AMERICA'S REVIVAL HERITAGE

Benjamin Franklin & the Great Awakening

Modern revisionists of American history tend to depict the country’s founders as a collection of atheists, agnostics, and Deists with little or no interest in God or the Bible. Nothing could be further from the truth! The truth is that the nation emerged out of a great Spiritual Awakening and all the founders, to one degree or another, were impacted by this Awakening. In fact, a recent ten-year project to discover where the founding fathers got their ideas for America’s founding documents, found that by far the single most cited authority in their writings was the Bible. 

The impact of the Great Awakening (1726-1760) on the founding of America is nowhere more evident than in the life of Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) who is widely considered to be one of the least religious of the founding fathers and a Deist. It is true that in his early years he did entertain Deistic views about God and the Bible. However, his religious sentiments and views changed through the years attributable, no doubt, to his exposure to the Great Awakening and his friendship with George Whitefield, the most famous preacher of the Awakening.

Franklin first met Whitefield in 1739 when Whitefield arrived in Philadelphia on a preaching tour along the eastern seaboard. Franklin was astounded at the impact of Whitefield’s preaching on the populace and wrote,

The multitudes of all sects and denominations that attended his sermons were enormous, and it was a matter of speculation to me, who was one of the number, to observe the extraordinary influence of his oratory on his hearers. 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.

Although he preached to the masses, Whitefield knew the power of personal, friendship evangelism and he went out of his way to be a friend to Franklin, even asking Franklin if he could stay in his home when visiting Philadelphia. He also hired Franklin, a printer, to print and distribute his Journal and sought Franklin’s advice in business affairs such as the establishment of an orphanage in Georgia. Franklin welcomed Whitefield into his home, attended his meetings and even contributed financially to his ministry. In his Autobiography Franklin refers to Whitefield as “a perfectly honest man” and describes their friendship as being “sincere on both sides, which lasted till his death.” It is obvious that, in spite of their differences, their friendship ran deep.

In his Autobiography, Franklin acknowledges that Whitefield often prayed for his conversion and admits that Whitefield did not live to see his prayers answered. There is evidence, nonetheless, that Franklin did come to know the Savior that Whitefield so often spoke to him about.

We know that Franklin became an avid reader of the Bible and often attended church, depending on who was preaching. In a letter to his daughter he spoke to her about “the necessity and duty of attending church.” After a voyage to England in 1757, during which the ship almost crashed at midnight into a small rocky island in the Atlantic, Franklin wrote a letter to his wife in which he said;

The bell ringing for church, we went thither immediately, and with hearts full of gratitude, returned sincere thanks to God for the mercies we had received. If I were a Roman Catholic, perhaps I should, on this occasion, vow to build a chapel to some saint; but as I am not, if I were to vow at all, it should be to build a light house.

The most telling example of the impact of Whitefield and the Awakening on Franklin came on  June 28, 1787, seventeen years after Whitefield’s death. Franklin was a delegate to the  Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia and the convention was about to be suspended because of unresolved dissension. It was a very critical moment. Franklin, now 81 years of age, rose to his feet and chided those present for their neglect of prayer and then called upon them to pray and ask God's blessings on their deliberations. He addressed the Convention president, George Washington, with these words.

How has it happened, sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly appealing to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible to danger, we had daily prayers in this room for Divine protection. Our prayers, sir, were heard and they were graciously answered. I have lived, sir, a long time and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth—that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured, sir, in the sacred writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this. I therefore beg leave to move that, henceforth, prayers imploring the assistance of heaven and its blessing on our deliberation being held in this assembly every morning before we proceed to business.

Franklin’s words (which were not the words of a Deist) were heeded. One writer has said that, “An atmosphere of reconciliation seemed to descend over the convention hall.” Petty grievances and local interests were laid aside and the delegates went on to complete their task of formulating the American Constitution and Bill of Rights. I think Whitefield must have smiled and all heaven with him.

Whether Franklin ever accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior in the modern evangelical sense, is still questionable. But what is without question is the fact Franklin was profoundly impacted by the Great Awakening and, as a result, he gave up his Deistic views and accepted the fact that the God of the Bible is a personal, caring God who answers prayer. He obviously held to a Christian world view and believed the morals taught by Jesus and the New Testament to be the greatest moral teachings the world has ever known. Such is the legacy of one of the least religious founders of the United States of America.

