5 VITAL TRUTHS CONCERNING CHRIST'S ATONING DEATH

Yom Kippur, or "Day of Atonement," begins today (Wednesday) at sundown and is the most holy day of the year on the Jewish calendar. Yom means "day" and Kippur is probably derived from the Hebrew kofer, meaning "ransom." Yom Kippur falls on two of our calendar days because the Jewish day begins and ends at sunset.

It was on this Day of Atonement that the Old Testament high priest went into the holy of holies, and with animal sacrifices, made sacrificial atonement for the sins of the people of Israel (Leviticus 16). Interestingly, there was to be absolutely no work on this Day. This Day was God’s idea and God’s work, with the high priest being the one carrying out the proceedings.

The Old Testament Day of Atonement was a type and foreshadowing of the atoning death of Jesus Christ, not just for Israel, but for the world. Jesus Himself said in Mark 10:45 that He had come to give His life a ransom for many. Paul speaks of the death of Christ as a sacrifice, even referring to Him as our Passover lamb. (I Corinthians 5:7).

The atoning death of Jesus Christ is the greatest gift God has given the human race. It offers forgiveness, freedom and peace with God that cannot be attained or achieved from any other source. It is, therefore, necessary that we understand the truth concerning the atonement for many false teachings abound today, which are based on a distortion of this wonderful act of grace.

Here are 5 truths that are vital for understanding and appropriating the full blessing of Christ's atoning death.

Truth #1
We Cannot Add to His Atoning Work

As mentioned above, there was to be no work on the Day of Atonement. All human labor was to cease. This speaks to the fact that God did not ask or require our help in Christ’s atoning work. Hebrews 1:6 speaks of how Christ, by Himself purged our sins. We have nothing to add. We can only come, and in faith receive the benefits of the work He has already done. It is a Christ centered atonement.

Saul of Tarsus, who later became Paul the apostle, Paul had to learn that his own religious works would not make him right with God. Concerning the righteousness that comes from keeping the Law, Paul said he was “blameless” (Philippians. 1:6). He came to realize, however, that he was just a proud Pharisee. Struck down and lying in the dust of the Damascus Road in the presence of the risen Messiah, he saw how unworthy and undone he really was, and how all his human righteousness was nothing more than “rubbish” (Philippians 1:8).

There are many proud Pharisees today who are depending on their church membership, or singing in the choir, or their occasional good deeds to take them to heaven. They are like John Wesley who was a baptized, confirmed, and ordained Anglican. He even went as a missionary to colonial America to "convert" the American Indians. 

Wesley, however, had his own Damascus Road experience and later wrote, "I who went to America to convert the Indians had never been converted myself." He came to realize that, like Paul, he had built his faith on a faulty foundation—himself and his own works. He came to the stunning realization that only faith in Christ, and Him alone, would save him, and he was never the same.

Many Christian notables have had this Christ-centered revelation, including Martin Luther, George Whitefield, and Pandita Ramabai. This revelation transformed their lives and they impacted their generation for Christ. As the old hymn says, “On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand."

Truth #2
The Benefits of the Atonement 
Must be Appropriated by Repentance & Faith

Yes, the forgiveness and blessings of Christ’s atoning death are free and available to all, but must be appropriated by repentance and faith. This is why Paul, when speaking to the Ephesian elders, reminded them how he had testified to both Jews and Greeks, Repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our English word "repent" comes from the Greek word, metanoia.  Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon defines metanoia as "a change of mind, especially the change of mind of those who have begun to abhor their misdeeds and have determined to enter upon a better course of life."

One serious misunderstanding of the Atonement is the idea that its benefits are automatically applied regardless of attitude or behavior. This idea seems to run parallel with the popular teaching that since Christ has paid for my sins, I do not have to confess sins I commit or be watchful concerning sin.

They speculate that if Jesus paid the penalty for all sins, then any sins I have committed in the past, or am committing now, or will commit in the future, have already been paid for, and borne away, by Christ. I, therefore, do not have to confess sin or be concerned with sin. There is no longer a sin problem for me or for the human race.

