“ Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying,”Because I bore him in pain”. And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, ”Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” so God granted him what he requested. “( 1 Chronicles 4:9,10).e” (Psalm 29:11).

I am honored by the confidence you shown in me. It gives me pride and honor to share this message on the topic of answered prayer of Jabez. The Bible says: Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. Jabez had brothers. In God’s famil;y, we have brothers, sisters and mothers. Thank God for these relationships.

My Testimony:

When I was 23 years age, I studied in IITM. By the grace of God, after my successful completion of M.Tech., degree in OCEAN ENGINEERING, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras- 600 036 India, honored me with highest marks of 88.5% , First class with distinction ( overall A grade), which always reminds of me of great honor. I thank all my Professors in IITM.

Honor means:

the respect from other people that a person, country etc., gets because of behavior and Moral character. The guest of honor = the most important one. The another definition of honor is something that is given to a person officially to show great respect.

The Bible compares Jabez and his brothers in a healthy way. Though his mother experienced pain because of Jabez’ conception and birth, yet by the grace and favor of God, he became a honorable person. God always honors His best children. He became a best child to his mother. How? I believe, that is through Prayer. We must understand the importance of Prayer.

Jabez called on God:

And Jabez called on the God of Israel. Our God is the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. He is not the God of the dead but of the living. He is the Living God. The BIBLE says in Psalm 145:18 “ The LORD is near to all who call upon Him. To all who call upon Him in truth”. “ Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you don not know”( Jere. 33:3).

The LORD is near to all people, who will call upon Him. In the N.T. His name is JESUS. Those who called upon His name, received their provision, healing and miracles, etc., In our call, we must be truthful. Then He shall answer you. He will do great and mighty things. That is what, He did to Jabez. He shall do the same showers of blessings on you. That is His way of empowering you and promote you and make you glad.

THE BLESSING OF GOD

Jabez prayed: God of Israel, bless me! Oh that You would bless me indeed. The Almighty God Blessed Abraham, Isaac, Jacob( Israel) and Joseph in Genesis account. The same God will bless you and me. Hebrews 13:8 says: Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever. One of the promises of God, which I like most in the O.T. is the promise of God to Abraham:

“ In blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of Heaven And as the sand which is on the seashore and your descendants shall posses the gate of their enemies”. ( Genesis 22:17).

GOD’S BLESSING is God’s way of empowering Abraham. This is a multiplication blessing. God invested wisely in Abraham’s life. God is a wise mathematician than human beings. It is not addition, subtraction or division; But it is a multiplication blessing. God multiplied his descendants , as the stars in the heaven and as the sand which is on the sea shore. Stars are innumerable; God is the God of the plenty, His life is abundant life. With your numerical methods of engineering mathematics, you cannot calculate God’s blessings. That is the blessing of God in Christ Jesus our LORD.

“ Blessed be the God and FATHER of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ”. ( Ephesians 1:3).

Praise the LORD. Hallelujah! Amen. My LORD and My GOD, JESUS CHRIST. I praise You. Thank You very much! This is beyond my positive imagination or faith confession. This is God’s love in manifestation, not that I loved God, but God You loved me first. God is love. ( I John 4:8).

BIG DEAL OF THE BIG GOD

Jabez prayed: God of Israel, enlarge my territory. Enlarge= to make something bigger or become bigger. An area of land that belongs to one country. A very often quoted bible verse by the preachers, specially pastors is from Isaiah 54:2 , 3:

“ Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your habitations, do not spare: lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes. For you shall expand to the right and to the left, and your descendants shall inherit the nations and make the desolate cities inhabited”.

You may be living in a rented house, or you may be ministering the gospel message in village churches. Or you may be teaching to college students. Whatever your situations and conditions, and big God has a big deal with you. He is interested in enlargement and expansion of your territory. Jabez prayed,” LORD, enlarge my territory”. Would you pray like him for a break through or a break in. It is possible with God. In all the territory of India, people should know and believe the Lord Jesus Christ. God’s kingdom should Come. He is enlarging the territory of the ministry.

THE HAND OF GOD

Jabez prayed: Your hand would be with me. God says:I will uphold you with, My righteous right hand”. This is like father who helps , feeds, counsels his children. Nutritious food, good sleep, good study of good books, good stay environment ( good house) makes the son or daughter more intelligent. A good father does all these for his loving children. Isaiah 41: 10 says:

“ Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand”.

God’s righteous right hand was with Jabez Jesus said to the man, “ Stretch out your hand! And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other” ( Mark 3:5). When we stretch out our hands of hope to the poor, gospel ministers, Pastors, Evangelists, God restores you and your family life. Today, learn to do good.

THE PROTECTION OF GOD

Jabez’ fourth and final request to God in prayer was: “God of Israel, that you would keep me from evil, that I may not cause evil”. God granted him what he requested. Jesus taught His disciples to pray for protection:”Father, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil”. God keeps you from evil. Zephaniah 3;14 says: New American Standard Bible The LORD has taken away His judgments against you, He has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; You will fear disaster no more. God will protect you and bless you. Pray the prayer of JABEZ.

The grace of our LORD Jesus Christ be with all. Amen.