Jabez Prayer
BBC THE PRAYER OF JABEZ 1 CHRON. 4:9-10 JUNE 17, 2007
FATHER’S DAY
1 CHRONICLES 4:9 NOW JABEZ WAS MORE HONORABLE THAN HIS BROTHERS, AND HIS MOTHER CALLED HIS NAME JABEZ, SAYING, "BECAUSE I BORE HIM IN PAIN." 10 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.
INTRO: ONE PERSON IN THE FAMILY CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING OR BREAKING THE FAMILY.
THIS TRUTH HAS COME TO OUR LIVES AND INTO OUR HOMES WHEN IN THE 70’S WE WERE INTRODUCED TO TV SHOWS ABOUT THE FAMILY. THERE WAS “ALL IN THE FAMILY” WITH THE INFAMOUS ARCHIE AND EDITH BUNKER; AND WHO CAN FORGET “GOOD TIMES” WITH EVANS FAMILY – JAMES, FLORIDA, THELMA, MICHAEL AND KID DYNAMITE. AND WHO CAN FORGET THE JEFFERSON’S – GEORGE AND LOUISE JEFFERSON AND SON LIONEL. EACH FAMILY DEPICTED AN AVENUE OF WHERE WE LIVE. FROM THE BLUE COLLAR, TO BLACK FAMILY IN THE PROJECT THAT STUCK TOGETHER TO THE BREAK THROUGH FAMILY WHO WENT FROM THE HOOD TO THAT HIGH RISE APARTMENT IN THE SKY.
THE COMMON THEME OF ALL THOSE RENDITIONS OF FAMILY, NO MATTER HOW CRAZY, CULTURALLY CHALLENGED OR HOW FAR UP THEY WERE CATAPULTED UP THE CORPORATE LADDER…THERE WAS FAMILY AND AT THE FOUNDATION OF FAMILY WAS LOVE.
A SECOND COMMON THEME THAT TIES US TOGETHER IS OUR FAMILY STORIES; THE TELLING AND RETELLING THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED DOWN BY ORAL TRADITION, WRITTEN FAMILY HISTORY AND THE VISUAL RECORD OF THE PHOTOS AND PICTURE BOOKS THAT HOLD THE KEYS TO MAY OF OUR PAST. AND IN ALL OUR STORIES THERE ARE THE GOOD GUYS AND BAD GUYS, THE GOOD GIRLS AND THE BAD GIRLS; THE HEROES AND THE VILLAIN’S. THEY SILENTLY TELL US THAT
FAMILY LIFE IS A BATTLE
FAMILY LIFE IS FULL OF TENSION
FAMILY LIFE HAS MANY SCHOOLS
ONE OF WHICH IS THE SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS.
FAMILY PASSES DOWN THE LESSON OF WHAT TO DO AND WHAT NOT TO DO; FAMILY PASSES DOWN WHAT IS EXPECTED AND WHAT IS AVAILABLE.
EXPL: THE BIBLE IS A BOOK OF STORIES ABOUT FAMILY;
FROM THE FIRST FAMILY OF ADAM AND EVE;
TO THE FAITHFUL FAMILY OF ABRAHAM AND SARAH
TO THE FRUITFUL FAMILY OF JACOB, RACHEL AND LEAH
IN THE BOOK OF CHRONICLES WE HAVE A LIST OF NAMES AND PLACES; WE HAVE A GENEROUS LIST OF GENEALOGIES THAT INCLUDE NAMES WE’VE HEARD OF LIKE THE FIRST KING, SAUL; THE FINEST KING, DAVID AND THE WISEST KINGS, SOLOMON. AND IN CHAPTER 4 AMONG THE LIST OF NAMES WE STRUGGLE TO PRONOUNCE
WE MEET, JABEZ FROM THE FAMILY OF JUDAH.
WHO IS THIS PERSON NAMED JABEZ? WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM HIM? WHY IS THE PRAYER OF JABEZ LISTED IN THE BIBLE? WHAT CAN WE LEARN THAT WILL IMPACT OUR LIVES?
GREED AND PROSPERITY - FIRST OF ALL THIS IS NOT A PRAYER OF PROSPERITY; IT IS NOT A MAGIC FORMULA TO TURN GOD IN TO A MAGIC GENIE; IT IS NOT A MANTRA FOR MONEY OR REPETITION FOR RICHES.
