1 CHRONICLES 4:9-10
A LITTLE MORE
Christian, I want to talk to you about doing a little more than you are doing right now. No matter how much or how little you are doing, I know that there's a way that you can do a little more.
Just think how much happier your family would be if each Christian in the family did a little more.
Just think how more exciting this church would be if each Christian here did a little more.
Just think how unsaved people who will come to Christ will become happy if each Christian did a little more.
Just think how more productive each work place would be if each Christian on the job did a little more.
Right now, someone is thinking, "Pastor I'm busy enough and you want me to do more?"
Someone else is thinking, "Pastor, how much is a "little"?
And another somebody else is thinking, "Preacher, what is this little more that you want me to do?"
I have brought you to 1 Chronicles 4 to answer your questions.
Vss. 1-4 - Exciting ready, eh?
Vss. 16-17 - Is everyone still awake?
Vss. 35-37 - What is this chapter anyway? It is mostly a genealogy. It is simply a list of people who lived and eventually died. I must admit, not very exciting stuff!
But tucked away among all the names is a man named Jabez.
Vs. 9 - The author of 1 Chronicles stops his droning of names for a moment to point out one man, Jabez, who was different from everyone else! It seems that he's saying, "Don't miss this guy, he's special."
Jabez was named back in the days when a person's name just might tell you something about him or her. Jabez' name means "pain" or "he causes pain". Perhaps his mother had trouble in childbirth or maybe Dad deserted the family or died before little "pain" was born. We don't know, but we assume that Jabez was getting off to a rough start.
In spite of a rough start, Jabez was more "honorable than his brethren". He was more influential. He had a greater impact.
And we need to know why!
The answer is really quite simple. Jabez simply did a little more.
Read Vs. 10.
Jabez prayed a prayer to God that asked God for more than the average person was asking for. This was a not a selfish prayer, but it was a prayer that brought glory to God. Jabez seemed to have God's best interests at heart.
Some of the things I’m sharing tonight are a result of having read the book, The Prayer of Jabez, by Bruce Wilkenson.
1 Chronicles 4:10 is a prayer that has been prayed by many people over a large number of years.
And those who have done a little more, by praying this prayer every day have seen God answer in remarkable ways. Let us examine this prayer more closely to see four requests that we can make of God every day. This is not the only praying that you should do, but praying this prayer in sincerity will get you off to a good start.
1. BLESS ME INDEED!
And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed,
Now if you and I ever heard someone uttering this prayer during their devotions, we might think them to be terribly selfish. But what are we asking for when we ask for God's blessing?
We are asking for him to impart His supernatural favor upon our lives! We are asking God to impart His goodness upon us, that we can't have without Him.
Is being blessed by God a Biblical concept?
Numbers 6:22-26 - And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, [23] Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, [24] The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: [25] The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: [26] The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
Ephesians 1:3 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
God already has blessed us. And He wants to bless us more.
How do we know that God wants to bless us more?
We are His children.
John 1:12 - But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
And just as we love and bless our children, God loves and blesses His children.
Psalm 103:13 - Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.
Psalm 145:8-9 - The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. [9] The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.
Jabez evidently knew that it was God's will that he be blessed by God, so he asked God for blessing. And actually Jabez asked for even more than that! "Bless me indeed!" was his cry. Or bless me lots or bless me abundantly, or really bless me!
Now you may be hesitant to pray such a prayer and well you should be hesitant if you have any selfish motive. But when you ask God for His blessing because asking pleases God.
And when you ask God for His blessing so that you can be a blessing to others, you have every reason to ask for that blessing.
1 John 5:14-15 - And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: [15] And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
Matthew 7:7-8 - Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: [8] For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Bruce Wilkenson pointed out something very important here, "Notice a crucial aspect of Jabez's request for blessing. He left it entirely up to God to decide what the blessings would be and where, when, and how Jabez would receive them. This kind of radical trust in God's good intentions toward us has nothing in common with the popular gospel that you should ask God for a Cadillac, a six-figure income, or some other material sign that you have found a way to cash in on your connection with Him. Instead, the Jabez blessing focuses like a laser on our wanting for ourselves nothing more and nothing less than what God wants for us." Page 24, The Prayer of Jabez by Bruce Wilkerson
Can you imagine going to Heaven and being shown a huge warehouse? You are told that this warehouse contains all the blessings that Christians never requested. Imagine your surprise when you are show a very large pile of blessings that you never received, because you never asked for them. James 4:2-3 - Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. [3] Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
To do a little more, pray:
1. BLESS ME INDEED!
2. ENLARGE MY COAST
And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast,
What was Jabez's coast? It was the borders of the territory over which he had influence. Jabez was asking for more influence.
There are projects that need to be done for God. We need more influence.
There are people who need to hear about Christ. We need more influence.
There are Christians who need help. We need more influence.
For His glory, we should be asking God to increase our own personal influence whether it be on the job, at school, in the community, or at church. Yes, you should be asking God to increase your ministry.