For many, this theory has an attractive ring to it, but it is at odds with so many passages of Scripture. For example, Simon the Sorcerer, who had been baptized in the great Samaritan revival led by Philip, offered Peter and John money in return for the authority to lay hands on people to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Peter’s answer to him was very telling.

Peter said to Simon, Your money perish with you because you thought the gift of God could be purchased with money (Acts 8:20). Peter went on to say, Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. (Acts 8:22).

Simon’s request had revealed that true repentance had not taken place even though he had been baptized. Peter said that Simon was in a state of perishing and he called on Simon to repent of his wickedness and ask God for forgiveness.

Peter obviously did not see the benefits of the atonement being automatically applied in Simon’s case. He did not take Simon’s sin lightly. There was a need for repentance and contrition of heart on Simon’s part if he was going to experience the blessings and benefits of Christ’s atoning death.

This is why Paul expressed concern to the Corinthians about un-repented sin in their midst and said he feared that when he would come to them,

My God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced (I Corinthians 12:21).

No, the atoning merits of Christ’s death are not automatically applied across-the-board. The New Testament is filled with passages about the importance of repentance and faith in appropriating the forgiveness and blessings provided through Christ’s atoning death. This understanding is vital for another Great Awakening in our land.

Truth #3
The Atonement Was Not a Commercial Transaction

We must realize that the atonement of Jesus Christ was not a commercial transaction in which He paid the aggregate penalty for every single sin that ever was, or ever will be, committed. If this were the case, there would be no mercy or forgiveness on God’s part. God would be like an ice cold businessman who demands exact payment for every debt and obligation.

If such were the case, the sinner would be in the position of being able to demand his/her salvation from God since the precise debt for any sins they have committed, or ever will commit, has been paid. Salvation would not be a gift from God but something He owes and must give to every person regardless of their attitude, because the precise debt has been paid.

Instead, however, God is presented in Scripture as a merciful and caring being, willing to forgive those who come to Him in reverence and faith. The word “forgive” means “to remit” or “to cancel” or “to write off.” Because of what Christ has done, God is willing to “remit” or “write off” our sins when we put our faith in Jesus Christ and His atoning work through the cross.

We, therefore, should not think of the Atonement in terms of a quantitative payment for every individual sin. We should, instead, think of the Atonement in terms of “quality.” It was the quality of the sacrifice--Jesus Christ being God incarnate--that made His sacrifice acceptable in the sight of God and the basis for God to offer amnesty and pardon to a race of rebels, if they will only come to Him in repentance and faith.

The death of Christ on the cross was a public demonstration of God’s love for humanity and a public showing of His willingness to grant forgiveness and new life to those who will come to Him in repentance and faith. It also, however, showed the terribleness of sin and provided satisfaction for the just nature of a holy God who cannot wink at sin.

Truth #4
The Blessing of Repentance & Confession of Sin

On the Old Testament Day of Atonement, the people were instructed to “afflict their souls.” In other words, they were to examine themselves and repent of wrong and sinful attitudes and behavior. But is such an approach appropriate for a New Testament believer?

In I Corinthians 11:27-32 Paul cautions the Corinthian believers about taking communion in an "unworthy manner," that is, with unconfessed sin in their lives. Communion is a celebration of Christ's atoning death and sin is not to be treated in a light, trivial manner by those who participate. Paul instructed, Let a man [person] examine himself and so let him eat . . .. In verse 31 he says, But if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged, but when we are judged we are chastened by the Lord that we may not be condemned with the world. 

As New Covenant believers with the indwelling Holy Spirit, we judge ourselves by opening our hearts to the Lord and inviting Him to show us anything in our lives that is displeasing to Him. As He brings attitudes and behavior to our attention, we then acknowledge, or confess, our sins before the Lord as we are instructed to do in I John 1:9, a passage and letter written to believers. The results of such repentance and confession can be astounding.

This was the experience of a church, described by Charles Finney, that led to great revival. Through the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, the leaders of this church came to realize that in seeking numbers and recognition from the culture and community leaders, they had compromised their commitment to Christ. They, therefore, formulated a public statement concerning their “backsliding and want of a Christian spirit” (Hyatt, Pilgrims and Patriots, 177).

