GETTING OUT OF OUR COMFORT

GETTING OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONE

1 CHRONICLES 4:9-10

THESIS- Congregations can become stale, when the individuals stay in a spiritual comfort zone, so we will be looking at 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, so that way be encouraged to break out of our comfort zones.

INTRODUCTION- Do you know why most people do not read through the book of 1 Chronicles?

1. The starts with a bunch of “begets.”

2. And they do not stop for almost five chapters.

3. If someone were to NOT read through them, they would miss out on some real gems in God’s word.

4. Sandwiched between a few chapters of these “begets” is a man named Jabez.

5. He made himself known then and for all time through God’s word by NOT being like everyone else.

6. Jabez was not content to be as others were, or to be content with how he was (Just as Paul shows us also…Phil. 3:12-14).

7. He wanted more…

a. More of God

b. more of God’s Word

c. More blessings

d. More responsibility

e. Just more!

8. In order for Jabez to receive more, he had to get out of his comfort zone and if we as a church, and as individuals are going to grow we need to do the same…by “Getting out of our comfort zone.”

WE CAN GET OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONE BY…

I. HAVING THE PERSONALITY OF A CHILD OF GOD (1 Chronicles 4:9)

A. We can see where he was placed in life.

1. His mother begets him into a world of sorrowful people.

a) Jabez had no control over the circumstances of this life.

b) We had no control over the circumstances of this life.

2. His mother begets him into a world of “So-so” people.

a) Life surrounded by mediocre people then.

b) Life surrounded by mediocre people now.

B. We can see where he was propelled in life.

1. We can see the impact of an honorable life then.

a) The honorable life would bless Jabez.

b) The honorable life would keep Jabez.

2. We can see the impact of an honorable life now.

a) The honorable life will bless us (1 Corinthians 15:10).

b) The honorable life will keep us (1 Corinthians 10:31).

II. HAVING THE PRAYER OF A CHILD OF GOD (1 Chronicles 4:10)

A. We must see how prayer shaped lives then.

1. Jabez prayed for prosperity in his life.

a) He prayed for an enlargement in blessings.

b) He prayed for an enlargement in influence.

2. Jabez prayed for protection in his life.

a) He prayed for God’s hand to steady him.

b) He rayed for God’s hand to keep him.

B. We must see how prayer shaped lives now.

1. We must use prayer to be prosperous.

a) We should pray for a greater blessing from God.

b) We should pray for a greater influence for God.

2. We must use prayer to be protected.

a) We should pray for God to deliver by His hand.

b) We should pray for God to hedge by His hand.

III. HAVING THE PROVISION OF A CHILD OF GOD

A. We must see the provision God gives to His people in the OT.

1. Jabez served an able God.

a) He served a real God.

b) He served a recorded God.

2. Jabez served an awarding God.

a) He served a righteous God.

b) He served a rewarding God.

B. We must see the provision God gives to His people now.

1. We serve an able God. (having the power, skill, means, or opportunity to do something.)

a. We serve a God who is able to shelter.

b. We serve a God who is able to supply (Jeremiah 33:3).

2. We serve an awarding God.

a. We serve a God who gives our reward.

b. We serve a God who is our reward (1 Jn 5:13-14).

CONCLUSION- Have we been too comfortable?

1. Are we satisfied with mediocre?

2. If the answer is no, then we have been shown how to change that.