The POWER of FERVENT PRAYER

THE POWER OF FERVENT PRAYER (James 5:16, 4:3; Mark 11:22-24)
WHO IS JABEZ?

In I Chronicles 4:9-10, it is written:

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.

ARE YOU A "JABEZ" TOO? (Ezekiel 37:1-10, 13-14)

IF you are a genuine CHRISTian (John 3:3) -- ordinary, not yet perfected, with a sincere desire to serve and to be used by GOD for whatever purpose(s) He desires...and if you

- did not have the best start in life (Jabez was cursed with the name "He Will Cause Pain!") (I Cor 1:27-28; Psalm 52:17; II Cor 12:9-10)
- are plagued with a rocky past and cursed with an "I Have Caused Pain!" history (Moses, Ex 2:11-12; David, II Sam 12:9; Rahab, Joshua 2:1b; Paul, Acts 22:4, 8; the prodigal son, Luke 15:13; the adulteress, John 8:3-5)
- have an uncertain future on earth, but have a certain future in Heaven (John 14:2-3; Phil 3:20)
- want to do more for GOD out of love for CHRIST JESUS (John 12:3; Mark 12:44)
- desire to become that best person GOD had always intended (Rom 8:29; Psalm 139:14)

THEN -- YOU ARE A "JABEZ" TOO! (JBZ2!)
You are invited to witness in a very personal way the tremendous power of fervent prayer. If you are a child of GOD, then you know that GOD is all good, in all ways, always! He is True Love manifested in CHRIST JESUS. His nature is love, and the nature of Love is to give. (John 3:16, 20:25-28; I John 4:9)

In the manner of Jabez, we will pray to be blessed INDEED! We will ask GOD, our Father, to grant us (for each today), the blessings He had already thought to give even before we were born. We will receive all His blessings (for each today), in whatever shape or size He desires to package it -- with grateful hearts and thankful praises. (Mal 3:10; Psalm 139:16; Eph 1:3-6, 11, 18-19; I Thes 5:18)

MISSION STATEMENT (Deut 6:13; Mal 1:6; John 17:4, 15:7-8, 14:13-14; Eph 3:21)
To give all praise and glory to the One True Living GOD in CHRIST JESUS -- Creator of heaven and earth, of all things seen and unseen.

PURPOSE (James 1:6-7; Mark 9:23-24; Heb 11:6; Matt 7:7-8, 11; Phil 3:10a; John 20:25-29; II Cor 5:7)

To strengthen and prove -- make real -- our faith in GOD by documenting His awesome power in our lives through fervent prayer.

To pray, in the manner that Jabez did in I CHRONICLES 4:10 -- truly believing, fully trusting that indeed, "the LORD, the LORD GOD, is merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth." (Ex 34:6; Gen 22:8, 32:26; Jer 33:3; Matt 21:22; Eph 3:14-21; I Tim 2:8)
***To ask GOD, our Father, to bless us (INDEED!), His children, so that we may be used as His instruments to bless those around us, so that His Holy SPIRIT may work through us for His glory. (Matt 7:7; 10:8b; Acts 20:35; James 4:3; John 14:13-14)
***To ask GOD, our Father, through the engineering of the Holy SPIRIT -- to enlarge our boundaries, our territories (our impact and influence), so that we may do more for Him.
***To ask, GOD, our Father, that He lead, strengthen and protect us with His almighty righteous right hand -- to be continually filled with His Holy SPIRIT, so that we may be empowered to do His will. (Eph 3:16; Rom 8:26; John 15:5; Luke 11:13)
***To ask GOD, our Father, to guard and keep us from evil -- whether from within (our own sinful flesh) or from without (from others, or from satan's influence), so that we may not cause pain to anyone, including ourselves, neither intentionally nor unintentionally. (Matt 26:41; Eph 6:12; John 17:15)
***To ask, GOD, our Father, in the name (the office and authority) of CHRIST JESUS, all these things because we know that absolutely nothing is impossible for the Lord, our GOD, our Father. (John 17:11, 15:16; Psalm 37:4; Matt 19:26; Isaiah 55:8-9)

I CHRONICLES 4:10
Oh, that You would bless me indeed -- obtain GOD's promises to His children
and enlarge my territory -- be used for Great Commission ministry (Matt 28:19-20; Luke 6:38, 10:8)
that Your hand would be with me -- be filled/empowered by the Holy SPIRIT
and that You would keep me from evil -- be protected against temptation (Eph 6:11; Matt 16:18; James 1:12)
that i may not cause pain! -- be blameless in GOD's sight (I Thes 5:23; Psalm 19:14)

PARTNERING WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT (John 6:63; II Cor 4:18; Rom 8:26-27)
With your commitment to 31 days of fervent prayer, you partner with the Almighty Holy SPIRIT of GOD. The Holy SPIRIT is the Master Engineer. He takes from GOD's Reality (GOD's will in Heaven) and makes it Actuality (GOD's will on earth). Trust that our Father chooses the blessings (for each today) with your best always in His perfect wisdom. CHRIST JESUS intercedes and prays for you -- be confident that our Father always hears all your prayers.
(Isaiah 53:12)

