1 December 03
“I N C R E A S E ” by U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
1 Chronicles 4:9-10
U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
CP Walker Multicultural Gospel Service
Daegu, Korea
BIG IDEA: GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS OF TERRITORIAL INCREASE ” (SPIRITUALLY AND MATERIALISTICALLY).
REFERENCES: Matthew 6:33 (But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. ); Matthew 6:11-13 (Give us this day our daily breadAnd forgive us our debts, as * * we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.); 1 Timothy 6:10 (For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. ); 1 Chonocles 2:55 (And the families of the scribes which dwelt (8802) at Jabez; the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and Suchathites. These are the Kenites that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab. ); Matthew 7:9-11 (Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give * him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give * him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? );
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: 1 CHRONICLES 4:9-10
II. THE LARGER CONTEXT:
Now, before we begin, allow me to share you some HISTORICAL TRUES regarding THE BOOK OF FIRST AND SECOND CHRONICLES . For example, in THE BOOK OF FIRST AND SECOND CHRONICLES, WE FIND that the Chronicles cover the same historical period that THE BOOKS OF SAMUEL AND KINGS covers, but from a different point of view.
In fact, these books can be compared to THE GOSPEL OF JOHN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. Therefore, If you are familiar with the four Gospels, you know that the first three -- Matthew, Mark, and Luke -- are what we call the Synoptical Gospels. These three parallel each other and cover the same general incidents, often from a slightly different perspective.
III. THE SMALLER CONTEXT:
More Specifically, our Chronicles are believed to have been written by Ezra who took this particular opportunity to remind us all that God answers prayers of Territorial Increase (both spiritually and materialistically) regardless of our family history if WE’RE PERSISTENT IN PRAYER and absolutely refuse to QUIT praying even when it seems and feels like we are being OUTGUNNED AND OUT MANNED, by the enemy of our FAITH AND CIRCUMSTANCES.
IV. READ THE PERICOPE: 1 CHRONICLES 4:9-10
V. READ THE TEXT: 1 CHRONICLES 4:10a (And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, …).
VI. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to PRAY, and ask God to Bless Them with Territorial Increase (OF BOTH SPIRTITUAL AND MATERIAL POSSESSION).
VII. SERMONIC THEME: “I.N.C.R.E.A.S.E.”
VIII. PROPOSITION: Thanksgiving is as far away as it has ever been. And I don’t know how you feel about the upcoming Holiday Season, but I can definitely feel CHRISTMAS in the air.
What about you? In fact, I’m not sure if you were aware of it or not; but this past week - The Area IV Chaplain and his Staff put on an excellent “Tree lighting Ceremony” to say the least. Just seeing those lights come on SIMULTANEOUSLY (at the push of a button) did something for me.
Christmas is definitely in the air; and if that wasn’t enough AIR CIRCUMVENTING our Multicultural Gospel Service has been asked to conduct about 12 minutes of Christmas Songs at The Buddhist Temple’s Tree Lighting Ceremony on the 22 of December (2003) …
Christmas is definitely in the AIR; and Christ is the REASON FOR THE SEASON …
************************TAKE 5 BEATS******************
MOVE 1: Similar, … One of the Greatest Fables, in our Western Culture, during this time
of the year is the Story of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.
a. As you may recall this is a story of an account of the Ebenezer Scrooge; and how he
transformed on THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
b. For it is said, that THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST had visited with him and
showed THE SCROOGE how he gradually … over a period of years … became the
scrooge that he was because of failures in his earlier life.
c. Now, I don’t know about you; but I can’t HELP for wondering, theologically, IF WE…
d. … TOO GRADUALLY BECOME THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE ARE … through
TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS?