It was submitted to the congregation for their approval and then read before the congregation. As the confession was being read publicly, the entire congregation stood to its feet with many of its members weeping. Finney said that, from that moment on, the revival went forward in great power, and the opposition, which had been bitter, was silenced.

Jesus told the parable of the Prodigal Son to reveal the merciful, forgiving heart of God. However, the parable also reveals the attitude of heart in which the wayward son or daughter must return to the Father.

After coming to the end of himself in the pigpen, the prodigal departed for home with a different attitude. He determined that on arriving home, he would say to the Father, Father I have sinned against heaven and in Your sight and I am no longer worthy to called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants (Luke 15:18-19).

The prodigal was not perfect. He probably smelled like a pigpen. He probably had pig manure on his shoes and straw in his hair. But he had left the pig pen with a changed attitude and was headed in the right direction, back to the Father’s house. That is a picture of true repentance.

When the Father saw him afar off He ran and fell on his neck weeping. He then brought him into the house, completely restored him to his place in the family, and initiated a time of rejoicing for his safe return.

Truth #5
You Can Appropriate the Atonement Blessings Now

God rejoices today when erring sinners return to Him in faith and sincerity of heart. If you have never appropriated the wonderful forgiveness and blessings of Christ’s Atonement, I urge you to do so today. Come to Him now in faith and sincerity of heart. He will receive you with open arms.

If you are a believer, I urge you to invite the Holy Spirit to search your heart for any attitudes, or any compromise with the world, that are displeasing to Him. As He brings these sins and weights to our minds and we confess them before Him with contrition of heart, I am convinced that we will see a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon our lives, our churches, our nation, and the world.

Dr. Eddie L. Hyatt is an author, Bible teacher, and ordained minister with a vision for Spiritual Awakening in America and around the world. His numerous books on revival and Spiritual Awakening are available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com/bookstore.html. To schedule him to speak at your church, group, or conference, send an email to dreddiehyatt@gmail.com, and visit his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.

HOW GOD USED A LITTLE DOG TO DELIVER ME OUT OF DEPRESSION

by Roland Stewart III

I never thought I would have to deal with depression. I am by nature a positive, upbeat person and from the time I was a teenager I trained myself to always think positively. I had no time or empathy for a negative person. My response would be, “Get over it and move on.”

But in 2012 I suffered a very serious heart attack that almost took my life and required immediate open-heart surgery. The weakened state in which it left me led to depression when I was unable to carry out the most fundamental tasks. God, however, had a way—an unusual way—to bring me out of my depression, and I believe He also has a way to deliver from the depression you are in.

It Was a Very Serious Time

When I was finally released from the hospital, I was in a very weakened state, but right away I phoned friends and business partners to assure them that everything was okay. I did not want people to run scared, so I talked to them in terms of “I am just fine. All is wonderful. It’s roses and chocolate.”

In reality, however, I knew in my heart that this was a serious time.  My body was weak. I tired easily. And I had this awful sick feeling. To add to the problem, I was taking all kinds of prescribed drugs and medications, all of which had negative side effects.

I thrive on action and getting things done, but in my weakened state, I found that I couldn’t carry out the most fundamental tasks. I felt myself slipping into feelings of hopelessness. Hopelessness is the chief characteristic of depression.

When I had the heart attack, I was running 21 different entities—more or less—including limited partnerships and LLC’s. But in my weakened condition, I couldn’t keep up with everything. I felt I was losing control of life, and this led to a sense of hopelessness and despair.

I remember lying in bed, feeling so sick, and thinking, “I am probably not going to make it. I am going to die any day.” Then I would think, “I’ve got shake this off and get things in order. I don’t want to leave a mess.” Then I would begin thinking about my wife, my daughter, and my mother, whom I had cared for since the death of my father. What is going to happen to them? How will they manage?

This went on day after day. No matter how hard I prayed or sought to fill my mind with positive thoughts, I could not shake off the sense of hopelessness and despair.

