A New Life | Heritage Briefs - Episode # 04

 Click Here to Listen to this Episode

💬 Show Notes:

In this enlightening episode of the Morning Star Heritage Briefs, Chuck Christie delves into the rich history of the American Republic as articulated by Rick Joyner. Explore how the seeds of freedom, education, and divine purpose were planted by the early colonists, leading to a flourishing society that embraced knowledge and spiritual awakening. Discover the profound impact of the Great Awakening on the American Revolution and the pivotal role played by influential figures in shaping a nation destined for greatness.

Join us as we uncover the roots of our heritage and the divine mandate that has guided America through the ages.

🗣️ Quote from Benjamin Franklin
"I’ve 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."

🗣️ Quote from Thomas Jefferson
"My views are the result of a life of inquiry and reflection and are very different from the anti-Christian system imputed to me by those who know nothing of my opinions."

🗣️ Quote from Rick Joyner
"The Great Awakening was a movement that changed the world, possibly more than anything since Christ walked the earth."

📝 Blog Post Body:

In the latest episode of the Morning Star Heritage Briefs, host Chuck Christie takes listeners on a captivating journey through the history and heritage of the American Republic. Drawing from the insights of Rick Joyner, this episode emphasizes the critical role that early colonists played in laying the foundations of a nation built on freedom, knowledge, and divine purpose.

Christie opens the episode by discussing how God uses nations and cultures as fertile fields for planting seeds of growth. He references Psalm 90:16-17, highlighting the importance of understanding God's work in the nations. The episode then delves into the extraordinary literacy rates of the American colonies, where reading was not only common but also celebrated. The colonists, often religious refugees, prioritized truth and the freedom to pursue it over material wealth, creating a culture rich in knowledge and spirituality.

One of the pivotal moments in American history discussed is the Great Awakening, a spiritual revival that significantly influenced the American Revolution. This movement, which lasted from approximately 1730 to 1770, ignited a passion for knowledge and faith among the colonists. Preachers like George Whitefield and John Wesley became celebrities, inspiring a generation to seek both spiritual and intellectual enlightenment. The episode emphasizes how the Great Awakening was not just a religious movement but a catalyst for political and cultural liberty.

Listeners will learn about the profound connection between the Great Awakening and the founding of the American Republic. The episode reveals how the spiritual fervor of the time fostered a sense of divine destiny among the people. It was this connection that motivated the colonists to fight for their freedoms, making them willing to sacrifice everything to preserve their liberties.

As Christie reflects on the remarkable brilliance of the early Americans, he poses thought-provoking questions about the current state of education and knowledge in society. He draws parallels between the past and present, challenging listeners to consider how far we have come and what has changed.

In conclusion, this episode of the Morning Star Heritage Briefs is not just a recounting of history; it’s an invitation to reconnect with the foundational truths that shaped the American Republic. By exploring the roots of our heritage, listeners are encouraged to reflect on their own roles in continuing the legacy of freedom, knowledge, and divine purpose that the early colonists fought so hard to establish. Tune in to this enlightening episode and rediscover the wisdom and truth of our nation's heritage.

✍️ Episode References

Rick Joyner
https://www.morningstarministries.org/

Chuck Christie
https://talknetworkradio.com/

Psalm 90:16-17
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+90%3A16-17&version=ESV

George Whitefield
https://www.whitefield.org/

John Wesley
https://www.umc.org/en/who-we-are/history/john-wesley

Jonathan Edwards
https://www.jonathanedwards.com/

Ludwig von Zinzendorf
https://www.lutheranworld.org/content/ludwig-von-zinzendorf

Automatic Show Notes

Chapters

0:07

A New Life, Heritage Brief 4

1:34

Seeds of the American Republic

4:52

The Great Awakening's Impact

7:45

Divine Destiny of a Nation

8:33

The Role of Pastors in Revolution

Long Summary

In this lecture, Chuck Christie presents "A New Life, Heritage Brief 4," authored by Rick Joyner, which focuses on the role of nations and cultures in the divine plan, as articulated through scriptural references and historical analysis. The discussion begins with an exploration of Psalm 90:16-17, emphasizing the necessity of recognizing God’s work in the world to align human actions with divine purpose. This theological backdrop serves to illustrate how different nations act as fertile grounds where God intends to plant seeds of righteousness, truth, and ultimately, hope.