GOD’S PROLOGUE - NEXT, WE SEE THAT GOD HAS A PARADOXICAL VIEW OF THIS PERSON BECAUSE HIS NAME IN “PAIN” BUT HIS LIFE IS PROSPEROUS. IN ANCIENT TIMES; PARENTS GAVE CHILDREN NAMES THAT WE FILLED WITH THEIR HOPES, DREAMS AND DESIRES. BUT BEFORE WE GET TO THE FACT THAT HIS NAME MEANS PAIN, GOD SAYS HE IS MORE HONORABLE. THIS PHRASE IN V. 9 SERVES AS A TYPE OF PROLOGUE TO THE STORY.
PROLOGUE IN GREEK DRAMA WAS A CHARACTER THAT STOOD IN THE PLAY; APPEARING BEFORE ANY ACTION IN THE PLAY. PROLOGUE UTTERED STATEMENTS NECESSARY FOR THE AUDIENCE TO HEAR SO THAT THY MIGHT APPRECIATE THE ENSUING AND UPCOMING DRAMA. WE ARE FAMILIAR WITH PROLOGUES IN THE BIBLE; IN THE OT. GEN 1:1 – GEN 2:3 IS THE GRAND PROLOGUE OF CREATION. IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH. IN THE NT. JOHN 1:1, IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD AND THE WORD WAS GOD. HE WAS IN THE BEGINNING WITH GOD, ALL THINGS WERE MADE THROUGH HIM, AND WITHOUT HIM NOTHING WAS MADE THAT WAS MADE.
NOW THE PHRASE JABEZ WAS MORE HONORABLE SERVES AS A PROLOGUE ROOTED IN DIVINE INSPIRATION …JABEZ WAS MORE HONORABLE…AND WE ARE LOOKING AT THE END – FIRST. WE ARE BLESSED TO LOOK AT THE END OF THE CHAPTER FIRST. THE FIRST WORD OF THE PROLOGUE IS, “NOW”…A WORD LINKED TO A TIME ELEMENT…JABEZ WAS HONORABLE, FAITHFUL AND LOYAL; HE WAS GREATER THAN HIS BROTHERS.
YES, GOD SAYS DESPITE WHAT WE SEE
YES, GOD SAYS DESPITE WHAT WE CALL THE PARTICULARS
GOD SAYS HE WAS MORE HONORABLE
DESPITE THE FACT THAT HIS MOTHER NAMED HIM PAIN.
PHYSICAL PAIN- NATURALLY, WE WOULD ASSUME THERE WAS SOME PHYSICAL PAIN ASSOC. WITH HIS BIRTH; THE LABOR, THE LABOR PAINS, THE CONTRACTIONS, THE DILATION AND DESCENT AND THE POSITION OF THE BABY. WHATEVER WE KNOW THERE WAS SOME PHYSICAL PAIN.
EMOTIONAL PAIN – NEXT WE MAY MAKE INFERENCE TO EMOTIONAL PAIN. WE DON’T KNOW THE DETAILS, MAYBE HIS FATHER DIED FROM BATTLE, OR DISEASE.
PERSONAL PAIN – BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT WE ARE ALL BORN INTO A WORLD OF
PAIN AND SORROW
TOIL AND TORMENT
DISTRESS AND DEPRESSION
SICKNESS AND A TOUCH OF INSANITY
HURT AND HARM
FEAR AND TREMBLING
SADNESS AND SICKNESS
MESS AND MISERY
ALL OF US…WHEREFORE AS BY ONE MAN SIN ENTERED INTO THE WORLD, AND DEATH BY SIN; AND SO DEATH PASSED TO ALL MEN; FOR ALL HAVE SINNED. ROM 5:12. FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD. ROM 3:23.
THERE IS GOOD PAIN AND BAD PAIN.
OUCH! BAD PAIN; PEOPLE HURTING PEOPLE; SENSELESS WAR, NEEDLESS KILLING; CAPITALISTIC GREED THAT STEPS ON THE NECKS OF THE POOR; THE PAIN OF CRIME; THE PAIN OF GUNS AND KNIVES; BAD PAIN INFLICTED ON OTHER AND ON SELF…HURT PEOPLE HURT PEOPLE WITH THERE ACTIONS AND WORDS BECAUSE THEY ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE HURTING ON THE INSIDE…IT’S OK TO BE ANGRY BUT …SIN NOT.
OUCH…THERE IS GOOD PAIN, THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN. PAIN IS THE BODY’S WAY OF TELLING US TO STOP DOING WHAT WE ARE DOING. IT IS A PROTECTIVE SIGNAL THAT SAYS SOMETHING IS WRONG. WE DON’T FEEL PAIN THE SAME WAY…WE HAVE VARY THRESHOLD TO PAIN. THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE …
HYPERALGESIA - EXTRA SENSITIVE TO PAIN
ALLODYNIA – EXCRUCIATING PAIN
HSAN – HEREDITARY SENSORY AND AUTONOMIC NEUROPATHIES…THESE PEOPLE FEEL NO PAIN AT ALL.
