SERMONS FROM THE BOOK OF I CHRONICLES BY REV MIKE JONES
And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. 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 (1 Chronicles 4:9-10).
I call this "Power Praying" because after Jabez's Prayer the LORD GRANTED HIM HIS REQUEST. I think all of us desire that kind of Prayer life- one that achieves results and produces answers. Let's Look closely at this prayer and see what Jabez did that made his a POWER PRAYER.
I. Note the location of this prayer. It is found among the "graveyards" of the first ten chapters of First Chronicles. Among all those "headstones", God stops at this one to make a comment. That shows the First Principle in Power Praying. Recognize Our ACCOUNTABILITY to God. The Psalmist said that "if I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me" (Psalm 66:18). Power Praying comes from Pure Living!!
A saint of old said that, "My greatest thought is my accountability to God". This accountability is not just for FUTURE REWARDS- "Only one life twill soon be past. Only what's done for God will last". It is also for PRESENT PRAYER ANSWERS (Are you as anxious to reward a rebellious child as you are an obedient one???).
II. Power Praying is also built by MY RESPONSE to life's situations- vs 9 Don't let Bad Circumstances keep you down-
These Circumstances may be FAMILY PROBLEMS- "More honorable than his brothers".
These Circumstances may be PERSONAL LIMITATIONS- Jabez had to outlive a Bad Name- Jabez means sorrowful
1. Maybe sorrow of Childbirth (Caused by Sin)
2. Maybe Dad had just died (Not mentioned)
Your Reputation is built Day by day, responsibility by responsibility. Past and Present Character flaws often make us doubt God will do anything for us.
Family, Fortune, and sometimes even Facts (!) combine to hinder our Faith. People's Words and Our Works often combine to discourage and intimidate us. Because of our Circumstances we feel that God CANNOT or WILL NOT hear our prayers. 1 John 3:20-22 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
Finally, Note the ELEMENTS in His Prayer vs 10. He Request:
A) Prosperity- "Bless me Indeed"- The Word "Bless" here means Spiritually happy. It is like the word used in Ps 1:1 Blessed is the man that avoids evil and clings to God . He is asking God to make him spiritually ready and able to receive something from God.
B) Property- "Enlarge my Coast"
He may be remembering God's Promise to Abraham. Power Praying must be based on God's Word. There are numerous Blessing that God has promised His people. Just be sure you don't take the promise out of context or twist it to fit your desires-James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
C) Presence- "Thine hand with me". Power Praying means walking in cooperation with God. We join together, hand in hand. That is because we realize that our Breath is in his hand (Physical Dependence); I depend on His strength to keep Satan from Plucking me out of his hand (Spiritual Dependence); and I look forward to the day I can say, "Into thine hands I commit my spirit" (Eternal Dependence).
D) Power- "Keep me from harm (evil)" (Also found In Lord's Prayer). Like the Sailor who lives with his enemy (water) you must learn to trust the "Ship" to protect you. Power Praying learns to Trust God's Strength and Protection. It does not try to do the job on it's own.
E) Peace- "It may not pain (grieve) me". Power Praying learns to trust God's Wisdom. We always ask for His will to be done because we know He can see far beyond our limited vision.
F) Performance- God granted Him his request. Power Praying gets results.
Do you pray with little hope of answers? Is your prayer life simply a form and fashion? You need to learn, and practice, the principles of Power Praying. God delights in hearing the prayers of His children; Give Him that joy today.
I Chron 12:32 And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do:
I. WE OUGHT TO HEED GOD'S WORD- Heb 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only. The Children of Israel started out from the land of Egypt obeying God's Word but as they traveled they began to complain, then to compromise, and finally to disobey God's word. They ended up wandering in the Wilderness, waiting to die. We must learn today to obey God even if it doesn't make sense to us.
II. WE OUGHT TO CONTINUE TO PRAY- Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint: Pray and keep on Praying. God wants to Bless you but sometimes He must get our attitude right.
There is POWER in Prayer. There is PROVISION in Prayer. There is PEACE in Prayer.
III. WE OUGHT TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER- I Jn 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. They'll know we are Christians by our Love--- which means we ought to bear one another's burdens- Rom 15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
Can't think of a better time of the year to render aid to someone in need- an extra $5 may mean a great deal to one of our widows.
IV. WE OUGHT TO OBEY GOD- Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. To obey is better than sacrifice.
Obey God's command to BE SAVED
Obey God's Command to be a Witness
Listen to God's voice. Learn to distinguish God's voice (My sheep know my voice, another they will not follow).