|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
Sunday, April 29
Pastor Oliver R. Blosser, M.Div., Ph.D.
Faith Community Church
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much, James 5:16b.
The Prayer of Jabez: How to pray the blessings of the Lord into your life and into the lives of others.
I Chronicles 4:9-10 And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.
The Background for The Prayer Of Jabez
In the Book of Chronicles, the genealogical records of the twelve sons of Israel are preserved. In the genealogical records of Judah from which Israel’s Messiah-Redeemer (our Lord Jesus Christ) would come, is a passing reference to Jabez and his prayer. Jabez became such a unique individual, that even his prayer is cited in detail. His prayer forms a structure for prayer through which any believer can obtain the Lord’s blessings.
The name of Jabez in Hebrew means that “He makes sorrows,,” “He gives pain,” “He causes affliction.” I Chronicles 4:9 relates that His mother called him Jabez at the time of his birth, saying, Because I bare him in sorrow. The Bible does not give all the details as to why his mother gave him such a negative name for his life.
That name and its implications drove Jabez to prayer. He certainly did not want to cause sorrow for anyone. For in Hebrew thought, one’s name revealed a person’s character and identity.
Despite the circumstances of his life, Jabez came to release His faith in the Lord and to trust in the all-sufficiency of the Lord, asking for a special blessing in his life.
There are five petitions to the prayer of Jabez as he called upon the God of Israel. It is a prayer that every person can apply to one’s life and in confidence pray for a blessing, relying upon the Lord. Scripture reminds you that you have not because you ask not, James 4:2c, or, You ask, and receive not because you ask amiss, James 4:3a. For this reason, it is important for you to apply yourself to the study of prayer principles in Scripture and then to apply the prayer principles of Scripture to yourself.
The Jabez Prayer Principles
1. Oh that thou
wouldest bless me indeed, v. 10b.
Like Jabez, you need a blessing. Pray that the Lord will bless you in these areas of your life; spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically (health/strength). You need to grow in the Lord and come to possess the character of Jesus Christ. You need to have the Lord’s joy, peace and comfort within you. You need to have the health and strength to serve the Lord and others. Therefore, apply the Jabez prayer principle to your life.
2. Enlarge my
territory, v. 10b.
Jabez was a farmer and prays that his business (farm land) would be enlarged. Like Jabez, you need a financial blessing. You need to have greater influence, a larger business, an expanded ministry which reaches beyond the local community, more godly influence on more people. Therefore, apply this second Jabez prayer principle to your life.
3. That Your hand
would be with me, v. 10b.
The hand of the Lord is a symbol of His power, strength and authority. Jabez prayed for the Lord’s power, strength and authority to be demonstrated in his life. Like Jabez, you need to possess the power of the Holy Spirit in your life, Acts 1:8. You need to be filled with the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 5:18. You sense a need to be refreshed, renewed and revived in your spirit! You need a special Ôanointing’ as you serve the Lord and live for Him. Therefore, apply this third Jabez prayer principle to your life!
4. That You would
keep me from evil, v. 10b.
Like Jabez, you need to be delivered from evil. Pray that the Lord will deliver you from the evil within your own fallen human nature, from the evil thoughts in your own heart, which lead to sin, from the evil of the devil, from the evil of the fear of death which enslaves a person and the evil of loving the evil world system. Therefore, apply this fourth Jabez prayer principle to your life.
5. That I may not
cause pain, v. 10b.
Jabez’s birth had caused pain for his mother, but now he prays that he may not cause pain, sorrow or grief again; to God, others and himself. How it must pain the Lord when He is not loved above all things! How others are pained when they are lied to, criticized, injured by rejection or unforgiven! How an individual injures one’s self through the consequences of not obeying the Lord! Like Jabez, learn to avoid offending others. Pray that you will not hurt others. Therefore, apply this final Jabez prayer principle to your life. Ask the Lord to help you keep the Great Commandment, Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Matthew 22:37-38; the Royal Law, James 2:8; Matthew 22:39; the Ten Commandments, Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 5; The Golden Rule, Matthew 7:12; Luke 6:31, and the New Commandment, John 13:34.
What did this kind of daily praying do in Jabez’s life? Scripture relates the rest of the story about Jabez! The Lord is always glorified in answer to prayer; And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren, v. 9a. And God granted him that which he requested, v. 10c. Your challenge is this. Begin praying this prayer and apply the meaning to your life and God, who is faithful in His character, will bless you in such a way that you will have a testimony to share with others!
Prayer provides the Lord with an opportunity to bless you in a way in which you never could dream possible; Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen, Ephesians 3:20-21
Life Application
Christian have the privilege of prayer and can come boldly before the throne of grace, because of the completed work of Jesus Christ on the cross and His Resurrection from the dead. The Lord, as our Heavenly Father, has the pleasure of listening to His dear children pray and the answer to our prayers brings glory to God. What a privilege it is to pray the prayer of Jabez! Begin praying this prayer each day for yourself and for others. What a framework for structured prayer, the little prayer of Jabez can become in our lives!