Requesting God’s Best!

1 Chronicles 4:9-10

INTRODUCTION:

Good morning, if you have your Bible, turn with me to 1 Chronicles chapter 4. I want to continue the series you’ve been in — on prayer. And for my part, I want to encourage you to pray with boldness, and to ask God to give you the best He has to offer.And to do so, I want to take you to a story found in the Old Testament book of 1 Chronicles. It’s a story about the life and prayer of a man named Jabez.

I wonder — how many of you have heard of Jabez before? Just curious.

It’s possible that you discovered his story through a book written several years ago by author Bruce Wilkinson. His book was simply titled: The Prayer of Jabez. And it was a great little book. When it came out, it sold millions of copies and became a New York Times Best-Seller overnight. Well, if you haven’t read it, hopefully you leave here today with a much better understanding of who he was and why his prayer is so important. I must say, the story of Jabez is really very brief. In fact, all we know of him is told in just two simple verses.

Again, his story is told in 1 Chronicles 4. So if you have your Bibles open, look there with me. Beginning in verse 9, we’re told:

“Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, ‘I gave birth to him in pain.’ (1 Chronicles 4:9, NIV)

This verse and the next comes near the end of a very long list of “who’s who” among the tribe of Judah. And after about 500 names — we’re introduced to Jabez. His name gives us a clue about his identity.

In ancient times, names often reflected the circumstances of a person’s birth or sometimes seem to foretell their destiny. The name Jabez means “to grieve” or “to sorrow” — “to cause pain” or even to live a life defined by “pain”.

— It could be that his life would be hard…filled with pain and sorrow.

— Or it could have referred to the circumstances of his birth — indicating that his mother experienced a painful pregnancy and delivery of Jabez.

— Some scholars believe his name pointed more to the circumstances in which he was born. A home filled with struggle, possibly a fatherless home. Or maybe he came at an inopportune time. A season of scarcity and so Jabez’ arrival just made things worse (another mouth to feed).

At any rate, he was called PAIN. And so, for the rest of his life, there was nowhere he could go. Nowhere he could turn without being reminded of his past and the pain he either brought or faced.

Pain, hurt, disappointment, anguish, and struggle. That was his life. And things were hard.

Can you relate? As you look back over your life’s history — do you ever feel like your life has been defined by pain and suffering and sorrow and grief? If so, you’ve come to the right place today — because I’ve got some good news for you.

Well, despite his unfortunate name, Jabez grew up to be a man of faith — known for his extraordinary character and devotion to God.

Notice again, the first few words of verse 9. It says,

“Jabez was more honorable than his brothers…” (1 Chronicles 4:9a, NIV)

I know it’s a brief statement — but those first 7 words tell us a lot. They tell us that Jabez came from a dysfunctional family. Some scholars believe his father was either a crooked man or an absent man. And apparently his brothers followed suit. Instead of living lives of honor — they practiced dishonest gain, made evil decisions, and did wrong.

And if that’s the case, then it’s even more impressive that Jabez rose above all that, distinguishing himself as an honorable man. Instead of choosing selfishness and dishonor…Jabez chose a life of faith, reverence and humility.

So, while his life may have been born in pain, struggle and sorrow — his faith in God led him to experience God’s blessing and care.

DON’T MISS THIS: No life is ever TOO FAR GONE. No past is ever TOO RIDDLED BY PAIN. And, no life is ever TOO STAINED BY SIN that God can’t redeem it!

And that’s one of the messages of this man’s life. But it’s his response to God’s work of grace that I want to focus on this morning.

MESSAGE:

And that story is told in the next verse, verse 10. Here we’re told:

10 Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.’ And God granted his request.” (1 Chronicles 4:10, NIV)

Well, Jabez’s life was defined by this prayer. And so, in the time that remains — I just want to walk through four life-changing requests revealed in this passage.

And the first request we see in Jabez’s life is witnessed through his DEVOTION…to the Lord.

It’s the request:

1. LORD, ENGAGE ME!

Jabez’s first request is witnessed through his DEVOTION…to to the Lord. Recognizing his need for God’s help and assistance in life, Jabez called upon the Lord to ENGAGE him. Listen again to the beginning of verse 10. It says,

(vs. 10a) “Jabez cried out to the God of Israel…”

Do you know the difference between this man and all these other men of his day? Then man was devoted to God. He was a man of prayer. He looked to God as His soul provider.

1 Chronicles lists a lot of other men in those first few chapters — be it doesn’t say anything about them seeking God. No mention of their request for god to engage them the way Jabez did.

But Jabez prayed. He cried out to Him. And here’s the thing — God responded! God answered his prayer.

