Lay it Down, And Leave it There!
1st Chronicles 4:5-8 NKJ
5. And Ashhur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah.
6. Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah.
7. The sons of Helah were Zereth, Zohar, and Ethnan;
8. and Koz begot Anub, Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel the son of Harum.
The world is full of people just like the ones that we just read about.
Oh they were probably good people, up standing citizens,
However, we probably would never even have read their names, if it hadn’t been for Jabez and his memorable prayer.
Those names have been all but forgotten, not because they weren’t good people,
But because they never did anything memorable with their lives for the Lord.
However he was different, he was willing to lay it down, leave it there and trust God,
no matter what the outcome, he knew he could trust God with the results.
Lay what down, you may be wondering?
Everything he had;
*all his hopes
*all his desires
*all his dreams and ambitions
*everything he possessed, everything he ever hoped to be, he placed in the hands of God
Vs. 9. Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.”
TBS. he was more honorable than his bros. quite a statement, God had penned about Jabez.
For all that matter, he was more honorable than a lot of the names mentioned in the first 9 chapters of Chronicles.
And we’re talking about names like Abraham, Jesse and David!
Because he did something that was worth remembering, something so amazing that God called him more honorable.
Vs. 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.
What he did, was put his total trust in God’s capabilities.
You see, so many today, are willing to only rely on self effort and that alone, to get them where they want to go in life.
And the sad thing is, they always think self effort will get them there, but they never get there!
Even when they have been unsuccessful at doing it for a lifetime,
Even when they know the outcome, before the end result
they still think they can do a better job, than God can!
They’re so busy, focused on what they can’t do, over and over
instead of what God can do, if they would only give Him the opportunity.
However long Jabez waited to call on God, Whether it was 5 minutes, or 5 yrs.
Before he realized he would never, be able to achieve his dreams and ambitions on his own, was too long.
But the moment he did and the moment he sought God,
God heard his prayer and God responded to his faith.
And He will do the same thing for whoever calls out to Him in faith and believes, Praise God?
However long anyone waits to call on God, is always to long, but never to late to start!
Matt. 9:20-22 MSG.
20-22. Just then a woman who had hemorrhaged for twelve years slipped in from behind and lightly touched his robe. She was thinking to herself, "If I can just put a finger on his robe, I’ll get well." Jesus turned—caught her at it. Then he reassured her: "Courage, daughter. You took a risk of faith, and now you’re well." The woman was well from then on.
Now did Jesus heal her when she was just thinking to herself about touching His robe,
Cause believe me, I’m sure she had thought about being healed and set free from her affliction for 12 long years,
or did He heal her, she released her faith and reached out to Jesus capabilities, instead of her own.
12 long agonizing yrs., 4,380 days of maybe I‘ll find an answer or solution tomorrow,
Why had she waited so long? Why does anyone wait so long to turn to God?
Because TBS. the very moment she did that, the very moment she changed her thinking from her capabilities to His, she was made whole!
We can’t, but GOD CAN! Praise God!!
We can’t, but GOD CAN! Praise God!!
To many focus on their circumstances, instead of the one who can change their situation! Amen? (repeat again)
I was reading Max Lucado the other day and his article was about David.
He had just left his sheparding responsibilities and went to take his brothers something to eat on the battlefield.
That’s where David hears Goliath defying God,
These are the first words David spoke, not just in the battle, but in the Bible.
Its no wonder, God said he was a man after his own heart.
1st Sam. 17:26
Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
All of Israel is only talking about what they can’t do!
David shows up and the first thing he says is, God Can!
The soldiers mentioned nothing of God, his brothers never spoke his name, the whole nation was in fear!
but David takes one step into the arena and first thing that he does, is raise the subject of the living God! Amen?
No one else is thinking about God’s capabilities!
You know, the;
*set you free red sea splitting,
*feed you everyday for 40 years,
*make the walls fall down flat at Jericho, miracle working capabilities of God!
Sad thing is, they knew all these things,
But they couldn’t even see God, because they were letting Goliath block their view.
David is thinking about nothing else but, God’s capabilities!
David knows he can’t beat this giant of a man himself, but he also knows,
Its not about what he can do, but its all about what God Can Do,
if someone will just have faith and give Him the opportunity to do it!
There are situations in everyone’s life, that God is just waiting to respond to, the moment someone is ready to call out in faith! Amen?