ARE YOU READY TO -- (Deut 10:12-13; Rom 8:14; John 15:4-5)
___ REPENT: turn from your sin(s) and turn to GOD?
___ SURRENDER to His rule, His control, His almighty presence? (Phil 2:5; John 3:30)
___ OBEY His voice? (Test that small, still voice you "hear" -- is it GOD's, yours, or satan's influence -- by the Scriptures, the Word of GOD.) (I Thes 5:21; John 13:17; Ps 40:8; Matt 18:3-4; I John 3:22)
___ YIELD your physical body, your heart and soul (your deepest, innermost core) to the Holy SPIRIT as His domain? (Rom 12:1; Phil 2:5; Matt 26:39)
___ INVITE Him into your "house"? (Is it in order, uncluttered, clean? Are there any rooms or closets with locked doors that you have not given Him the key? Have you asked the Holy SPIRIT to help you with the Spring cleaning?) (Matt 21:13; I Pet 1:16; Psalm 51:10, 139:23-24)
___ ASK for forgiveness for any unconfessed (therefore unforgiven) sin that is hindering His work -- your blessings -- from being made actual in your life? Matt 5:3, 6:14; John 9:31)
___ SETTLE your account(s) with GOD? Get right with Him -- life is short! (Prov 15:29; Ps 16:3, 25:4-5, 37:5)
COMMITMENT -- PARTNERING WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
___ i give up all that was (the lifestyle of the old nature) and cast the burdens of the past and present unto CHRIST JESUS. (Psalm 55:22; Luke 9:62)
___ i submit my will to the Holy SPIRIT abiding in me with all that He wills. (I John 3:22, 5:14-15; John 8:28-29, 15:7; Gal 5:16; Matt 6:33)
___ i agree to His extreme makeover in my life. (Rom 8:29)
___ i accept all that He does as blessings from GOD, my Father. (I Thes 5:18)
___ i trust that GOD, my Father, knows what is best for me and that He will in all ways, always have my best interest in His infinitely intelligent mind. (Heb 11:6; Jer 33:3; Sol 7:10; Rom 8:28)
___ i receive all the blessings, in whatever shape or size, that GOD, my Father, chooses to give me with a joyful and grateful heart. (I Thes 5:16-18)

____________________________________________(sign and date)
(This is your personal commitment between you and the Holy SPIRIT.)

"DOING THE JABEZ" : 31-DAY PRAYER COMMITMENT

___ Repent from any sin(s) and turn to GOD; ask for and receive GOD's forgiveness; remember to forgive also those who have sinned against you, as CHRIST commands. (Mal 3:7b; II Chron 7:14; Matt 6:14-15; Psalm 32:5; Luke 22:32; Mark 11:25-26)
___ Seek GOD's will by asking to be filled and controlled (thus empowered) by His Holy SPIRIT, and by "hearing" His Word--through reading/studying the Holy Bible. ( Rom 8:26-27; Psalm 119)
___ Pray your heartfelt version of I CHRONICLES 4:10 -- fervently, sincerely, meditatively, faithfully -- truly believing that the All-Powerful GOD is indeed your Father, CHRIST Jesus' own Abba. (Matt 6:9:13; Luke 22:44; James 5:16; I Tim 2:18; I Thes 5:17)
___ Acknowledge GOD's presence throughout the whole day with continual heartfelt thanks and praises, with intercessory prayers for others, affirming that His will be done in all. (Acts 6;4; Phil 4:6; Col 1:9-10; I Thes 5:17-18)
___ Journal daily your prayers. Include all answered prayers, blessings, GOD-given insights, lessons learned.
___ Act like a CHRISTian--read and do ROMANS 12. (Verse 21: Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.)___ Share weekly with another "JBZ2!" your experience(s). (Rom 10:15, 12:10, 13)
___ Keep your physical eyes wide open to the Holy SPIRIT's engineering; the eyes of your heart sensitive to the Holy SPIRIT's leading; and your spiritual ears tuned in to His small, still voice. (Psalm 139:7-12)
___ TRUST and OBEY the Word of GOD. TRUST and DO the next thing. TRUST and WALK in the light. (Matt 19:14; Prov 3:5; Gal 5:16, 25; Psalm 37:3, 5, 34; Lamen 3:22-23, 25; James 1:22; Gen 22:16-18)
___ ACT! in order to receive our Father's multitude of blessings. (You must initiate that first step to dive in! The instant you decide to risk your all in to GOD's will for you, the Almighty Holy SPIRIT rushes in with all that He is to empower you for what GOD has called you to do. Feel the fear -- go for GOD anyway!) (Heb 11:8, 17, 29 30-34; Matt 9:20-22)

The key to continual and powerfully answered prayer(s) is your daily ongoing obedience to the Word of GOD, yielding to the leading of the Holy SPIRIT and surrendering your rights to your rights to CHRIST. Rather than just giving the Holy SPIRIT complete run of your "house," it's signing over to Him the deed to your "house" -- your bodyheart&soul. (Rom 12:1; James 4:17; John 15:7)
Work out what GOD has worked in (Phil 2:12) -- work out the fruit of the SPIRIT.(Gal 5:22)

MATERIALS NEEDED

Holy Bible, journal (or notebook), pen(s), colored markers or highlighters. Recommended reading: Prayer of Jabez (by Bruce Wilkinson).

