1 Chronicles 4:9-10 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.
A full-page magazine ad depicts a Roman gladiator in big trouble. Somehow, he has dropped his sword. The enraged lion, seeing its opportunity, is in mid-lunge, jaws wide. The crowd in the Coliseum is on its feet, watching in horror as the panic-stricken gladiator tries to flee. The caption reads: Sometimes you can afford to come in second. Sometimes you can’t.
When it comes to your relationship with God … can you afford to come in second?
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
Having received the blessings of God … Jabez understood he now needed to live safe.
Though he had received honor, blessings, and influence he knew better than to jump into the ring with a lion … and so he prayed, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!
Evil: bad, adversity, affliction, calamity
Jabez wasn’t asking to abuse or misuse his relationship with God when he prayed for to be kept from evil.
That would be like asking God to let nothing bad happen to you and then you jump off the roof of a building hoping to land softly. If you do that … God might ask, "Why did you go and do that?"
Note: Using an umbrella to jump off a roof top doesn’t work and does nothing to impede the pull of gravity … I know … I did that as kid!
Along with the blessings from God we need to pray for His protective hand to be upon us to keep us from evil. Why?
· When we pray in boldness, such as Jabez did … we threaten Satan … we step on His turf and that ticks him off. And he is going to do all he can do to get us to come in second!
· Blessings tend to make us presumptuous to think we don’t need to depend on God so much now that things are going good.
1. Safe Living At a Safe Distance
The blessings of God are not intended to make us think we are invincible. We are to be seeking God in the blessing.
So when it comes to praying for divine protection the answer may come in the simple command of "don’t do that" … or "don’t go there."
"By far our most important strategy for defeating the roaring lion is to stay out of the arena." - Bruce Wilkinson
1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from every form of evil.
Abstain: to hold oneself off, refrain, keep at a distant
We need learn that God has given us the ability to say "no" to sin and to distance ourselves from the things that can cause us harm.
1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits."
God is wanting us to learn more than just how to handle temptation … but to stay away from temptation.
Matthew 6:13a ’And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Bruce Wilkinson says, "We make a huge spiritual leap forward … when we begin to focus less on beating temptation and more avoiding it."
Safe living is living at a safe distance.
2. Safe Living In a Safe Décor
What decorates your mind, heart and life? If our mind’s attention and heart’s affection is not on the Lord Himself … we are living dangerously.
The outfit for living life is strategically designed by God.
2 Corinthians 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
Therefore to pray to be kept from evil is to wear what God has given us to wear into battle.
· Dress yourself for safe living
Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
· Truth … belt
· Righteousness … breastplate
· Peace (gospel) … shoes
· Faith … shield
· Salvation … helmet
Ephesians 6:13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
God gives us the armor … but it is up to you and I to put it on for protection against the evils of the day.
The prayer for protection is not some magical formula or mystical force field that avails itself to protect us in a life of disobedience.
The prayer for protection, as Jabez was requesting is prayed in the willingness to be submissive to God and His Word.
Safe living is decorating your life with God’s armor.
3. Safe Living In a Safe Departure
Sometimes we find ourselves in unsafe places. In those times the best thing to do is to make as quick a departure as we can.
Job 28:28 And to man He said, ’Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding.’"
Psalms 34:14 Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.
Safe living suggests that we quit leaning on our own wisdom, experience and feelings.
· Departure from Our Wisdom
We may think ourselves to be wise … but in the garden Satan shredded any wisdom man might have on his own in one conversation.
Proverbs 3:7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
· Departure from Our Experience
Satan holds at bay many of God’s people because of poor judgment on their own part, or some bad experience they have had.
Ecclesiastes 8:5 He who keeps his command will experience nothing harmful; And a wise man’s heart discerns both time and judgment,
· Departure from Our Feelings
"Gut" feelings that are not tempered in the Word are bad choices that can place us right in the middle of a lion infested arena.
Today lives are racked and wrecked because of the common occurrence of "I just feel …"
Proverbs 16:17 NLT The path of the upright leads away from evil; whoever follows that path is safe.
Safe living is sometimes quick departures.
1 Timothy 6:11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
Conclusion:
When you and I fail to:
· Distance ourselves from evil.
· Dress ourselves to defend against evil.
· Depart from evil
… it’s then that the pain of life become ours.
Jabez prayed his life would not cause pain … be it to himself or others.
Life’s pain is not always escapable … but when asking for God’s divine protection it can become endurable … so as to not cause greater pain.
If we pray the prayer of Jabez, can expect like Jabez that God will hear and grant our requests.
I believe so … because I know so by God’s Word.
· Safe living is to stay in constant touch with God.
John 15:7 "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
· Safe living is to keep on seeking God’s protective hand.
Luke 11:9-10 "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
Jabez … the man who began life causing pain, became one who prayed and trusted in the God he worshipped.
1 Chronicles 4:9-10 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.
Amen!
The Prayer of Jabez sermons are a result of having read, The Prayer of Jabez: Breaking Through to the Blessed Life, by Bruce Wilkinson. Some ideas, thoughts and quotes have been gleaned from the book. Outlines are original with R. AuBuchon Jr, Other materials from various sources have also been gleaned and added.
This sermon was preached by Robert AuBuchon at Trinity Baptist Church in 2001. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