1st Sam 17:45 MSG.
45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
David called on the Great God of Israel and God granted him what he asked of him.
All of Israel saw the favor of God, on David that day! Amen?
David went on to become, one of the greatest warriors Israel would ever have and ultimately became the King as well.
His whole life was affected, shaped and defined by that one event,
When he laid it on the line, trusted God and left the results up to God.
One moment in the favor of God can change any ones life, who is willing to believe and have faith that He is capable of doing it. Amen?
There is a recurring theme here, there always is, with anyone that gets truly blessed by God!
Their faith is always at the forefront of their need being met.
Hebrews 11:6 NKJ
6. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Are you receiving everything you want from God?
Why not?
Isn’t about time Christians, came to God and believed, He is who He says He is,
And that He can do, what He says He can do,
And that if you will diligently seek Him, He will reward you for doing so!
How much time are you spending seeking God?
Do you want an hours worth on Sunday morning blessing, or a lifetime of it?
Get into the word, the word is life and will bring life to any situation!
1st Chrn. 2:13-15 NKJ.
13. Jesse begot Eliab his firstborn, Abinadab the second, Shimea the third, 14. Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, 15. Ozem the sixth, and David the seventh.
Nobody recalls the names of David’s 6 bros. anytime his story is told.
God is not a respecter of persons, they all had the same opportunity that day on the battlefield,
But only David had the faith to trust God for the impossible.
Truth be told, we all have the same opportunity and have already had many opportunities in our lifetimes,
To step up to challenge and do as David did, to do as the woman with the issue of blood did, to do as Jabez did,
The accuser will try his best, to make a Goliath out of every trial you will ever come up against,
He will try to make a mountain out of every mole hill, if you let him
Circumstances will always try to dictate the outcome of every situation in our lives, if we let them.
Its only when we take ourselves out of the equation and trust God to do the impossible,
Does He have the opportunity to bring it about and get the glory that He truly deserves.
God is so good to us, so patient, so kind, just waiting for the moment for us to lay it down and let Him bring about the plans He has for us!
This is God’s Word on the subject,
I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised,
I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out,
plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.
When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, when you finally lay it all down at my feet and leave it there!
1st Chronicles 4:10 NKJ
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.
Jerm. 33:2-3 NKJ
2. “Thus says the Lord who made it, the Lord who formed it to establish it (the Lord is His name):
3. ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’
God wants to do so much in our lives and were only limited by how much we are willing to let Him be a part of.
Will we end up like David and Jabez brothers?
Or will we let God truly give us the life that He wants for us?
Eph. 2:10 NKJ
10. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
The Amplified Bible says it Bests,
For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].
God has prearranged a good life for you to live, its your heritage as a child of God.
Step out of the old and into the new and He will take you places and do amazing things in your life, when you do!
Today can be the first day of the rest of your life,
the life that God has had planned for you all along,
if you will let it be, if you are willing to lay it down.
Close: have someone sing the powerful song "Lay it down" by Jaci Velasquez
(here are the words)
I’ve been looking ’til my eyes are tired of looking
Listening ’til my ears are numb from listening
Praying ’til my knees are sore from kneeling
On the bedroom floor
I know that You know that my heart is aching
I’m running out of tears and my will is breaking
I don’t think that I can carry
The burden of it anymore
All of my hopes and my dreams and my best laid plans
Are slowly slipping through my folded hands
Chorus
So I’m gonna lay it down
I’m gonna learn to trust You now
What else can I do
Everything I am depends on You
And if the sun don’t come back up
I know Your love will be enough
I’m gonna let it be, I’m gonna let it go
I’m gonna lay it down
I’ve been walking through this world like I’m barely living
Buried in the doubt of this hole I’ve been digging
But You’re pulling me out and I’m finally breathing
In the open air
This room may be dark but I’m finally seeing
There’s a new ray of hope and now I’m believing
That the past is the past and the future’s beginning to look brighter now
’Cause all of my hopes and my dreams and my best laid plans
Are safe and secure when I place them in Your hands
Chorus
So I’m gonna lay it down
I’m gonna learn to trust You now
What else can I do
Everything I am depends on You
And if the sun don’t come back up
I know Your love will be enough
I’m gonna let it be, I’m gonna let it go
I’m gonna lay it down