This truth about Franklin adds credibility to the statement of one of the more religious founders, Patrick Henry, who declared, “It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

This article was derived from America’s Revival Heritage by Eddie L. Hyatt, available from Amazon and from http://www.eddiehyatt.com/bookstore.html. 

AMERICA'S REVIVAL HERITAGE

James Madison & the Great Awakening

Karl Marx once said, “People without a heritage are easily persuaded,” and time has proven him to be right. Throughout history when the conquerors have wanted to assimilate the conquered into their own society and culture, the first thing they do is cut the conquered off from their past. With no sense of history, the conquered lose a sense of their own identity as a people and are then easily assimilated into the society and culture of their conquerors. This very thing—Marx’s maxim--is being played out before our very eyes in America.

Because we have lost a sense of our heritage or history as a nation, concepts of morality, God, government, education, and human nature—concepts that made this nation great--are being discarded before our very eyes. Because we have lost all knowledge of our true history as a nation birthed out of a great Spiritual awakening, we are now being redefined as a secularist, politically correct nation in which Christians and Christian values are being pushed to the fringes of our society. Yes, “people without a heritage are easily persuaded,” and because we have lost our heritage as a nation, our president can stand before a foreign Muslim audience and declare, “America is not a Christian nation,” with hardly a peep of protest from back home.

Whether this downhill slide into a moral and social abyss will stop is really dependent on how you and I respond to the crisis. A good time to begin our response is this July 4th in our congregations, special meetings and online gatherings. Why not take this 237^th birthday of our nation as an opportunity to help our people recover America’s heritage as a nation founded by Christian reformers and revivalists? My latest book, America’s Revival Heritage, gives all the tools needed to demonstrate how this nation was birthed out of a great Spiritual awakening that transformed the 13 American Colonies in the early and mid-18^th century.

For example, did you know that James Madison, the 4^th president and chief architect of the American Constitution, was trained at a college that was known as a center of Spiritual awakening? Only a few years before Madison enrolled in the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University), Samuel Davies received a letter, dated April 16, 1757, from Samuel Finley, a trustee of the college, who wrote, “Our glorious Redeemer has poured out His Holy Spirit upon the students at our College. The whole house was a Bochim (place of weeping). Mr. William Tennant, who was on the spot, says that there never was, he believes, more genuine sorrow for sin and longing after Jesus” (Eddie Hyatt, America’s Revival Heritage, 72). Madison’s mentor and president at this college, Dr. Jonathan Witherspoon, was a graduate of Cambridge University in England, a Christian reformer and a signer of the Declaration of Independence who declared, “Cursed is all education that is contrary to Christ.” After graduation, Madison continued at the College of New Jersey for an additional year, and during that time, he translated the Bible from Hebrew and Greek into English.  

That Madison was a committed follower of Jesus is evident from his many public and private writings. For example, in a letter to his friend, William Bradford, he exhorted him to make sure of his own salvation, saying, “A watchful eye must be kept on ourselves lest, while we are building ideal monuments of renown and bliss here, we neglect to have our names enrolled in the Annals of Heaven.” He also told Bradford of his desire that public officials would openly testify of their faith in Christ, and encouraged him to do so. He wrote,

I have sometimes thought there could not be a stronger testimony in favor of religion than for men who occupy the most honorable and gainful departments … becoming fervent advocates in the cause of Christ; and I wish you may give your evidence in this way.

In 1812, President Madison signed a federal bill that provided economic aid for a Bible society in its goal of the mass distribution of the Bible. Throughout his presidency (1809-1816), he issued several proclamations for national days of prayer, fasting, and thanksgiving.

Madison’s worldview was obviously shaped by associates and institutions with roots firmly anchored in the Great Awakening. This is why the late Dr. D. James Kennedy and Jerry Newcombe have said, “Madison’s political worldview was one shaped by the Bible more than any other source.”

This article was derived from America’s Revival Heritage by Eddie L. Hyatt, available from Amazon and from http://www.eddiehyatt.com/bookstore.html. A 50% discount is available for orders of 10 or more copies. Send such order to dreddiehyatt@gmail.com.

www.eddiehyatt.com/bookstore.html

CHRISTIANITY 101

Why returning to the Basics of Christianity Could Save America

The story is told of the legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers, Vince Lombardi, standing before his team with a football in his hand after a very disappointing loss. Lombardi began his remarks by saying, “Gentlemen, this is a football,” that then proceeded to exhort them to dispense with the “cute” and complex plays and return to the basics of hard-nosed football--intense running, blocking and tackling. With his “back to basics” approach, Lombardi went on to win five league championships and the first two super bowls. The super bowl trophy is named in his honor.

