I Chronicles 4: 9,10 “And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. 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.”
Jabez is a name familiar to many of us today thanks to bestseller of late, The Prayer of Jabez. If the name is new to you, let’s explore the significance of a man who was bold enough to ask God for a blessing. Even more amazing, is the fact that, “God granted him that which he requested.”
Did you catch that? He asked for a blessing and God gave it! What do you need? What is your heart’s desire for which you are begging God? Let’s take a look at the manner in which Jabez asked to learn his secret.
There actually is no secret but truths that each believer may appropriate. Jabez, was an honorable man, more honorable than his brothers whose name meant, “He makes sorrow” which must have been a difficult reminder or taunt at the hands of his community. Can you image the head shaking and tongue wagging on the part of villagers as he walked or ran by…”what a pain”? I admit, that is a modern twist on the story, but this man was burdened through no fault of his own with a name that brought no joy.
Perhaps you can identify with that sad truth. Your name or reputation, or that of your family, might precede you, but like Jabez, you can make this petition before the Lord. It requires the right attitude and right petition as Jabez is known for his zeal and sincerity before God.
First, he asked for a blessing of increased territory, perhaps literal or figurative as in influence or opportunity.
Second, he asked that God’s hand would be with Him.
Third, he asked to be kept from evil so that grief, sorrow, or pain might not be his.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8).
Wayne Walker says of this passage, “God has said that He will hear and respond to the prayers of His people as He is the source of every good and perfect gift “ (James 1:17). Oh, He may not always give us what we ask for, when we ask for it, in exactly the way that we asked, but we can trust Him for the answers as He knows best, just as He did when Jabez asked from the depths of his heart.
Challenge:
Ask, seek, knock…and above all, believe through the eyes of faith.
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Win the Entire Race
Hebrews 12:1-2 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
I realize it’s been over a year now, but do any of you remember watching Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt demolish three Olympic records last summer?
The guy was so doggone fast that he started celebrating before he crossed the finish line and still left everyone else in the dust! He was widely criticized for being so boisterous, but something was lost amidst all of the criticism of his swagger.
Usain Bolt trained like a madman to lead the pack in the start of the race, the middle of the race, and in the end as he crossed the finish line.
He knew that if he was going to break “unbreakable” records and win gold medals, being a great starter was not enough. Getting a quick start and pushing hard through the middle wouldn’t be enough either.
Usain knew that he was going to have to use all that God gave him from the starting block to the yellow ribbon, if victory was really going to be his!
Hear my heart – in this season the Lord wants you to get a fast wind behind you so that you’ll get a quick start, but far too many of our dreams, our ministries, our business, and even our marriages, launch with the loud, flashy boom of July fireworks, but fizzle out at the first sign of bad weather.
This isn’t good enough. God did not just call you to get married; He called you to stay married. The Lord didn’t just plant a vision in your heart to start a ministry or business in your community; He called you to start a ministry of business that would endure the challenges of our time and still be alive and kicking to tell the story on the other side!
While staring into the face of his young son Solomon, David said in 1 Chronicles 28:20: “And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.”
In his prayer for the Philippians, the Apostle Paul said it this way, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” (Phil. 1:6)
Challenge:
Overnight wonders and fast starters are a dime a dozen.
The true test that you and I must pass is whether or not we have prepared to win the entire race.
My prayer for you today is that you will allow the Spirit of God to give you the endurance that you’ll need.
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Please, Put the Remote Down
Acts 20:24 “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”
I have a friend that he and his wife and can no longer watch television together.
While it pains me to share this with you, several years ago they contracted a deadly disease that is affecting men and women of all ages and ethnicities at an alarming rate. The disease is called O.C.F.
Also Known As: Obsessive Channel Flipping.
Some of the symptoms of this disease include:
(1) An inability to watch any show or film in its entirety.
(2) An abnormal distaste for commercial breaks.
(3) An endless pursuit and search through movie channels.
(4) Endless skipping around trying to watch several progams at the same time.
Since it has become nearly impossible for them (or anyone for that matter) to sit and enjoy watching any form of television with them they sought advice from several other close friends, family members, as well as a few cable technicians they knew, they soon discovered that the problem was much bigger than channel flipping.
In fact, it is a problem that men, women, and a majority of the Body of Christ today have as well.
Our problem: FINISHING.
Whatever happened to that project you were working on (that you just knew was ordained by God), that led you to flip to something else less demanding because you were afraid of failing?
