The Dynamic Prayer of Jabez

One of the most effective and dynamic prayers in the Bible is found in the Old Testament in the Book of 1st Chronicles. The prayer appeared during the genealogy of the Tribe of Judah.

"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." 1 Chronicles 4:10.

This is one of the most difficult books to read in the Bible. It is essentially reading a genealogy  of Judah.

For example, 1 Chronicles 4:1 "The sons of Judah; Pharez, Hezron, and Carmi, and Hur, and Shobal." And so on...and on. That takes a lot fortitude and will power to read this genealogy!

But what was very significant, when it came time for Jabez to speak up, he spoke up with a very dynamic request of God. He cried out to the God of Israel with a sincere prayer.

Bruce Wilkerson, the author of the book on the Prayer of Jabez discovered this very important prayer in the Old Testament. Wilkerson says, "Jabez doesn't stand astride the Old Testament like a Moses or a David or light up the Book of Acts like those early Christians who turned the world upside down. But one thing is sure: The little difference in his life made all the difference. You could think of him as the Prodigy of the Genealogy, or maybe the Bible's Little Big Man. You'll find him hiding in the least read section of one of the least-read books of the Bible".

The Prayer of Jabez  became one of the most popular books that gave four simple precepts on prayer. What is even more significant, the prayer itself is only one sentence long, and after Jabez spoke up or maybe we can say with complete confidence, "praying up" during the genealogy, we never hear of Jabez again in the Old Testament.

Jabez spoke of four very important life changing principles in this prayer.

#1 "Oh, that You would bless me indeed,
#2 and enlarge my territory,
#3 that Your hand would be with me,
#4 and that You would keep me from evil.

I remember when the Prayer of Jabez became a "prayer icon" in the Christian community back in the late 90's. I had a copy of the prayer framed and placed on the wall in my office right above my computer. Like Wilkerson, I too prayed this prayer during quiet moments during the day. It inspired me and lifted my soul, but more importantly it was a prayer directly to God asking that He would bless me, give me more responsibility to speak for Him, that His Hand would be with me, and that He would keep me from evil or from failing to serve Him throughout my day.

If you ever read 1st Chronicles, it is difficult to imagine finding 1st Chronicles 4: 8-9. I mean that by saying, it took a lot of concentration to find this one sentence prayer which can create dynamic and life changing impact on your life.

Even today, the Prayer of Jabez is on the wall in our living room, reminding me of my sincere desire like Jabez, to ask God to bless me, enlarge my territory or responsibility as a Christ like servant, give me confidence that Your Presence will be with me on a daily basis, and that He would protect me from the roaring liar who seeks to devour or destroy my testimony.

I challenge everyone who might read this short essay, to highlight this Bible verse (If you have not done so already), to remind you of the necessity of praying this prayer on a daily basis.

Granted, just as the danger existed back in the late 1990's, the prayer had the danger of become a fad or fashionable to pray in public to show others you were in the in "prayer in- crowd".

If there was ever a prayer for these fast and distracting days, this is the perfect prayer...a dynamic and powerful one sentence prayer for your quiet place or prayer closet, and which can dynamically change your life, praying the Prayer of Jabez.

As we join together at different times throughout the day, let this prayer be about our country, our concerns and anxieties, and not a selfish prayer for material blessings.

We need to join together and pray a prayer devoid of politics, anger, hate, and as a dividing point. This prayer will unite us, empower us, and strengthen us against the principalities and evil influence of the evil one that seeks to divide us and destroy our Republic. 

There many people in our country in need of a helping hand. There are many individuals who need our prayers and intervention.

The vision statement of the Latino Faith Initiative is found in Proverbs 31:8, "Speak for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all those who are destitute".

The powerful and dynamic Prayer of Jabez spoken with sincerity and faith from our hearts and spirit can touch the lives of those who need someone to pray for them as well!

LFI~Latino Faith Initiative
Rev Fidel "Butch" Montoya

Remember: GOD LISTENS

FALLING ASLEEP IN CHURCH

I am sure many of you may recall as a young child when you were in church, and it became so difficult to listen to the preacher and to concentrate on every word that was being preached. This even happens sometimes when you looked forward to listening to a particular popular and dynamic preacher.

Perhaps for some, you still have a problem listening and concentrating to the Words spoken by the preacher. Whether it is Sunday morning or mid week service, you may find yourself fighting to stay awake, or at least look interested.

In Acts, Chapter 20 we find a story of a young man who had difficulty listening to the Word preached by the Apostle Paul. At this particular time and place, Paul was basically running away from groups of people who were plotting to kill him.

I have been in many church services where the preacher seemed to go on and on. You may have come to the church service with every intention of listening and following the teachings of the preacher, but instead you found yourself fighting to stay awake and trying to make sense out of what the preacher was trying to instill in our hearts.

I remember many years ago as a small child falling asleep under the pew, wrapped in Mom's sweater and Dad's overcoat. Listening contently as I slowly fell asleep. I was lucky that I was under one of the pews in a nice and warm church.

In the Book of Acts, we read the story of a young man who fell asleep with far more serious consequences. He had gone to hear a great preacher. Granted the room was not very large, candles provided the light, and the room was full of people who wanted to hear the great orator the Apostle Paul. This provided ideal environment to fall asleep.

Eutychus, simply called "a young man" was listening to the great teacher and Apostle Paul  preaching. He found a comfortable location on the third floor window to sit and listen.

