The Prayer of Jabez
1 Chr 4:9-10
9 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.
During this exhaustive list of genealogies, God stops to point out a man named Jabez and his prayer.
God called Jabez more honorable than his brothers. Why? – Because he was a man of prayer
A man who grew up with a deficit in his life from his very name.
He prayed a prayer that got God’s attention
He prayed a prayer that hit the mark, so much so, that God granted his request
The Bible doesn’t just say, “Jabez prayed a good prayer”, its literally quotes the prayer, word-for-word
There are obviously some real keys in this prayer that God wants us to see.
FOUR KEY POINTS TO THE PRAYER OF JABEZ
1. “Oh, that You would bless me indeed”
What is a blessing?
It is a specific gift from God, for a specific time and a specific purpose, to bring increase into our life.
It is God’s nature to bless His people.
Gen 12:2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing.
Gen 32:26 And He said, "Let Me go, for the day breaks." But he said, "I will not let You go unless You bless me!"
Ps 72:17 His name shall endure forever; his name shall continue as long as the sun. And men shall be blessed in Him; all nations shall call Him blessed.
Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
Blessing is not for us but for those around us
Blessing is spiritual prosperity
Jabez prayed for God’s best in his life
Bless me “indeed” – a lot!
2. “Enlarge my territory”
This is taking the limitations off God in your life!
This is saying God, “I am tired of limiting what you can do through me.”
Remember, it is us who limits the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives
The Hebrew word for “enlarge” also means – to bring in abundance, to increase, to bring up, to multiply, to make greater, to extend the dimensions…”
The Hebrew word for “territory” also means – border, space, coast, bounds, limits
Josh 17:14-18
14 Then the children of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, "Why have you given us only one lot and one share to inherit, since we are a great people, inasmuch as the LORD has blessed us until now?"
15 So Joshua answered them, "If you are a great people, then go up to the forest country and clear a place for yourself there in the land of the Perizzites and the giants, since the mountains of Ephraim are too confined for you."
16 But the children of Joseph said, "The mountain country is not enough for us; and all the Canaanites who dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both those who are of Beth Shean and its towns and those who are of the Valley of Jezreel."
17 And Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph-- to Ephraim and Manasseh-- saying, "You are a great people and have great power; you shall not have only one lot,
18 "but the mountain country shall be yours. Although it is wooded, you shall cut it down, and its farthest extent shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots and are strong."
Lord, get me out of my comfort zone that I may enter into a great measure of your blessing.
3. “That Your hand would be with me…”
When the hand of God is on you, it is apparent to everyone around you
God in all His glory, all His majesty, all His splendor and awesomeness wants to put His hand on us!
The Hebrew word that is used here is the one for an open hand.
What a comfort to know that God is there with an open hand to take ours and lift us up when we are down, and encourage us when we are weak.
This word indicates power, means, and direction.
Power – God’s power, The resurrection power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to us
Luke 24:49 "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."
Acts 1:8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
2 Tim 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Means – His supply is available to us
Phil 4:19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Ps 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 Cor 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
Matt 10:19 "But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak;
Direction – spiritual GPS
Ps 37:23-25
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way.
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the LORD upholds him with His hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.
Isa 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ’My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure,’
4. “You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!”
Sin doesn’t just affect us, it affects those around us
Jabez had grown up with the title of “one who causes pain” – but he knew God could set him free of that label
Matt 6:13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Rom 16:19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.
Rom 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
Don’t struggle with your sin and say, “I will go to God after I have dealt with this.” Ask him to help you deal with it.”
CONCLUSION:
Jabez’s name stood out from among those endless geneologies
He was not a great prophet or preacher
He was not a wise ruler over great nation
He was not famous on the field of battle
He was remembered because of his prayer!
He prayed a prayer that got God’s attention
James 4 “We have not because we ask not”
We should pray for God’s blessing
We should ask him to get us out of our comfort zones – enlarge out territories
We should pray for God’s power, means and direction
We should ask him to keep us free from sin
I encourage you to get a copy of the book – “The Prayer of Jabez” by Bruce Wilkinson
There is much more to learn and understand about this prayer and how to incorporate it into our lives