Prepared for Greater Effectiveness

Having come through this, I now realize that what I was experiencing was not something strange or unusual. In fact, it is estimated that depression affects over 18 million adults in any given year. That’s one in ten! Also, it is the leading cause of disability for people between the ages of 15 and 44. Furthermore, it is the primary reason someone dies of suicide about every 12 minutes. That’s over 41,000 people a year! By way of comparison, according to statistics at the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, homicide claims fewer than 16,000 lives each year,

Even Paul the Apostle went through a time of hopeless despair. He tells about it in II Corinthians 1:3-10. In verse 8-10, he tells of a time of ministry in Asia: We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself.

God delivered Paul from this hopeless situation, and in verses 3-4, he explains how these trials had worked a compassion in him for others who were going through similar difficulties. He refers to God as the God of all comfort whom he says, comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

In a similar way, I can see clearly that God has used my ordeal with depression to work in me an empathy and compassion I did not have before. This has served me well in my calling to help veterans, many of whom are suffering from depression and PTSD. This has also served me well on numerous occasions ministering to people in a state of hopeless despair.

The Day of My Deliverance

When the time came for my deliverance, God didn’t use a great doctor or a psychiatrist with the latest medical technology. Instead, He used a little white dog we named Chimera. Chimera belonged to my daughter, Libertee, and is a cute little two-pound ball of fur. We also had a big black Labrador named Sabrina, and she and Chimera got along really well.

One day, as I was lying in bed, I was feeling sick and hopeless. I noticed Chimera and how happy she was. I watched as she played with a little toy. She would run, toss it, and shake it. One time, 80-pound Sabrina decided to join in the fun. She got close to two-pound Chimera and stood over her growling, but Chimera went right on having the time of her life.

As I watched this, something snapped in me. The light came on! I thought to myself, “My Lord! If that little puppy could go through all it has been through, being brought into a strange new home with a massive growling monster towering over her, and still have that kind of faith and love and happiness—what in the heck is wrong with me? That big Lab standing over her growling could snap her in half with one bite and she has absolutely no fear.”

I was still sick and physically weak, but the depression lifted, thanks to Chimera. We’ve nicknamed her “Doctor KAI.”

Being free of depression helped speed up my physical recovery. This confirms the medical theory that shows that a person’s state of the mind has a profound effect on the health of the body.

Through this experience, I was reminded that puppies and service dogs can, in fact, help alleviate depression for many people. For example, they can often fill the need for love and companionship for seniors sitting alone at home or in senior citizens’ homes. Also, this is often true of veterans suffering from PTSD.

Might the reverse also be true? Dogs caged at the SPCA want the same thing—love and companionship. It’s a winning combination!

Pruned for Greater Fruitfulness

As I thought about my life, I realized that I had been through the pruning process that Jesus spoke about (John 15:1-2). In this passage, He compared Himself to a vine, us to branches, and God to a gardener. He says that God prunes the branches, not to destroy them, but to cause them to be more fruitful.

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful (John 15:1-2, NIV). 

I came through this pruning time a changed person. I now had more confidence in God and less in myself. Going forward, I knew my life had to be more about God and less about me. It had to be more about ministry and less about worldly business.

If I had not gone through this pruning process, I would never have been able to help the suicidal veteran I talk about later in this book.

This article was derived from the book, The Man With Nine Lives, by Roland Stewart III and is available from Amazon. Mr. Stewart is a wealthy real estate mogul with an amazing rags to riches story. He has been snatched from the jaws of death so many times that his friends and colleagues began referring to him as "the cat with nine lives," hence the title of his book.

https://amzn.to/41vgqWX

MY FATHER TAUGHT ME THAT GOD IS REALLY REAL WITHOUT SAYING A WORD

When I was 11 years old my family was living on a farm near Tipton, Oklahoma where my dad worked as a farmhand making .50 center per hour.  Our family attended the Assembly of God church seven miles away in Tipton, and we were there every Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night.

Becoming dissatisfied with his situation on the farm, Dad began making plans to move to Dallas, Texas and work as a bricklayer. But as he made his plans to move, he heard the Holy Spirit speak in his heart, “What about pastoring this church?”