This same “return to the basics” approach is sorely needed in the church today. It seems that the basics of Christianity—the message of the cross, prayer, holy living, etc.—have been buried beneath an avalanche of exotic “prophetic” teachings, entertainment masquerading as worship, and a business/marketing approach that would make the money-changers in the Jerusalem temple blush.

Spiritual awakenings that have changed culture have always been characterized by a return to the basics of Christianity. Consider, for example, the church and pastor God used to give birth to the Great Awakening in New England-- a revival that transformed the entire region and helped give birth to the United States of America. This church had no praise band or worship team. There were no altar calls and people were never invited forward for prayer. They knew nothing of spiritual mapping and did not practice spiritual warfare. They had no self-proclaimed apostles or prophets and there was no great preaching. The pastor wrote out his sermons and read them from behind the pulpit in a monotone voice.

What they did exhibit, however, was a committed return to the basics of Christianity. This included the passionate proclamation of Christ and the wonders of His salvation, the duty of every person to give his/her self completely to God, intense private and public prayer that would last for hours, the priority of Scripture, and the reality of eternal rewards and punishment. The results were astounding.

Jonathan Edwards, pastor of the Congregational Church in Northampton, MA, wrote that there came a point when the entire town of Northampton “seemed to be full of the presence of God” (Jonathan Edwards, Jonathan Edwards on Revival, 14). In every part of town, the Spirit of God was powerfully at work until “there was scarcely a single person in the town, old or young, left unconcerned about the great things of the eternal world.” Without any sort of planned evangelistic outreach “souls did as it were come by flocks to Jesus Christ.” Instead of resorting to the tavern, people now crowded Edwards’ home clamoring to hear the message of Christ and His salvation (Edwards, 24).

His home, Edwards said, “was thronged far more than ever the tavern had been wont to be.” In fact, the Spirit of God worked so powerfully that “the tavern was soon left empty” (Edwards, 24) “A loose, careless person could scarcely be found,” said Edwards, “And if there was anyone that seemed to remain senseless or unconcerned it would be spoken of as a strange thing” (Edwards, 19).

Edwards was astounded at what was happening. The revival seemed to take on a life of its own apart from his efforts. He wrote,

"When God in so remarkable a manner took the work into His own hands, there was as much done in a day or two, as at ordinary times, with all endeavors men can use, and with such a blessing as we commonly have, is done in a year" (Edwards, 21).

Although he did not preach divine healing and never prayed for the sick, Edwards reported that it was the healthiest time their city had ever known. Whereas there was, normally, always several homes with quarantines on the door indicating a contagious disease within, Edwards said that many weeks had passed without a single quarantine posted on any home. It was a time, he said, when Satan seemed “unusually restrained” (Edwards, 69).

The Great Awakening brought positive, cultural change to Colonial America. Profanity, vulgar living, and drunkenness almost completely disappeared, and entire communities were transformed. New England saw 30,000 to 40,000 converts and 150 new congregations. Missionary work and other humanitarian enterprises were spawned. Colleges such as Princeton, Columbia, and Hampden-Sydney were established to equip ministers for the new congregations. Kings College, now known as Columbia University, opened in 1754 with an advertisement in New York papers declaring,

"The chief thing in this college is to teach and engage children to know God in Jesus Christ and to love Him and serve Him in all sobriety, godliness, and richness of life with a perfect heart and willing mind.”

The key to the Great Awakening was a return to the basics of Christianity. There was no human glitz and glitter or sensational doctrines. There was no attempt to entertain, or appeal on a mere emotional level. There was just basic preaching and praying that touched heaven, pushed back hell and led to the formation of the United States of America. A similar “back to basics” approach by the church in America could once again touch heaven, push back hell and lead to another national awakening that would save this Republic from certain ruin.

This article is derived from Dr. Eddie Hyatt's latest book, America's Revival Heritage, available from Amazon and from his website bookstore at www.eddiehyatt.com/bookstore.html

DON'T BE AFRAID OF DEATH

Christ’s Resurrection Power at Work in You Today

Yes, we had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead (II Cor. 1:9).