Or what about that relationship you took before God in prayer earlier this year? Why were you so quick to flip onto something (or someone) else after that first sign of disagreement?
It is amazes me how we (as believers) are at times some of the biggest channel flippers when it comes to life’s challenges. When faced with adversity, we often surf for a better station, rather than to wait and see what God may have in store for us at the end of the program.
Sometimes we forget that God (as described in Hebrews 12:2) is the AUTHOR and FINISHER of our faith. There is nothing that catches Him by surprise concerning our lives.
While there may be times in our life that seem too difficult to watch and endure, we must find confidence in knowing that God does not view our life as some one-time program. He sees our lives as a series.
A series that He has authored and gone before us all to finish.
A finish that you and I just can’t afford to miss.
While 2009 is indeed drawing to a close, and there still may remain some things you were hoping to accomplish this year, this is not a time for channel flipping.
Challenge:
This is a time to finish the work that God has begun in you. So today, if you are in need of any words of encouragement (or accountability) in order to aid you in finishing this year strong…
…let me leave you with five good ones my wife gave me the other day:
PLEASE. PUT THE REMOTE DOWN!
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Tell Peter
Mark 16:6-7 “And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.”
Everyone likes a little personal attention. It’s not that we’re that selfish, self-centered, peculiar or particular (or maybe we are), but we all like a little personal attention every now and then.
That’s why we patronize businesses that cater to their customers and their needs – that little personal attention that keeps you coming back for more: the sales associate who is understanding; the service station attendant who is patient; the clerk who answers all of your questions no matter how many times you ask them and get the same answer; and the manager who remembers you and what you purchased the last time.
Businesses have grown all because they knew the value of customer service. Other businesses have failed because they did not pay some personal attention to their customer base.
We like to belong to groups where there is some personal attention. We like to go to churches where people give you some personal attention, people are glad to see you come, and they miss you when you’re gone. We love churches where someone may remember it’s your birthday, or where you want to share your latest excitement because you know they will be glad for you. We love churches where the usher remembers where you sat the last time you were in church, and where the officer who remembers your name.
We love churches where someone may remember that your spouse is still in the hospital or that your family member is in town; the baby has finally graduated or that things are getting better where you live. We love a church home where there maybe a hug or a handshake- all of us like a little extra personal attention. Even if you’re in a place where no one can remember your name, at least they will smile at you and make you feel at home.
In 16th chapter of Mark’s gospel, the women came to the tomb early. There they pressed their way to complete the embalming process without knowing if the stone was rolled away or if the soldiers would give them a hard time. When they arrived, they found out God had already taken care of both problems. They had an angel experience. Jesus is not dead. He said, “But go your way and tell his disciples and Peter…”
Now here is the personal attention, and Peter. What about the other disciples? Why not ask about John or Luke, Andrew or Nathaniel. Why give such attention to Peter?
The mention of Peter is unique to Mark. The other gospels do not specifically mention his name. Now we must ask the question why?
Remember that Peter denied Jesus three times after pledging his faith. He was prepared to defend Jesus in the garden, but denied him before the cock’s morning crow. Peter denied Jesus not once but three times.
Here is an indication that Peter’s mistake was not final. He messed up, but he could finish well.
Peter was the leader who led the followers of Jesus into hiding. He made strategic mistakes, displayed poor judgment and exhibited improper behavior. Have you ever done that or been here?
Yet by calling his name at the tomb, was Jesus letting Peter know that his mistakes did not cost him his leadership position or his relationship with the Savior? Was this an indication that his mistakes were not final?
David made a mistake with Bathsheba and continued to be king of Israel. He finished well. The woman at the well made mistakes in serial monogamous relationships. She finished well. Saul persecuted the church, but after his Damascus Road experiences, as Paul, he finished well. Thank God for a Personal touch so we too can finish well!!
All of our sins were nailed to the cross and buried in a tomb. If we repent, God is faithful to forgive and restore. All humanity was released from the bondage of sin so we could finish well.
Challenge:
Our mistakes are not final.
(This is where you begin to praise God throughout the day!)
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In The Beginning
John 1:4 “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”
I’ve always perceived the Apostle John as a fellow who viewed life simply. “Right is right and wrong is wrong, and things aren’t nearly as complicated as we make them out to be.”
