Let God Bless You Through The Prayer Of Jabez! Series

Great Prayers of the Old Testament

Part 10: Let God Bless You through the Prayer of Jabez!

1 Chronicles 4:9-10

Sermon by Rick Crandall

(Prepared September 19, 2024)

MESSAGE:

*Bruce Wilkinson is an excellent Christian teacher and author known all over world for his "Walk Thru the Bible" ministry. Back in 2000, Bruce wrote a little book on this prayer of Jabez, and it took the country by storm. THE PRAYER OF JABEZ became an international bestseller, and sold 9 million copies. God used it to help start a prayer revival in our country, and it made a big difference in people's lives. (1)

*All of those blessings flowed out of the power-packed prayer here in vs. 10. "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!'" Verse 10 also tells us that "God granted Jabez what he requested."

*Church: The same God who blessed Jabez wants to bless us! And He will bless us, if we will pray like Jabez prayed.

1. FIRST: PRAY FOR GOD'S PROVISION.

*Jabez needed to be blessed by God, and he wanted to be blessed by God. So he prayed, "Oh that You would bless me indeed." And God granted him what he requested.

*Notice that Jabez's answered prayer does not mean that we can automatically wipe out all of our problems in life. Jabez surely knew about problems, because he had faced them all his life. Jabez's name meant "pain" or "pain-maker." How would you like that for a name? Sometimes my daddy used to call me a pain in the neck. And he was right! But how would you like to be called "a pain" by everyone, all the time?

*Jabez knew all about trouble, but he was still blessed. Carlyle Marney told about a wonderful young woman like that. She and her family were part of Carlyle's church in Austin, Texas. One of their children was a beautiful baby girl, who tragically was born without arms and legs.

*But Marney said that family was tremendously courageous and resourceful. They were people with great strength and positive faith. They didn't wring their hands in anger or despair. Instead, the whole family pulled together when they took her home from the hospital. They gave her every kind of help they possibly could.

*As a result, she grew into an absolutely delightful young adult. And though she died at the age of 22, she had become a remarkable and wonderful person of strong faith and knowledge. Even though she was never able to move herself, feed herself, dress herself, or do many other things that we take for granted every day, she never stopped trusting in the Lord.

*This young lady was blessed by God, and she knew it. Pastor Marney explained how strong her faith shined when this young lady was 19. Her brother brought home his college roommate. That young man was very smart, but also very shallow and coldhearted. Near the end of his visit, that insensitive student said, "Before I leave, I simply must ask you something. What keeps you from crying out in rage against a God who would let you be born this way? How do you keep from blowing up in anger at the injustice He has dealt you?"

*She looked the boy straight in the eye and confidently said, "I realize that when compared to what other people have, what I have may not seem like much. But I wouldn't have missed the chance to have been born for anything! I have been able to taste. I have learned to read. I have been exposed to some of the world's greatest literature. I have heard incredible, wonderful music. I have had the love and relationship of a wonderful family and friends. I have faith in God's goodness and in His unfailing help. Yes, I know when compared to others it may not seem that I have very much. But compared to not being able to live at all, I wouldn't have missed being born for anything!" (2)

*Church: That's the kind of faith God wants us to have! That young lady didn't have arms or legs, but she will stand in Heaven forever, -- because she had faith in God! She knew all about trouble, but she was surely blessed.

*All of us will also have pain in life. We will have problems. Sometimes we will have big problems. But God promises to give us great blessings in answer to our prayers! Nave's Topical Bible actually lists 80 places in the Bible where God promises to answer our prayers. (3)

*Scriptures like Psalm 37:4-5, where God's Word says, "Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass."