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 might not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.
1 Chronicles 4:10
1. AN ANCIENT “JABEZ” EXPERIENCE: MOSES (EXODUS 3 & 4)
God’s plan to expand Moses’ territory:
Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You will lead my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” Exodus 3:10
Moses initial reaction to God’s call:
“But who am I to appear before Pharaoh?” Moses asked God. “How can you expect me to lead the Israelites out of Egypt?” Ex. 3:11
Moses’ background:
• Jewish descent, raised as an Egyptian (identity crisis)—Ex. 1
• Bad temper (anger control issues-- Ex.2
• Murderer (impulsive)--Ex 2
• Fugitive—Ex. 2 (avoidance)
• Poor public speaker (shy)—Ex 3
• 2. HOW DO I KNOW IF GOD HAS CALLED ME TO DO THE MIRACULOUS WITH HIM?
How good do you think God is? Do you understand that God wants to answer your big, world-changing prayers? He wants to meet your personal desires too. A sudden realization of the amazing goodness of God is where the Jabez miracle begins in your life. A daily conviction that you’ve only tasted the beginning of the potential results of the Jabez experience in your life. Louise Jennings is coming now to share a recent Jabez miracle in her life.
LOUISE: Last year when I attended Annual Conference my cousin gave me the book Pray of Jabez. I read it like a book, no real meaning. Then for my birthday in October I got the Jabez Devotional and I started praying the Jabez Prayer Lord enlarge my territory, but at the same time I was saying Lord I already have enough to do and not enough time. In December I was asked to take the position of Chaplain for the women at the Rockingham Harrisonburg Regional Jail. This was really an answer to a pray that I prayed about 15 years ago. I thought then that I’d like to minister in the jail to the women. I was told then that to be a chaplain I had to be ordained clergy. When I was asked about becoming Chaplain the first words out of my mouth was I am not qualified, kind of sounded like Moses. The call to be chaplain is came through Church Women United. I told them I’d pray about the position and get back with them. When I called them back I told them I could do it but I was not ordained. They called me back the next day and said 25 years of experience was acceptable. I prayed and I’d find myself praying God you don’t want me to do this - I don’t have time and many more excuses even to you wouldn’t let me do it when I wanted to. I’m sure He is laughing at me. I went back and re-read the book Prayer of Jabez and I prayed again about the position and asked the Lord to Bless me indeed and enlarge my territory and in accepting the position I seem to have more time and more boldness in sharing the Love of Jesus. I’ve found that many things I was doing I really didn’t need to that there were others called to do them. I just needed to be willing to be used. I’m still praying the Jabez Prayer and my territory is being enlarged again. In May I will be leading a team into Latvia to minister with their chaplain in the prisons and orphanages. This will be my 8th mission trip to Latvia.
• 3. OBJECTIONS THAT I GIVE FOR THE “JABEZ” DESTINY GOD HAS PLANNED FOR ME
Who am I that I should GO?
• Then God told him, “I will be with you. And this will serve as proof that I have sent you: When you have brought the Israelites out of Egypt, you will return here to worship God at this very mountain.” But Moses protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘the God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they won’t believe me. They will ask, ‘Which god are you talking about? What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?” Ex. 3:12-13
"Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?".
Moses felt overwhelmed with the responsibility. He didn’t feel that he was up to the challenge. That wasn’t the case 40 years earlier, but now he feels that this job is just too much for us. Maybe Moses felt this way,
because of his past failure in jumping the gun and killing an Egyptian
because of his advanced age
because of the magnitude of the task
because of past rejections by the Hebrews
because of the time that had passed . . . Egypt had changed
• We do well to remember, before we consign the concept of spiritual leadership to the arena of the superstar, that we serve a God who invaded this planet as a small, fragile baby.
• -- Stanley Rinehart
Who am I that I should LEAD?
Who will I say has SENT me?
• They will ask, ‘Which god are you talking about? What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?” Ex. 3:13b
What if they don’t BELIEVE me?