For example, defining Jesus would be a challenge to the best of writers, but John handles the task with casual analogy. The Messiah, in a word, was “the Word.” A walking message… a love letter. Be he a fiery verb or a tender adjective, he was, quite simply, a word.
And life? Well, life is divided into two sections, light and darkness. If you are in one, you are not in the other and vice versa
Next question?
Challenge:
Keep it simple today- your word and life should just be simple.
Less is more and more is less.
That is why God made in a simple form and fashion.
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Glimpses of God’s Image
Romans 11:36 “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”
The breath you just took… God gave that.
The blood that just pulsed through your heart… credit it to God.
The light by which you read and the brain with which you process… He gave them both.
Everything comes from Him… and everything exists for Him. We exist to exhibit God, to display His glory. We serve as canvases for His brush stroke… papers for His pen… soil for His seeds… these are some of the glimpses of His image.
Challenge:
Be a tool in the hand of God today…
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A Useful Vessel
Matthew 16:25 “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”
When you are full of yourself, God can’t fill you. But when you empty yourself, God has a useful vessel. Your bible overflows with examples of those who were filled with the Spirit.
In his gospel, Matthew mentions his own name only twice. Both times he calls himself the tax collector. In his list of apostles, he assigns himself the eight spot.
John doesn’t even mention his name in his gospel. The twenty appearances of “John” all refer to the Baptist. John the apostle simply calls himself “the other disciple” or the “disciple whom Jesus loved.”
Luke wrote two of the most important books in the bible but never once penned his name.
Challenge:
If we are to be useful to God we must first be available, and then yielded.
So to find your life you must lose it for Jesus. Take a back seat, let them have the credit, let others go first, submit and humble yourself and in due time He will exalt you.
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He Didn’t Quit
John 1:11 “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.”
Lee Ielpi a retired firefighter, a New York City firefighter. He gave twenty-six years to the city. But September 11, 2001 he gave much more. He gave his son. Jonathan Ielpi was a firefighter as well in the city. When the Twin Towers fell, Jonathan was there.
Firefighters are a loyal clan. When one perishes in the line of duty, the body is left where it is until a firefighter who knows the person can come and quite literally pick it up. Lee made the discovery of his son’s body his personal mission. He dug daily with dozens of others at the sixteen acre graveyard. On Tuesday, December 11, three months after the disaster, his son was found. And lee was there to carry him out.
The father didn’t quit. Why? Because Lee’s love for his son was greater than the pain of the search. Can’t the same be said about Christ? Why didn’t He quit? Because the love He had for each for His children was greater than the pain of the journey.
Challenge:
The next time you are tempted to quit (anything good) remember Jesus didn’t quit on you, and He won’t.
Hang in there!
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Why Did He Do It?
Philippians 2:7 “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:”
Holiday travel. It isn’t easy. Then why do we do it? Why do we cram the trunks and endure the airports? You know the answer. We love to be with the ones we love.
The four-year-old running up the sidewalk into the arms of Grandpa.
The cup of coffee with Mom before the rest of the house awakes.
That moment when, for a moment, everyone is quiet as we hold hands around the table and thank God for family and friends and pumpkin pie.
We love to be with the ones we love.
May I remind you? So does God. He loves to be with the ones He loves. How else do you explain what He did? Between Him and us there was a distance—a great span. And He couldn’t bear it. He couldn’t stand it. So He did something about it. “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:” Philippians 2:7
He gave so much for us… Amazing!
Challenge:
Enjoy Thanksgiving with all your family and friends…
BUT don’t forget the One that wants to be close with you… who travelled so far to make it possible for us to have eternal life.
Thank Him today.
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Help From The Holy Spirit
Romans 8:26 “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
“The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities.” What a thought worthy of a highlighter. Who does not need this reminder?
* Weak bodies…
* Weak wills…
* Weakened resolve…
We’ve known them all. The word “infirmities” can refer to physical infirmities, as with the invalid who had been unable to walk for thirty-eight years (John 5:5), or spiritual impotence, as the spiritually “helpless” of Romans 5:6.
Whether we are feeble of soul or body or both, how good to know it’s not up to us. The Spirit makes intercession for us. [By the way, the King James uses the word “itself” here instead of himself. The reason “itself” is the right translation is that “itself” represents the work of the Spirit (making it a neuter term) rather than using “himself” a masculine term.]
Challenge:
Let the Spirit help your weakness’… by yielding to Him all day …. every day
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