“DON’T BE AFRAID OF DEATH BECAUSE I AM THE RESURRECTION” were the words I heard at one of the most devastating times of my life. The ministry Sue and I had begun in Canada shortly after our marriage had died and we had lost everything, including a place to have our meetings and a place to live. In spite of the loss I continued meetings with a small group of people in homes because I knew the vision for a congregation and teaching center were from God. Then I received word from Oklahoma that my brother had been killed in an accident and I had to depart to attend the funeral. Everyone was discouraged and no one had the motivation to continue the meetings and they ceased. Chris, my mother-in-law, later said, “That was when it all died.”

Thank God for the Holy Spirit; for one evening, while in prayer, I sensed the Holy Spirit rising up out of my innermost being and I began to pray in other tongues. All the time I was praying in the Spirit, I was hearing those words, "DON’T BE AFRAID OF DEATH, BECAUSE I AM THE RESURRECTION.”

I was reminded that this was the word that Jesus spoke to Martha as they stood before the tomb of her brother, Lazarus, after she had stated her theological belief that her brother would live again at the resurrection and Jesus had replied, “I AM THE RESURRECTION.” I also, at that moment, realized that the resurrection is not just a future event, but is personified in the Person of Jesus Christ, and is a present reality in the life of the believer. As Paul said in Philippians 3:10, For my determined purpose is that I may know Him . . . and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection. (Amplified Version).

A resurrection did occur in our lives and in that ministry. A yielding to God, a determination not to quit, a step of obedience, and resurrection power flowed forth. The ministry that died came forth but it was not the same as before; for it came forth in His resurrection power and in ways we could never have planned or strategized. 

I then began to see throughout Scripture this principle of His resurrection power at work in our lives. In II Cor. 1:8-10, for example, Paul tells of a devastating ordeal he and his companions experienced in which they gave up hope of living through it. But in the midst of this ordeal they learned, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.

Perhaps there is some area of your life that you feel has died—a relationship, a dream, a career, a project. Maybe you have suffered the loss of a spouse in death or in divorce. On this Good Friday I felt to share with you those words the LORD spoke to me years ago in the midst of death. He said, “DON’T BE AFRAID OF DEATH BECAUSE I AM THE RESURRECTION.” 

MANY CONVINCING PROOFS

The Historical and Rational Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

One of the greatest historians of all time who interviewed the eyewitnesses of the resurrection of Jesus, said that Jesus showed Himself to them after His sufferings, by many convincing proofs (Acts 1:3). These proofs are still there to be examined by those today who are willing to lay aside their prejudiced presuppositions and examine the evidence.

A Harvard Law Professor is Convinced

Dr. Simon Greenleaf (1783-1853) was the Royal Professor of Law at Harvard University and one of the principle founders of the Harvard Law School. He authored the famous three-volume work, A Treatise on the Law of Evidence, which is still considered one of the greatest single authorities on judicial legal procedure. Greenleaf originally set out to disprove the biblical testimony concerning the resurrection of Jesus Christ, believing that a careful examination of the internal witness of the Gospels would reveal the myth at the heart of Christianity. Instead, this legal scholar came to the conclusion that the witnesses were reliable, and that the resurrection did in fact happen. As a result he became a believer and wrote a book entitled, An Examination of the Testimony of the Four Evangelists by the Rules of Evidence Administered in the Courts of Justice. Greenleaf concluded that, according to the jurisdiction of legal evidence, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the best-supported event in all of ancient history.

A British Lawyer is Convinced

A brilliant young British lawyer, Frank Morrison, decided that he would write a book showing that, based on the testimony of the eyewitnesses, Jesus Christ could not have risen from the dead. Unfamiliar with the earlier work of Greenleaf, Morrison’s plan was to examine and compare the testimonies of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the same way he would examine and cross-examine the testimonies of witnesses in a court of law. He felt confident that by doing so he would be able to show that their testimonies could not be corroborated.

Morrison’s book was never written for in the process of examining the eyewitness accounts of the resurrection and the questions raised by such an examination, he too became convinced that Jesus did, indeed, rise from the dead. Instead of a book disproving the resurrection he wrote a book entitled, Who Moved the Stone?, demonstrating, from a lawyer’s perspective, convincing proof that Jesus did rise from the dead.

