An Introduction Series

As is the case with all my messages, I am glad to provide my Power Point slides so you can use them as a help for your own.

This sermon series was “Team Preached” by my wife (Becky) and I

The Salvation Army

Herkimer, NY

The Prayer of Jabez: An Introduction

“Turning Pain

Into Prayer”

1 Chronicles

4:9 & 10

1 Chronicles 4:9 & 10

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.

NKJV

Pain …

• I Chronicles is “begats”

– Genealogy

– Geography

• In the midst .. “this guy!”

• In this culture, names were important!

ÅBe[]y (Hebraica font)

• Jabez means pain or misery

– Why?

– Perhaps difficult birth

– Maybe untimely;

– No father mentioned …

– Could have been an “unwanted child”;

– Could have been sickly (needing attention)

– Today? maybe another abortion statistic!

– Regardless of the reason …

• God used him!

• Why & How is what the next 4 weeks are all about!

His Pain / Our Pain

• some childhood experience

• parental insensitivity

• verbal abuse

• sexual abuse

• unrealistic expectations

• perfectionistic parent

• comparison to a brother or sister

• It is hard to have a positive self-image when you secretly believe that you have been cursed from your birth!

And Yet …

Jabez was known as …

• most respected son in his family (CEV)

• more honourable KJV

• more distinguished LB

• the most distinguished NAB

• respected more NCV

• more honorable NIV

• more distinguished NLV

• honored more NRSV

How Could That Be?

The Change in Jabez

Warning! Danger!

(I inserted a photo of the “Space Family Robinson” robot in the Power Point here)

• Don’t be fooled!

• It ISN’T

– a ‘magic formula’

– ‘a secret way to control God!’

• It IS

• ‘the power/attitude behind the prayer”

– Jabez "stands out because he was a person of prayer."

• It IS

• A relationship!

• We’ve talked about prayer before

– Captain Becky

– Brother Fred

Aspects of Prayer

• Faith

• God can!

• Worship

• God is the reason!

• Confession

• God can’t sin

• Adoration

• God is our Creator

• Praise

• God inhabits praise

• Thanksgiving

• God gives mercy

• Dedicated Action

• Our response

• Request

• Communicate with God

• Effectiveness

• “Practicing the Presence” makes the devil tremble!

Finally ….

Pray always, continually, without ceasing! (Lk.18:1, 1Thes.5:16-18)...

In Two Ways:

1- Giving thanks to God with joy in all circumstances, at all times and for everything in the name of Jesus

(1Thes 5:16-18, Eph.5:20)

2- Seeing Jesus in your neighbor... Whatever you do unto your neighbor, you do it to Jesus (Mt.25:31-46).

But Watch Out!

In any storm in your life, God always answers every prayer with a BIG YES!

1- Either He calms the storm

2- Or He calms you

“The Prayer of Jabez” is available “Online” or at Wal-Mart, etc