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The Day of His Power

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 5, 1914

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 91, No. 6.

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The Day of His Power

By I. H. Evans

IN one of David's beautiful psalms he gave utterance to these words: "Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power." This would lead us to believe that at certain times God's providences go before his people in a special way, and that his power is manifested in a definite and marked manner. His dealings with his people of old indicate that this has been his way of working from the beginning.
When Noah was called to warn his generation of the impending flood, God had a definite time in mind when the fountains of the deep would be broken up and engulf the world.
Calling Abraham from the East, the Lord entered into a solemn covenant with him that his seed should be as the stars of heaven, and that in him all nations of the earth should be blessed. Further, he said: "Thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; . . . and afterward shall they come out with great substance."
Stephen seemed to recognize the definiteness in the purpose and time of God's work, as he commented on this experience in Egypt. "When the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham," he declared, the Lord saw the affliction of his people, and raised up Moses to deliver them. The same recognition of God's purposes and plans is seen in Paul's brief statement concerning the first advent of Christ: "But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son."
When John the Baptist proclaimed himself a "voice" crying in the wilderness and preparing the way for Christ to work, the Lord gave him favor with the people, thus opening the way for Christ to fulfill his mission, which, hundreds of years before, had been set for a very definite time.
The nations were prepared for the message of justification through faith in Jesus Christ, as preached by Martin Luther, when he threw off the shackles of the Papacy. Likewise in the great advent movement of 1840-44, the Lord had prepared hearts to receive the warning message given to the world at that time. More than human power accompanied the preaching of the first angel's message; with great rapidity it spread from land to land, and thousands were aroused to prepare for their Lord's coming. In twelve years, from the smallest beginning it had swept on and on, warning individuals, communities, and multitudes of the near approach of the end of time.
With all this evidence before us, we must conclude that God has appointed times when his power is especially manifested, and when it may be expected that his Spirit will work mightily. Also that when the time is ripe for a certain movement, he will prepare his people, making them ready and willing to receive his instruction and to do his work.
The present time is the most momentous and solemn in human history. The last message of mercy is being proclaimed to a dying world; every nation, kindred, tongue, and people are to receive the warning that the hour of God's judgment has come, and that soon the Son of man will appear in the clouds of heaven to receive to himself those who believe on his name. Surely it would be reasonable to expect the power of God to rest upon his messengers and his people at this time in a special way. And as if in answer to the expectation, we see many indications that this is the day of his power. On every hand events in both the secular and the religious world point to the finishing of the work.
The doors of remote nations are being opened wide to receive the gospel. During the last few decades, international transportation has been greatly extended and simplified, and at the present time the connection between foreign countries and our own is such as to make us feel that we are one great family. Communication between the nations has become a daily affair; telegraph and cable lines bring the news of the world to our very doors; the art of printing has been developed and perfected, and the number of those able to read the printed page has been greatly increased. All these things facilitate the spread of the gospel to every people.
The promise that the people of God shall be willing in the day of his power, seems to be actually fulfilling before our eyes. By their desire to do better service for God, by their missionary zeal, and by their liberal donations, it would seem that his people are willing. In every institute that has been held thus far the workers and others have gladly given themselves fully to God and to his service.
By the promise of God we are warranted in expecting his power to be especially manifested in our churches and in individuals at this very time. "Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain," is his instruction, and the promise is sure: "The Lord shall . . . give them showers of rain." Now that we are in the time of the latter rain, let us not only ask the Lord for rain, but let us also expect that he will answer our petition. I. H. EVANS.