Christie elaborates on the idea that the American Republic was built on generations of preparation, likening the colonies to good soil that was cultivated by the early settlers, who were often religious refugees fleeing persecution. The lecture outlines how these early colonists, driven by a commitment to truth that overshadowed material wealth, established a high standard for education and literacy within the colonies. Through their dedication to knowledge, characterized by widespread reading and academic achievement, the colonists created an environment rich in cultural and intellectual pursuits. This foundational literacy, wherein most children were homeschooled and proficient in multiple languages, set the stage for a society where enlightenment and liberty could flourish.

A significant focus of the lecture is the Great Awakening, a transformative spiritual movement that Christie argues was as impactful as the American Revolution itself. He describes this period as one marked by widespread religious revival that deepened the spiritual and intellectual fabric of early American life. This revival not only inspired a generation to seek political freedom but also sparked an unprecedented desire for education, as theological studies became a dominant field in American higher education. The preachers of the time, such as George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards, are heralded as pivotal figures who preached compelling truths that resonated with the populace and significantly influenced societal values and motivations.

Christie points out that during this critical awakening, sermons became central to community life, serving as platforms for intellectual exchange and the dissemination of news. The significance of church services grew so profound that attendance was likened to a collegiate education, embedding a sense of divine purpose within the national psyche. This cultural context fostered a connection to a higher calling, culminating in the belief that the fledgling nation was part of a divine mandate.

The lecture also addresses the historic influence of clergy on the American Revolution, as pastors emerged as formidable leaders in the colonies. The British referred to this group as the "Black Robed Regiment," acknowledging their powerful impact on the revolutionary spirit. Christie explores the opposition these spiritual leaders faced, arguing that these challenges only amplified their resolve and commitment to liberty, reinforcing the idea that their faith and fortitude were critical to sustaining the revolutionary cause.

Christie concludes with reflections on the character of the Founding Fathers, challenging modern interpretations that downplay their religious convictions. He underscores their unwavering commitment to a truth that transcends societal norms, supported by insights from figures such as Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, who acknowledged their alignment with genuine Christian principles. This examination affirms that the American spirit was not merely a product of Enlightenment thought but was deeply rooted in a theistic understanding of human governance.

Overall, this lecture captivates with its deep dive into the intertwining of faith, education, and civic duty as foundational elements that shaped the American identity, presenting a robust narrative that highlights a spiritual lineage of purpose, freedom, and divine destiny spanning centuries.

Brief Summary

In this lecture, Chuck Christie analyzes "A New Life, Heritage Brief 4" by Rick Joyner, focusing on the role of nations in divine providence, drawing on scriptural insights and historical context. He discusses the foundational impact of early American settlers, emphasizing their commitment to education and literacy. Christie highlights the Great Awakening as a catalyst for both spiritual renewal and the pursuit of political freedom, citing influential preachers such as George Whitefield. He also examines the clergy's pivotal role in the American Revolution and challenges modern interpretations of the Founding Fathers' religious convictions, ultimately framing the American identity as deeply rooted in faith and civic duty.

Transcript

[0:07] A New Life, Heritage Brief 4

[0:00] Hello again, this is Chuck Christie, bringing you another segment of the Morningstar Heritage Briefs. This episode is entitled "A New Life, Heritage Brief 4," by Rick Joyner.

[0:16] God uses nations and cultures as fields for planting the seeds He wants to grow in the world. For this reason, Psalm 90:16-17 says, "Let your work appear to your servants, and your majesty to their children." Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and confirm for us the work of our hands. By seeing His work, we receive His favor, and this confirms that the work of our hands is in harmony with His. As we understand God's work in the nations, we can see His attention to every nation, preparing the soil for the seeds He will plant in them. We then see how the seeds are planted and how they grow, if that nation has become the good soil required for them to grow, as we understand from Jesus' parable of the sower. The soil for the seeds of the American Republic began to be prepared by the first colonists. Each generation added to the preparation of the soil from which the American Republic could sprout. Then the seeds were sown by the Great Awakening. The seeds grew and bore fruit.

[1:34] Seeds of the American Republic

[1:35] It is important to understand the nature of this good soil, as it will require the same kind of ground to continue to bear fruit and sustain the Republic. The following are some of the main factors that made the American colonies such fertile soil. At the time of the American Revolution, the colonies had become not only the most literate nation on earth, but possibly the most literate of all time. It was considered a curiosity to find anyone who could not read. Yet the colonists could not only read but also read the best literature available, the classics.

