The Prayer of Jabez Introduction
Theme:
Text: 1 Chronicles 4:9-10
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
Introduction
Who is Jabez?
I. At one time or another “caused pain”
A. His mother named Him Jabez =
Jabez’s mother bore him in pain. We are not told exactly what this means. It could be there was great pain in child birth. It could be that someone there was great sorrow around this time. Who knows?
Whatever the cause his mother scared him with the name of pain.
This was his label for the rest of his life. You see the Hebrews really stuck to their names. It was almost as a prophecy of their future. We know that Jacob mean’s “deceiver, or grabber”. This was how he was born grabbing the heal of his brother Esau but it was how he lived most of his early life. Grabbing whatever he could for him self. Deceiving to get.
I thought of this in our lives. There are many people who get labeled as they are growing up. Sometimes our parents will label us.
My wife have told some of you the story of going to the pool and listening to a mother berate a child. Calling him stupid and wondering why he was born. That is a label that child has to live with.
Other children have been told they were an accident or not wanted.
Then in life people can be labeled.
2Co 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
B. He had a fear of causing 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
Jabez was also raised with this fear of causing pain. Maybe he was afraid of hurting someone’s feelings or just hurting people. Whatever he was afraid so he asked the Lord to bless him and do all the work so that he would not “cause pain”.
Maybe he was saying, “Lord if you bless me indeed, and give me more territory to work, and you hand would be with me and you will keep me from evil.” I promise that instead of hurting and disregarding people that I will bless them also.
Isn’t that what blessings are all about.
II. “was more honorable than his brothers”
Honorable- respected, greater, more distinguished
Something separated Jabez between him and his brothers. What was the difference?
Well we don’t know much about him. The name Jabez is only mentioned 3 times in the Bible. 1st in 1 Chronicles 2:15 which is the name of a city. Then twice in this passage.
I do think that it is interesting that there was probably a city named after him. You have to be very special to have a city named after you.
Actually you have to be very recognized to have a city named after you.
Jabez prayed for the Lord to change his destiny. I don’t believe that he was trying to outdue his brothers.
III. “called on the God of Israel”
And Jabez called on the God of Israel
We first find this term “called on the Lord” or “called on the God of Israel in Genesis 4
And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the LORD. Genesis 4:26
There is something powerful about calling on the name of the Lord
Ps 50:15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me."
Jeremiah 33:3 ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’
Zechariah 13:9 I will bring the one–third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’; And each one will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’"
Salvation by calling on the name of the Lord
Prophesied in the Old Testament
Joel 2:32 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved.
Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved.’
Romans 10:12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved." 14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!"
All Power is given to that name
Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them; walking, leaping, and praising God. Acts 3:6-8
Philippians 2:9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Chorus
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
There’s just something about that name
Master, Savior, Jesus
Like the fragrance after the rain
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
Let all heaven and earth proclaim
Kings and kingdoms will all pass away
But there’s just something about that name
Conclusion
“So God granted him what he requested.”
When he called on the name of the Lord God granted it to him.