********************TAKE 5 BEATS**********************
MOVE 2; For instance, DOES A LOVING FATHER BECOME A LOVING, AND
COMPASSIONATE FATHER THE MOMENT HIS CHILD IS BORN …
a. OR IS THERE A THEOLOGICAL PROCESS BY WHICH HE GOES THROUGH TO
GET HIM TO THAT POINT OF BEING A LOVING FATHER?
b. ON SATURDAY, OUR YOUTH MINISTRY SPONSORED 2 BUSES OF YOUTH,
TEENS, AND PARENTS ON A SPIRITUAL HEALTH AND FITNESS TRIP TO
OSAN.
c. THIS EVENT INCLUDED TWO FACILITATORS ON BOTH BUSES which covered
Age appropriate material that discussed the danger of smoking cigarettes and using
drugs.
d. Prior to the departure of the buses, as I was doing my rounds, I remember the LOVING
MANNER IN WHICH DEACON PETERSON EMBRACE HIS TWO YEARS OLD
DAUGHTER – JORDAN.
**********************TAKE 5 BEATS********************
MOVE 3: I can still see her eyes and face light-up as her father kisses softly caressed her
face. I looked and wonder … if the LOVING STAGE that he’s in right now (as a
Father) was a direct result of instantaneous knowledge that came flowing from his
brain the moment that Jordan was born …
a. or was it a GRADUAL DEVELOPMENT?
b. If any of you have ever witness how Dea. Peterson relates to Jordan, I’m sure you could
also attest to the fact that there’s probably nothing that HE WOULD DO FOR HIS
BABY.
C. In fact, I JUST BELIEVE THAT he would do anything within his powers to bless her.
All Jordan ever has to do, is keep her head straight; stay on the straight and narrow and
ASK HER DADDY ….
***********************TAKE 5 BEATS******************
MOVE 4: Likewise, my wife is the baby of 9 CHILDREN – her father’s “black gold”.
a. And she to can attest to the fact that if you keep your head straight; and stay on the
straight and narrow … you can ask your FATHER for whatever you want;
b. … and if he has it, he will give it.
c. For don’t you remember in The Book of Matthew – Chapter 7; verses 9-11, as Jesus
was preaching the Sermon on The Mountain
d. - HE points out THAT IF WE, AS HUMAN BEING OF A FLESHLY NATURE …
CAN GIVE GOOD GIFTS TO OUR CHILDREN;
e. how much more can THE FATHER IN HEAVEN DO … IF WE JUST ASK? …
********************TAKE 5 BEATS*********************
MOVE 5: In other words, THOUGH THERE ARE MANY THAT DISAGREE WITH
PROSPERITY GOSPEL, I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT ...
a. if we simply ask God (THROUGH DEVOTED AND CONSISTENT PRAYER) to POUR OUT HIS SUPERNATURAL FAVOR UPON OUR LIVES …
b. AND Bless us “spiritually or materialistically” so that we too can be a blessing to others – HE WILL BLESS US WITH … INCREASE.
c. LIKEWISE, IN OUR TEXT today, at FIRST GLANCE … IT LOOKS LIKE A VERY SELF-CENTERED – UNCHRISTIAN LIKE - PRAYER.
d. In fact, SOME WOULD SAY it sounds like THE FAMOUS PRAYER OF THE MAN WHO PRAYED, Lord bless me and my wife, my son John and his wife.
e. Us four and no more!
f. But it’s not!
************************TAKE 5 BEATS*****************
MOVE 6: This is a man praying for God to TURN HIS OVERWHELMING
CIRCUMSTANCES AROUND.
a. CAST-OFF FROM HIM THE SINS OF HIS NATURAL FATHER.
b. I DON’T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU CAN IDENDIFY WITH JABEZ, BUT I
CAN.
c. YOU SEE MY FATHER DIED WHEN I WAS ONLY 16 YEARS OF AGE.
d. SO, LIKE MANY OF YOU, I TOO KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO GROW-UP
WITHOUT A DAD - IN A PROVERTY STRICKEN ENVIRONMENT.
e. HERE IS A MAN ASKING GOD TO HELP HIM BECOME A LENDER AND NOT A BORROWER …
*******************TAKE 5 BEATS***************
CELEBRATION: FOR the Bible says in Proverb 22:7 that The Rich rules over the
poor; and the borrower is servant to the lender
… (Tell Jabez Story of Origin …)
