SEASONS OF SPIRITUAL & PHYSICAL ENLARGEMENT - THE JABEZ FACTORS TO ENLARGEMENT (PT. 3 OH LORD, THAT YOU WILL ENLARGE MY TERRITORY – DANIEL)
1. Isaiah 54:2-52 “Enlarge The Place Of Your Tent, And let them Stretch Out The Curtains Of Your Dwellings; Do Not Spare; Lengthen Your Cords, And Strengthen Your Hooks. 3 For You Shall Expand To The Right & To The Left.
2. 1 Chr. 4:9-10:9 Jabez was More Honorable than his brothers. His mother named him Jabez, saying, “I Gave Birth To Him In Pain.”10 Jabez Cried Out to the God of Israel, “Oh, Lord, that you would Bless Me Indeed and Enlarge My Territory! Let Your Hand Be With Me, and Keep Me From Harm So That I Will Be Free From Pain.” And God granted his request.
3. Daniel 1:1: 1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the articles of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god. 3 Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles, 4 young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans. 5 And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king. 6 Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7 To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego. 8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9 Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs. 10 And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king.” 11 So Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king’s delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants.” 14 So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days. 15 And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies. 16 Thus the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. 17 As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 18 Now at the end of the days, when the king had said that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 Then the king interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they served before the king. 20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm. 21 Thus Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus.
INTRO: Seasons Of Spiritual & Physical Enlargement - The Jabez Factors (Pt. 2 Oh Lord, That You Will Enlarge My Territory – Daniel 2C) (Teach & Preach)
2017-2018 is the Season to Enlarge the place of our tent, Stretch out the curtains of our dwellings; Lengthen our cords, Strengthen our hooks & Expanding To The right & to the left. To better understand this, we chose Jabez. 4 Aspects of his Prayer: 1) Jabez asked God to bless him (Isaac). 2) Jabez asked God to enlarge his territory (Daniel). 3) Jabez asked that God’s Hand would be upon him. 4) Jabez asks God to keep him from all harm.
MEANING OF TERMINOLOGIES
1. Enlarge means to make bigger, to expand, to make more extensive, to extend, to grow, amplify, increase, widen, broaden, stretch, elongate, lengthen, deepen, thicken, Antonym is to reduce. Territory means.
2. Territory means an area of land under the jurisdiction of a ruler or state, area, area of land, region, enclave, country, state, land, colony, dominion, protectorate, domain, realm, dependency, possession, jurisdiction, holding, terrain, sphere of operation.
PREJUDICE IN BABYLON: “Nobody’s Born Racist Or Prejudiced. Society Teaches It.”
1. Is Racism, Tribalism, Favoritism A Sin? Yes! James 2:8-9 Indeed, if you keep the royal law prescribed in the Scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well. But if you show favoritism, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
2. Racism Is The Same As Murder In The Bible And No One Who Lives In Such A Way Will Enter Into Heaven. 1 John 3:15-16 Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.
3. Bible Strongly Condemns Prejudice & Favoritism. We should not be judging by appearance. John 7:24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge the righteous judgment.
4. God Does Not Show Favoritism. Acts 10:34-36 Then Peter started speaking: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism in dealing with people, but in every nation the person who fears him and does what is right is welcomed before him.
5. The Israelites Were To Love Foreigners And Strangers. Leviticus 19:33-34 “‘When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.
6. Scripture Tells Us To Love Others As Ourselves And Think Of Ourselves Less. 1 John 4:19-21 We love because He first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For the person who does not love his brother he has seen cannot love the God he has not seen. And we have this command from Him: The one who loves God must also love his brother.
7. God Offers Salvation To Everyone. God Wants Us To Spread The Gospel To All The Nations. Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
8. There Is Only One Race - Human! There Are Different Ethnicities Of The Human Race, But Are Made In God’s Image. Acts 17:26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.
9. If You Have Ever Been Discriminated Against In The Past, Forgive. Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
10. God Was Angry With Aaron And Miriam For Criticizing Moses And His Interracial Marriage. Numbers 12:1-10 Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” And the Lord heard this.
