What is the most extreme prayer that you have ever prayed? Was it answered? Do you fellowship with the nature of God who can do the impossible?

A.W. Tozer noted: God is looking for those with whom He can do the impossible– what a pity that we plan only the things that we can do by ourselves.

A.B. Simpson: “One of the most essential qualities of faith that is to attempt great things for God and expect great things from God, is holy audacity. Where we are dealing with a supernatural Being, and taking from Him things that are humanly impossible, it is easier to take much than little; it is easier to stand in a place of audacious trust than in a place of cautious, timid clinging to the shore. Likewise, seamen in the life of faith, let us launch out into the deep, and find that all things are possible with God, and all things are possible unto him that believeth.”

Hebrews 11:6: “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

Jabez is one of those people in the Bible with holy audacity. He prayed a great prayer and was heard by God. His prayer is the stuff of legends, and we can learn about prayer through the prayer that he prayed.

The Prayer of Jabez

I Chronicles 4:9: “And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.”

I Chronicles 4:10: “And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.”

CAN ALL OF THESE FOUR STATEMENTS BE BIBLICALLY VINDICATED?

PRAYER INVOLVES FOUR COMPONENTS

A request for blessing

Genesis 22:17: “That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;”

Genesis 32:26: “And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.”

Ephesians 1:3: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”

James 1:13-17: “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

A request for success

Proverbs 10:22 “The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, And he addeth no sorrow with it.”

Have you ever prayed for a child like Hannah?

Have you ever prayed for a raise?

Have you ever prayed for your church to grow?

Joshua 14:12: “Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said.”

A request for God’s hand to be with him

Psalm 119:173: “Let thine hand help me; For I have chosen thy precepts.”

Isaiah 41:10: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: Be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

Joseph- Genesis 39:23: “The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper.”

Moses and Joshua- Joshua 1:17: “According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the Lord thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses.”

A request for protection from harm

Matthew 6:9: “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”

Matthew 6:13: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”

Proverbs 30:8: “Remove far from me vanity and lies: Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with food convenient for me:”

II Timothy 4:18: “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

What exactly is Jabez asking God to do? He is asking God to remove the curse under which he was born.

Do you remember what his mother named him? Jabez means, “He makes sorrowful.” And now, what does he pray? “Lord, keep me from evil so that it may not grieve me.” or “God, make me such a person whose character does not match my name!”

Jacob meant, “Supplanter; conniver,” but Israel meant, “Prince with God.”

Simon meant, “Pebble,” but Peter meant, “Rock.”

Naomi meant, “Pleasant,” but he regretfully wanted to be known as “Bitter.”