Morrison discovered that the differences in the accounts of the four Gospels, instead of being problematic, are exactly the sort to be expected in four different eyewitness accounts. He points out that if, in a court of law, four different eyewitnesses describe what they saw in the same exact detail, they immediately come under suspicion of having concocted together on how to present their witness. The four different Gospel accounts, he says, have differences, but they are precisely the sort of minor differences to be expected by four different eyewitness accounts.

Luke Affirmed as a Reliable Historian

It was Luke, the author of the third gospel and Acts, who declared that Jesus showed Himself alive by many convincing proofs. His status as a careful historian of detailed accuracy was confirmed by the agnostic professor and archaeologist, Sir William Ramsay. Ramsay believed and taught that the New Testament was a 2^nd century document filled with myths and embellishments and not a reliable source of history. However, his view of Luke and the New Testament was transformed after spending several years retracing Luke’s account of Paul’s travels in the Book of Acts. He acquired a very high regard for Luke as a historian and 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. 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”.¹⁵

If Luke was this careful to get his facts right about names, places and dates, can we not be confident that he was also careful to get his facts right concerning the more important things about which he reported, such as the Resurrection of Jesus. We can be confident that if there had been any smell of conspiracy or hallucination from these eyewitness accounts, Dr. Luke would have detected it.

Not a Myth

Some, of course, refuse to accept the historical facts and claim that these stories are myths fabricated by followers of Jesus who wanted to deify Him. This reminds me of C.S. Lewis, an agnostic professor of Renaissance Literature at Oxford University, who exposed the shallow claims concerning the mythological character of the New Testament. Lewis was an expert in mythological literature and he tells of his astonishment the first time he read the Gospels. His surprised response was, “This is not myth!”

Lewis, of course, became a believer and an astute apologist for Christianity. It was at this time that higher criticism was being popularized in seminaries in Germany and certain theologians, such as Rudolph Bultmann, were claiming that the New Testament accounts of Jesus, His miracles, and His resurrection were myths created by His followers. Lewis challenged these claims, saying, “I would like to know how many myths these people have read!” Lewis went on to explain that he had been a long-time professor and critic of mythological literature and knew how a myth sounded and felt, “And the gospel story is not myth!”

A Solid Foundation for Faith

Ours is not a blind leap of faith into the dark. Our faith is based on solid historical evidence. But even greater evidence is the transformation of millions of lives throughout the centuries who have chosen to believe the Gospel account and put their faith in the risen Christ. Yes, the evidence is there for anyone who will take the time, with an open mind, to examine the many convincing proofs.

FALL ON THE STONE

Moving from Bitterness to Brokenness & the Power of God in Your Life

“He will either become bitter or broken,” were the words I heard in my heart as I prayed for my brother-in-law, John, who was feeling very discouraged in life. He had been unable to find employment for two years and had just filed for bankruptcy. I immediately knew what the Holy Spirit meant. John had a choice in how he would respond to this devastating ordeal. If he responded with anger, self-pity, and blaming God, his heart would become bitter and hardened, and God would not be able to use him. On the other hand, if he would fall on his face and say, “God I do not understand why this has happened to me, but I know You are good and I am putting myself in your hands and trusting You through it all,” pride and unhealthy self-reliance would be broken and he would become a vessel through whom God could flow. This is what Jesus called falling on the stone.

Jesus & Brokenness

In Matt. 21:44 Jesus said, And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder. The context of the statement reveals that that the stone he speaks of is “the chief cornerstone,” i.e., Himself. Jesus is saying that whoever will fall on Him—the Stone-- in utter abandonment will be broken of all self-trust and self-reliance that is rooted in ego and pride. Through such a broken vessel, the river of God’s Spirit will flow freely out to others bringing hope and healing. 

Biblical brokenness is not a breaking of one’s will and spirit, but the breaking of ego, pride, and self-reliance. One may do impressive religious works from ego, pride, and self-reliance, but the life of God will only flow through a vessel that has been broken of any trust in self—a vessel that has been abandoned to God in absolute trust and reliance.

Paul Experienced Brokenness

Paul knew what it was to be broken in this sense. In II Cor. 1:8-9 he tells of going through an ordeal so terrible that he and his companions gave up hope of ever living through it. Yet, in the midst of this ordeal he and his companions learned, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead. They gave up any trust in themselves—they fell on the Stone--and out of their brokenness and trust in God, His resurrection power was manifest and they were delivered from so great a death. 

