Message 1. “The Distinguished Man” Text 1Chron 4:9-10. (Read at beginning of service 1Sam 16:1-13 NIV).
Intro:
Have you ever been in the place where you have found yourself extremely dissatisfied with the way things are going in your life? Maybe you’ve had an itch to try something new-or find something different that would bring excitement and fulfilment into your life. Often it is during the low points in our life that this kind of thinking sets in. The kind of thinking that leads to wanting a better life, having more than we already have, and insulation from the hurts and pain we experience as well as those we cause. AS I speak these words, no doubt there are some of you out there who may be saying “Pastor, that’s the way I’m feeling right now -in fact that’s the way I live my life.” Others of you may be saying Pastor Been there, but things are ok for now.
Truth be told I’m sure that given the opportunity and choice many of us, if not all of us, would desire a life that is not a Roller Coaster ride but is more like a mountain top experience. We would desire a life that would take us out of the valleys and into paradise-”Heaven on Earth”. In reality these Heaven on Earth experiences seem few and far between. What if I were to tell you there is a way to satisfy this desire we have What if I were to tell you there is a principle that leads to a better fuller life, gaining more than you can ask for, insulation against hurts and pain we experience as well as those we cause? Would you practice this principle? Would you believe it?
If so them what I’m going to be sharing on in the next few weeks will speak to your heart. I’m going to be sharing about the principles found in a particular prayer. But I want you to understand something this is not a prayer that comes from a heart that is wanting for self but a prayer that seat you deep in the cavity of Gods desire and will for your life. A prayer that totally and absolutely leaves all in Gods hands. The prayer I will be sharing about is known these days as the Prayer of Jabez. When I mention it I am sure some of you immediately recognize what I am talking about. This is due to the ministry of one particular book by Bruce Wilkinson that has become real popular over the past couple of years (Might even win a “Christian” Oscar). I have read this book and encourage you to read it as well. However I have heard some things that have disturbed me a little bit when people talk about this particular prayer. You see there is a danger that this prayer is becoming some sort of magic formula to a successful and pain free life. That if you pray it hard enough and consistently you will start seeing tremendous immediate results in your life. However it is important to know that itisent the wording that matters in prayer-but the faith, belief, and heart attitude behind it that empowers what you say.
With that said, the prayer of Jabez is absolutely rock solid God filled substance that will lead you away from the central focus of the status quo in your life and bring you into the presence of God where:
1-You will not only receive, but also enjoy the fuller life God desires us to live.
2- you will not ask for what you can get for yourself, but what only God can give.
3- you will become acutely aware of the direction God is moving.
4-You will seek God’s protection from the evil filled living that tempts and taunts.
Bruce Wilkinson says” This petition has radically changed what I expect from God and what I experience everyday by His power.”
By now some of you are asking who is this Jabez Guy? The answer to these questions provides the beginning of the series of messages. In learning about Jabez-we learn about the man behind the prayer.
If you are a genealogy buff the records of 1Chron might interest you. But to the average Bible reader a long list of family names you can barely pronounce are about as interesting ax counting dots on a ceiling…you’d rather just skip over them.
1Chron begins with Adam, Seth, Enosh, with chapter4 listing the descendants of Judah…Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal… Koz begot Anub, Zoë bah, the families of Aherhel the son of Harum…and then without warning we are introduced to a man named Jabez… his spotlight in Hebrew history is but 2 verses. But in these 2 verses we the distinction this man Jabez had in His life. He was a Distinguished Man!
1.Distinction of a Name: (4:9)
Today we name our children with names that are keeping with fads or maybe after someone who has left an impression on us. However what we name our children may have an impact upon them. Listen to an article from Child magazine. (What’s in a name?) A lot of people subconsciously predict career success based on a name, according to James Brunning PHD; a physiology professor at Ohio State university. In his study participants forecasted that Girls with feminine names like Emma and Winifred, would be more successful if they pursued rationally female occupations like Nurse and Hairstyles, while boys with names like Boris, and Bruno were expected to succeed in rationally male careers such as plumber and truck driver.