Now, don’t miss this — Jabez prayed because he knew he needed God!

What about you? How would this writer describe you if he penned another couple of verses? What would be the defining mark of your life today? Would it be:

— That you knew the Lord — That you trusted in God — That you sought His face — That you called on His name — That you were filled with His Spirit — That you reflected His nature — That you honored Him with your words?

What would it be? What would describe you…and your relationship with Him?

Listen, if your list would be more like the DISHONORABLE brothers than it is Jabez. The change that.

Make it your goal in 2024 to become a person of prayer. Become one who calls upon the Lord, trusts in the Lord, and lives for the Lord. Let this be your year. Let this be the year you SEEK HIM OUT…seekto KNOW HIM MORE. That’s God’s desire for you.

— In Jeremiah 29:13 He says, “When you seek me — you will find me.”

— And, in Jeremiah 33:3 He says, “Call out to me — and I will answer you.”

That’s God’s desire for you…that you would pray and seek Him and ENGAGE WITH HIM.

If you’ve ever wondered what God’s will for your life was— it’s this: He wants you to PRAY!

In 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul addresses this issue of God’s will when he writes:

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.(1 Thessalonians 5:16-28, NIV)

So pray! SEEK HIM, and SPEAK TO HIM. Talk with Him in the morning — before you leave your home. Talk with Him on your daily commute to work. Express your thoughts to Him. Ask Him for direction in your decision making. Let Him know what troubles you — and what keeps you up at night. Bare your soul to Him. He can handle it. More than that — He wants to handle it! So pray!

The first request in Jabez’s story points to his devotion to God. He prays.

But there’s more…because, hissecond request tells of his reliance upon God…as he prays:

2. LORD, ENLARGE ME!

In verse 10, he continues saying,

(vs. 10b) “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory!”

And it’s here that Jabez invites God to act on his behalf. Knowing that his life had begun in sorrow — he now prays for that which would bring great joy to his life…God’s Blessing.

Before you get caught up in the awkwardness of a man praying for God’s blessings — as if he’s asking for God to making him wealthy and impressive. Understand, this prayer was more of a prayer of identification and dependence than it was a prayer of arrogance.

This was Jabez’s acknowledgement that he was dependent upon God and identified with God.

He wasn’t seeking simply for selfish blessings of personal gain, but rather for God to provide for him and use him for His good purposes. This was in essence a prayer for kingdom expansion — that of God’s kingdom. His request was for God to lay His hands on his life and to shape him in such a way that he could be used by God, for God’s purposes.

I’ve often understood it like this — THE HEART OF A MATTER IS THE HEART OF THE MATTER! Meaning, what’s the heart or motivation behind something. In this case, what was Jabez’s motive for wanting God’s blessings. And it appears (by the context of this passage and the surrounding verses dictating God’s work among the people He could trust), was that Jabez wanted to be a BLESSING himself.

I know, there’s a lot of misunderstanding about what it means to be “blessed.”

Some think the word “blessing” is about preparing to eat. Some think it’s a kind response to someone sneezing. Others think it’s how we describe those who are wealthy — their blessed.

But, from a biblical perspective, the word “bless” means – “to impart supernatural favor”. It’s about pressing forward and experiencing more. And that’s just what God wants to do in you. He wants to BLESS YOU!

In fact – it’s in His nature to bless you! He longs to impart supernatural favor into your life.

In Psalm 5:12, the psalmist says,

“For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.” (Psalm 5:12, NIV)

Again, that’s who He is. That’s how He works. Blessing and giving favor is a part of His character.

The question is: “Why”? Why does God want to bless you? Any guesses? It’s that you might be a blessing!

Well, its impossible to pour out…what hasn’t first been poured in!

So, this is like a divine investment.
When God blesses you, you can bless others. After He blesses you, you can invest your life into the lives of those around you. You can pour into them that sense of supernatural goodness, divine favor, and godliness.

And that’s what Jabez longed for. That was his prayer:

“Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory!”

The prayer of Jabez serves as an example of seeking God’s blessings in our lives. It shows that it is okay to ask God to ENLARGE US…and add to our territory (or our areas of responsibility). It’s okay to ask God to bless us beyond imagination.

In fact, the apostle Paul confirms this truth in Ephesians 3, when he urges us to rely upon God and seek Him for all things. As Paul says (beginning in verse 16),

16 “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:16-21, NIV)

Paul’s implication is that we should not be limited in any way — especially when it comes to our prayers. So, rather than just hoping God will help us in desperate moments — we should rely upon Him at all times and for all things.

