“Let us therefore come boldly to the Throne of Grace, that we my obtain mercy (tender mercies, compassion), and find grace (the Divine Influence) to help in time of need . . . !”
Hebrews 4:16
“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.”
Power is Guaranteed . . . !
“As a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed !” Genesis 32:28.
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. . . .
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out . . . and ye shall receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit . . . when the times of refreshing shall come from the Presence of the LORD . . .For the Promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call !”
Acts 3:19 & 2:38
All who endeavor to excuse or conceal their sins, and permit them to remain upon the books of heaven, un-confessed and unforgiven (ref: I John 1:9), 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.
“That the Blessing of Abraham might come on* the gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the Promise of the Spirit through faith . . . !” Galatians 3:14
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 (worthiness) 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. Conflict & Courage p.68-69
“In Whom (Christ Jesus) we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him . . . that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might (G1411, dunamis -force, miraculous power, ability, abundance, strength, mighty power) by His Spirit in the inner man; and that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith . . . !” Ephesians 3:12-17
“The Blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it . . . !” Proverbs 10:22
When in his distress, Jacob laid hold of the Angel, and made supplication with tears, the heavenly Messenger, in order to try his faith, also reminded him of his sin, and endeavored to escape from him. But Jacob would not be turned away. He had learned that God is merciful, and he cast himself upon His mercy.
He pointed back to his repentance for his sin, and pleaded for deliverance. As he reviewed his life, he was driven almost to despair; but he held fast the Angel, and with earnest, agonizing cries urged his petition until he prevailed.
Such will be the experience of God’s people in their final struggle with the powers of evil. God will test their faith, their perseverance, their confidence in His power to deliver them. Satan will endeavor to terrify them with the thought that their cases are hopeless. . . . They will have a deep sense of their shortcomings, and as they review their lives, their hopes will sink.
But remembering the greatness of God’s mercy, and their own sincere repentance, they will plead His Promises made through Christ to helpless, repenting sinners. Their faith will not fail because their prayers are not immediately answered. They will lay hold of the Strength of God, as Jacob laid hold of the Angel, and the language of their souls will be, “I will not let Thee go, except thou Bless me !” Genesis 32:26. – God’s Amazing Grace p.279
“We do not appreciate the love of God as we should. When God gave His Son to die for the sins of men, He gave all Heaven in that one Gift. There was nothing that God could withhold from humanity after giving up His Beloved Son; for Christ Himself had assumed humanity. He was made a child that He might understand the temptations of childhood, and know its weaknesses and be able to help the children to be overcomers. He passed from youth to manhood, and carried our griefs and bore our sorrows. He was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin.
When we come to Him in sincerity pleading for pardon, He forgives ! We need not wait to make ourselves acceptable; for we can never! We cannot do works that will commend us to God when we have sinned. We must come to the cross, and lay our burden of sin upon Jesus Christ, and believe that we are pardoned for Christ’s sake Who died for us.
When we acknowledge our sin, and seek pardon through Christ, the law is exalted. It is the moral standard of God, and tells us what sin is. Says John, “Sin is the transgression of the law.” Those who have sinned must hang their helpless souls on Christ. You should place your will on the side of God’s will. You cannot be overcome of the enemy unless you press positive resistance against God’s will.
We can be more than Conquerors through faith in Him Who has loved us and given Himself for us. When you come to God, you must come with confidence. When Satan presses upon your soul his temptat-ions to doubt that God will have mercy in your case, you should press back his suggestions with the Promises of God. Our heavenly Father has expressed His love for us individually in the cross of Calvary. The Father loves us, He is full of compassion and tender mercy ! – Special Testimonies, September 30, 1889
Jacob’s history is also an assurance that God will not cast off those who have been deceived, and tempted, and betrayed into sin, but who have returned unto Him with true repentance. While Satan seeks to destroy this class, God will send His angels to comfort and protect them in the time of peril. For “are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of Salvation ?”
Hebrews 1:14
The assaults of Satan are fierce and determined, his delusions are terrible; but the Lord’s eye is upon His people, and His ear listens to their cries. Their affliction is great, the flames of the furnace seem about to consu-me them; but the Refiner will bring them forth as gold tried in the fire (ref: Malachi 3:1-3 and I Peter 1:6-7, 4:12-13). God’s love for His children during the period of their severest trial is as strong and tender as in the days of their sunniest prosperity; but it is needful for them to be placed in the furnace fire; their earthliness (worldliness) must be consumed that the image of Christ may be perfectly reflected.
