August 13, 2006

Forgotten Lives - Jabez

What is Prayer?

1 Chronicles 4:9-10

Opening Words: There are sixty-six books in the Bible, thirty-nine in the Old Testament. The New Testament is dominated by Jesus, himself, our Lord and Savior. The Old Testament consists of a variety of lives. Each one played a small part in God’s plan for the salvation of the world. Most of those lives are forgotten. So what I have been doing this summer is looking at some of those forgotten lives. It is for this reason that I have called this sermon series Forgotten Lives. This weekend we look at Jabez.

I would challenge you this afternoon to read the first nine chapters of First Chronicles. It is not really fascinating reading. The first nine chapters of First Chronicles are nothing more than a genealogy. Like working through a pioneer cemetery the names mean nothing to us. The memories of their lives are forgotten. The only thing that interrupts that pattern of life and death is found in chapter four, verses nine and ten. It is in these two verses that we find the name Jabez. His name means pain and it describes the world in which he lived. His one verse prayer of prosperity grabbed national attention several years ago in David Wilkinson’s book, The Prayer of Jabez. It grabs our attention today. With this little piece of understanding let us here today’s scripture lesson. Let me call this message What is Prayer?

Introduction

In its early days, Dallas Theological Seminary was in critical need of $10,000 to keep the work going. During a prayer meeting, renowned Bible teacher Harry Ironside, a lecturer at the school, prayed, "Lord, you own the cattle on a thousand hills. Please sell some of those cattle to help us meet this need." Shortly after the prayer meeting, a check for $10,000 arrived at the school, sent days earlier by a friend who had no idea of the urgent need or of Ironside's prayer. The man simply said the money came from the sale of some of his cattle!

What is your experience with prayer? Have you ever prayed for something with your enter heart and had that prayer answered? It may have been a financial problem. It may have been a health problem. You may have prayed about a broken relationship or someone’s salvation? Has anyone here every prayed for a date or a baby? Have you ever prayed for something with your entire heart and had that prayer answered? Have you ever prayed for something with your entire heart and it wasn’t answered to your satisfaction? One of the great privileges I have in the ministry is praying with people at this moment of need. Prayer is a privilege but prayer is also a mystery.

Body

My goal today is to help you unravel the mystery of prayer. There is nothing simple about prayer. Prayer is not a simple formula to get a quick fix to life's problems. Prayer is complex. To unlock the mysteries of prayer for you I am going to ask you three questions. These three questions are at the very heart of prayer. It is my hope that in the end your prayer life will be more powerful and authentic. So if you are ready for my three questions about prayer say, “Amen!” I am going to use Jabez’s prayer to illustrate the divine truth found in the answer to these prayers.

What is prayer?

The first question is what is prayer? I can not tell you how many people I talk to in a single week. I talked to many during Vacation Bible School. I talked to people during the church picnic. I talk to many on the phone and standing in the church building. The pavilion is a great place to meet and talk on a warm summer evening. I talk to many people and they tell me their problems and concerns. They say to me, “Russ, will you pray for me?” But let me say this clearly and gently. Prayer is not to get what you want. Prayer is not to inform God or change God’s mind. The purpose is to get to know God. When you pray you are not just talking to another person. You are talking to the God of the universe.

Tony Campolo is Baptist evangelist from Philadelphia. One day when he came out of church a woman stopped him. She said, “Did you know you made three grammatical errors in your prayer this morning?” Dr. Campolo responded, That’s O.K., ma’am, I wasn’t talking to you anyway.” The purpose of prayer is to get to know God. How well do you really know God? If you think you could get to know God a little better say, “Amen!”

Is it appropriate to ask God for the desires of our hearts?

This is the second question. Is it appropriate to ask God for the desires of our hearts? The prayer of Jabez says, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I may be free from pain.” This prayer is not a magic formula to make you rich or get a better job. However, it is a prayer that illustrates the points that we can be honest with God. Jabez was honest with God. That was what he wanted. That was his greatest dream for his life. What is your greatest dream for your life? You have the license to share that dream with God.

Peter the Great led Russia out of isolation. He introduced the Russian people to Europe. He grew to be a rich and powerful man. In his court he was a philosopher of outstanding ability but had little money. He asked Alexander for financial help and was told to draw whatever he needed from the imperial treasury. But when the man requested an amount equal to $50,000, he was refused--the treasurer needing to verify that such a large sum was authorized. When he asked Peter, the ruler replied, "Pay the money at once. The philosopher has done me a singular honor. By the largeness of his request he shows that he has understood both my wealth and generosity."

Perhaps, one of the reasons people have a hard time in their prayer lives is they have made God too small. We need to believe in a great big God, who is generous with his blessings. Jabez asked for riches and he received it. What is the desire of your heart? Bruce Larson says there are four answers when you prayer to God. There is yes, no, later and are you kidding? The answer to every question is no until it is asked. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

What is answered prayer?

The final question is what is answered prayer? The answer to that question is not always getting what you want. Answered prayer is being aliened with God's will. The great missionary E. Stanley Jones once said, “Prayer is surrender-surrender to the will of God and cooperation with that will.” Our prayers are answered when we experience God and begin to see the big picture.

I will always remember Jean as a big hearted person. She was a foster mother to many children who needed love. She was a teacher in the Youngstown City Schools, who had a passion for her students. However, I will always remember Jean as my sister’s friend. As a young girl she was always at our house. At a certain level she was part of the family. It was about 1970 when Jean shocked our family with an unwanted pregnancy. From that moment on bad luck became her best friend. If it could happen to you it happened to Jean. It pains me to say this. Several years ago, Jean was diagnosed with cancer. My sister called me and asked me to prayer for her life long friend. Many people were praying for Jean. We kept praying for Jean until she died. Even though Jean wasn’t my friend I felt the loss. She is buried near Warren. Some would say that God didn’t answer our prayers.

It has been some time since Jean died. It is only now that I can say that our prayers were answered. Many experienced God through her illness. We all changed because of the death of a big hearted person. Because of those prayers we experienced intimacy with friends from years ago. Because of those prayers we experienced the power of the church. Jean was not a church going person but the church reached out to her. Because of those prayers we learned to appreciate every healthy day of life. Because of those prayers we learned to appreciate the people in our lives. Because of those prayers we experienced God. When Jean died I felt like our prayers went unanswered. I was wrong! It is only now that I can say that our prayers were answered because we experienced God and the church! Answered prayer is not always getting what you want. Answered prayer is experiencing God. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

Conclusion

Sir George Adam Smith tells how he and his guide were climbing the Weisshorn in the Swiss Alps. It was stormy and they were making their climb on the sheltered side of the peak. When they reached the summit, they were filled with the exhilaration. Sir George forgot about the fierce winds, leaped up and was nearly blown over the edge to the glacier below! The guide grabbed hold of him and exclaimed: "On your knees, sir. You are safe here only on your knees!" Maybe that is the story of our time. Alfred Lloyd Tennyson said, “Nearer than hands and feet, even than breath, that is how near God is to us when we pray.

What is prayer to you?