BUT THERE ARE OTHER SIGNALS OF PAIN;
RESTLESS / ILLNESS / FEAR / ANGER
NIGHTMARES / DENIAL AND DEPRESSION
ISOLATION AND WITHDRAWAL
AND THERE ARE THOSE PAIN KILLERS
DRUGS
ALCOHOL
SEX AND PORN
SHOPPING AND SLEEP
STOCKS AND BONDS
FOOD AND DRINK
ETC…ETC…ETC.
INTER: SO THE REAL QUESTION IS HOW DO WE DEAL WITH THE PAIN.
DISTRESS AND DIFFICULTY OF THE DAY
STORM CLOUDS IN CHURCH
CALAMITY IN COMMUNITY
HELL AT HOME
JABS ON THE JOB.
WE GOTTA CALL ON HIM
PAIN WILL MAKE YOU CRY; HOLLER; AND CRY OUT…
WE GOTTA CALL ON HIM
HAVE A LITTLE TALK WITH JESUS
WHISPER A PRAYER
INTER: WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM JABEZ PRAYER?
TS: AS WE LOOK AND LISTEN…IT’S OK TO ASK GOD TO BLESS US.
JACOB SAID, I WON’T LET GO; SOLOMON ASKED FOR WISDOM AND JESUS TOLD US TO ASK, SEEK AND KNOCK.
INTER: HOW SHOULD WE ASK GOD TO BLESS US?
MPI. HELP ME IN MY WORK - ENLARGE MY COAST.
ENLARGE MY COAST, TERRITORY AND BOUNDARIES. EXPAND MY HORIZONS. CONSIDER BILL GATES WHO WAS A COLLEGE DROP OUT BUT WITH THE TEAM EFFORTS OF PAUL ALLEN THEY DEVELOPED SOFTWARE. FROM DOS TO WINDOWS THE UNKNOWN COMPUTER GEEK KNOWN AS MR. GATES IS THE RICHEST MAN IN THE WORLD AND COMPANY IS THE MOST WELL KNOWN BRAND IN THE WORLD. AND NOW MICROSOFT “RUNS THE WORLD.” CONSIDER ABRAHAM AND SARAH; A MAN NAMED EXALTED FATHER WITH NO CHILDREN AND GOD SAYS HE WILL BLESS HIM AS STATED IN GEN 12. GOD SAYS I WILL BLESS THOSE THAT BLESS YOU AND CURSE THOSE WHO CURSE YOU. THEY TRIED TO HELP BUT GOD BROUGHT THE INCREASE THEY HAD A SON, ISAAC WHO HAD SONS – JACOB AND ESAU; JACOB WHO HAD SONS…12 SON THAT BECAME TWELVE TRIBES THAT BECAME A NATION.
IMP. LORD BLESS ME, ENLARGE MY TERRITORY AND LAND WHICH IS ASSOCIATED WITH WORK, LABOR AND LIFE. WORKING THE LAND IS HARD BECAUSE OF SIN. SIN RESULTED IN THORNS AND THISTLES. WE WORK BY THE SWEAT OF OUR BROW. BUT IF WE CAN WORK AS CO-LABORERS WITH CHRIST; IN COORDINATION WITH THE CREATOR AND STAY WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF BLESSINGS THEN GOD ENLARGES OUR SPHERE OF INFLUENCE. OUR NETWORKING CAPABILITY FOR HIS NAME SAKE ENABLE US TO GAIN GROUND TO THE N.S.E.W.
JOSH 1:2-3 MOSES MY SERVANT IS DEAD; NOW THEREFORE ARISE, GO OVER THIS JORDAN, THOU, AND ALL THIS PEOPLE, UNTO THE LAND WHICH I DO GIVE TO THEM, EVEN TO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. 3 EVERY PLACE THAT THE SOLE OF YOUR FOOT SHALL TREAD UPON, THAT HAVE I GIVEN UNTO YOU, AS I SAID UNTO MOSES.
PS 127 EXCEPT THE LORD BUILD THE HOUSE, THEY LABOUR IN VAIN THAT BUILD IT: EXCEPT THE LORD KEEP THE CITY, THE WATCHMAN WAKETH BUT IN VAIN.
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NEH. 6:16 NEHEMIAH 6:16 AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT WHEN ALL OUR ENEMIES HEARD THEREOF, AND ALL THE HEATHEN THAT WERE ABOUT US SAW THESE THINGS, THEY WERE MUCH CAST DOWN IN THEIR OWN EYES: FOR THEY PERCEIVED THAT THIS WORK WAS WROUGHT OF OUR GOD.