• But Moses protested again, “Look, they won’t believe me! They won’t do what I tell them. They’ll just say, ‘the LORD never appeared to you.’” Ex. 4:1
The problem with the excuse "I don’t know enough" is that there will always be something that you don’t know or understand. Moses could have continued his protests. What if the people of Israel ask me where you live? What if they ask me about the Trinity? What if they want an answer to the question, ’Where have you been for the past 400 years?’ If you wait until you have all the answers .. . you will never serve the Lord.
• 4. GOD’S RESPONSE TO MY OBJECTIONS:
I am GOD.
• God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” He said further, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘I am has sent me to you.’”—Ex 3.14 (NRSV)
I am sending YOU!
• “Who makes mouths?” the LORD asked him. “Who makes people so they can speak or not speak, hear or not hear, see or not see? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go, and do as I have told you. I will help you speak well, and I will tell you what to say.” Ex 4.11-12
Yvette Weaver will come and tell how God has been enlarging her territory with her search to know God is sending her.
My POWER and PRESENCE will go with you
• Tell them, ‘The LORD, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—appeared to me in a burning bush. He said, “You can be sure that I am watching over you and have seen what is happening to you in Egypt… “If they do not believe the first miraculous sign, they will believe the second,” the LORD said. Ex 3.16, 4.8
"I will be with you." God doesn’t tell Moses that he is wonderfully gifted. He doesn’t tell him that he has more talent than he realizes. He doesn’t tell him that his problem is low self-esteem. He tells Him that what Moses lacks, God will supply.
It doesn’t matter what you are facing. It doesn’t matter what God has called you to do or to endure . . . you can do it if you trust His strength!
it may be a new mountain like heading off to college or moving away from home
it may be a new job that provides great opportunities but also has incredible responsibilities
it may be the prospect of chemotherapy or radiation
it may be an opportunity to serve in a ministry
it may be the reality of standing before death’s door
it may be the opportunity to share your faith with a Professor, a neighbor or a good friend
I will never FORSAKE you.
• “All right,” [the Lord] said. “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? He is a good speaker. And look! He is on his way to meet you now. And when he sees you, he will be very glad. You will talk to him, giving him the words to say. I will help both of you to speak clearly, and I will tell you what to do. Aaron will be your spokesman to the people, and you will be as God to him, telling him what to say. And be sure to take your shepherd’s staff along so you can perform the miraculous signs I have shown you.” Ex 4:14-17
THE POTENTIAL RESULT
• Moses transformed from fugitive murderer to unlikely leader and spiritual mentor.
• (Description of Moses before transformation): “Who do you think you are?” the man replied. “Who appointed you to be our prince and judge? Do you plan to kill me as you killed that Egyptian yesterday?” Ex. 2:14
• (Moses speaking near the end of his life):“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD is the one who goes before you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor forsake you.” Deut. 31:8
• What is a task or ministry that God is calling me to do that seems overwhelming right now? –-
Aaron told them everything the LORD had told Moses, and Moses performed the miraculous signs as they watched. Ex 4.30
But what if Moses hadn’t gone? What if he had flat out refused? He would have forfeited the joy that came from living God’s way. But Moses didn’t refuse. Instead he was used by God in astounding ways.
Do realize that the same choice is before you? Are you making excuses so you don’t have obey? Are you making excuses so you don’t have to do what you know God wants you to do or to go where He wants you to go? Are you making excuses for why you will not trust Him? Is there some excuse for why you have not made the decision to trust His grace for your eternal life?
• What have I had a passion to do for God and others that causes me discomfort?
(Swindoll’s observation, MOSES p. 107)
I believe there are many who have not responded to God’s call on their lives--many who may miss opportunities to flame brightly for Him, like a radiant city shining on a hilltop. I speak to so many who are waiting for some kind of curious sign in the heavens, some engraved invitation hand delivered by an angel, some wondrous, mystical moment. And all God is waiting for is to hear you say, "I’m here, Lord. I’m Yours, thorns and all. Just set me afire."
• What would it take to step over the boundary of my comfort zone?
What have you been born for? What is the destiny to which God has called you?
(time of sharing—another pray for that person)
Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God.
1 Cor. 1:26-29
