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"Through the Bible" Week 27

"Through the Bible" Week 27. A Prayer for Blessing I Chronicles 4:9, 10. While reading from the Old Testament book of Chronicles, you're reading along with a yawn:

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"Through the Bible" Week 27

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  1. "Through the Bible" Week 27 • A Prayer for Blessing • I Chronicles 4:9, 10

  2. While reading from the Old Testament book of Chronicles, you're reading along with a yawn: • Reaiah the son of Shobal begat Jahath; and Jahath begat Ahumai, and Lahad. These are the families of the Zorathites. And these were of the father of Etam - - - - -

  3. I Chronicles 4:9, 10 • "Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, 'I gave birth to him in pain.' 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."

  4. What we know about Jabez: • of the line of Judah • the name is the name of a town - I Chronicles 2:55 • why his mother gave him his name • was more "honorable" than his brothers

  5. Jabez prayed to the God of Israel • The original language of the prayer suggests that it was expressed as a vow, "If you would bless. . . ."

  6. What did Jabez pray for? • Simply put, he prayed for a blessing.

  7. Jabez understood that the blessing was conditional on obedience. • "I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse -- the blessing if you obey the commands of the LORD your God . . . the curse if you disobey the commands.“ • Deut 11:26-28

  8. Jacob had a personal encounter with God and boldly prayed, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." (Genesis 32:26)

  9. What does it mean to ask for a blessing? • To ask to receive God's favor and some benefit from Him.

  10. Levitical Blessing • "The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." • Numbers 6:24-26

  11. Jabez specified three particular blessings, or benefits he desired from God: • increase, help, and protection. • “enlarge my territory" • "let your hand be with me" • "keep me from harm"

  12. When Jabez prayed, "enlarge my territory," he wasn't merely asking for wealth to display, but rather, he was seeking for larger opportunities to bless others.

  13. God told Abraham, "I will bless and you will be a blessing.” (Genesis 12:2, 3)

  14. “There shall be showers of blessing" – • Ezekiel 34:26

  15. "I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in its season; there shall be showers of blessing." (Ezekiel 34:26) • "Israel will be a blessing in the earth." (Isaiah 19:24) • "God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.'" (Genesis 1:28)

  16. The second prayer of Jabez was • "let your hand be with me." • In the Bible, the hand of God represents God's power, God's guidance, and God's revelation.

  17. "May your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts." • Psalms 119:173

  18. Look at the life that is lived apart from God's help:

  19. Up until now, you've been living your life depending only on yourself and whatever you can con out of other people by your deception and your wits. • "How's it working for you?" • "Why not try looking to God for help?"

  20. Isaiah 41:10 • “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

  21. "If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast." • Psalms 139:9, 10

  22. "The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." • Isaiah 58:11

  23. As for revelation: • In the sixth year, in the sixth month on the fifth day, while I was sitting in my house and the elders of Judah were sitting before me, the hand of the Sovereign LORD came upon me there. • Ezekiel 8:1-4

  24. Psalms 80:17-19 • "Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand, the son of man you have raised up for yourself. Then we will not turn away from you; revive us, and we will call on your name. Restore us, O LORD God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved."

  25. The third request in the prayer of Jabez: "Keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." • In Jabez's prayer, the word "harm" is in most other translations "evil", which is a better translation.

  26. The final part of the prayer refers back to the meaning of the name, Jabez. It's as though he is praying that his life will not become a fulfillment of his name.

  27. Among other things, the reason this prayer is in the Bible is because it was answered! • "God granted his request."

  28. What is your request today for increase? • Then pray the prayer of Jabez, "Enlarge my territory."

  29. What is your request today for strength? • Then pray the prayer of Jabez, "Let your hand be with me."

  30. What is your request today for protection from sin? • Then pray the prayer of Jabez, "Keep me from evil."

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