This seemed like an impossibility for two reasons: First of all, the church had a pastor and he had given no hint that he planned to leave. Secondly, Dad knew that the people did not see him as a pastor. He was a farmhand with a fourth-grade education and on the lower end of the socio-economic scale in this “nice” church.

However, it sounded like God had spoken and 12 years before this he had experienced a supernatural call to the ministry but had never been able to find his niche. He decided to ask for confirmation, and said, “Lord, if this is you speaking to me, let this pastor resign before the first of the month.”

He was shocked when he went to church the following Sunday and the pastor got up and announced his resignation. Knowing that God had spoken, Dad afterwards went to the church secretary and said, “I would like to submit my name to be the pastor of this church.”

The church had a process in place for selecting a pastor and it consisted of allowing anyone who was interested to preach in a service and then afterwards the members of the church would vote. If the preacher got more than 50% of the votes, he would become the pastor. The secretary replied, “You are the first one to inquire so your name is at the top of the list.”

About three days later, an older gentleman, who was the chairman of the board of deacons/elders, visited my dad and informed him that he had talked to all the members of the church. “We are all in agreement,” he said, “That you are not qualified to be our pastor.” He then asked Dad to withdraw his name for consideration because, he said, “No one will vote for you.”

Well, what do you do now? God had clearly spoken for him to pastor this congregation, but now they are all in agreement that they do not want him as their pastor. He was between the proverbial “rock and a hard place.”

Not being a politician with a plan to sway votes, Dad went to prayer. He prayed all night but heard nothing. What now? Do you throw in the towel and move on? Something inside would not let him quit, so he prayed all night the second night; but there was no voice, no guidance, and no direction.

Virtually everyone advised him to withdraw his name and forget about pastoring that church. One of his relatives poked fun, saying, “The Lord told Clarence to go plow, and he thought He said to go preach.” The one voice of support came from my oldest brother, Harvey, who said to him, "Daddy, if God told you to do this, you better do it." 

He prayed on, all night for the third night in a row. As morning dawned, he looked out a window and as the first rays of the morning sun shone in his face he was, in his words, “turned into another man.” Suddenly he had no concern what anyone thought of him. The only thing that mattered was being obedient to the call of God.

He went out and found the secretary of the church and the chairman of the board of deacons/elders. He said to them, “Brethren, whatever you do is between you and God, but I have to go through with this.” They said OK, and arranged for him to preach the following Sunday night.

I still remember the message that Sunday night, and there seemed to be special anointing from the Holy Spirit as he preached from Haggai 1:5, “Consider Your Ways.” After finishing his sermon, he said the congregation, “I have done what God asked me to do and it is now between you and God.”

He then led our family out of the church to our home, now about one-half block away, where we waited to hear the results of the election. About one-half hour later, someone came from the church and told him he had been voted in as pastor with 100% of the vote. WOW!!

They then proceeded to explain that, after we left, Brother Cook, the chairman of the board who was emceeing the election, had gotten up before the congregation weeping and said, “Folks, I have been wrong about this man; he is supposed to be our pastor.”

Everything suddenly changed. Hearts were melted across the congregation. And whereas everyone there had come prepared to vote against him every single member voted for him.

From that time forth, except for brief intervals between pastorates, my dad was in full time pastoral ministry for the rest of his life. The last church he pastored was the Assembly of God in Chicota, Texas, which he pastored for 27 years. One young man, Tony Boykin, who grew up under his ministry, wrote the following after his passing.

He had a profound impact on my life that changed me forever. My children and I can always say that our Christian life was helped to be framed by one of America's greatest pastors. I will forever believe that he will stand beside Moses, King David, Elijah, and Father Abraham. If any man has ever lived by Gods highest standards, it was the legendary C.H. Hyatt. I miss one of the best friends I have ever had.

So, I learned this most important lesson, not from a lecture, but from being there and seeing this unfold. I learned that that God is really real, and that He does answer prayer in marvelous ways when we pray and obey.  

