THE
PRAYER OF THE BEELIEVER
1 CHRONICLES 4:9-10
Welcome
to 2015. We declare it a year of success; a year of progress; a year of divine
blessings; a year of divine breakthrough; a year of the favour of the Lord; a
year of divine visitation; a year of miraculous exploits; a year of expansion;
a year of great outpouring of God’s Spirit on the Church.
All
these blessings will become possible through the grace of God as we declare
this year A YEAR OF PRAYER. We believe in prayer and the power of prayer. Though
prayer in 2015 for us in Deeper Life Glasgow, there will be no lack, no loss,
and no limitation.
But
how shall we pray? What will be the content of our prayer through the year
2015? Bruce Wilkinson published a book titled The Prayer of Jabez in 2000 based
on 1Chro.4:9-10. We use some of his thoughts here.
1. OUR PRAYER IN 2015: ITS COMMENCEMENT (1Chron.4:9-10)
Jabez
was singled out for recognition from a crowd of more than 600 people. There are
three qualities displayed by Jabez: (i) Great Ambition, (ii) Great Faith, and
(iii) Great Prayer. The beginning of Jabez was not a good one. His mother named
him Jabez because she said she bore him in pain! It is not clear why she said
that because child birth is a painful thing for all women. So there must be
something else that made her to give her son the name PAIN!
Jabez
must feel that pain his mother was talking about. However, he refused to be
controlled by that, he decided that that pain must cease, and that name must
change. This is what we must do this year. What is that thing that has been
causing you pain? That thing must cease! That name associated with pain or with
poverty or with sickness, or with lack, loss and limitation must change! It is
time to seek the Lord (2Chron.7:12-14; Hosea 10:12)
2. OUR PRAYER IN 2015: ITS CONTENT (1Chron.4:9-10;
Mat.6:9-13)
Are
you willing to do more to change your circumstances in 2015? Then heed the word
of God. Prayer is the key. Then determine to call upon the Lord as David did (Psalm
27:4; 55:16, 17, 22). What will be the content of our prayers for 2015? Let’s
take the prayer points one by one.
i. More Blessing –
Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed”. Jabez wanted God to bless him
“indeed”. That little word, “indeed” tells me that the kind of blessing Jabez
asked for was something noticeable, something great, unique. What do you want
God to do for you this year? What do you want God to do in the Church, with the
Church and for the Church this year? When the blessing of God comes upon you,
every weakness will flee!
ii. More Territory –
“And enlarge my coast”. We want to ask for more territory for the Lord. Scotland is
our mission field. God must enlarge our vision to appreciate how big this is.
Let Him open great doors of ministry everywhere in Scotland; in every city,
every town, every village, and every clan! We will ask the Lord to create
opportunities for ministry.
This
year we are taking an outreach mission to Stirlingshire. We will no longer sit
in Church and hope that it will be filled with people! But as we go, God will
make us more appointments with people we need to minister to. He will create
formerly nonexistent opportunities for ministry.
What
about our HQ building. God will offer us places to use that shock and surprise
all!
iii. More Power –
“That Your Hand would be with me”. What is the connotation of the hand
of God? Power! “Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost has come upon
you (Acts.1:8). When the ministry expands as we are requesting form the Lord,
then more power is needed. That power must come from God! How can we move into
new territory and take it over for God? By receiving more power. How can we
roll back the powerful influence of evil in our land? By receiving more power. How
can we expand the influence of the Kingdom of God throughout Scotland? By
receiving more power. How can we change the things we have always wanted to
change in our lives this year? By receiving more power! The bigger our
territory, the more power we need.
iv. More Protection –
“And that You would keep me from evil that I might not cause pain” For Jabez, he wanted
nothing more to do with that name of pain, that apparent curse must be erased!
He needed God’s protection from the evil. We need that too. Success comes with
a lot of temptation. Power and influence can bring pride and other sins, even
complacence. We can forget continue to pray and fast because we think we have
arrived.
What
is it that sets some students apart from their colleagues? Knowing God. Doing
something extra! Studying harder (Prov.10:4; 12:24; 22:29). Jabez did something
extra. He went out of his to seek the Lord for a change of his circumstances. Our
Lord Jesus tells us to pray and not faint (Luke 18:1). How else can we put it.
Whatever you have seen or have not seen, keep on praying, keep on believing,
and keep on expecting. God never fails. The vision may be for an appointed time
(Hab.2:3), but at last, in the future ahead, it shall speak, it shall come to
pass, it shall be fulfilled!
This PRAYER OF THE BELEIVER will be prayed by you every day through this 2015. Write it out, put it inside your bible, paste it on your mirror that you may see it day and night and be reminded to keep raying till all be fulfilled.
How
will you pray for me this year? You pray 1 Chronicles 4:10 for me every day!
How will I pray for you this year? I will pray 1 Chronicles 4:10 for you every
day!
4. OUR PRAYER IN 2015: ITS CONSEQUENCE (1Chron.4:9-10)
Do
I need to tell you what the outcome of such praying will be? “And the Lord
granted unto him that which he requested”. That is going to be our testimony by
the end of this year as we carry this prayer to its logical end
(2Chron.7:12-14).
Then
2015 will be a year of tremendous success; a year of unprecedented progress; a
year of divine untold blessings; a year of divine breakthrough; a year of the
unlimited favour of the Lord; a year of divine visitation; a year of miraculous
exploits; a year of incredible expansion; a year of great outpouring of God’s
Spirit on the Church.
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