Church Answers
The Bold Prayer
9 And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. 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. – 1 Chronicles 4:9-10
I. Who was Jabez
a. Out of 500 names, his story is the only one told
b. His name – He was born in pain
i. In those times, a man’s name was intimately related to who he was
ii. His mother must have had a very difficult birth or pregnancy to memorialize it in his name
II. The Elements of His Prayer
a. Bless Me
i. Jabez wanted God to bless him with urgency
ii. The word “bless” in the Hebrew means “to ask for or to impart supernatural favor.”
iii. Jabez didn’t ask for anything specific. He just wanted God’s blessing
b. Enlarge My Territory
i. Again, Jabez didn’t ask for more stuff
ii. He was asking for more influence
iii. We need to ask God to make us a great influence for Him
iv. To grow our youth group, we need more territory
c. God’s hand upon my life
i. If we allow God to work through us, we can achieve unimaginable things
ii. God is waiting for us to ask for His power
d. Keep me from evil
i. Success brings with is greater opportunities for failure
ii. When we take a stand for God, Satan will be there to attack
III. Praying Jabez’s Prayer for Yourself
a. Pray the Jabez prayer every day
b. Write it out and tape it to a place that you will see it every day
c. Tell someone in your small group about your commitment to pray the prayer
d. Keep a record of the changes in your life in your journal
e. Start praying the Jabez prayer for your family, friend and church
