Walking in the Spirit of Jabez

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Although his story is told in only two verses in scripture, Jabez’ message is powerful, life altering and filled with world-changing hope.

1 Chronicles 4:9-10:

“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”

Jabez was born into the tribe of Judah, the tribe of kings. Both Rahab and Ruth married into the tribe of Judah. David was a descendant of Judah. Joseph, Mary and Jesus were members of the tribe.

In spite of the promises that had been declared over the tribe of Judah, Jabez’ mother saw little hope for her son. He had been born in pain. She expected that pain to continue. Jabez means “he will bring pain and sorrow.”

Jabez did not let the words of his mother limit his life expectations. He called on the God of Israel not only to bless him, but to bless him INDEED. He asked for a big blessing. He asked God to increase his territory, to increase his sphere of authority, to increase his ministry. Jabez knew that he could not move effectively in his increase without the covering and protection of the Lord. He asked for guidance (God’s hand.) He asked that the Lord keep him from evil. Remember that the Lord Jesus taught us all to pray for the Lord to deliver us from evil.

Jabez’ purpose for his increased territory and for the Lord’s intervention in his life is that he would not cause pain, that he would not walk in the curse that his mother had spoken over him. Jabez wanted to be blessed in order to bless others.

We can learn from Jabez.

--No matter what our background might be, no matter what others may have spoken over us, God still has a plan to give us a future and a hope.

--We cannot walk effectively in blessing without submitting to God’s authority over our lives.

--Our desire must be a determination to walk away from evil—evil in both thought and action.

--The purpose of our enlarged territory must be to accomplish our calling without purposefully harming others.

We must ask ourselves some pertinent questions.

--Why do I want my domain to be increased?

--Am I willing to forgo my plans and to submit to God’s plans and purposes?

--Am I desirous of walking away from evil thoughts, conversations and actions?

--Can I honestly say that I do not wish pain on others?

God’s purpose is that we shine forth the glory, power, authority and holiness of our Creator.

Isaiah 60: Arise, shine;

For your light has come!

And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.

2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,

And deep darkness the people;

But the LORD will arise over you,

And His glory will be seen upon you.

3 The Gentiles shall come to your light,

And kings to the brightness of your rising.

Because He loves us and wants the best for us, God desires that we walk in the spirit of Jabez.

 

Addiction to Power

Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

 

A prevailing stronghold in America and the rest of the world is an addiction to power. That addiction has led to division and corruption   The situation calls to mind Lord Acton who said, “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

A desire for power causes us to deny our role and to blame-shift. A desire for power will cause people to seek positions to which they are not called.  A desire for power causes us to form opinions based on our own desires rather than upon knowledge and reason.

Remember the words of Paul to his disciple Timothy:

2 Timothy 3:1-5 “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

The above is not only a description of the world today.   It is also a description of many in the Body of Christ.

In “10 Ways Christians Weaponize the Bible”, Joseph   Mattera writes, “10. When we demand biblical ethics that we are not living ourselves. When we use the Bible as a particular standard (in the church or home) that we are not willing to live by, we are weaponizing the Bible against others to have our way.”

We cannot, in authority, declare scriptures like Isaiah 33:22 over our nation if we have not submitted to the truth that “the Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Lawgiver, the Lord is our King; He will save us”.  

The root of our problem is a spiritual one that has manifested in the political realm.  The axe must be laid at the root.