Title: Prayer for Blessing
Contents
(1 Chronicles 4:9-10) “Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother named him Jabez, because he gave birth to me through labor.” Jabez called to the God of Israel, saying, “I hope the Lord has blessed me with more blessings. Expand my borders, and help me with your hand, so that I may be out of trouble and have no worries.” But God granted his request.”
1. Records of Chronicles
1) Recording the genealogy of the 12 tribes, starting with Adam. (Chapter 1~9)
- The record of Jabez is one of them, and it gives a concise yet strong meaning.
* This is a record of Jabez's earnest prayer and God's answer, introduced as a man of suffering.
2) Jabez's prayer
- Jabez was born with pain from birth. (Sorrowful, meaning of pain)
* But he is recorded as being more noble than his brother. : The universality of the biblical record
* His name was called by his mother.
* He seems to have lived an uneventful life because of it.
* He had a special purpose in God and for that purpose he sought abundant blessings.
* He demanded the hand of God's power for work beyond his limits.
* He asked for God's hand in the difficulties caused by the obstacles in front of him.
* Jabez's prayer of faith relied on God's power to transcend all limitations.
- God's answer
* For humans, miracles and miracles are phenomena outside the universal principles of this world.
* God is the Transcendent as Creator of all principles and orders.
* Jabez's prayer was offered on the basis of such a belief.
* God answered Jabez's faith and his prayers.
2. God accomplishes the things of this earth through people.
1) It was God's plan from the beginning and was a calling for man.
“God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Genesis 1:28).
- God has given people wisdom and power to act.
* All human abilities are within the limits God has given them.
* Human power is entrusted to us, not by ourselves, and it is the power of God.
* Apart from God, nothing loses meaning.
2) God works through those who are in the grace of God.
“For it is God who works in you (power), to will and to do for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).
- God has made us a channel to show His power.
* God does not intend to borrow our wisdom and abilities.
* Solomon built the temple and prayed for God's power to be given through the temple.
“Will God really dwell on the earth? If the heavens and the heavens of the heavens cannot tolerate you, how much more will this house that I have built?” (1 Kings 8:27).
* God is pleased to accomplish His infinite power on this earth through us.
* But our faith is small, what we ask for is small, and the obedience we want to achieve is small.
3) The Lord has promised us the hope of prayer under his name.
“If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7).
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do, and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it” (John 14:12-14).
* Failure to keep the Lord's promises is more difficult than the destruction of heaven and earth.
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” (Luke 21:33).
* God always does it for trust in his words.
“I will do this for myself, and I will do this for myself; how can I dishonor my name, and I will not give my glory to anyone else” (Isaiah 48:11).
4) God requires faith in us in His promises. : To achieve one's will.
- Jabez asked for a great blessing from himself to accomplish God's will. : our prayer
* Put yourself thoroughly in God's purpose. : dwell in me
* Let the words of the Bible live within you and be dynamic. : If my words abide in you
* Based on the above two things, ask for what you want more extensively and abundantly.
* It may be a miracle or a miracle to man, but to God it is just an ordinary power.
* This year, let's build a church that is full of God's blessings as a church that accomplishes miracles through God.
* For this, let it be a year in which we constantly pray and seek abundant blessings in faith.
“I pray that you will bless me and increase my borders, and help me with your hand, so that I may be free from trouble and worry.”