NEBUCHADNEZZAR PLANNED TO BRAINWASH THESE YOUTH IN 4 AREAS
1. He Sought To Change What They Said - Their Language (Dan.1:4): The first step was to change their way of thinking. Today, Semantics Are About Political Correctness: Homosexuality is alternative lifestyle. Abortion & infanticide is Pro-choice. Drunkenness& Drug addiction is chemical dependency, substance abuse. Islamic terrorists are now extremists.
2. He Sought To Change What They Read - Their Literature (Daniel 1:4): Nebuchadnezzar sought to re-educate them and replace the things of God with the value system of Babylon. Today, we see this re-education occurring in re-writing of text books pertaining to situational ethics, values clarification, evolutionary hypotheses, etc. Culture teaches that "individuals should express their sexual proclivities." New Age Says: “There is no God to save us. We are our own God.” They teach evolution instead of creation.
3. He Sought To Change What They Did - Their Lifestyle (Daniel 1:5): Nebuchadnezzar gave them to wine & pleasures – offered to idols. 2 Timothy 3:1-4 "[1] This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. [2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, [3] Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, [4] Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.”
4. He Sought To Change What They Stood For - Their Loyalty (Daniel 1:7): The 4 young men had names reflecting their godly Hebrew heritage. Daniel = God is my judge, Hananiah = God has favored, Mishael = who is what God is or who is like God? Azariah = Jehovah has helped. Names changed from: Daniel to Belteshazzar (“the treasure of Bel”), Hananiah to Shadrach (“Aku’s command”), Mishael to Meshach (“He who belongs to the goddess Sheshach”), Azariah to Abed-nego (servant of Nebo).
THE RESULTS OF NOT DISCIPLINING CHILDREN THE BIBLE WAY
Charity Begins At Home And Ends Abroad Is Well Demonstrated In Daniel. The Disastrous Results Of The Lack Of Parental Training Are Dramatically Illustrated In The Lives Of Three Of God's Great Servants: Eli, Samuel, David. Eli's Sons (1 Sam. 3:13) Their sin so serious that it caused God to condemn Eli’s house forever. "His sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not". I Sam. 2:17 Worshipers held God’s sacrifice in contempt. Samuel’s Sons (I Sam. 8:3-5): Israel rebelled against God because Samuel's sons did not follow in his footsteps, but were intent on personal profit, taking bribes, perverting justice. David’s Sons: Amnon slept with Tamar (David got angry); Absalom killed Amnon; Absalom staged a coup (David fled); Adonijah took David’s throne - never once corrected him (2 Sam., I Kings 1). Results: Termination of a priestly dynasty, Israel's rejection of God, rape & murder in the family, treason in the royal family.
Today, Parents Are Bombarded By A Battery Of Authorities, doctors, psychologists, government day-care advocates, experts trying to tell us how to train our children. Others may help, but Christian parents must not relinquish their God-given responsibility to guide their children (Proverbs. 29:15,17 15 The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings his mother to shame. 17 Correct your son, and he will give you rest; yes, he will give delight to your soul.) Training children is primarily the responsibility of parents.
The Greatest Fear Of Parents Is “What Will My Children Do When They Are Away From Me?” Much of these fears are fulfilled each year when children leave home and commit to pleasures. Daniel shows that it is possible to raise a different kind of kid. There is no doubt that part of the influence in Daniel’s life was parental. Another Question: “How could there be good parents or a good prophet during a time in which Israel had left God?” We find a clue when Isaiah addresses King Hezekiah, the last king before the invasion. Isaiah 39:7 And some of your sons who shall issue from you, whom you shall beget, shall be taken away; and they shall become officials in the palace of the king of Babylon. Perhaps Daniel and others had chances to be instructed in godly training by Isaiah. Godly men are not produced in a vacuum.
Illustration: If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn. If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight. If a child lives with fear, he learns to be apprehensive. If a child lives with pity, he learns to feel sorry for himself. If a child lives with jealousy, he learns to feel guilty. If a child lives with encouragement, he learn to be self- confident. If a child lives with tolerance, he learn to be patient. If a child lives with praise, he learns to be appreciative. If a child lives with acceptance, he learns to love. If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself. If a child lives with recognition, he learns to have a goal. If a child lives with fairness, he learns what justice is. If a child lives with honesty, he learns what truth is. If a child lives with sincerity, he learns to have faith in himself and those around him. If a child lives with love, he learns that the world is a wonderful place to live in.
LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF SPOILING CHILDREN
1. Dependency: Children who are spoiled can become overly dependent on their parents, which can cause them to have trouble making themselves happy as adults.
2. Irresponsibility: Spoiled children cannot understand the concept of boundaries as adults and can develop problems such as spending, gambling, overeating, drinking, pushing their own way.
3. Disrespect & Defiance: Disrespect and defiance are characteristic of spoiled children, who are likely to whine, beg, ignore or manipulate to get their way.
4. Poor Relationship Skills: Because they have not learned that relationships involve give & take, spoiled children can have trouble making & keeping meaningful friendships.
SOME KEYS TO RAISING GODLY CHILDREN
1) Develop A Passionate Relationship With God: God instructs parents in Deut. 6:5-6: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
2) Strong Marriages Or Relationships Add Stability To A Child’s Life. It is not easy to raise children when you have a strong marriage, but nearly impossible when you have a shaky marriage! A single parent must show respect & avoid negative put downs. Prepare children to respond respectfully & righteously in undesirable environment.
3) Parents Must Be On The Same Page: One common source of marital strife is disagreements concerning child rearing. To successfully parent their children a mom and dad must be on the same page. Amos 3:3 “Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?”
4) Protect Your Children: In a culture that is infiltrated with humanistic thought, sexual immorality, ungodly media, pedophiles, false teachers, etc., it is absolutely essential that parents take responsibility for their children’s wellbeing. Teach children truth so they will recognize lies.
5) Bless Your Children: Pray for them and speak good things on them. Many children today are desperately pleading like Esau: “Bless me, even me also, O my father”.
6) Train & Reprimand Your Children In Behavior & Godliness: This is the job of fathers & mothers. Parents must realize they are on a rescue mission to train their children to obey and give honor.
7) Teach Your Children Security: That sense of tranquility about life that enables a child to respond without fear or anxiety to changing situations.
8) Teach Them Self-Control: The ability to restrain one’s own actions, words or desires in order to do what is right. Because the infant has no self-control the parent acts on his behalf to cause him to bring his will and desires under control.
9) Teach Them Contentment: The willingness to be satisfied with the present circumstances, while pressing for future prospects.
10) Teach Respect For Authority (Obedience): A sense of caution or proper fear toward the ones in authority over them. Fear motivates them to conform to the authority’s desires.
SUMMARY HISTORY OF DANIEL AND THIS PASSAGE:
After Solomon’s Death In About 1020 B.C. the Southern tribes refused Rehoboam, his son, and broke away to form Judah. The northern kingdom was Israel. In 605 B.C., The World Is In Chaos.The Egyptians attempted to invade Babylon. A young Babylonian prince, Nebuchadnezzar, defeated the Egyptians & pursued them down the Sinai Peninsula. Along the way he conquered Jerusalem, which had been loyal to Pharaoh instead of trusting in God. God is allowing these foreign nations to conquer them as chastisement for their disobedience as prophesized by Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Isaiah, etc. The Babylonians took the articles used to worship God from the temple. Then they rounded up the best & brightest of the Jewish youths and took them to Babylon. Babylon was a large& religious city with over 53 temples and 180 altars to various gods.
WHAT DID THE HEBREW BOYS HAVE AGAINST THEM?
1. They Came From Wealthy Homes.
2. Then They Lost Everything.
3. They Were Orphans.
4. They Were Captives / Slaves. (My Poem)
5. Refugees. Then Immigrants (Dan.1,3,6)
6. They Were Confused. 7. They Did Not Know The Language.
8. They were Traumatized By War, Murder, Cruelty.
9. They Were At The Mercy Of Their Captors.
10. Their Dreams & Future In Shambles.
11. They Were Grateful To Be Alive.
12. They Were 15 Years Old Teens.
WHAT WAS THE KING LOOKING FOR AND WHY?
