"I N C R E A S E"

1 December 03

“I N C R E A S E ” by U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris

1 Chronicles 4:9-10

U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris

CP Walker Multicultural Gospel Service

Daegu, Korea

BIG IDEA: GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS OF TERRITORIAL INCREASE ” (SPIRITUALLY AND MATERIALISTICALLY).

REFERENCES: Matthew 6:33 (But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. ); Matthew 6:11-13 (Give us this day our daily breadAnd forgive us our debts, as * * we forgive our debtors. 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.); 1 Timothy 6:10 (For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. ); 1 Chonocles 2:55 (And the families of the scribes which dwelt (8802) at Jabez; the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and Suchathites. These are the Kenites that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab. ); Matthew 7:9-11 (Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give * him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give * him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? );

I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: 1 CHRONICLES 4:9-10

II. THE LARGER CONTEXT:

Now, before we begin, allow me to share you some HISTORICAL TRUES regarding THE BOOK OF FIRST AND SECOND CHRONICLES . For example, in THE BOOK OF FIRST AND SECOND CHRONICLES, WE FIND that the Chronicles cover the same historical period that THE BOOKS OF SAMUEL AND KINGS covers, but from a different point of view.

In fact, these books can be compared to THE GOSPEL OF JOHN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. Therefore, If you are familiar with the four Gospels, you know that the first three -- Matthew, Mark, and Luke -- are what we call the Synoptical Gospels. These three parallel each other and cover the same general incidents, often from a slightly different perspective.

III. THE SMALLER CONTEXT:

More Specifically, our Chronicles are believed to have been written by Ezra who took this particular opportunity to remind us all that God answers prayers of Territorial Increase (both spiritually and materialistically) regardless of our family history if WE’RE PERSISTENT IN PRAYER and absolutely refuse to QUIT praying even when it seems and feels like we are being OUTGUNNED AND OUT MANNED, by the enemy of our FAITH AND CIRCUMSTANCES.

IV. READ THE PERICOPE: 1 CHRONICLES 4:9-10

V. READ THE TEXT: 1 CHRONICLES 4:10a (And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, …).

VI. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to PRAY, and ask God to Bless Them with Territorial Increase (OF BOTH SPIRTITUAL AND MATERIAL POSSESSION).

VII. SERMONIC THEME: “I.N.C.R.E.A.S.E.”

VIII. PROPOSITION: Thanksgiving is as far away as it has ever been. And I don’t know how you feel about the upcoming Holiday Season, but I can definitely feel CHRISTMAS in the air.

What about you? In fact, I’m not sure if you were aware of it or not; but this past week - The Area IV Chaplain and his Staff put on an excellent “Tree lighting Ceremony” to say the least. Just seeing those lights come on SIMULTANEOUSLY (at the push of a button) did something for me.

Christmas is definitely in the air; and if that wasn’t enough AIR CIRCUMVENTING our Multicultural Gospel Service has been asked to conduct about 12 minutes of Christmas Songs at The Buddhist Temple’s Tree Lighting Ceremony on the 22 of December (2003) …

Christmas is definitely in the AIR; and Christ is the REASON FOR THE SEASON …

************************TAKE 5 BEATS******************

MOVE 1: Similar, … One of the Greatest Fables, in our Western Culture, during this time

of the year is the Story of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

a. As you may recall this is a story of an account of the Ebenezer Scrooge; and how he

transformed on THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

b. For it is said, that THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST had visited with him and

showed THE SCROOGE how he gradually … over a period of years … became the

scrooge that he was because of failures in his earlier life.

c. Now, I don’t know about you; but I can’t HELP for wondering, theologically, IF WE…

d. … TOO GRADUALLY BECOME THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE ARE … through

TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS?

********************TAKE 5 BEATS**********************

MOVE 2; For instance, DOES A LOVING FATHER BECOME A LOVING, AND