Dr. Eddie L. Hyatt is a Bible teacher and ordained minister who has authored over 30 books on spiritual awakening, gifts of the Spirit, women in ministry, church order and other biblical themes. All are available on Amazon and his website at http://www.eddiehyatt.com.

THE HYATT INSTITUTE UPDATE - PROGRAMS AND COURSES BEING OFFERED

Great progress is being made. We have uploaded 17 courses comprised of 160 lessons. We have also uploaded instructions, books, manuals, and everything needed for a fully functioning college. I believe we will have all the courses necessary for launch to be uploaded by the end of this month. We then need to make ready the WordPress website where people go to enroll and download the courses. So if you know anyone who is familiar with WordPress and would like to offer their help, let us know.  I think it is safe to say that we are within 2-3 months of launching the Institute. We will continue adding courses after launch so that we have a thorough, well-rounded curriculum to offer the world. 

Below are the three diploma granting programs with their distinctive courses.  

Women Studies Program –

The Spirit, the Bible & Women, Part 1 – 4 credits (10 lessons)
The Spirit, the Bible & Women, Part 2 – 4 credits (10 lessons)
The Spirit, the Bible & Women, Part 3 – 4 credits (10 lessons)|The Spirit, the Bible & Women, Part 4 – 4 credits (10 lessons)
Choose an Elective from Below – 4 credits (10 lessons)

Revival Studies Program

2000 Years of Charismatic Christianity, Part 1 – 4 credits (10 lessons)
2000 Years of Charismatic Christianity, Part 1 – 4 credits (10 lessons)
The Great Awakening &America’s Birth – 2 Credits (5 lessons)
Apostolic Christianity – 4 Credits (10 lessons)
The New Testament Gift of Prophecy – 4 Credits (10 lessons)
Understanding Angels & Demons – 2 Credits (5 lessons)

Biblical Studies Program

Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, Part 1 – 4 credits (10 lessons)
Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, Part 2 – 4 credits (10 lessons)
Paul, Women and Church – 4 Credits (10 lessons)
Revelation Revealed, Part 1 – 4 Credits (10 lessons)
Reasons to Believe – 2 Credits (5 lessons)
Thinking Biblically About Church – 2 Credits (5 lessons)

If you would like to be on the mailing list of the Hyatt Institute to receive updates concerning its launch and info about new courses, send and email to Eddie Hyatt at dreddiehyatt@gmail.com and to Rhonda Klug (the director) at rhondaklug@hotmail.com.

TAKING THE FREEDOM THAT IS ALREADY OURS IN CHRIST

During the praise and worship service, I saw Tom come through the door with his head down, looking very despondent and oppressed. This was very unusual for he was one of the most enthusiastic members of our congregation and normally arrived at church 30-45 minutes early. 

Tonight, however, he had arrived late, during praise and worship, and now stood at his seat with his head down and his arms folded across his chest without entering into worship. I thought to myself, "Wow! I wonder what happened to Tom today!"

Shortly thereafter, he interrupted the proceedings and asked, "Would you all pray for me? I am all bound up!" Normally I would have said, “Yes, come forward and we will pray for you.” But this time I was intercepted by a manifestation of the Holy Spirit.

It happened so quickly that I was myself surprised by how I responded. Prompted by the Holy Spirit, I emphatically replied, “No, we are not going to pray for you. Jesus said that whom the Son sets free is free indeed. You take you take your liberty!"

Something marvelous then happened, the likes of which I had not seen before nor have I seen since. Tom immediately thrust his hands into the air and a spiritual explosion occurred. Suddenly the entire congregation erupted in shouts of praise to God and continued for at least the next 10 minutes. It was awesome! Tom shouted praises along with the others. His very countenance changed. He was free!

Satan's Power Lies Only with His Ability to Deceive.

We must remember that Satan and demons have no real authority against the Church and individual believers. Satan is able to control people only to the extent that he can deceive them with lies and deceptions. The truth of God's word is the antidote for all of Satan's lies. Nothing, therefore, can take the place of God's word in the church and in our personal lives.

When Tom asked for prayer because he was "all bound up," the revelation suddenly came to me that if I prayed for him to be free, I would be affirming Satan's lie to him that he was "all bound up." I saw clearly that what was needed was a declaration of the truth that freedom was already his "in Christ."