The season of distress and anguish before us will require a faith that can endure weariness, delay, and hunger, —a faith that will not faint, though severely tried.
“For without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to GOD must believe that He Is (I Am), and that He Is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him . . . For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed GOD, and it was counted (reckoned) unto him for righteousness . . . So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of GOD !”
Hebrews 11:6, Romans 4:3 & 10:17
The period of probation is granted to all to prepare for that time. Jacob prevailed because he was per-severing and determined. His victory is an evidence of the power of importunate prayer (urging, pressing and persistent). All who will lay hold of God’s Promises, as he did, and be as earnest and persevering as he was, will succeed as he succeeded !
Those who are unwilling to deny self, to agonize before God, to pray long and earnestly for His Blessing, will not obtain it. Wrestling with God — how few know what it is! How few have ever had their souls drawn out after God with intensity of desire until every power is on the stretch. When waves of despair which no language can express sweep over the suppliant, how few cling with unyielding faith to the Promises of God.
Those who exercise but little faith now, are in the greatest danger of falling under the power of Satanic delusions and the decree to compel the conscience. And even if they endure the test, they will be plunged into deeper distress and anguish in the time of trouble, because they have never made it a habit to trust in God. The lessons of faith which they have neglected, they will be forced to learn under a terrible pressure of discouragement.
We should now acquaint ourselves with God by proving His Promises. Angels record every prayer that is earnest and sincere. We should rather dispense with selfish gratifications than neglect communion with God. The deepest poverty, the greatest self-denial, with His approval, is better than riches, honors, ease, and friendship without it. We must take time to pray. If we allow our minds to be absorbed by worldly inter-ests, the Lord may give us time by removing from us our idols of gold, of houses, or of fertile lands.
The young would not be seduced into sin if they would refuse to enter any path, save that upon which they could ask God’s Blessing. If the messengers who bear the last solemn warning to the world (Revelation 14, The Righteousness of Christ appropriated by faith) would pray for the Blessing of God, not in a cold, listless, lazy manner, but fervently and in faith, as did Jacob, they would find many places where they could say, “I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” [Genesis 32:30.] They would be accounted of Heaven as princes, having power to prevail with God and with men.
“And being assembled together with them, Jesus commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the Promise of The Father, which ye have heard of Me (The Word) . . .
For ye shall receive power after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. . . !” Acts 1:4-8
Let us all have confidence in God. Press your way through the shadow which Satan throws across your pathway and take hold of the arm of Jesus, the Mighty One. Let your case rest in His hands. Let your prayer be, “Lord (Adoni – Sovereign King), I present my petition to Thee. I put my trust in Thee, and I ask for the Blessing that Thou seest will be for my present and future usefulness and my eternal good.” – The Great Controversy 1888, p.622
When you arise from your knees, believe! When the enemy comes with his darkness, sing faith and talk faith, and you will find that you have sung and talked yourself into the Light. “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice !” (Philippians 4:4). Those who do this have a joyous life. No unpleasantness comes from their lips or from the atmosphere surrounding the soul, for they do not feel that they are better than others.
Hide in Jesus Christ; then all the time the Truth of God . . . Thy Word is Truth (Verily So!) . . . will be fit-ting you up for the future, immortal life. When you have confidence in the Mighty One, your experience is not borrowed; it is your own. As through Jesus we enter into Rest, heaven begins here. We respond to His invitation, Come, learn of Me, and in thus coming we begin the Life Eternal. Heaven is a ceaseless approaching to God through Christ. – 2MCP 650-651
“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus (Yehushua), By a new (recently slain) and Living Way . . . I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life . . . which He hath consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say His flesh . . .
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil con-science . . . for if our heart condemn us, GOD is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things . . . and our bodies washed with pure Water (Ephesians 5:26). And let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for He is faithful that Promised . . . !” Hebrews 10:19-23, John 14:6 & I John 3:20
“For with the heart man believeth unto Righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto Salvation (deliverance,
freedom, rescue, healing restoration). For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him (The Word) shall not be ashamed (put to shame) . . . !” Romans 10:8-11
“For faith worketh by love . . . not that we loved Him, but that He first loved us . . . And we have known and believed the love that GOD hath toward us . . . and herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world . . . !”
Galatians 5:6, I John 4:16-19