Praying Large/Living Large
1 Chronicles 4:9-10
Introduction-
This morning I want to introduce you to Jabez. A person who probably was skipped over more than he was read in the Bible until Bruce Wilkerson wrote a book called “The prayer of Jabez”. It is in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 if you want to begin to turn there. It is in the Old Testament right after 2 Kings. He is among a whole genealogy of names. So and so begot so and so, and then they died. Jabez can teach us something this morning. He can teach us if we desire to live large, we need to be praying large. We can do things in our own strength or we can do things in the strength of God. Which do you think will take us farther? Chronicles means historical record- it is the historical record of Jabez.
1 Chronicles 4:9-10 Read.
Nine chapters of a list of names. He stands out because he dared to believe God. His prayer is in 4 parts.
1. He prayed that God would Bless Him.
2. He prayed that God would enlarge his territory.
3. He prayed that God’s hand would be upon him.
4. He prayed that God would keep him from the evil one.
Those are prayers we should be praying for ourselves and others around us. Verse 9 is what we know about Jabez. Which it is not too much.
- He was more honorable than his brothers.
- his mother named him Jabez, which means pain. She must of had a hard labor with him and never let him forget it. Names in the Bible meant something. So to be named pain was a stigma he had to live with. Here comes Jabez, what a pain Everyday saddled with knowing that he was a disappointment.
-He could of blamed his life on his up-bringing.
- He could of blamed his mother- it’s her fault.
- I will never amount to anything.
But he does not stay there. Jabez cried out to God, (v10)
“Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory. Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I may be free from pain. And God granted his request. Jabez cried out to God, God granted his request, he free him from his past and promised to be with him in the future. (Amen )
Praying beyond God’s ability would be praying something that is outside the will of God. Praying outside something that God feels is best for you. Praying the perfect will of God for our lives unlocks the mighty blessings of God. God forgave us- be quick to forgive others. God wants to answer our prayers. God expects us to understand the principals of prayer. Jesus built the church on the foundation that Jesus is Lord When you operate your life on this principal. The word declares “Resist the devil and he will flee ” That is a fact Jack We can live and resist the devil and we can live lives victorious. The failure to live and walk in that kingdom principal is why many do not see more prayers answered. They pray outside of God’s will or they do not have a relationship with the Lord. Principal defined by Webster is “the ultimate source, origin or cause of something. Jesus words in Mark 11 tells us to “Have faith in God” He is our faith He is the source of power He is everything we need
Rev Roy Hicks
“God’s faith is so high and mine is so low. I just trust the grace of God to make up the difference” That is good The next time you can’t move a mountain, check your faith and go stand on top the mountain and praise the Lord When I am weak, He is strong
Look at your sermon notes:
1. Jabez prayed for God to Bless Him
Millions of prayers are offered everyday and many go un-answered because there is no relationship between God the Father, and the person praying. Even if they include Father, or In the Name of Jesus.
People need to get out of their comfort zones, diligently work on their relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus told the Laodecia church because you are luke warm- neither hot nor cold, I will spit you put of my mouth. Jabez says God I want to know you and I want you to bless me He is not famous. He is not a preacher. He is not a warrior from battle like David. He is a man of prayer that trusted God to do what He said he would do in his word. Do we have a right to pray such a big prayer? Absolutely The power is not in us It is in Jesus Christ. The blessing does not come from who we are, it comes from who we are in Christ. A child of God, who desires to bless his children.
2. Jabez prayed for God to Enlarge his territory.
God is looking for people to get out of their comfort zones. There are people struggling this morning because there are some areas of your life that we refuse to let God have or get into. Churches stay small because they never trust God to expand their territory because it is based on how much the people have instead of how much God has. I could never do that I’m not smart enough, I am not talented enough, quick enough, strong enough, instead of letting God expand our territory. We pray prayers big enough that we ourselves can handle. Try prayers that are so big that if God didn’t do it, it ain’t happening That prayer will get God’s attention That expands your territory Jabez probably remembered his ancestor Jacob who wrestled with God. “I will not let go until you bless me ” expand my territory, enlarge my circle, do for me what I cannot even imagine I will not let go until you bless me Success comes when preparation meets opportunity. You don’t just pray that and sit back and let God do all the work. Living large is praying large and doing everythng you know to do to make it happen. Anticipating that God will step in and do what you cannot do in yourself. God give me a new zeal God give me a new passion for the things that you love God help me to serve others God expand my territory and bless me
3. Jabez prayed that God’s hand would be upon him.
Do you think that is a selfish prayer? Not if your asking God to bless you so that you can do be a blessing to others. “Where is no vision- the people perish” praying prayers bigger than you forces us to trust and look to God. What would you pray if you knew that you could not fail? What has God been saying to you but you have been scared to do because all the pieces don’t fit. You have to look beyond circumstances. God is bigger You have to look past money, time, talents, because God is able and He has all the resources needed. Having God’s hand on our lives and the things we are doing is letting God drive. It is seeing beyond what you could possibly see into the realm that God does His best work. The realm of impossible It is that crazy good spot that we looked at last week when we see in space all that God created and the magnitude of the God that we serve. Isaiah 54:2 “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch the tent curtain wide, do not hold back, lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.” praying God’s hand in our lives is a given- we need it And it’s easier when we are living in the will of God, desiring to do the will of God.
IV. Jabez prayed for God to keep the evil one away.
Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free of pain. And God granted his request. We pray that God would put a hedge of protection around us and our families. Does that mean that we never have hard times or bad things- no We live in a sinful world and bad things happen. We see it everyday. We are praying that God would keep us from sinning. “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Mt. 6:13) I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:11)
Closing;
Jabez understood some principals of God.
He knew he needed God’s blessing and that God wanted to bless him.
He knew that God was bigger than he could imagine or think.
He knew that God could expand his territory and his mind.
He understood that he needed God’s hand to accomplish all these things. Praying that the will of God would be done in his life.
Depending on God to keep him safe from the enemy. Knowing that there is a adversary that wanted to cause him to stumble, but that God could keep him from falling.
For God to hear your prayer, you need to be a pray-er
Without prayer- we have no spiritual weapons. Either for defense or offense. Faith is believing God for what He said and act upon it as though you already have it or can see it. If you take the train off the track, the ride is free but you are not going anywhere. (Anonymous) You cannot climb the ladder of success with your hands in your pocket and you cannot have God’s best for your life without God.
Altar Call