The Bible teaches that Paul at one time was the outrageous persecutor of the early believers. Paul was present when the stoning of Stephen took place, and no doubt in other situations where early believers were stoned, or forced to flee for their lives from the hostile and violent persecution. 

Paul was considered a very intelligent and articulate speaker. Paul had the best education available at the time and opportunities that helped to make him become known as one of the most knowledgeable Rabbis. Paul had even been tutored by the greatest Rabbi and teacher of his time, Geminel. There was no doubt Paul had studied with great Rabbinical theologians and knew what he was preaching about.

We learn from the Bible that after Paul had his encounter with the Spirit of God on the Road to Damacus, where God cried out to Paul as to why he was persecuting the early believers of the Way. Paul was known as a firece opponent of the new teachings and was feared by early believers as a violent man who sought to stop more people from becoming believers of the Way and from dedicating their lives to Christ's teachings. Paul persecuted many early Christians and lead violent attacks against the believers of the teachings of The Way.

Eutychus probably had heard of the Apostle Paul's reputation as a great teacher and follower of the Way. Perhaps he wanted to know why Paul changed his alligence from hunting down early Believers to becoming one of the most powerful orators who now proclaimed the Good News and his personal testimony of following Christ's teachings and example. 

As Paul was moving from city to city and under a lot of pressure at this particular time from some people who were plotting his death, I am quite confident that when they heard Paul was coming to their village, many people flocked to listen to him preach and explain the teachings of his personal experience and encounter on the Road to Damacus.      

We know that Saul, later changing his name to Paul was on the way to Damacus to persecute more early believers in the new gospel. This is when God called him out to become "an illustrious professor and preacher" of the message of Christ's ministry. 

The Bible tells us God confronted Paul as He traveled to do his dirty work against early believers. "He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Acts 9:4 NIV

Later Paul would become one of the most powerful speakers of the Gospel as he traveled about teaching others of the teachings of Christ.  "While there, he encouraged the believers in all the towns he passed through. Then he traveled down to Greece, where he stayed for three months. He was preparing to sail back to Syria when he discovered a plot by opponents of the Gospel against his life, so he decided to return through Macedonia". Acts of the Apostles 20:2‭-‬3 NLT

Since this was Paul's last service here, he was preaching under a lot of pressure sharing his important message and fighting against the time he had to leave early the next morning. There is no question that in the back of his mind, Paul knew he had to stay ahead of those plotting to take his life. Here for a short time, Paul was able to stop worrying about those who were looking for him and instead gathered with local Believers to celebrate the Lord's Supper.

"On the first day of the week, we gathered with the local believers to share in the Lord’s Supper. Paul was preaching to them, and since he was leaving the next day, he kept talking until midnight". Acts of the Apostles 20:7 NLT

I can tell you there is no greater urgency to preach the Word when a pastor feels the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to preach. When a preacher in under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, there is simply not a more powerful message.

We believe that as a preacher or as one called to share The Word, if the Holy Spirit impresses upon their heart to share a certain message or topic, that message must be shared taking the time to fully explain the teaching prompted by The Spirit.

Paul was preaching to them, and since he was leaving the next day, the Bible tells he kept preaching  until midnight. We know the third story room lit with flickering candles was probably much too small for the crowd that gathered. As Paul spoke on and on, a young man named Eutychus, sitting on the windowsill, became very drowsy and soon was asleep and fell three stories to his death below. 

Imagine the fall of Eutychus from the third floor window falling to his death below. No question it caused quite a bit of commotion,  interrupting the preaching as people ran to the scene of this young man's fall, only to find that Eutychus had died from his fall. People were probably in shock and no doubt crying over the death of Eutychus. 

The Bible tells us Paul immediately went down, bent over him, and took him into his arms. “Don’t worry,” he said, “he’s alive!” 

After the young was miraculously risen from his death, they all went back upstairs, shared in the Lord’s Supper, and ate together. Paul continued talking to them until dawn, and then he left on his journey. 

Meanwhile, the young man was taken home alive and well, and everyone was greatly relieved. Can you imagine the talk of the village the next day was without question the miraculous rising of Eutychus from the dead and the powerful presence of Paul as he prayed over Eutychus, raising him from the dead. .

The lesson here is not necessarily long winded preachers, but our state of mind and dedication to prepare our hearts to receive God's Word. No doubt you can fall asleep during a long sermon, but whose fault is that? If you do not take care of your human physical needs, it can affect your spiritual standing as well.

The issue we must be very aware of is that the evil one will take advantage of any circumstance to interrupt your attention to even the Word of The Lord. We must be aware of the evil one who roams around seeking whom he may devour. We must be spiritually empowered to confront the evil one in all situations.

"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour". 1 Peter 5:8 NIV

Good thing for Eutychus that a preacher committed to living the life of a person filled with The Holy Spirit, was able to pray and immediately take Eutychus in his arms and shout to the crowd,  “Don’t worry,” he said, “he’s alive!” Eutychus was brought back to life and did not suffer any bad consequences for falling asleep and falling three stories.

When we are listening a great preacher, may we pay attention with intense interest, with spiritual awareness, and profess in our heart and mind to grasp the message, knowing we may find ourselves in a place or time where the evil one will try to distract us from applying the preached Word to our lives.

LFI ~ LATINO FAITH INITIATIVE

Rev Fidel "Butch" Montoya

REMEMBER: GOD LISTENS!