Pastors Dave and Cheryl Koop
Follow us: @davidkkoop @koopcheryl
Prayer is the detonator to the dynamite of God’s power, we do the detonating and God does the exploding. The prayer of Jabez is one example of the powerful effective prayers found in the Bible.
There are different types of prayer. Some examples of patterns of prayer:
Matthew 15:22 – Desperation
Matthew 7:7 – Pursuit
Matthew 5:43 – Response
Matthew 18:19 – Agreement
Matthew 6:6 – Private
As we mature in our faith walk, we should grow in the facets of prayer.
Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all (manner of) prayer and entreaty. – Ephesians 6:18a (AMP)
The Prayer of Jabez
Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” And 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. – 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 (NKJV)
• Jabez means “sorrow or pain”.
• What we know about him:
– More honorable than his brothers.
– Named pain because of birth.
– God heard his prayer.
• Jabez was not using prayer as a formula to get something from God, rather he was calling on God to help him accomplish the promises of God.
The four components of the Prayer of Jabez are:
1. Bless me indeed.
• Blessing: Hebrew word barak which means “to cause to prosper, favor and good will”.
You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. – James 4:3 (NKJV)
Until now you’ve asked me nothing in My Name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. – John 16:24 (NKJV)
• Myths about blessings:
1. I don’t deserve the blessings of God because of my past.
2. God’s blessings are predetermined.
3. It’s my labour that produces it.
The blessing of the Lord makes one rich (enriched) and He adds no sorrow (hardship) with it. – Proverbs 10:22 (NKJV)
2. Enlarge my territory.
• “I will study and prepare myself and someday my chance will come.” – Abraham Lincoln
• This is not for you but for God to shine through you.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. – Matthew 5:16 (NKJV)
3. May Your hand be with me.
• When the opportunity comes it will be too big for you. Our inabilities allow us to enjoy complete dependence on God.
…for without me you can do nothing. – John 15:5b (NKJV)
We dare to say these good things about ourselves only because of our great trust in God through Christ, that he will help us to be true to what we say, and not because we think we can do anything of lasting value by ourselves. Our only power and success comes from God. – 2 Corinthians 3:4-5 (TLB)
For the eyes of the Lord search back and forth across the whole earth, looking for people whose hearts are perfect toward him, so that he can show his great power in helping them. – 2 Chronicles 16:9 (TLB)
4. Keep me from evil that I may not cause pain.
• When the blessings come we have a tendency to think we did it. Blessings won’t dull our dependency on God if we refuse to take our eyes off His upper story.
• Jabez wasn’t praying to get out of evil but from it.
• To stay far from temptation rather than ‘get me out’ of temptation is peace. It also keeps us from harming or causing pain in the life of others.
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. – Matthew 6:13 (NASB)
• Jabez is distinctly remembered, not for what he did, but for what he prayed.
• God heard his prayer. God will also hear yours.
“Lord, bless me indeed… Do something so big in my life that it is obviously from you not based on my name or inabilities. Increase influence and opportunities for you, and give me a sense of your continual presence and direction. Protect me and keep me from falling into Satan’s traps or causing others to stumble. Amen.”
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! – Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)