Nebuchadnezzar Wanted The Best. Daniel 1:3-4:He Wanted Those: 1. Without Blemish; 2. Well-Favored – From Good Homes; 3. Skillful In Wisdom; 4. Cunning In Knowledge; 5. Quick In Understanding Science; 6. Trainable to become political leaders; 7. Eloquent; 8. Respectful.
QUALITIES FROM HOME WHERE GODLY CHARACTER OFTEN BEGINS.
1. He Rejected Self-Pity: He lost parents & country, but refused to be bitter. Instead, he embraced the present situation as from God.
2. He Discerned The Importance Of Spiritual Purity In An Impure Spiritual Environment. His spiritual antenna was always up.
3. He Resisted Intimidation By Foreign Supervisors: No man would define him but God.
4. He Had Self-Control: Dan. 1:8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food & wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Dan. 10:3 I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions for three weeks.
5. He Had Courage: Daniel 5:22 But you, Belshazzar, his son, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this.
6. He Had Integrity: (Darius) Dan 6:4 At this, the administrators & satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him because he was trustworthy & neither corrupt nor negligent.
7. He Was Humility: Daniel 2:30 As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than anyone else alive, but so that Your Majesty may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind.
8. He Had Vision: Daniel 7:9 As I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. (Revelation & Daniel similar)
9. He Was Holiness: Daniel 6:8 Nothing would stop Daniel from praying.
10. He Had Faith in God: Daniel 1:12-14 12 “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king’s delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants.” Daniel 6: He’s thrown in the Lions’ Den.
11. He Was Discipline: Dan. 6:10: Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
12. He Was Respectful Of God, Others & Authority: Daniel 1:12 Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.
13. He Had An Excellent Spirit: Daniel 6:3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit [was] in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
14. No Compromise: Daniel 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank…
CONCLUSION: WAYS TO INCREASE YOUR CAPACITY FOR ENLARGEMENT
1. Desire Expansion. Every change begins with a burning desire. No matter what you have, you can have more and it begins with a strong desire and the right reasons. Until you are fed up with where you are, you will not do whatever it takes to achieve something bigger.
2. Pray About It. Ask God to increase your capacity like Jabez and Daniel. When we ask God, we must believe that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him
3. Do Something About It. Schedule action steps towards achieving your goals. The Law of Success & Expansion demands that you pay the price if you want success. No church can increase if they are unwilling to evangelize.Charge out of your Comfort Zone and challenge The status quo.Stretch your thinking; do something you’ve never done; believein something you previously thought impossible. E.g. Noah.
4. Put On Your Spiritual Glasses. Stop looking at life through the rearview mirror at what’s happened or didn’t happen in the past. Our future is in front. 2 Chronicles 20:20“…Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.”
5. Reject Smallness. Enlargement requires us to get out of our small boxes, small thinking and limited view of God. E.g. Caleb & Joshua. Think like God and big things happen.
6. Refuse To Be Marginalized: Do not let people define you. Daniel, 3 Hebrew Boys, Esther, Mordecai, Nehemiah, etc. were all immigrants / foreigners but knew who they were.
7. Reject Negative Conversations For They Will Negatively Affect Your Capacity For Increase. We can never be motivated by those who aren’t motivated. We can never share dreams with non-dreamers. Move with people who will encourage your dreams.
8. Make It Your Business To Learn From People Who’ve Been Or Are At Where You Want To Go. Select mentors based on: 1st: Does he have the proper spiritual insight to train you? 2nd: Has your mentor actually experienced the advice given you? 3rd: Does your mentor have a successful track record in the area in which they’re advising?
9. No One Can Limit Or Restrict Your Capacity For Success Unless You Allow Them To Do So. Make and take conscious decisions to move beyond past limitations.
IN THEIR COMMITMENT TO HONOR GOD, HOW DID HE ENLARGE THEM?
Daniel 1: 17 As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 21 Thus Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus. (From Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Cyrus to Darius, he was lifted ip though envied and betrayed.)
INTERCESSION: PRAYERS FOR ENLARGEMENT & INCREASE.
1. Psalms 18:36 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.
2. Isaiah 65:24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
3. Deuteronomy 1:11 The Lord God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you!