When Tom heard that declaration of freedom, he responded to it and we all experienced a level of freedom we had not known.

The Truth Set Rick Free from a Tormenting Past.

During this same pastorate, I dropped by the home of young man, knowing that he was in a state of despair. Rick had grown up in an atmosphere filled with drugs, violence and immorality. He never knew the identity of his father. As an adult, he had a very powerful encounter with the Lord and committed his life to Jesus. His past, however, continued to haunt him, bringing doubts about his standing with God and his own ability to walk in freedom and liberty.

The problem seemed to be especially exasperated by teaching he heard concerning generational curses, i.e., that family curses are passed down from one generation to the next. People attempted to help him by ministering to him deliverance, the healing of memories and by breaking generational curses. Nothing, however, produced lasting results, and he seemed to sink further into despair and defeat.

As we sat down in his living room, I felt impressed to read a passage from the book of Ezekiel. We both opened our Bibles and I read aloud Ezekiel 18:1-20 which is all about the fact that children will not bear the guilt of the sins of their fathers. We came to vs. 20 which says, 

The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself

At this point Rick leaped from his chair and began dancing a "jig" around the room, shouting and praising God. From that moment he was free. He later moved his wife and two small children to Texas where he attended Bible school and after graduation served on the staff. He is still free and his son is a pastor in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex.

 What set Rick free? It was the truth of God’s word! You shall know the truth, Jesus said, and the truth shall make you free (Jn. 8:32).

Martin Luther Discovered the Mighty Power of God's Word.

In his reforming endeavors, Martin Luther learned the power of God’s word. Opposed by both the pope and the Roman emperor, Luther saw amazing results when he simply and boldly preached and taught God’s word. In a sermon preached in 1522, Luther said,

I simply taught, preached, wrote Gods Word; otherwise I did nothing. The Word so weakened the papacy that never a prince or emperor did such damage to it. I did nothing. The Word did it all.

Luther also wrote a brief poem expressing his confidence in the sufficiency of God’s word. It reads,

Feelings come and feelings go, but feelings are deceiving.

Ill put my faith in the word of God, naught else is worth believing.

Our Freedom Will Come as We Abide in His Word.

The key to ultimate and consistent victory is found in the words of Jesus recorded in John 8:31, Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed in Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free."

Dr. Eddie L. Hyatt is Bible teacher, revivalist and church historian with over 50 years of ministry in many parts of the world. His numerous books are available on Amazon and his website at http://www.eddiehyatt.com

HOW 3 COMPETING POPES GAVE RISE TO THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION

As Roman Catholic cardinals choose a new pope, it is an appropriate time to remember that the papal office has a long history of mystery, intrigue, and scandal. One of the most scandalous periods of Roman Catholicism was when there were three popes at the same time, with each excommunicating the other two and condemning them to hell.

This scandalous schism began in 1305 when a Frenchman, Clement V, was elected pope but refused to move his residency to Rome. Instead, he established the papal residence and apparatus in the French city of Avignon. As a result, a total of seven popes reigned in Avignon from 1309-1377.

In 1377, Pope Gregory XI moved the papacy back to Rome but died shortly thereafter. His successor, Urban VI, showed such mental disturbance that a group of cardinals elected another pope, Clement VII, who took up residence back in Avignon. Urban VI, however, refused to give up his papal office and so the Catholic Church had two popes, one in Rome and one in Avignon.

Each pope excommunicated the other and each condemned the other to hell. As a result, there were now two colleges of cardinals, two curias, and two financial systems. According to the Catholic theologian, the late Dr. Hans Kung, this situation “duplicated the financial abuses of the papacy” (Hyatt, Infallible Pope: Key to Unity or Source of Division, 42).

In seeking to resolve the matter, the cardinals of both sides met together in Pisa in 1409 and elected a new pope, Alexander V. The former two popes, however, refused to vacate their office and the Catholic Church suddenly had three popes.

