1 Chronicles 4:9-10 (KJV)
"And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested."
In Part One of this study, we learned that Jabez called on the Lord for blessings. In Part Two, we see that he asked that his coast be enlarged. Some versions replace "coasts" with the word "territory". Either way, Jabez is asking that the Lord expand his sphere of influence. Perhaps he wanted larger pastures, more friends, more cattle. Maybe he wanted to travel and see more places. Whatever outcome Jabez was expecting, you will notice that he did not come to the Lord with his ready made list. Rather, he trusted that whatever expansion was to occur, the Lord would be in charge.
You see, our God knows us. He knows our talents, our personality, our likes, our dislikes. He also knows the purpose for which we were created. That would be because HE was the one who did so! So, when we ask that the Lord expand our coasts, we are asking that He move back the borders; drop down the fences (barbed wire and all); grow our email lists; fill our day timers. In short, we are asking for a mission field, a dynamic, exciting, wonderfully orchestrated field where people feel loved, miracles occur, and lives are saved.
Let me warn you not to pray these words if you are comfortable staying home cuddled into the Lazy Boy watching such programs as The View, Dr. Phil, As the World Turns, Wheel of Fortune, and Survivor reruns on daytime television. It is just not going to happen unless you are willing to give up a comfort zone and make yourself available. God says He will give much to those who have shown that they are trustworthy:
Luke 12:48b "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. "
Let us look at a few more verses that teach us what is expected and should nudge us to expand those coasts:
Being used in ministry:
1 Timothy 1:12 "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;"
Being used to speak:
Exodus 4:12 "Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say."
Being commanded to act:
Deuteronomy 4:1 "Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you. "
Being commanded to do and go:
Deuteronomy 4:1 "Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you."
Being shown to follow God's way:
Psalms 32:8 " I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye."
Being instructed to GO into the world with a promise of His being with you:
Matthew 28:19-20 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."
One can not possibly read the selection of scripture above and try to deny that the Lord wants to use them to reach beyond those borders. If you are asking that the Lord do something for you that He already wants to happen, well, the obvious result is that He will make it happen.
Throw open those gates and see what the Lord has laid out for you!
and tomorrow we ask that His hand be upon us because we can not possibly do it alone. M
