From the womb Jabez was an honored child with the hand of God over his life. However, at the time of birth, Mr. Counterfeit, Satan the liar, the father of all lies, defeated foe, cheater, deceiver, thief, destroyer, killer, accuser etc. showed up and told his mother a lie. “Because you had pain during this child’s delivery, just call him pain to identify with the problem. “This name had nothing to do with this child, it was not his fault that the mother had pain during delivery. When Jabez came to know the problem that surrounded his name, he did not blame his mother, of course she would not purposefully hurt her child. He rather took matters into his hands and went before the courts of heaven where every problem under the surface of the earth is addressed. He had to decide what was good for him. Stay with the pain all his life and maintain the name “PAIN” or address the problem. He made it all about him. The Bible did not say he went to look for a man of God to pray for him. He went straight to the throne room and cried out to God. Jabez knew that he was blessed and so he refused to settled with pain. He knew that was not God’s plan for his life.  God promises a future of hope and expectation. He had to take back his blessings. Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms.” He presented his request and cried out to the Lord asking for three things that we all need in life.

1. Release this blessing as stated in Ephesians 1:3 above. All our blessings are found in Christ Jesus and if we are found wanting, we cannot collect the blessing and will miss out. Jabez had to pray this first because every other request was dependent upon this one. This breakthrough was the main key to all other ones. The gift of salvation is a package and we cannot open the package and decides which to take or throw.  We have been “BLESSED IN CHRIST”

2. Enlarge my territory. According to Proverb 10:22 “The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, without painful toil for it.” Jazeb knew that when God blesses it’s always a double portion, so if he is asking for a blessing and he knows he will get it. This is his opportunity to add to his list. He said enlarge my territory because God’s blessings open the door for a river of blessing. I am not sure what area of your life you are struggling with.  It may be your prayer life, ministry etc. Ask the Lord to expand that today as he did for Jabez.  Isaiah 54:2-5 “Enlarge the site of your tent, stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, do not hold back. Lengthen your ropes and drive your stakes in deep. For you will spread out to the right and left; your descendants will dispossess the nations and inhabit the desolate cities. Do not be afraid, for you will not be put to shame; do not be intimidated, for you will not be humiliated. For you will forget the shame of your youth and will remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. For your husband is your Maker—the LORD of Hosts is His name—the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth”.  The Lord says move out of that comfort place of pain, sorrow, shame, disgrace, isolation into a new grace, new oil, new anointing, explore the new territory. He is the one blessing you according to Deuteronomy 8:18 “But remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you the power to gain wealth, in order to confirm His covenant that He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.”  He says sow and you shall reap according to Genesis 26:12 “Now Isaac sowed seed in the land, and in that very year he reaped a hundredfold. And the LORD blessed him.”

3. Let you hand be with me. When the hand of God is upon a man, what else will that man lack?  Psalm 80:17 “Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand, the son of man you have raised up for yourself.” 1 Peter 5:6 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.” Isaiah 48:13 “My hand laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I call to them, they stand forth together.” Exodus 15:6 “Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power, your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy.”

4. Keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain. Jabez asked for protection. The only place of protection is the presence of the Lord and we can only acquire it by making his presence our home. Psalm 91: 1-2 “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (Reflect on the entire Psalm 91).

5. The devil knows what God has in store for us and he will do his best all the time to ensure that we do not get our blessing. The devil encourages laziness in studying the word of God or pray and misrepresents the word of God. Did God really say? If Jazeb did not allow his pain to define his life but he turned his attention to the Lord, why should we? Do you have personal problems that you have been trying God for? Stand like Jabez. Are you in that place of regret? Even if you don’t like it you can change it and lay a different kind of generation after you. You cannot be unhappy with your situation and every day of your life is unhappy, sad, mad, depressed, shamed, etc. It may have happened so that God will be glorified. Instead of grumbling why not pray like Jabez? Ask the Lord to change your testimony as he did for Jabez. Pray against every strategy of the evil one.

6. Genesis 32:22-31 “That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.  So, Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared. “The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip.” Jacob wrestled with God and his life was changed forever. Cry onto the Lord; I will not let you go until you bless me. Ask the Lord to transform your life as the life of Jacob; changed from deceiver to a nation.

7. Isaiah 14:1 For the LORD will have compassion on Jacob and choose Israel once again. He will settle them on their own land. The foreigner will join them and be united with the house of Jacob.” Ask the Lord to have compassion over you and settle you in your own land.

8. Judges 16: 27-28 “Now the temple was full of men and women; all the lords of the Philistines were there, and about three thousand men and women were on the roof watching Samson entertain them. Then Samson called out to the LORD: “O Lord GOD, please remember me. Strengthen me, O God, just once more, so that with one vengeful blow I may pay back the Philistines for my two eyes.” Have you come to that place of spiritual weakness? Ask the Lord to strengthen you one more time so you can finish the work he has called you into.

9. John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Declare the word of God on your family, church, and community. Challenge any attempt of the devil to steal anything that belongs to you. Declare life in every aspect of your life.

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