John 15 :7-8 « Ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”
We are
looking at the second part of Jabez’s prayer today. A man who looks at his own
circumstance and makes a decision: “I was born for more than this.” And he
prays, “Please, O God, enlarge my territory! Enlarge my land, enlarge my
borders!”
Jabez did
not just want growth for growth sake, or more space at the expense of someone
else, or the promise of easy money. Why? Because the Bible says he was more honorable. A honorable man will seek for
blessing to be a blessing. He will seek for blessing to do more in God’s
vineyard.
Jabez
understood that the limit of his territory could limit what he could do for
God. A small farm land could only support small quantity of animals or harvest.
To increase his output, he needed more opportunity. Because Jabez was looking for blessing so
that he could be a blessing in God’s hand; we can call his cry for God to
enlarge his territory as a holy asking. Asking for more territory for God can
be called holy ambition; and this kind of passion honors the Father.
Can you
imagine a mother being irritated with a child who asks, “What can I do to help
you Mama?” In the same way, when you ask for greater opportunity for God, He
responds with delight and favor.
Ask
yourself, Am I asking God for more so that I can do more for Him?
God is
waiting for each one of us to get hold of the greater vision for our lives- a
vision that matches His own – and plead with Him for it to come true. To be
more fruitful for God, we need more opportunity, and we need to see the
opportunities already surrounding us that we have continually overlooked.
Who has set
boundary lines in my life? Circumstances? Others? Me?
Andy
Stanley says “For reasons known only to Him, God has chosen to work through men
and women who are willing to make sacrifices for the sake of the “thing” He has
placed in their hearts to do.
What is the
thing God has placed in your heart? Are you willing to make sacrifices?
Jabez
received and answer to his prayers
1. God heard his prayer
2. Jabez received blessings, expanded
his frontiers, felt God directing him and was protected
3. Many do not receive anything because
they doubt (Jame 1:6-7)
4. Others do not receive because they
do not ask sincerely (James 4:3)
5. Therefore let us get closer to God:
a. With a sincere heart
b. In full assurance of faith
c. Having purified hearts
d. And free of evil conscience (Heb
10:22)
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