In Biblical times the name given to a Person often meant the character or the plight in life he or she might walk in. for instance:
1- Jacob suplanter or one who tricks…he tricked his brother out of his birthright.
2- Jeremiah…God Hurls/throws… he was thrown as a prophet into a nation of self-righteous people.
3. Jesus…God saves…He through His life, death, and resurrection saves.
Jabez has the distinction of what his name means-to grieve, be sorrowful. His mother for whatever reason chose to memorialize his birth experience by naming her son Jabez “because I bore him in pain”. You might say Jabez had a kick start in life-that is a kick in the heart every time he heard his name! His name would be a constant reminder that he caused pain. What a plight to bear in life. What a future! Maybe there are some of you who could identify with Jabez in this instant. Have you had a name given to you that reminds you of an uncomrtable time in your life? Perhaps it not the name you use now but one that you were called in your past. Does that name bring up pain or sorrow?
Maybe its not a particular name you have been called-but instead what has been communicated to you by another that brings you pain. Have you ever been told that you are worthless? Have you ever felt un-loved? Have you ever sensed that you were un-wanted? Perhaps that is the pain you have carried in your heart-the pain of rejection. The pain of feeling un-wanted, unloved, and not needed.
I’m sure Jabez probably felt this rejection in his life every time someone called out his name! No doubt he would have grown up in rather uncomfortable circumstances and lived through some emotionally trying situations. But Jabez was not only distinguished by His name.
2.Distinction Of Honour (4:9a).
Something happened in this mans life something that took him from pain to Glory. Jabez owned the distinction of being more honourable than those around Him. Being honourable speaks to the character responsibility, and respect of ther person. Jabez went from being a pain to being more honourable.
ILL: only too frequently do the instances of our past lives affect the course of the future? It is frequently said nothing can change the past. The Bible paints a different picture Sincere repentance and conversion if we are the erring one and forgiveness if we are the one sinned against, both have the power to alter our perception of the past thereby they also change the direction of the future. (Carl Hagenstick)
What made the difference in this mans life? What led a man who was at one point characterized as causing pain to become a man remembered as more honourable than his brothers? The answer to this question leads us to the 3rd distinction of Jabez….
3.Distinction of Prayer (4:10).
Jabez is distinctly remembered, not for what he did, but for what he prayed. His prayer was the crucial determining factor in the change from their man who caused pain (and knew pain) to the man who was made more abundant (BLESSED BY God).
I think what stands out about Jabez in this glimpse into his life is that it was in the midst of his brokenness that Jabez “Called out to God” in the face of the distinction of his name cried out to God!
Jabez prayed for God to bless him to enlarge his territory to keep his hand on Him and to keep him from evil so as not to cause pain.
Jabez’s 4-part prayer may not strike you as earth shattering requests when you read them. However the prayer of Jabez brings a big shift to the pattern of your prayer life. Remember how I began today-it is not the specific words that were spoken that mattered but the belief, faith, and heart attitude behind those words that made a difference.
1-Big Distinction: Jabez believed that God Heard and that God would answer.
2- bigger distinction: Jabez left the answer ring of His request up to God!
Conch:
In the weeks ahead we are going to poyur ourselves into this 4-part prayer to glean and loose the power and blessing of God’s will for our lives as individuals and as a church body. God desire to make a distinction in our lives in how we approach Him. Friends all OD us have things that distinguish us. We have certain distinctions that stand out in our lives-some good and some bad. But my question is today in spite of these distinctions in our lives right now are we willing like Jabez done to call out to the Lord? To be distinguished as a man or woman of prayer I am not talking about just any kind of prayer -I’m talking bout prayer than believes God hears and will answer and prayer. Prayer that leaves the answering of your requests to God.
Are You Willing?