In I Cor. 2:1-5, Paul describes his ministry at Corinth in terms of his human brokenness and weakness. He reminds the Corinthians that when he first came to them it was, in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. The word “trembling” in this passage is a translation of the Greek word tromo from which we get “trauma” and “traumatic.” Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon defines this word as “a trembling, quaking with fear in one who distrusts his/her ability completely.” Paul did not arrive in Corinth full of self-confidence and announcing that God’s great apostle had arrived to take over the city. He arrived in the city a broken man, having been stoned and left for dead in Lystra, beaten and imprisoned in Philippi, and attacked by a mob in Thessalonica. But instead of responding to his difficulties with anger and bitterness, he fell on the Stone in utter abandonment of faith and, through his brokenness, God worked mightily to establish a beachhead for Christianity in that wicked, pagan city of Corinth. It was out of these deep broken experiences that Paul would declare, Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God (II Cor. 3:5).

Brokenness in My Own Life

I recall one of the most devastating times of my life during the early days of our marriage and ministry. Through a series of circumstances, over which it seemed we had no control, Sue and I lost everything, including a place to live and a place to have our “church” meetings. Our already small congregation dwindled to a handful. At the same time, my brother in Oklahoma was killed in an accident and I had to leave Canada to be in OK/TX for several days. Everyone was discouraged and no one had the motivation to continue church meetings while I was gone. Chris, my mother-in-law, said, “That was when it all died.” It was a devastating time but I fell on the Stone in utter abandonment of faith and I heard one of the most amazing words I ever heard, “Don’t be afraid of death, because I am the resurrection.” With pride and self-reliance broken, we stepped out in a faith purified in the fire of adversity, and God came forth in power and brought forth a work far more wonderful than what we had been previously attempting to do in our own human flesh.

The Original Sin was Human Self-Reliance

The sin of the fall was one of human sufficiency apart from God. Our first human parents were not atheists—they did not deny the existence of God. Their sin was that they declared their independence from God and set out to build a world—a social and ethical system—in their own wisdom and ingenuity apart from God. This sort of self-reliance, based in human-centered ego and pride, has become innate in fallen humanity. This is the original sin. It is what keeps non-believers from God and believers from fully experiencing His power in their lives.

America was Settled by Broken Believers

I often hear conservative pundits speak of America being founded on “self-reliance.” This is not true. America was founded on a God-reliance, as is clearly documented in my book, America’s Revival Heritage. I understand that these pundits are making the point that the people who established America were not dependent on government, which is true. But that is only part of the truth. Having been beaten down and persecuted by both the civil government and the state church, they had given up all trust in their own human strength and came to this land with a faith abandoned to God. Not until the churches in America move away from a human-centered self-reliance and fall on the Stone in an utter abandonment of faith will we see a true spiritual awakening in America.

From Self-Centered to Christ-Centered Confidence

Yes, God wants us to have confidence, but it is a Christ-centered confidence, not a self or ego centered confidence. In Phil. 4:13 Paul makes that familiar statement we so often quote, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens (empowers) me. Paul can do all things, but it is not through Paul, it is through Christ in whom he had learned to completely trust. 

If today you are going through a difficult or devastating time. Do not respond in bitterness. Let go of all self-trust or self-reliance. Fall on the Stone in an utter abandonment of faith. You will see God come forth on your behalf in ways you would never have imagined.

The above book is available from Amazon 
and from http://www.eddiehyatt.com/bookstore.html

THE FAITH OF GEORGE WASHINGTON

George Washington (1732-1799) was providentially prepared for his role as the commander who would lead the bedraggled colonial army into victory over the superior British forces and then serve as the nation’s first president. His life was miraculously spared on numerous occasions, not least at the Battle of Fort Duquesne in 1755 during the French and Indian Wars when his clothing was shredded with bullets and two horses were shot from under him. He emerged unscathed and gave glory to God, saying, “I was saved by the miraculous care of Providence.” In his History of the United States, George Bancroft records the words of a Native American chief who was fighting that day on the side of the French. Concerning Washington, the chief said,

“Our rifles were leveled, rifles which, but for him, knew not how to miss. Twas all in vain; a power far mightier than we shielded him from harm. He cannot die in battle. The Great Spirit protects that man, and guides his destinies. He will become chief of nations, and a people yet unborn will hail him the founder of a mighty nation.”