[2:17] How this kind of culture came to be in the colonies is as exceptional as the Republic itself. The first colonists who came to America were religious refugees fleeing persecution in Europe. They had risked their lives to stand on the truth as they understood it. There were some who came seeking gold and other treasure. But to the Puritans, the Pilgrims, the Jews, and other religious refugees, truth and the freedom to pursue and obey it as they understood it were more valuable than gold. Soon, the level of education and the brilliance of the average colonist, even among the pioneers on the frontier, were extraordinary. Most were schooled at home, and they were schooled well. It was common for the American children to know multiple languages. It was also not uncommon for one to enter college before their teens. How is it that we have high school graduates today who cannot even read? How have we fallen so far? We will cover this in future briefs. The second law of thermodynamics, also called the law of entropy.

[3:35] Declares that convergences that result in order and synthesis do not happen by random chance. They must be the result of action by an intelligent source. As we see how remarkable the people who produced our founders were, any honest observer will have to acknowledge that a divine hand was shaping the nation. It was for a divine purpose. From their writings, we see that the Founders understood well that they were a nation with a divine purpose. They saw the works of God, and they joined theirs to His. We can trace the roots of this culture and our republic to the spiritual, philosophical, and political works of the first colonists that came to America. It was enriched by each generation until it became prepared, fertile soil for one of the most important events since Christ walked the earth: the Great Awakening. Secular historians rarely mention the Great Awakening, but to the spiritual,

[4:52] The Great Awakening's Impact

[4:46] It was a movement that changed the world possibly more than anything since Christ walked the earth. It was the spiritual revolution that made the American Revolution inevitable.

[4:58] Freedom was not only proclaimed throughout the land but also experienced. The spiritual liberty unleashed political and cultural liberty on a scale never seen before. When the British threatened this liberty, they faced a people who would rather die than lose it. The Great Awakening was wide, perhaps touching every household in the colonies. It was also deep and enduring, lasting from about 1730 to 1770. The fruit of this movement was an insatiable love for God, knowledge, wisdom, and understanding.

[5:40] This resulted in more schools and universities being founded during the Great Awakening than had been seen anywhere before. The Great Awakening was sparked mostly by the preaching of two great British spiritual pioneers, George Whitefield and John Wesley, a German Count Ludwig von Zinzendorf, and an American Jonathan Edwards. They preached truth that set men free. Lovers of truth become lovers of knowledge. Knowledge in all fields was highly sought during the Awakening. But theology was so popular that it had more majors in American colleges and universities at the time than all the other fields combined. Theology was not only the most popular field of study at the time, but the great preachers and orators became the most famous celebrities in the colonies. Because of this, the bar was set high for every preacher.

[6:41] Visitors to America wrote of the astonishing brilliance and learning that was prevalent, even in the remote settlements. Sermons were profound and so inspiring that boring preachers did not last long in such a fire. Sunday services were not only the most exciting time of the week for the colonists, but they were also where most got their news about national and world events. The sermons and the news shared were the subject of conversation all week long. The content of the sermons was such that attending church services for six years was considered equivalent to earning a bachelor's degree. That was the spiritual and intellectual DNA of the American nation at its birth. This brought about a prevailing sense of Americans' connection to a divine destiny. To be connected to the great ideas of men can be motivating,

[7:45] Divine Destiny of a Nation

[7:40] but this cannot be compared to the motivation of feeling connected to a divine mandate. The Great Awakening had set in the hearts of the people their calling as a royal priesthood, and, as a nation, they were called to be a forerunner of the coming kingdom of God.

[7:59]Pastors were the most influential people in the colonies. During the Revolutionary War, the British called them the Black-Robed Regiment and considered them a greater threat than the Continental Army. For this reason, the British focused much of their strategy on silencing these preachers by capturing or killing them and burning their churches. Yet, the Word of God thrives under opposition, and so it did then,

[8:33] The Role of Pastors in Revolution

[8:29]adding fuel to the fires in great and resolute hearts. In spite of what revisionist historians have tried to make our founders out to be, they were all, with the possible exception of two or three, not just lovers of God, but they were as devout as we may find in even the greatest pulpits today. Their intent was as noble as can be found in history, and their personal lives as honorable as we will see. I've 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.

[9:12] Benjamin Franklin. My views are the result of a life of inquiry and reflection, and very different from the anti-Christian system imputed to me by those who know nothing of my opinions. To the corruptions of Christianity, I am indeed opposed, but not to the genuine precepts of Jesus himself. I am a Christian in the only sense in which he wished anyone to be, sincerely attached to his doctrines in preference to all others. Thomas Jefferson.

 Copyright 2020 by Rick Joyner. All rights reserved.