Bruce Wilkinson was on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean, checking out a company that gave tours following the footsteps of the early church. One morning, when the tour was at Patmos, where John wrote Revelation, Bruce hit bottom.
He says, "Instead of taking the guided tour, I walked around the streets of the little port talking to the Lord. "Lord I feel so homesick and weak, I prayed. But I want to be your servant. Even now, enlarge my borders. Send somebody who needs me."
He entered a small square and took a table at an outdoor café and ordered a cup of coffee. A few minutes later a man came up behind him and said, "You on the cruise ship?"
A young man was walking toward him. He answered in the affirmative, and a conversation began. He was an American living on the Island, and in a few short minutes began pouring out his heart. His marriage was in deep trouble. That very day his wife said she'd be gone by evening.
Wilkinson gently asked if the man wanted some suggestions. The man said "yes" and for about an hour Wilkinson shared several key Biblical principles about marriage. The man went back to talk to his wife. Wilkinson asked him to come back and tell him what happened.
Just as the ship was leaving, the young couple came running up to Him as he leaned over the rail. They yelled "It worked! It worked!"
In January, 2001, Dottie and I went to the ordination of my protégé, Wade Prime, who took over the church we pastored in Fonda New York. Wade received a copy of this book as an ordination present.
One day as he was in the hospital he prayed the prayer of Jabez because he was to talk to a girl on the psychiatric floor. He got up there and she had been discharged. He was disappointed that his prayer hadn't been answered.
When he came downstairs and got off the elevator, there was a group was gathered. One of the people yelled, "There's the Pastor!" One of the people in that group was a lady from the church. A relative was dying. Wade went upstairs and presented the Gospel at the bedside. One of the people at the bedside also heard the Gospel at the funeral service and trusted Christ. And it all began by Wade asking God to enlarge his coasts.
One night as I was reading The Prayer of Jabez I asked the Lord to enlarge my coasts that evening in anyway he saw fit.
The only possibility of enlarged coasts that I knew of would be if the hospital would call me for an emergency. I was the chaplain that week. I finished reading the book. Dottie and I decided to have ice cream on the porch because it was hot. As we got up to go, I looked out and saw four rabbits, a couple appeared to be babies, out in the road.
I stepped outside to look. Just about then a car had to stop for the rabbits. It was one of our church people. We had a nice conversation. I was able to learn how to pray more effectively for this individual and I was also able to give some Spiritual encouragement. The Lord used four rabbits to help enlarge my coasts.
I want to challenge you to ask God to enlarge your coast, your borders, your realm of influence for the glory of God. And be prepared to be surprised what God will do. People and opportunities will come into your life that you never expected!
1. BLESS ME INDEED!
2. ENLARGE MY COAST
3. PUT YOUR HAND UPON ME
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,
Folks as you do a little more by praying this prayer of Jabez, you will find God giving you more and more to do. But God will also give you the strength to do it!
We must remember that we are not doing our ministry, but His ministry.
We must remember that we can't do it in our strength, but in His strength!
You must remember that the only way that you can do anything for God is if Jesus through His Spirit does not it through you!
He is the one that must provide the strength.
Our biggest problem is trying to do things in our own strength and with our own power!
Zechariah 4:6 - Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.
Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
John 15:4-5 - Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. [5] I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
I am reminded of the story of the little boy who was trying to move what was for him a huge rock. He puffed and strained and that whole thing as his Father watched. Finally, the dad asked his son, "Son are you using all your strength?" "Sure Am, Dad!, the boy answered. "No your not." said the Father, "You haven't asked me to help!"
Do a little more by praying the Prayer of Jabez.
1. BLESS ME INDEED!
2. ENLARGE MY COAST
3. PUT YOUR HAND UPON ME
4. KEEP ME FROM EVIL, THAT IT MIGHT NOT GRIEVE ME
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!
We need to remember a couple of important truths. First of all, we must realize that we can not expect God to answer prayer when we are harboring sin in our lives.
Don't expect God to answer this prayer if you have unconfessed sin.
Psalm 66:18 - If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Keep short accounts with God, so He will answer your prayers.
Also note that not all, but lots of temptations can be avoided.
We should ask God to keep us from those things that will tempt us to sin. If you know what your weaknesses are, ask God to keep you from that particular temptation. Jabez asked that evil would be kept from him. We can do the same. Our Lord taught us to pray lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil…
We must realize that this prayer to keep us from evil is essential, because as you pray and God starts to bless, you will find lots of trials and temptations. Satan does not like it when God starts to work and Satan will attack.
1 Peter 5:8 - Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
And remember this promise from God,
1 Corinthians 10:13 - There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
To do a little more for God, we need to pray:
1. BLESS ME INDEED!
2. ENLARGE MY COAST
3. PUT YOUR HAND UPON ME
4. KEEP ME FROM EVIL, THAT IT MIGHT NOT GRIEVE ME
And notice the results in verse 10.
1 Chronicles 4:10 - 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.
God answered Jabez's request.
He will answer your request too, and you pray with a pure heart.
THE CHALLENGE
Do a little more!
Pray the prayer for 30 days.
Keep a record.
Report to us.