NEHEMIAH 4:6 SO BUILT WE THE WALL; AND ALL THE WALL WAS JOINED TOGETHER UNTO THE HALF THEREOF: FOR THE PEOPLE HAD A MIND TO WORK.
APP: DO NOT FORCE YOUR BLESSING, DON’T TAKE IT UPON YOURSELF TO “TAKE” WHAT YOU WANT. DELIGHT YOURSELF IN THE LORD AND HE WILL GIVE US THE DESIRES OF OUR HEARTS. DECIDE WHO YOU WILL SERVE.
ILL: AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE..ALL MINE, BUT WHAT DO YOU HAVE UP THERE?
MPII. BE WITH ME IN MY WALK – AND THAT YOUR’ HAND WOULD BE WITH ME. THAT YOU’D STAY WITH ME; THAT YOU’D WALK WITH ME .HAND IN HAND.
AS CREATOR HE’S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS.
AS VICTOR HIS RIGHT HAND HAS DEFEATED THE ENEMY
AS REDEEMER HIS HANDS WERE NAILED TO THE CROSS. HANDS; THEY SYMBOLIZE
POWER AND STRENGTH; THEY SYMBOLIZE AUTHORITY; THE HAND
PERFORMS THE FUNCTION OF THE WILL; THE HAND HOLDS
POSSESSIONS. THAT WHICH COMES INTO AND OUT OF OUR HAND.
THE HAND; WE LAY HANDS ON TO KILL, TO BLESS AND COMMISSION AND SACRIFICE. WE LIFT OUR HANDS IN PRAYER, PRAISE AND TAKE OATHS.
WE HAVE OPEN AND CLOSED HANDS…OUR GREED OR GENEROSITY.
IMP. WHEN GOD IS WITH ME HE PROVIDES PERSONAL PROTECTION BECAUSE WE ARE WEAK AND VULNERABLE. WE NEED SOMEONE WHO CAN WATCH OVER US…SOMEONE WHO NEVER SLEEPS OR SLUMBERS.
PSALM 16:8 I HAVE SET THE LORD ALWAYS BEFORE ME: BECAUSE HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND, I SHALL NOT BE MOVED.
PSALM 23:4-5 4 YEA, THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, I WILL FEAR NO EVIL: FOR THOU ART WITH ME; THY ROD AND THY STAFF THEY COMFORT ME. 5 THOU PREPAREST A TABLE BEFORE ME IN THE PRESENCE OF MINE ENEMIES: THOU ANOINTEST MY HEAD WITH OIL; MY CUP RUNNETH OVER.
PSALM 46:1 GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH, A VERY PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE. PSALM 46:10-11 10 BE STILL, AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD: I WILL BE EXALTED AMONG THE HEATHEN, I WILL BE EXALTED IN THE EARTH. 11 THE LORD OF HOSTS IS WITH US; THE GOD OF JACOB IS OUR REFUGE.
APP: PRACTICE THE PRESENCE OF GOD. WE NEED HIM ON THE JOURNEY OF LIFE, IN OUR HEARTS, MINDS AND SOULS. PRACTICE HIS PRESENCE FOR HE WILL SHOW US THE PATH OF LIFE AND WE WILL EXPERIENCE THE FULLNESS OF DAY. PRACTICE HIS PRESENCE FOR HE IS OMNIPRESENT, EVERYWHERE AT THE SAME TIME. PRACTICE HIS PRESENCE AND THE INDWELLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR HE ABIDES IN US AND WE ABIDE IN HIM.
ILL: PS 16.11
MP. III KEEP ME FROM THE WICKED -
KEEP ME FROM EVIL AND CAUSING PAIN AND SUFFERING AND HARM;
KEEP ME FROM THE MENTALITY OF LOOKING OUT FOR NO. ONE;
KEEP ME FROM THE DOG EAT DOG MINDSET
KEEP ME FROM THE “BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY” MANDATE
KEEP ME FROM CLIMBING UP THE LADDER AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHERS.
TO SEE THIS CLEARER IN THE TEXT; WE LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF THE TRIBES; THE HEAD OF THE TRIBES; THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE SONS OF JACOB. WE SEE THEIR SIN;
REUBEN THE FIRST BORN SLEPT WITH HIS FATHER CONCUBINE.
SIMEON AND LEVI – KILLED HAMOR, SHECHEM AND THE MALES IN RETALIATION FOR THE RAPE OF DINAH
JUDAH REFUSED TO GIVE HIS YOUNGEST SON TO TAMAR I.E. LEVIRATE LAW…BUT HE LATER CONFESSED HIS SINS.
