Sermon # 25 - When Will God Answer Our Prayers? Series

We read in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, “Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother named him Jabez saying, "Because I bore him with pain. Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, "Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!" And God granted him what he requested.” (NASB)

Jabez overcame pain with prayer

There are two words in this passage that we will highlight and study in detail. One is the name ‘Jabez’ and the other is the word ‘pain’. When Jabez was born, his mother went through such remarkable pain, that she named him ‘Jabez’ which literally means ‘I bore him in pain’. It must have been strange for Jabez to have been referred to by everyone this way, but Jabez knew that he could go to God, who could absolutely change his painful past to one of jubilance and joy. That is why when Jabez prayed to the Lord, the Lord answered his prayers, and granted his requests.

All of us yearn that the Lord will give heed to our prayers, and answer them. When prayers are not answered, we are often brimming with questions as to why this is so. Jesus said, ‘ask and you will receive’ and our God is a promise keeping God. Therefore, when prayers are hindered or unanswered, it is certain that the fault lies with us, and not with God. Sometimes when faced with unforeseen difficulties, people resign themselves to the thought that this could be their fate. Like Jabez it doesn’t really matter how the onset of our life was, if we can trust in the Lord, He can change our bleak past into a brilliant future. Doesn’t matter what our present situation is, we have a God who is able to replace all of our brokenness with his wholeness. That is why Jesus came down to this earth. The Lord has planned to accomplish marvelous deeds through each one of us. So, irrespective of how downcast we feel, if we have faith in the Lord, and pray fervently, God can take us to great heights that we never ever dreamt of reaching.

Jabez distinguished himself from his brothers

Though Jabez was given birth with much pain, and the name stuck to him, yet we read that Jabez was more honorable than all his brothers. Jabez decided that he would strive to be one who would distinguish himself from those around him. He therefore lived by principles in his life that were more honorable than his brothers.

The Lord has called us to be a distinct people, and not be those who will blend in with the world. Like Jabez, we too must desire to be those who are excellent, and outstanding among all those around us. Many people have made the prayer of Jabez to sound like some sort of mantra, which when repeated several times can bring about alterations to their lives. Like Jabez, we too must have the zeal to be different from those around us in our walk, our talk and all our dealings, whereby the Lord will be glorified in every area of our lives. In our place of work we must be so esteemed, that people testify that we are those who fear the Lord, and honor Him in everything.

David found it necessary to examine his life in the presence of the Lord, and that is why he prayed in Psalm 139: 23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”(NKJV)

It is important that we search ourselves often in God’s presence like David did, for ofttimes we are unable to identify our personal faults and failings. Instead of shifting blame on those around us, it is beneficial that we analyze ourselves and set our lives in order before the Lord.

God will do His part, if we are willing to do ours

Our tendency when we study the life of someone in the Bible is to only observe their high points, not realizing all that it took for them to get there. For instance, if we regard the life of Joseph, he had to go through thirteen years of extreme misery and hardships. He was falsely accused, thrown into prison, but through it all he remained true, and faithful to God.

The Lord saved Daniel by shutting the mouth of hungry lions, and brought about a great deliverance. However, in order to get there, Daniel disciplined himself to pray three times a day, defying the King’s edict, so as to honor God.