       The Continental Congress began every session with Bible reading and prayer and at least 15 times during the Revolutionary War issued a call for a Day of Prayer, Repentance, and Fasting throughout the colonies.

5.       George Washington banned drunkenness and profanity in the Revolutionary Army and ordered that every day was to begin with prayer.

6.       The First Great Awakening ignited an abolition movement that resulted in virtually every American founder taking a public stand against slavery at a time it was accepted and practiced in most of the world.

7.       America’s founding documents were used by abolitionists in their fight against slavery because they contain no classifications based on race or skin color but state that ALL men are created equal and are endowed with by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.

8.       The founders believed that only a moral and religious [Christian] people could maintain the freedoms they had implemented in the U.S. Constitution.

9.       The founding generation had a missionary vision for America, believing that the Gospel would go out from here to the ends of the earth.

10.     George Washington is the only president to receive every electoral vote, not once but twice. 

In his new 216-page book, America’s Reawakening, Dr. Eddie Hyatt discusses in-depth the above facts and so much more. It is available from Amazon and his website at http://eddiehyatt.com.

REMEMBERING 50 YEARS OF GOD'S FAITHFULNESS, PART 3

When God Miraculously Delivered Us 
from Death and Our Vehicle from Ruin

It was probably the first year of our marriage and we were in a home prayer meeting in Sue’s hometown of Saint John, New Brunswick when something remarkable and supernatural happened. People were kneeling at chairs and the sofa all around the room when a woman on the opposite of the room from Sue and me began praying in the Spirit—in other tongues.

Such a phenomenon occurs when the Holy Spirit moves on someone to pray about things they know nothing about in their minds (Romans 8:26-27). This is why it is called "prayer in the Spirit" and Paul discusses it in I Corinthians 14.

As she prayed, it seemed as though her prayer was coming across the room in an arc and lighting on me. It powerfully affected me and I began to weep. My heart was melted and I knew on the inside that the prayer was somehow related to me. 

Later, as we were having refreshments and fellowship, I said to this woman, “I felt you were praying for me tonight when you prayed in the Spirit.” She replied, “Yes, I felt that I was praying for you and Sue.”

We left the prayer meeting and stopped for a visit with Sue’s parents before proceeding to our apartment around midnight. I was driving our little VW Bug and as we crossed a 4-lane thoroughfare that ran through the city, I heard Sue exclaiming, “Look out! Look out!”

As I looked to my right, I saw the nose of an 18-wheeler filling the passenger side window of our little Bug, and then the crash. Thankfully, he hit us in the right rear, instead of broadside, knocking us into another vehicle. Sue had some bruises on her leg and hip, but no one was hospitalized.

The rear right side of the little VW was crumpled all around the engine, and the insurance company eventually wrote it off as a total loss. If we had been moving just slightly slower, the truck would have hit us broadside and left us seriously injured or dead.

There is no question in my mind that “prayer in the Spirit” that night preserved our lives. The devil wanted to end our lives before we could get started, but someone was sensitive to the Holy Spirit and bold enough to let the river of Spirit-empowered prayer flow out of their heart (see Romans 8:26-27).

But that is not the end of this story. After the police and everyone left, I tried to start our little Bug, but to no avail. Finally, I discovered that if I continually pumped the gas pedal it would run, but if I ever stopped pumping the gas pedal it would die.

So, we made it to our apartment with the little Bug sputtering and jerking as I frantically pumped the gas pedal. That was our only means of transportation, so it was an everyday experience – until one day God intervened through another woman’s prayer.

Sue and I had stopped in one evening at a Christian coffee shop and upon leaving we gave a ride home to a little old white-haired lady known as “Sister Manetta.” She sat in the front with me as we went along sputtering and jerking as I frantically pumped the gas pedal. Sister Manetta exclaimed, “What is wrong with your car!”

I said, “O, Sister Manetta, this car needs prayer." She immediately laid her hand on the dash and began praying for the vehicle and pleading the blood of Jesus over it. God and Sue are my witnesses. The engine stopped sputtering and jerking. From that time, I no longer had to pump the gas pedal, and it ran as clean and smoothly as ever.

Shortly thereafter, we drove the car to Texas with the rear end crumpled around the engine. I still remember how straight and smooth it ran down the interstate highways. In Texas, my brother, who was a mechanic took that engine, because it ran so well, and put it in another VW with a good body.

What an awesome God we serve! I can never thank Him enough for His goodness and faithfulness to us through the years.

Yes, as we approach our 50th wedding anniversary on May 17, I am writing this series of articles remembering and reminiscing about God’s faithfulness through the years. And as I said before, if there is one testimony we would leave behind when we depart this world, it is this: He has been faithful!

Drs. Eddie and Sue Hyatt are still active in ministry and their numerous books are available on Amazon and their websites at http://eddiehyatt.com and http://godswordtowomen.org. Of particular significance at this moment in history is Eddie's book, America's Reawakening, and Sue's book, In the Spirit We're Equal, which contains a message that "has the power to begin a mass movement from Islam to Christianity, beginning with the women."

 

WHY SPIRITUAL AWAKENING CAN BE TROUBLESOME FOR CHURCH TRADITIONALISTS

Some years ago I was invited to speak at a "Dreams & Visions Conference." In my first session I shared a message I sensed the Lord had given me while in prayer for the conference. There was tremendous response with three-quarters of the congregation answering the invitation and coming forward to receive a fresh touch from the Holy Spirit. Many were obviously powerfully impacted.

The next day the pastor rebuked me and reminded me that this was a "Dreams & Visions Conference" and not a "Revival Meeting." He informed me that he planned to have a revival meeting at a later time, but this conference was not about revival. I have to admit I was stunned by his response for I had not preached about revival. I had simply followed the leading of the Holy Spirit in my heart and revival broke forth.

If we are to have true, authentic revival, we must make way for the spontaneous and dynamic workings of the Holy Spirt as Jesus admonished in John 3:8, where he said, The wind blows where it wishes, and you can hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.

Jesus is here comparing the work of the Holy Spirit with the wind. In the same way that we cannot control the direction and intensity of the wind, neither can we control and confine the Holy Spirit to our liturgies and religious programs. The wind of the Holy Spirit blows where it wishes, both inside and outside the parameters of our church programs and institutions.  

This is why an Awakening can be troublesome to church traditionalists, because the Holy Spirit will not confine Himself to our well-prepared programs and liturgies. This truth was profoundly expressed by the well-known Christian leader from South Africa, the late David du Plessis. Addressing the 1948 World Pentecostal Conference in Zurich, Switzerland, du Plessis exhorted this international audience,

Nothing can take the place of the Holy Spirit in the church. So let us pray for a greater outpouring of the Holy Spirit than ever before. And remember, when the flood comes, it will not keep to our well-prepared channels but will overflow and most likely cause chaos in all our programs (Hyatt, America's Reawakening, 211).

Dr. Henry P. Van Dusen, president of the liberal Union Theological Seminary, addressed this same issue in a landmark 1958 article in Life magazine entitled “The Third Force.” Van Dusen castigated traditional churchmen for criticizing contemporary revival movements and referring to them as being “on the fringe.”

“On the fringe of what?” Van Dusen asked. “Perhaps on the fringe of traditional churches, but not necessarily on the fringe of Christendom.” Van Dusen then went on to suggest that Peter, Paul and Barnabas would probably feel more at home in one of these revival meetings than in the formalized worship of other churches, Catholic or Protestant.

The well-known Biblical scholar and theologian, R.A. Torrey, stated, "The history of revivals is the history of the church." He believed that the church of Jesus Christ owes its existence to these periodic renewals, noting that whenever the church faced decay or potential shipwreck, God sent revival to save it.

Torrey is right. There is no true church without those Spiritual Awakenings that have, from time to time, breathed new life into Christendom. Without question, the modern church is past due for such an Awakening. 

The only question is, "Are we willing to let go and invite the Holy Spirit  to have free reign and disrupt our cherished liturgies and programs? That is the cost of real revival and how many pastors and churches are willing to pay the price?

This article is derived from Dr. Eddie Hyatt's latest book, America's Reawakening, in which he documents how America was birthed out of a "Great Awakening" and has been sustained through critical moments in his history by subsequent Awakenings. The book is available from Amazon and his website at http://eddiehyatt.com.

REMEMBERING 50 YEARS OF GOD'S FAITHFULNESS, PART 2

When God Used Sue and a Group of Women to Impact a Nation

Sue and I will celebrate 50 years of marriage on May 17 and during a recent time of prayer, I experienced a desire to share some personal stories of God’s faithfulness to us through the years. Today I want to share an incredible story of how God used Sue and a small group of women to impact an African nation.

It was the summer of 1984 and Sue had arranged to accompany Daisy Osborn and a small group of women on a trip to Nigeria and Ghana in West Africa. It was a very significant trip on different levels, especially in Ghana where a military coup had just taken over the government when they arrived.

