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Praying with Jabez

by Dr. Charles Tillman, Sr. 

I would like for you to take a walk with me through one of my favorite texts. (Read 1 Chronicles 4:9-10) I have preached about Jabez before. I find it ironic that the name Jabez means: borne in pain! However, he was a descendant of the tribe of Judah, which means praise. Although his mother bore him in pain, he came from a line of praise! Judah was the 4th son born to Jacob’s wife Leah after the Lord opened up her womb because he saw that she was not loved (Gen 29:31). After Leah gave birth to Judah, she said, “This time I will praise the Lord,” then she stopped having children.”

SANCTIFY ME

Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me.” "Bless" comes from the Hebrew Barak meaning to give thanks or praise, and here it means to impart supernatural favor. In this context, to bless also means to sanctify or set apart. 

Jabez is asking the Lord to do a few things for him: Purify me and make me holy; give me supernatural favor. Do something for me that only you can do; this reminds me of grace; an unearned, undeserved favor from God that cleanses us from sin. I’m glad man cannot give me grace; for he would snatch it away every time he got upset with me.

"Bless" is also the root word for blessed, used in Matthew 5 in the Beatitudes. It comes from the New Testament Greek word Makarios, meaning happy or good.

When I read this prayer I see Jabez is not just asking for the impartation of God’s favor, but he is asking the Lord to make him pure and to make him happy and to fill him with joy unspeakable and full of glory. He is asking God to bless him, not so that he can be exalted, but so that he may exalt God more! He is asking God to bless him to be better so that he can do better for God!

STRETCH ME

“…And enlarge my territory”

To enlarge is to stretch. They are interchangeable. Webster says to stretch is to reach out; to extend or expand as if by physical force. He is not only asking for greater influence, but also greater responsibility! Jabez is saying, as you expand me, I will magnify your name and expand. 

Has anyone told you that when you are stretched there is pain involved? A small crowd equals fewer problems; a bigger crowd equals bigger problems!

Jabez was saying, “Enlarge me, so that I might glorify you!" Remember the words of Nelson Mandela, “It is what we make out of what we have given, not what we are given, that separates one person from another.” When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!

Do you know that your training, your skills and abilities, your personality, and your savvy will only take you so far? But God is able to expand you above and beyond the scope of your natural ability.

 

SHIELD ME

“And keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.”

Jabez is asking God to cover and shield him. David said, “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge (Ps. 18:2). He also said, “I will fear no evil for thou art with me!” (Ps. 23). “Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings I cling to you; your right hand upholds me....” (Ps. 63:7-8)

When His hand is on you, the world cannot harm you.

I have learned that anytime you set out to do big things for God, you can expect big attacks from the enemy. Faith that has not been tested is a faith that cannot be trusted. You will be tested by problems, unkept promises, undeserved criticism, and unanswered prayer; but hang in there!

Wherever He guides, He provides. Know that God is able to do exceedingly more than we ask or think.

Ezra goes on to say, “And God granted his request!”

If you dare pray with Jabez, ask God to: SANCTIFY YOU, STRETCH YOU, and SHIELD YOU!

— Dr. Charles Tillman, Sr., an NBC alumnus, serves as National Black Ministries Facilitator, Virginia District Black Ministries Director, Senior Pastor of the Richmond Woodville Church of the Nazarene, and on the NBC Board of Trustees.