jabez
PRAY THE PRAYER OF JABEZ!
THE PRAYER OF JABEZ is a prayer God is emphasising to the Body of Christ at this time. Those who make this part of their regular prayer life testify to amazing answers.
1Chronicles 4:9,10: 'Now Jabez was more honourable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez (PAIN!), saying, 'because I bore him in pain.'
It seems that the circumstances of his birth were painful,
both for himself and for others, and his mother prophesied
trouble and pain would mark his life. By our natural
birth we are all born into sin and curse and this is our destiny unless we
do what Jabez did. He did not settle for an ordinary life. He
did not go the way of the world and be dominated by his natural destiny.
He knew the God of Israel was a God of deliverance
and salvation and he called out to God. He is a man that stands out in a long list of names
in this chapter.
But His life was changed because of one prayer, a cry
of his heart to God:
'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.'
God is no respecter of persons. If He answered Jabez's heartfelt prayer, He will answer yours too. The prayer is recorded for your benefit!
Let us all pray this prayer for ourselves and for the Church. Ask and expect great things from God:
Let us look at his Prayer.
(1) 'Oh, that You would bless me indeed.'
This is a prayer of a hungry man who wants more of
God. He is desperate for God's blessing. Jesus said: 'Blessed are those who hunger and
thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled' (Matt 5:6).
You must DESIRE God to fill you and put His anointing
upon you. He wants to bless you! Jabez
knew that without it his life would come to nothing - pain for himself and
pain for others. The blessing of the Lord is SUPERNATURAL FAVOUR upon
your life, which accomplishes what no amount of natural human
effort can.
(2) 'Oh, that you would enlarge my territory.'
This is a prayer for growth, both personally in the
effectiveness of his work and ministry. Jabez wanted
to mark a mark for God. He wanted to be enlarged. God had commanded Israel to possess the land and we too are called
to possess (lay hold of) everything God has prepared for us.
Jesus said there was a shortage of labourers. He wants to increase
the sphere of our ministry, to touch the lives of more people, to open doors
of opportunity for us, but we must pray for this:
'Lord, please expand my opportunities and my impact in such a way
that I touch more lives for your glory. Let me do more for you!'
Ask and expect great things from God.
(3) 'Oh, that Your hand would be with me.'
The great thing about expanding and moving out for
God in ministry is that you soon reach the end of your ability. You have to depend on God's power, and in the next
part of his prayer Jabez calls out to be filled with the Spirit to fulfil
his ministry. As a result you experience God's power flowing through
you. Dependence on God results in completeness as He fills
us (2Cor 3:5,6). The hand of the Lord refers to God's power and presence
on you (Josh 4:24, Isa59:1, Acts 11:21). We should pray that: 'God would grant me, according
to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit
in the inner man, that I might be filled with all the fullness of God'(from
Ephesians 3:16,19).
(4) 'Oh, that You would keep me from evil, that
I may not cause pain!'
As you pray this prayer of Jabez and move forward
in God to possess your land, you will encounter spiritual
resistance and temptation (to be proud for example), so it is important
to be alert to this and pray. The key prayer we should always
pray is to be delivered from temptation and evil (Matthew 6:13) because a
lot of temptation and failure is unnecessary and avoidable if we would pray
this. Of course, there are some attacks you can't
avoid and must overcome in His power (Eph6:10-18). Jabez main concern in this is that he would not live
up to his birth-name -pain! For when we yield to
evil we cause pain to God, to those around us and bring harm God's cause.
Those who stop moving forward in God and back-slide
or settle for a easy and safe life discourage others.
Jabez prays that he would not be like this. He this because he
does not want to be a one-day wonder. He wants his
fruit to abide. He wants to possess the land of God's blessing, not
just visit it, but he can't without God's help, so
he prays this prayer of protection against counterattack.
We must pay this regularly to maintain our progress
in God and have His protection from satan's devices, for many start well but then get pulled away by satan's distractions
or pressures.
Because of this prayer the Bible says Jabez stood out:
'Jabez was more honourable than his brothers.'
God is looking for more Jabezs' (see 2Chron 16:9).
'God granted him what he requested.'
His prayer launched him into an outstanding life
in God. This prayer will lay the foundation for a life of
blessing and greatness in God. As you continue to
pray it, an increasing cycle of blessing will be released into your life.
PRAY
'Oh, that You would bless us indeed.'
Lord we desperately need your SUPERNATURAL FAVOUR upon us. Embarrass
us with Your blessing.
'Oh, that You would enlarge our territory.'
'Lord, please expand my opportunities and my impact in such a way
that I touch more lives for Your glory. Let me do more for you!'
'Oh, that Your hand would be with us.'
'Grant us, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened
with might through Your Spirit in the inner man, that we might be filled with all the fullness of God' (from
Ephesians 3:16,19).
Lord we can't do it in our own strength, but let Your Hand be
upon us and let signs and wonders take place in our midst.
'Oh, that You would keep us from evil, that we may
not cause pain!'
Deliver us from temptation and evil (Matthew
6:13)
that we might not fall and be a discouragement to others.'