The chief’s prophecy was fulfilled and Washington became the most beloved of the Founding Fathers. In 1789 he was unanimously elected by 69 electors as the first president of the United States. “First in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen” was an endearing adage attached to Washington because of his heroic, sacrificial service. Feeling the effects of time and preferring to retire to his home at Mt. Vernon, he accepted the unanimous call to serve as president solely out of a sense of patriotic duty, saying, “My movement to the chair of government will be accompanied by feelings not unlike those of a culprit going to the place of his execution.” Named the “Father of his Country” he guided the new nation into maturity and sought to impress upon its inhabitants the importance of morality and faith in the God of the Bible as foundational supports for the nation’s success.

When Washington was sworn into office in New York City on April 30, 1789, he placed his hand on a Bible as he repeated the oath to uphold and defend the Constitution. This act has been repeated by every president since; although it is questionable as to how many have held the same respect for the Bible that Washington exhibited in his daily life. For him it was no mere political formality but signified his recognition of the Bible as the authoritative source of guidance and inspiration for his administration. He once declared, “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.”

After his inaugural address, which was filled with references to God and the Bible, Washington and the Congress proceeded to St. Paul’s chapel to participate in a worship service. He also once publicly prayed, “Bless O Lord the whole race of mankind, and let the world be filled with the knowledge of Thee and Thy Son, Jesus Christ.”

A prayer journal has been discovered that Washington kept when he was in his twenties. He called it Daily Sacrifice.  The very first entry reads in part,

Let my heart, therefore, gracious God, be so affected with the glory and majesty of Thine honor that I may not do my own works, but wait on Thee, and discharge those duties which Thou requirest of me.

The following Monday morning, his recorded prayer reads,

Direct my thoughts, words and work, wash away my sins in the immaculate blood of the Lamb, and purge my heart by Thy Holy Spirit . . . daily frame me more and more in the likeness of Thy Son Jesus Christ.

Some have challenged Washington’s faith because he was a slave owner. But what is often not told is the fact that when Washington was challenged on how his keeping of slaves was inconsistent with his profession of faith in Christ, he began setting in motion a compassionate plan, at great personal cost, to make Mt. Vernon slave free. He offered freedom to all who wanted to go, but realizing that some did not have the knowledge and skills to prosper on their own, no one was forced to leave. Those who chose to stay began receiving wages for their work. Washington was much beloved by the black workers on his plantation whom he fed well, encouraged to marry and build families, and made sure they were well instructed in the Gospel. Many, therefore, chose not to leave and became employees of the estate. Children were not released until they were of age and were provided with food, clothing, shelter and education. His own actions expanded his vision and he wrote, “I clearly foresee that nothing but the rooting out of slavery can perpetuate the existence of our union.”

That Washington was devout in his faith was confirmed by Isaac Potts a Quaker who lived near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania when the Continental Army, led by Washington, was wintering there under much duress in 1774-75. Potts was a Quaker and a pacifist who opposed the war until he had a life changing experiencing while riding through the woods one day during, perhaps, the bleakest period of the war. He said,

I heard a plaintive sound as, of a man at prayer. I tied my horse to a sapling and went quietly into the woods and to my astonishment I saw the great George Washington on his knees alone, with his sword on one side and his cocked hat on the other. He was at Prayer to the God of the Armies, beseeching to interpose with his Divine aid, as it was ye Crisis, and the cause of the country, of humanity and of the world. Such a prayer I never heard from the lips of man. I left him alone praying. I went home and told my wife I saw a sight and heard today what I never saw or heard before, and just related to her what I had seen and heard and observed. We never thought a man could be a soldier and a Christian, but if there is one in the world, it is Washington.

In his Farewell Address of 1796, Washington reminded his hearers of the characteristics that would make the newly formed nation successful. He said, “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.” 

Interestingly, the very things that Washington said are indispensable political supports for our nation--Christianity and morality--are the very things that are under attack in our nation, and that are being dispensed by our political leaders. We are in a spiritual battle for the soul of our nation and only another great spiritual awakening will turn the tide. To learn more about how this can happen, check out my book, America's Revival Heritage, which documents the link between the Great Awakening (1726-1760) and the founding of the nation in 1776.

This article was derived from Dr. Eddie L. Hyatt's latest book entitled America's Revival Heritage, available from Amazon and at http://www.eddiehyatt.com/bookstore.html










The above painting by Arnold Friberg is called "The Prayer at Valley Forge."