The Power Of Prayer.
1 Chronicles 4:10AMP
The power of prayer is all about humility.
Prayer isn’t about length, it’s the sincerity behind prayer.
God doesn’t look at the length of our pleas and requests, or how perfectly prayers were created. He doesn’t look at a person’s status in society, but at the status of their hearts.
In 2 Chronicles 16, King Asa, decided to place his trust in man. 2 Chronicles 16:7...Hanani the seer came to King Asa and told him, “Because you have put your trust in the king of Aram instead of in the Lord your God, you missed your chance to destroy the army of the king of Aram.
King Asa, the King, missed his chance.
2 Chronicles 16:9NLT The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war.”
The name Jabez means, ‘he causes pain’.
But Jabez defied the testimony of his name and believed in the power of God because Jabez identity was found in God.
Jabez refused to let his name, or his family define him. He had the, ‘Greater One’ living through him.
1 Chronicles 4:10AMP Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that You would indeed bless me and enlarge my border [property], and that Your hand would be with me, and You would keep me from evil so that it does not hurt me!” And God granted his request.
Jabez was mentioned as part of Judah’s genealogy. The author of Chronicles gave a short history of Jabez’s name and his short prayer to God.
Although short, Jabez prayer was powerful and full of prosperity, favor, guidance, purpose, vision, and protection.
1. Jabez had a relationship with God.
Notice, 1 Chronicles 4:10AMP Jabez cries out to the God of Israel.
2 Chronicles 13:14-15a When Judah turned around, behold, they were attacked both from front and rear; so they cried out to the Lord, and the priests blew the trumpets. 15 Then the men of Judah raised a war cry, and when the men of Judah raised the war cry, Jeroboam and Judah’s enemies were defeated!
Judah’s cry, became Judah’s war cry. As Judah cried out to God and the priests blew the trumpets, Judah’s enemy would be defeated by God.
Once again, Jabez cry was unselfish. His mouth uttered words of spiritual growth.
Jabez addresses, “O Lord, bless me indeed...”
Jabez was not seeking wealth or more land for greedy purposes, Jabez wanted God to expand his spiritual territory, to claim more generations for God’s kingdom.
What kind of cry comes from within? Is it sincere? One that wants more of God, and the Holy Spirit? Or is it, a last-ditch-desperate-cry? An upset cry? An unfair cry? A pitiful, or woe is me cry?
2. Oh that You would indeed bless me... Jabez understood the power of the blessing.
Before we can walk in a greater dimension and presence of God, we have to understand the power of blessing.
Not only do we need to read and understand the Blessing, but we need to believe in the blessing.
Mark 11:22NASB And Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.
As Gods representative/His ambassador, we are called to bless, to speak a blessing.
This blessing has the potential to move spiritual mountains. As Gods representative along with being His ambassador, we are called to bless, to speak a blessing.
We should be aware that our blessing has the potential to move spiritual mountains.
Mark 11:23NASB Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted to him.
3. ...enlarge my border [property]. Jabez had no problem asking because his motives were in order.
Isaiah 54:2-3NIV “Enlarge the place of your tent; Stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, spare not; Lengthen your cords And strengthen your pegs.
Deuteronomy 19:8-9NASB And if the Lord your God enlarges your territory, just as He has sworn to your fathers, and gives you all the land that He promised to give your fathers— 9 if you carefully follow all of this commandment which I am commanding you today, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in His ways always—then you shall add three more cities for yourself, besides these three.
If our motives are right God is all about expansion, Kingdom growth spells, more kings kids. More disciples!
Jabez wanted his circle of influence to grow. He cries out to God, “Expand my border, so I can do more for you!”
Why don’t we ask God to enlarge our border? * “Lord, Give us more parking.”
* “Lord, Give us the 11acres behind us.”
* “Lord, give us i-c-i. Ideas, concepts and insight.”
* “Lord, give us a soul winners heart!”
Unselfish request- Expand our boarders. Give us a greater voice! Give us a larger platform! Lord, give us souls.
Refuse to put a cap on growth, growth equals disciples.
4. ...and You would keep me from evil so that it does not hurt me!” Jabaz wisely states, “Allow my material and spiritual growth only to benefit You, me and others.”
John 10:10TPT A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect —life in its fullness until you overflow!
Jabez cries, “bring and overflow of abundance and let it bring the fullness of God.”
Again, 1 Chronicles 4:10, Jabez prays...10b and that Your hand would be with me, and You would keep me from evil so that it does not hurt me!” And God granted his request.
5. Seek Gods face, in return, you get His hand.
Jabez needed the hand of God.
Psalm 16:11NIV You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
Exodus 7:5NIV The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the sons of Israel from their midst.”
Fact- Prayers never prayed will always be 100% unsuccessful. However, prayers, prayed with intention, burden mixed with a desire to grow spiritually will always move the hand of God. PH.
The Lords prayer is often recited in churches or at religious events, but there's so much more to this prayer. Jesus provided this model as an outline to teach us how to pray in a way that connects us to God, and empowers us to accomplish great things through him. This model takes us through each part of the Lords prayer, showing us how to pray the way Jesus instructed.
Luke 11:1NASB It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, when He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.”
The greatest prayer ever prayed was a 51-word prayer. Matthew 6:9-13NKJV In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
1. Our Father in heaven.
Declare your intimate relationship to God.
Romans 8:15NIV So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”
If you will sincerely seek God, He will show his unconditional love, and unfailing grace to everyone who has faith in Him.
2. Holy be your name.
Worship His name!
God loves it when we worship him and there is power in his name.
Proverbs 18:10NKJV The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.
3. Your kingdom come, your we'll be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Pray His, (Jesus’) agenda first.
Part of being a child of God is caring about what Jesus cares about. We know His will is perfect and we acknowledge His wisdom and sovereignty when we pray His agenda first.
Say it, “Kingdom come, will be done.”
4. Give us this day, our daily bread.
Depend on Him for everything.
Psalm 121:1-2NLT I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!
5. Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Forgive and be forgiven.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
6. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
There's times of spiritual warfare, and you should be fully engaged.
Ephesians 612 for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
7. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Express faith in God's ability!
Jeremiah 3217 Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.
In closing, remind yourself of Gods, limitless power, and then return to praising Him and declaring your faith in Him.
Say it:
* Yours is the kingdom, all authority belongs to you.
* Yours is the power, all mightiness flows from you.
Yours is the glory, your victory will be complete.
Benediction.
