Lesson: JABEZ REQUEST
Author: Mark Stusek
Date: 04/27/08
What significant request are you asking of God today? Do you ask with confidence or doubt? Do you truly believe that God could use you in a larger way? Today we’re going to look at several examples of common folk, like you and I, who God used in a powerful way—regardless of their names, past or position.
I. Being a Pain
I Chron 4:9-10
What does your name, past and present, say to you and others?
1. Jabez’s name meant “pain”. It was a burden he carried throughout life.
2. Because names many times are given with purpose, he immediately
identified himself as not wanted. Sound familiar?
3. Scripture does not explain why his mom gave him such a name, but
one could surmise:
- His arrival would burden the family further due to already being
impoverished.
- Maybe Mom did not want another child.
- Possibly Jabez’s father was a “good for nothing” person.
- Maybe Mom was ill or Dad had already died.
We don’t know the story behind the story.
Question: Do you know the story behind your name?
4. For Jabez, whenever he heard his name, he was reminded his birth caused
pain to his mother and family.
He grew up with a negative self image all day long!
Key Point #1: A small painful start doesn’t mean a limited life
Judges 6:11-16
A. Like Gideon, God may be calling you to a greater sphere of influence
than you ever imagined.
B. If we’re not careful, our past fears, pain, and inadequacies could limit
us.
Question: What reproaches or pains do you bear?
C. Do we have to live within our restrictions, albeit our past or present? NO!
I Chron 4:10a: We can call on God. God’s message to us: “We can live
beyond our weaknesses through Him.”
5. The turning point in Jabez’s life was when he called on God.
II. Safety, Success and Peace
1. Jabez desired to be something other than a pain to his family and himself.
2. He wanted what we all want!
- To be blessed - to be elevated from his lowly stature.
- Enlarge my territory – break the limitations of his past, expand his power
and influence.
- God’s guidance – with power and success he prayed for help.
- God’s protection – keep him from falling into Satan’s tricks.
Key Point #2: No amount of success is safe without the presence of God’s
hand.
I Sam. 15:23-28
3. Saul was the first king of Israel: very handsome, taller than his peers,
a powerful man from a great family.
Once God removed His hand from Saul’s life, he failed as a leader—a
person. He suffered from depression, made poor decisions, committed
suicide.
4. Rising upon our past and becoming a success is only half the battle.
Jabez wisely requested that the Lord protect him once he reached
his place of honor.
5. We all know sad stories of strong Christians who have fallen once they
achieved power and wealth.
6. We need God’s protective hand to shield us from the enemy’s hand that
comes from without and within.
III. Humility Before Honor
Isa. 44:2
1. We are custom-made for the work (assignments) God has for your and my
life.
2. He promises to help us.
Psalm 138:8
3. The Lord intends to “perfect-accomplish” what He assigned for us to
accomplish.
Key Point #3: When God prospers and blesses us, there is no place
for guilt.
4. Occupying a place of honor such as Gideon and Jabez received from God
requires God’s protection from false guilt.
5. As long as we give the credit to God, we need not feel ashamed when He
moves us from pain to blessing, shame to honor.
SUMMARY
- What significant request are you asking of God today?
- Who knows what blessings are stored in heaven that we ignore, but are
available if requested.
- You and I will never know unless we do what the Apostle Mark in
verse 11:24 directed us to do:
“Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that
you have received them, and you will have them.”
Memorable Scenes
Charles Swindoll
1991