JABEZ

JABEZ PRAYER PART 1

1 Chronicles 4:9-10 (NKJV) Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.

THE ENORMOUSLY SURPRISING THING HERE -- GOD GRANTED HIM HIS REQUEST!

What exactly did JABEZ do to rise above the rest of the genealogy?

The one thing JABEZ’ prayer does show us -- God’s Will For Our Lives -- HE HAS OUR VERY BEST IN MIND & WANTS US TO REACH IT!

First 9 Chapters of I Chronicles are nothing but the genealogies of the Hebrew Tribes -- BUT -- here in Chapter 4 -- 44 names down the list -- a story breaks out for 2 verses about a young man named JABEZ

HERE’S A RECAP OF THE LIFE OF JABEZ:

· He started out badly

· He prayed a one sentence prayer

· Things ended extra-ordinarily well for him

LISTEN -- To reach out and apprehend everything The Father has already provided for us -- WE have to think differently than most people!

The Reason Some Men & Women Rise Above Their Apparent Lot In Life -- They Think Differently & They Pray Differently -- Because They See Things Differently

JABEZ -- was born in the time of the judges to the tribe of Judah & his name meant “He Causes Pain”

How would YOU like to go through life -- that every time someone said your name -- you were reminded that “You Were A Pain”

What’s in a name? In the Old Testament, your name was the prophecy of your “Future” …

· Moses -- delivered by God

· David -- beloved

· Samuel -- integrity

· Samson -- man of strength

· Solomon -- peace

Then there was Jabez -- “He Causes Pain” -- But Prayer Changes Things -- Especially Our Present Lives & Our Futures!!!

JABEZ -- turned his attention from his name:

· The way others saw him

· The way his name described him

· The way people talked about him

AND DARED TO TURN HIS ATTENTION TOWARDS GOD!

[1] BLESS ME INDEED -- GOING FROM A PAIN TO GAIN

BLESS -- is more than what we say when someone sneezes or to tell someone in a Christian way -- “Have a Nice Day”

BLESS -- in the Bible meant -- asking for God’s supernatural favor, for abundance

Jabez didn’t want just any ole’ blessing -- he asked for an “Indeed Blessing”

INDEED -- was like placing several exclamation marks after the statement -- or today it would be like typing in ALL CAPS -- A BIG STRONG LOUD BLESSING!!!

John 10:10 (MOFF) The thief only comes to steal, to slay, and to destroy: I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.

The Father WANTS US to enjoy a life that is full of life -- HIS LIFE -- A Life Without The Damage Of Sin

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NKJV) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

Jabez wanted a life of “VICTORY” -- He wanted to FILL a “Big Place” in God’s Plan

When we ask for God’s Blessing -- We are NOT asking for more for ourselves -- We are asking for the wonderful, unlimited goodness that only GOD has the power to give us & wants to give us!

Proverbs 10:22 (The Message)God’s blessing makes life rich; nothing we do can improve on God.

I LOVE THIS THOUGHT -- Jabez left it up to GOD what that would mean for His Life -- what the blessing would be ... where ... when .. and How Jabez would receive the blessing!

TOTAL FAITH & TRUST!

He didn’t say -- God I know I’m blessed if you give me this or give me that or let me do this or let me do that or show me this or show me more or get me more or ... or ... or ... or ... or

Jabez’s kind of Total Faith in God Prayer -- is seeking to be totally immersed in what God is trying to do “IN US, THROUGH US & AROUND US FOR HIS GLORY FIRST”

The Benefit Of This -- Is A Life Marked By The Supernatural Intervening In Your Life!!!

“Ask” promised Jesus, “and it will be given to you”

“You do not have because you do not ask”

There is NO LIMIT to God’s Goodness -- BUT -- If you didn’t expect & believe God for a Blessing yesterday -- YOU didn’t get all that you were supposed to have yesterday!

ILLUSTRATION:

When I came back to the Lord in 1971 -- I was seen as a “Long Haired, drug using Hippie” -- the church really did not know what to do with me -- it’s not that they didn’t want to love me -- they just didn’t know where I fit in.

· I didn’t fit in with the youth group -- I might corrupt them

· I didn’t fit in with the adults -- they didn’t understand what I was saying

Dig it Baby! -- Far Out Man! -- Peace & Love Bro! -- That’s Heavy Man!

I was seen as “A Pain” -- But God had a Plan for my life if I would “Believe it & Receive It”

GOD SAID; “This is My Way, Walk In It & Never Look Back”

JUST MAYBE ....

· You grew up on the wrong side of the tracks

· You grew up in a divorced home

· You grew up with only one parent or no parents

· You had parents that embarrassed you

· You had parents who told you -- you would never amount to nothing

JUST MAYBE ....

· You grew up in a great home & you think you’ve got it made

· You are keeping a ledger on what God owes you

· You think you’ve got enough so why do anything more for God

ALL OF THESE MIND SETS WILL KEEP YOU FROM BECOMING & RECEIVING EVERYTHING GOD HAS FOR YOU!

It is God’s Nature To Want To Bless You Everyday!

There is a prayer I have always prayed daily ....

Proverbs 16:3 (AMP)

Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.

THE RECORDING OF JABEZ’S STORY IN THE BIBLE IS PROOF THAT IT’S ...

· Not Who You Think You Are

· Not Who You Think You Were Fated To Be That Counts

WHAT COUNTS ....

Knowing who you are “IN CHRIST JESUS” and who you want to be and asking for it AND THAT THE FATHER WANTS ONLY THE VERY BEST FOR YOUR LIFE!!

1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

LISTEN TO ME -- IT IS GOD’S WILL TO “BLESS YOU INDEED”