IMP. LORD BLESS ME NOT TO COMPROMISE
LORD HELP ME NOT TO ADVANCE AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHERS
LORD HELP NOT TO TAKE MATTER IN MY OWN HAND
LORD HELP ME AND DELIVER ME FROM EVIL AND WICKEDNESS.
TEXT:
GENESIS 39:9 THERE IS NONE GREATER IN THIS HOUSE THAN I; NEITHER HATH HE KEPT BACK ANY THING FROM ME BUT THEE, BECAUSE THOU ART HIS WIFE: HOW THEN CAN I DO THIS GREAT WICKEDNESS, AND SIN AGAINST GOD?
PSALM 1:1 BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT WALKETH NOT IN THE COUNSEL OF THE UNGODLY, NOR STANDETH IN THE WAY OF SINNERS, NOR SITTETH IN THE SEAT OF THE SCORNFUL.
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.
MATTHEW 26:41 WATCH AND PRAY, THAT YE ENTER NOT INTO TEMPTATION: THE SPIRIT INDEED IS WILLING, BUT THE FLESH IS WEAK.
1 CORINTHIANS 10:13 THERE HATH NO TEMPTATION TAKEN YOU BUT SUCH AS IS COMMON TO MAN: BUT GOD IS FAITHFUL, WHO WILL NOT SUFFER YOU TO BE TEMPTED ABOVE THAT YE ARE ABLE; BUT WILL WITH THE TEMPTATION ALSO MAKE A WAY TO ESCAPE, THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO BEAR IT.
APP: DON’T FALL IN LOVE WITH THE WORLD.DON’T FALL INTO THE WORLD’S MOLD; DON’T’ GET SQUEEZED. DON’T LET THE VALUES OF THE WORLD WOO YOU. CONSIDER THE WORLD SYSTEM AND GO AGAINST THE GRAIN.
AFFECTION ..WORLD SAYS LIVE FOR THE WORLD; GOD SAYS DON’T LOVE THE WORLD
VALUE – WHOSOEVER DIES WINS THE MOST TOYS; WHAT PROFIT IS THERE TO GAIN …
MORALS – IT’S YOUR BODY DO WHAT YOU WANT; YOUR BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF GOD.
ENTERTAIN- PURSUE SINFUL PLEASURES;
DRESS – BE SEXY; REAL BEAUTY IS THE INNER BEAUTY OF THE HEART.
BE A NON-CONFORMIST; DON’T COPY THE BEHAVIOR OF THE WORLD; IT CUSTOMS; BE A COUNTER CULTURE CHRISTIAN.
ILL: THE GREEK WORD FOR CONFORM SCHEMA; SCHEME AND SCHEMATIC IS THE BLUEPRINT TO MAKE SOMETHING. THE PRODUCT CONFORMS TO THE BLUEPRINT. WE MUST NOT ALLOW THE WORLD TO SQUEEZE US INTO ITS MOLD.
PROP: THUS IT’S OK TO ASK GOD TO BLESS YOU;
GOD BLESS ME THAT I MIGHT BE A BLESSING….WHILE I WORK, IN MY WALK AND IN THE WORLD.
CLOSE: JABEZ LEARNED THAT DESPITE THE PAIN OF LIFE WE CAN STILL PRAY AND ASK GOD TO BLESS US.
JABEZ WAS A SON OF JUDAH; WHO UNDERSTOOD HIS HISTORY
WHO UNDERSTOOD THE GOD OF HIS FATHERS’
WHO UNDERSTOOD THAT GOD ANSWERS PRAYER
AND GOD WILL BLESS US
HE WILL
HELP US
BE WITH
KEEP US
AS WE COME TO KNOW ANOTHER SON OF JUDAH
WHO WAS BORN FAMILIAR WITH PAIN AND GRIEF
HE WAS BORN ACCORDING TO A WORD OF PROMISE
HE WAS BORN THROUGH THE SEED OF THE WOMAN..
THAT EVEN THOUGH WE ARE BORN IN PAIN;
WE CAN BE BORN AGAIN AND LIVE ACCORDING TO HIS PROMISE OF LIFE AND LIFE MORE ABUNDANTLY.
JESUS WAS HONORABLE…AND HE EXPERIENCED PAIN..
THE PAIN OF THE CROSS…WHERE HE SUFFERED BLED AND DIED AND ROSE AGAIN.
JESUS IS A SON OF JUDAH
JESUS IS THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH
JESUS IS THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS…
WHO STILL ANSWER PRAYERS OF HIS CHILDREN.