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Power Guaranteed, March 4
Genesis 32:24-30
As a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
Genesis 32:28
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Had not Jacob previously repented of his sin in obtaining the birthright by
fraud, God could not have heard his prayer and mercifully preserved his life. So
in the time of trouble, if the people of God had unconfessed sins to appear before
them while tortured with fear and anguish, they would be overwhelmed; despair
would cut off their faith, and they could not have confidence to plead with God
for deliverance. But while they have a deep sense of their unworthiness, they
will have no concealed wrongs to reveal. Their sins will have been blotted out
by the atoning blood of Christ, and they cannot bring them to remembrance....
All who endeavor to excuse or conceal their sins, and permit them to remain
upon the books of heaven, unconfessed and unforgiven, will be overcome by
Satan. The more exalted their profession, and the more honorable the position
which they hold, the more grievous is their course in the sight of God, and the
more certain the triumph of the great adversary.
Yet Jacob’s history is an assurance that God will not cast off those who have
been betrayed into sin, but who have returned unto Him with true repentance. It
was by self-surrender and confiding faith that Jacob gained what he had failed
to gain by conflict in his own strength. God thus taught His servant that divine
power and grace alone could give him the blessing he craved. Thus it will be
with those who live in the last days. As dangers surround them, and despair
seizes upon the soul, they must depend solely upon the merits of the atonement....
None will ever perish while they do this....
Jacob prevailed because he was persevering and determined.... It is now
that we are to learn this lesson of prevailing prayer, of unyielding faith. The
greatest victories to the church of Christ or to the individual Christian are not
those that are gained by talent or education, by wealth or the favor of men. They
are those victories that are gained in the audience chamber with God, when
earnest, agonizing faith lays hold upon the mighty arm of power
[70]
6
Ibid., 202, 203
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