And the greater emphasis is that when we pray — know this: He is not limited! Not in any manner.

So when we pray, may we pray for great opportunity, greater usefulness, and larger areas of responsibility.

Understand, God always has more for you. For Jabez, it’s recovering what’s been lost, and expanding beyond that. What do you want to be recovered and enlarged?

I want to be recovered from things that trip me up and hinder;
I want restored those things that have been lost, taken or destroyed;
I want enlarged those areas that are weak, diminished or neglected.
I want health in every area of my life.

So, PRAY YOUR BIGGEST PRAYER! And then expect even greater things. Because He, “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”

The first request we see in the life of Jabez reveals his devotion to God.
Thesecond request we see in the life of Jabez reveals his reliance upon God.
The third request we see in his life points to his desire for closeness with God. It’s where he asks:

3. LORD, EMBRACE ME!

Jabez was praying and inviting God’s presence and participation in his life. He was seeking to enjoy a close relationship with God.

(10c) “Let your hand be with me…”

The was a prayer for relationship and closeness. He was saying, “Lord, come near!” It was a request for God Himself. It was a prayer that recognized that gifts of God were good — but they were not enough.

Jabez longed for the intimacy of God’s abiding presence.

This is so important. Notice here that Jabez did not want the blessing without the blessor. He wanted God’s hand to be upon him in power. He realized that if all he had the blessing but lacked the blessor, then he really didn’t have anything at all.

What he was saying is, that Lord, when your hand is with me, I want to be controlled by You. When God’s hand is with him, I want to be guided by you. When God’s hand is with him, he is saying, I want to be empowered by you.

— In fact, that little phrase, “let your hand be with me…” is speaking if the hand of the Lord. And that phrase is a biblical way of saying, “let your presence and power be with me.”

— It’s a phrase found all through the Bible. In Acts 11:21, Luke writes, “The Lord’s hand was with them and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.”Meaning, God’s presence and power was with them…and great things happened.

— My experience has always been that with God’s blessing comes greater need for His strength and power — because WE’RE NOT ENOUGH…BUT HE IS!

And that’s good news, because in Matthew 28:20 Jesus says,

“Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age”. (Matthew 28:20, NIV)

Again, in His message to one of the churches in Asia Minor (in Revelation), Jesus says:

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. (Revelation 3:20, NIV)

The first request we see in the life of Jabez reveals his devotion to God.
Thesecond request we see in the life of Jabez reveals his reliance upon God.
The third request we see in the life of Jabez—is his desire for a deeper closeness with the Lord.
And the last request we see in this story of Jabez, points to his desire for God’s protection. It’s where he asks:

4. LORD, ENCOMPASS ME!

Here again, Jabez is praying in faith — trusting that God will respond. And so, beyond God’s blessing and closeness…Jabez asks God for His protection. In verse 10, he continues as he prays:

(10d) “keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.”

These faith-filled words of Jabez remind me of the faith-filled words of the psalmist in Psalm 91. It’s there that he declares:

1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”(Psalm 91:1-2, NIV)

The reason that Jabez was so honorable is that he understood, dear friend, that he needed to be protected from the devil.

As followers of Christ, you are assured His ever-present help in your life. Therefore, when you pray — pray with confidence. Declare with conviction you trust in Him. For He is trust-worthy. He will watch over you. He will defend you. And He will do it by fighting for you.

That’s why scripture tells us, the battle isn’t ours, it’s His. The battle belongs to the Lord.

And no where do we need His strength and presence to encompass us more than in the area of temptation and sin. Our enemy, the devil seeks to destroy us with traps of evil. And when we fall into them and welcome sin in our lives, evil and sin will destroy us (from the inside out).

I know a lot of people who wish we would quit talking about sin…and the idea of missing the mark of God’s best in our lives. But, sin kills. It destroys. It hurts and rips people apart. So, we must talk about it — and we must ruthlessly eliminate it from our lives.

Like David—let’s pray, “God, help me hide your Word in my heart — so I won’t sin against You.” Let’s welcome God’s work in us to protect us from the sin that so easily entangles us.

That’s what Jabez was praying.

But, what about you? Are you inviting God to protect you?

If not, start today. Pray for His presence to surround you and keep you from evil. Pray for his protection. Because He’s good at it. He is able to protect and save!In Isaiah 43 He says:

1 “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” (Isaiah 43:1-3, NIV)

Ooo…that’s good stuff! That was his promise then — and it’s his promise now! So take hold of that promise and welcome His care.

Pray and invite Him to ENCOMPASS you!