Daisy and her husband, T. L. Osborn, had become very well known throughout Africa for their giant evangelistic crusades on that continent. Hundreds of thousands would attend these outdoor gospel crusades and thousands would dedicate their lives to Christ, and many would testify to having been miraculously healed.

Daisy was around 60 years old at the time and Sue was around 38. Sue considered it an honor and great opportunity to travel with this veteran minister and missionary. The scheduled itinerary had Sue flying from our home in New Brunswick, Canada to Houston where she would meet up with the group and they would all proceed from there to Nigeria and then Ghana.

But before I tell how God used them to impact nation of Ghana, I must tell the miracle of God's last-minute provision for the trip.

Sue had been advised to have at least $500.00 with her in addition to her round-trip ticket. The day arrived for her departure, and she only had 30 Canadian dollars. Nonetheless, she was at peace and held those promises in her heart that God had given us that, “You have no lack.”

Since she needed to exchange her Canadian dollars into U.S. dollars, we stopped at the bank on our way to the airport. As we stood in line, I told Sue I would go across the street to the post office and pick up our mail. I was blown away by what I found in our box.

In the mail was a totally unexpected envelope and in it a check for over $400.00. I hurried back to the bank, arriving just as Sue was stepping up to the cashier and handing her the $30.00 to be exchanged. I handed the check to the cashier and said, “Add this to the amount for exchange.”

Because the Canadian dollar was worth more than the American dollar at the time, Sue received back more than the $500.00 she was supposed to have with her. Hallelujah!

Interestingly, the check was from a Baptist church and pastor in another city. He explained that they had just completed a conference and they exceeded their financial budget for the conference, and he wanted to send the excess to us. It was the right amount that came just at the right time. Is that not a miracle!

After a time of ministry in Nigeria at a massive church founded and pastored by Benson Idahosa (now in heaven), they made plans to proceed to Ghana. It was at this point that Daisy advised the group that a military coup had just overthrown the government in Ghana, and since it was a tumultuous and unknown situation, anyone was welcome to return home if they desired.

Everyone agreed to continue to Ghana and when they arrived, it seemed there were soldiers everywhere. Sue said they could hear soldiers marching during the night outside their hotel rooms. The coup was led by a young army officer named Jerry Rawlings who was now the acting president.

Daisy had scheduled a conference in the Parliament building and the new government leaders allowed it to continue. Sue was one of the speakers at this conference where they were able to encourage the people and much joy and praise was expressed despite the political uncertainty of the time.

During the conference, the new leader, Jerry Rawlings, sent word that he would like to speak to Daisy “as a mother.” He was obviously aware of the Osborns reputation and love for the African people.

Daisy asked Sue and two other women to accompany her to “the Castle,” the headquarters for the new regime. At the Castle, they were served tea and treated as dignitaries while waiting for the new president to arrive. Rawlings eventually arrived and they had a cordial conversation in which Daisy talked to him and exhorted him about truly caring for the people of his country.

She then asked Rawlings if they could pray for him and he said, “yes.” Sue and Daisy and the others then laid their hands on him and prayed, asking God’s blessing and wisdom for him and peace for his country

After the prayer, he asked Sue, Daisy and one or two others to go on the state-run radio and address the nation. So, Sue shared the Good News of Jesus with the nation of Ghana, all orchestrated by that Almighty hand that guides the course of history and nations.

They did not realize it at the time, but something was obviously unleashed by their presence, words, and prayers. It may have been a year or so afterwards that we were elated to see an article in our Canadian newspaper about the unexplained change that had come over the troubled nation of Ghana. According to the article, peace had returned to the nation, the economy was booming, and the harvests had been unusually good.

Yes, if we are available, God will arrange our paths and use us to impact both individuals and nations for His name and honor.

It was also during this trip that Sue solidified a friendship with Valarie Owen who was also a part of the group. Valarie, a gifted Bible teacher and woman of faith, became a dear friend and ministry partner and served on the board of God’s Word to Women until her passing in 2023.

Yes, as we approach our 50^th wedding anniversary on May 17, I am writing this series of articles remembering and reminiscing about God’s faithfulness through the years. And as I said before, if there is one testimony we would leave behind when we depart this world, it is this: He has been faithful!

Drs. Eddie and Sue Hyatt are still active in ministry and their numerous books are available on Amazon and their websites at http://eddiehyatt.com and http://godswordtowomen.org. Of particular significance at this moment in history is Eddie's book, America's Reawakening, and Sue's book, In the Spirit We're Equal, which contains a message that "has the power to begin a mass movement from Islam to Christianity, beginning with the women."