The Power Of Prayer.

The Power Of Prayer.

1 Chronicles 4:10AMP

The power of prayer is all about humility.

Prayer isn’t about length, it’s the sincerity behind prayer.

God doesn’t look at the length of our pleas and requests, or how perfectly prayers were created. He doesn’t look at a person’s status in society, but at the status of their hearts.

In 2 Chronicles 16, King Asa, decided to place his trust in man. 2 Chronicles 16:7...Hanani the seer came to King Asa and told him, “Because you have put your trust in the king of Aram instead of in the Lord your God, you missed your chance to destroy the army of the king of Aram.

King Asa, the King, missed his chance.

2 Chronicles 16:9NLT The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war.”

The name Jabez means, ‘he causes pain’.

But Jabez defied the testimony of his name and believed in the power of God because Jabez identity was found in God.

Jabez refused to let his name, or his family define him. He had the, ‘Greater One’ living through him.

1 Chronicles 4:10AMP Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that You would indeed bless me and enlarge my border [property], and that Your hand would be with me, and You would keep me from evil so that it does not hurt me!” And God granted his request.

Jabez was mentioned as part of Judah’s genealogy. The author of Chronicles gave a short history of Jabez’s name and his short prayer to God.

Although short, Jabez prayer was powerful and full of prosperity, favor, guidance, purpose, vision, and protection.

1. Jabez had a relationship with God.

Notice, 1 Chronicles 4:10AMP Jabez cries out to the God of Israel.

2 Chronicles 13:14-15a When Judah turned around, behold, they were attacked both from front and rear; so they cried out to the Lord, and the priests blew the trumpets. 15 Then the men of Judah raised a war cry, and when the men of Judah raised the war cry, Jeroboam and Judah’s enemies were defeated!

Judah’s cry, became Judah’s war cry. As Judah cried out to God and the priests blew the trumpets, Judah’s enemy would be defeated by God.

Once again, Jabez cry was unselfish. His mouth uttered words of spiritual growth.

Jabez addresses, “O Lord, bless me indeed...”

Jabez was not seeking wealth or more land for greedy purposes, Jabez wanted God to expand his spiritual territory, to claim more generations for God’s kingdom.

What kind of cry comes from within? Is it sincere? One that wants more of God, and the Holy Spirit? Or is it, a last-ditch-desperate-cry? An upset cry? An unfair cry? A pitiful, or woe is me cry?

2. Oh that You would indeed bless me... Jabez understood the power of the blessing.

Before we can walk in a greater dimension and presence of God, we have to understand the power of blessing.

Not only do we need to read and understand the Blessing, but we need to believe in the blessing.

Mark 11:22NASB And Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.

As Gods representative/His ambassador, we are called to bless, to speak a blessing.

This blessing has the potential to move spiritual mountains. As Gods representative along with being His ambassador, we are called to bless, to speak a blessing.

We should be aware that our blessing has the potential to move spiritual mountains.

Mark 11:23NASB Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted to him.

3. ...enlarge my border [property]. Jabez had no problem asking because his motives were in order.

Isaiah 54:2-3NIV “Enlarge the place of your tent; Stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, spare not; Lengthen your cords And strengthen your pegs.

Deuteronomy 19:8-9NASB And if the Lord your God enlarges your territory, just as He has sworn to your fathers, and gives you all the land that He promised to give your fathers— 9 if you carefully follow all of this commandment which I am commanding you today, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in His ways always—then you shall add three more cities for yourself, besides these three.

If our motives are right God is all about expansion, Kingdom growth spells, more kings kids. More disciples!

Jabez wanted his circle of influence to grow. He cries out to God, “Expand my border, so I can do more for you!”

Why don’t we ask God to enlarge our border? * “Lord, Give us more parking.”