It reminds me of a story I once read about a former line-backer for the Miami Dolphins. His name was Mike Kolen. After his college days, after graduating from Auburn University, his coach asked him to stick around and help him recruit the next generation of Auburn football players. He said, “Sure coach, what kind of a man do you need?”

He said, “Well Mike, you know there’s a guy you knock him down and he just stays there.” Mike said, “We don’t want him, do we coach?” He said, “No sir.” But he said, “You know Mike, there’s a guy you knock him down and then he gets up and then you knock him down and he stays there.” Mike said, “Well I don’t think we want him either, do we coach?” He said, “No sir.” But he said, “Mike, there’s a kind of guy, you knock him down, he gets up, you knock him down, he gets up, you knock him down, he gets up, you knock him down, he gets up.” Mike said, “Boy, that’s the one we want, isn’t it coach?” He said, “No, sir, I don’t want him either.” He said, “I want you to find that guy that’s knocking everybody down.”

That’s must have been how Jabez felt.

Listen, I am grateful that when we I knocked down — Jesus picks me up up! But I much prefer those times when Jesus does the knocking on my behalf. When He strikes the enemy down before me. I much prefer those time when Jesus protects me and the devil flees. Amen?

You can. If you learn how to pray as Jabez prayed. Not only Lord forgive me (that’s, pick me up when I get knocked down). But Lord lead me and keep me from the evil one.

Rather than fighting in your own strength, or relying upon your own wit to out smart the enemy or those who might oppress you. Instead, RUN TO THE LORD! Call on the Lord…rest in the Lord…wait upon the Lord…and see what He will do for you!

Jabez asks for the Lord’s defense not only for his own sake, but to expel the residue of any evil in him that would inhibit God’s purpose for his life or become painful to others:

Things that tempt, attack or haunt my mind;
Things from my past, my parents or my heritage;
Things that condemn, confuse or compromise me.

So, cry out to the Lord. Invite Him to defend you…and when trouble comes or hardship arises, refuse to despair. Instead, ask for God’s help.

CONCLUSION:

After everything was said — and every prayer was prayed…Jabez found himself in that place that you and I often find ourselves. It was in the waiting — a place of trust and faith in God. It’s that place where we place in God’s hands that which we have been carrying around in ours. And then with empty hands and a full heart, we wait.

We wait…to give God room to work.
We wait…to allow our faith to grow.
We wait…to watch for God to do what we can not.
We wait…to see the glory of the Lord displayed before us.
We wait…to receive the goodness and the mercies of God in our lives.
We wait…and…trust in Him!

And as we wait…God works.

He works…to strength that which remains in us.
He works…to increase of our faith and resilience in Him.
He works…to demonstrate His power above all things.
He works…to meet and exceed the needs we have in this life.
He works…to reveal His love to and through us.
He works…the fulfill His Word, and put His glory on display in us!

The apostle John helps us understand this when he writes in 1 John 5:14,

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”(1 John 5:14, NIV)

And sometimes His answers to our prayers are WILD and DRAMATIC. But sometimes that are SIMPLE and DIRECT. And in the case of Jabez, we are told, simply:

“And God granted his request.” (1 Chronicles 4:10, NIV)

ALTAR & PRAYER TIME:

As we prepare to wrap up this morning, I want to pause and acknowledge…that the greatest blessing God has to offer you and me — is the forgiveness of sin and a salvation found in His Son, Jesus.

Nothing compares! Not riches, or fame, or influence, or anything else. Nothing compares to Jesus. So, if you’re not living for Jesus…Would you consider surrendering yourself to Him today? Would you pray now and put your trust completely in His goodness? If so, pray this with me:

Heavenly Father, I admit that I am a sinner and I’ve chosen my way over yours too often. But all that changes today. Because, I believe in Your Son, Jesus. I believe that He came from Heaven to earth to pay for my sin. I believe He died on the cross, shed His blood, was put in a grave — and rose again. So, today — I put my faith in Him. Forgive me of my sin. Save me and give me new life in you forever. I pray this in Jesus name, Amen.

If you prayed today and made a decision to follow Jesus — would you let us know? We are so proud of you. This is the greatest decision you’ll ever make.

PRAYER: Would you come and join me around these altars this morning — and pray with me? Come and as you do, let’s draw near to God. Let’s invite Him to do for us as He did for Jabez. Let’s pray…

Lord I pray:

Engage me. Speak to me as I speak to you.

Enlarge me. Bless my life, my work, my home, my dreams, give me more to steward for you.

Embrace me. Come near, fill me with Your Spirit, empower me to live for you, and…

Encompass me. Go before me and behind me. Watch over me. Protect me. Keep me safe.