HELPFUL DEFINITIONS

Jabez -- believed in the Almighty Holy GOD of Israel. He believed in His miracles, His power, His mercy because he inherited GOD's History, the Scriptures of the Jews. He was more honorable than his brothers (if you are a true believer and walking in CHRIST, you are already "more honorable"). He cried out in prayer -- he was fervent, genuine and sincere. GOD answered his prayer INDEED!

blessing --- the wonderful, unlimited goodness that only GOD has the power to know about or give to us (it's not a "bless you" after a sneeze!). To bless is to impart or ask for a supernatural favor that only GOD can do or give.

indeed -- "in Hebrew, it's like adding five exclamation points -- bless me!!!!!; or writing in all capital letters and underlining it -- BLESS ME." (from Bruce Wilkinson) As for us JBZ2! prayer warriors, we will ask GOD, our Father, to bless us indeed this way -- BLESS me!!!

territory -- wherever GOD has placed you physically (location) or spiritually (your influence or impact to those around you) to be His ambassadors in CHRIST JESUS.

"Jabez appointment" -- SPIRIT-engineered circumstance or meeting where GOD wants to use you, to work through you to bless someone, and then be blessed yourself in the process.

Holy SPIRIT -- GOD's almighty righteous right hand; the Helper, the Comforter, the Teacher promised by JESUS and given to you at the instant moment of baptism into the family of GOD by the Holy SPIRIT -- your sincere acceptance of JESUS as Savior, as LORD, as CHRIST of your bodyheart&soul.

indwelling -- the permanent residency of the Holy SPIRIT in your bodyheart&soul, where you are in the position to receive the supernatural power of GOD.

filling -- the actual empowerment from GOD Himself, through the indwelling Holy SPIRIT, to enable the CHRISTian to carry out GOD's purpose. This power is available to you when you allow the SPIRIT full reign over every part of your bodyheart&soul.

IF you partner with the Holy SPIRIT -- "Trust Him to save you from your sins and to drive them all out of your life. Trust Him to curb your temper, to subdue your (self-serving) will, to enlighten your understanding, to check your passions, to comfort your despondency, to help your weakness and to illuminate your darkness. Trust Him to dwell in you (richly) as your Life, to reign in you as your King, to sanctify you wholly -- spirit, soul and body -- and then to take you up to dwell with the saints in light forever. Trust Him whose power will never diminish, whose kindness will never change, whose faithfulness will never fail, whose wisdom will never be confused and whose perfect goodness can never know a decrease! By trusting, you may enjoy sweet peace now, and glory thereafter." (excerpt from "Evening by Evening" by C.H. Spurgeon) The TRUTH shall make you free INDEED!

All the above are yours when you walk with the Holy SPIRIT. He leads, you follow!

WHERE DO YOU STAND?

"For as he thinks in his heart, so is he." (Proverbs 23:7)___ Who/What is your god? Who/What do you worship? Who is sitting on the throne of your bodyheart&soul? (For everyone is obedient. One either obeys god or GOD. There is no middle ground, no grey in-between, no place for lukewarm affections.) (Matt 6:25, 7:13-14)
___ Do you believe in the one true GOD -- Creator of Heaven and earth, of everything seen and unseen, Maker of what was, what is, and what will be? (Gen 1:1; Ex 3:14; Heb 11:6)
___ Do you believe that this All-Powerful Holy GOD is your Father? (Acts 17:28)
___ If you believe that GOD is your Father in Heaven, and you are His child, do you obey Him today? Are you walking His talk? (Psalm 1:1; Deut 10:12-13; John 14:21, 8:29)
___ Do you believe that the only way you can claim to be a child of the All-Powerful GOD, is to become part of GOD's family through His Son, CHRIST JESUS? (John 8:23-24; 6:29; 14:6; 11:25; 10:7, 9; 8:12; 6:35, 41, 48, 51; 10:11, 14; 15:1-5)
___ Have you received CHRIST JESUS as your Savior? (John 3:36; Rom 10:9-11)
___ Do you believe that the Holy SPIRIT of this All-Powerful GOD was gifted to you at the instant moment you accepted Jesus as your CHRIST -- your Savior, your LORD -- and now, literally lives in your bodyheart&soul? (John 4:14, 3:5, 7:63, 14:16-17; Matt 3:11)
___ Are you a believer, sincere and genuine, a lover of Jesus, CHRIST-owned, SPIRIT-filled new creature, born again into GOD's family? (John 15:14, 17, 10:27; 4:24; Gal 5:22)

"...great is your faith! Let it be so as you desire." (Matthew 15:28)
"If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." (Mark 9:23)