This, of course, was scandalous and led to loud calls for a reform of the Catholic Church. The problem was finally dealt with by the Council of Constance (1414-1418), which deposed all three popes and installed a new one, Martin V. In the process of dealing with this papal scandal, this council subordinated the pope’s authority to its own, declaring, “Everyone of whatever estate or dignity, even if this be papal, is bound to obey it in matters related to the faith.”

This same council condemned Jon Hus, a Czech Roman Catholic priest who, understandably, had begun preaching that the Bible, not the pope or a church council, is the Christian’s highest authority. He was summoned before the council, which found him guilty of heresy and had him burned at the stake.

It was this sort of scandal and intolerance that made the Protestant Reformation inevitable. It was this sort of outrageous activity that pushed Martin Luther, a Roman Catholic priest and theologian, to begin preaching the authority of Scripture over the authority of popes and church councils. When hauled before a tribunal and ordered to recant his teachings, Luther refused, saying, 

I can believe neither pope nor councils alone, as it is clear that they have erred repeatedly and contradicted themselves. I consider myself convicted by the testimony of Holy Scripture, which is my basis. My conscience is captive to the Word of God; thus I cannot and will not recant anything, because acting against one's conscience is neither safe nor sound. Here I stand! God help me! Amen!"

Luther was declared a heretic and an order issued that his books were to be confiscated and burned. He would have been arrested and executed like Jon Huss but for the protection of the powerful German prince, Frederick the Wise. 

Luther continued to teach and preach and the  Protestant movement exploded around the world. When asked, in later life, how he had been able to have such an impact on the church and world, Luther replied, "I simply taught, preached God's word; otherwise I did nothing. The Word did it all."

Is there an answer for the present schism between Catholic and Protestant? Of course there is, and it is a simple one, but a challenging one for those who love power. There must be a return to Jesus and a new commitment to the authority of Scripture, which testifies of Jesus. Kung, the most widely read Catholic theologian in the modern world, nailed it when he wrote.

The road to unity is not the return of one Church to another, or the exodus of one Church to join another, but a common crossroads, the conversion of all Churches to Christ and thus to one another (Hyatt, Infallible Pope: Key to Unity orSource of Division, 57-58).

This article was derived from Dr. Eddie Hyatt's book, Infallible Pope: Key to Unity or Source of Division, available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.

THE VEIL HAS BEEN RENT

How You Can Enter Boldly into God's Presence

When Jesus died on the cross, the Old Testament priesthood came to an end from heaven's perspective. This was signified by the fact that the heavy curtain which separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple was rent from the top to the bottom at the very point of His death. Matthew 27:50-51 says,

And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was rent from top to bottom; and the earth quaked and the rocks were rent.

This veil was about 30 high and four inches thick. No one was allowed past this veil except the high priest who went in once a year before Almighty God to offer a blood sacrifice for the sins of the people of Israel. It was a fearful thing, even for the high priest, to venture into the presence of God hidden behind this veil.

This veil was so strong and thick that the Jewish historian, Josephus, stated that even two oxen could not tear it. However, when Jesus died, it was ripped from the top to the bottom.

This was an obvious act of God. It was God saying, “The way has been made. The ultimate sacrifice has been offered. The redemptive price has been paid. You are welcome to come into My presence.”

At that point, the Old Testament priesthood ended. There was no longer any need for a human priest to mediate between the people and God. The veil was rent, and all could not now enter freely into His presence.

Because of what Jesus has done, we have become a kingdom of priests, as John wrote in Revelation 1:5-6, To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father.

There are NOT many paths to God. There is only One. Jesus Himself said in John 14:6, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Paul echoed this truth some years later when he wrote, For there is one God and one Mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus (I Timothy 2:5).

What a wonderful privilege we have in this New Covenant of freely coming into the presence of Almighty God through Jesus and His atoning death. The writer of Hebrews spelled it out when he wrote in 4:16, Let us therefore come boldly to throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need.

Yes, the veil has been rent, and even now God Almighty beckons you to come.

This article was derived from the book, Discovering the Real Jesus, by Dr. Eddie L. Hyatt. He is the author of around 30 books, which can be found on Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.