Comfort is the enemy of advancement
1 Chronicles 4:1-10 NKJV
The Family of Judah
1 The sons of Judah were Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal.
2 And Reaiah the son of Shobal begot Jahath, and Jahath begot Ahumai and Lahad. These were the families of the Zorathites.
3 These were the sons of the father of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash; and the name of their sister wasHazelelponi;
4 and Penuel was the father of Gedor, and Ezer was the father of Hushah.
These were the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah the father of Bethlehem.
5 And Ashhur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah.
6 Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah.
7 The sons of Helah were Zereth, Zohar, and Ethnan;
8 and Koz begot Anub, Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel the son of Harum.
9 Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.”
10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my [d]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.
* V9-10 Easy to read version
9 Jabez was a very good man, who was better than his brothers. His mother said, “I have named him Jabez[b] because I was in much pain when I had him.”10 Jabez prayed to the God of Israel and said, “I pray that you would bless me and give me more land! Be near me and don’t let anyone hurt me! Then I will not have any pain.” God gave Jabez what he asked for.
* Amplified Version
9 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; but his mother named him Jabez, saying, “Because I gave birth to him in pain.” 10 Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that You would indeed bless me and enlarge my border [property], and that Your hand would be with me, and You would keep me from evil so that it does not hurt me!” And God granted his request.
Beloved people of God redeemed with the precious Blood of Jesus, I want you today to understand that you cannot advance in life when you’re comfortable.
Comfortability is the enemy of change or advancement.
1 Thessalonians 5:3-6 NKJV
It says:
3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
NLT
3 When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.
4 But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief.[a] 5 For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. 6 So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.
God will not force you to enter the promised land neither will He force you to think differently without YOU WILLING TO CHANGE…
Remember: What God has for you is AHEAD OF YOU not behind you…
So living comfortably in your state without angrily wanting a change and pushing for it within you will not happen.
The Bible says that Jabez was a good man, a honourable man.
That was good and honourable BUT he had limitation placed on him because of his name..
Today every limitation against your progress is removed in Jesus name.
Jabez means son of pain. His mother bore him in pain. Jabez did not blame his mother or his circumstances
One day Jabez suddenly woke up to realise that yes I am a honourable man in the society but I have to move on from being just honourable.
Honourable among wretched people. Honourable among those who are not better off.
There’s more to life than being honourable.
Jabez realised that There is a dimension of blessing he couldn’t access because of the limitation through his name. His name means Pain…
Today in the name of Jesus I stand on the word of God and remove every limitation placed on your advancement in life.
By the authority of the scripture that says Jesus came to set the captives free and he that is free is free in deed
John 8:30-36 NKJV
30 As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.
The Truth Shall Make You Free
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”
34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed
So honourable Mr Pain. Jabez cried out to God
1st Prayer:
1: Oh that you bless me indeed.. let my blessing be outstanding.
HOTRIC may your blessings this season be outstanding in the name of Jesus.
May it be different from what men know to be a blessing.. the word indeed means IN FACT, EMPHATICALLY IT IS TRUE… In other words Oh may God give you the blessing that is sincerely true of His character, His nature. Blessing without sorrow.. Blessing that becomes a blessing to the community of.
The word of God says in Proverbs 10:22 the blessing of the Lord that makes one rich and He adds no sorrow to it.
In this month of Advancement, may you INDEED be blessed to be a blessing..
There is a blessing and a blessing.
There is a blessing of much more..
Ephesians 3:20 NKJV
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
2nd Prayer:
A man when he was born was named means pain. Surely he knows what he wanted God to do for him. Jabez understood the importance of land ownership at a time when reknown men are building cities. Even Sheera the granddaughter of Ephraim whose father’s name was Beriah meaning “tragedy had come upon his house” why because his sons were killed for taking away the cattle of the men of Gath. 1 Chronicles 7:20-22, then Beriah’s daughter Sheera rose to take away the reproach of the name of his father by building 3 cities. You will read this in 1 Chronicles 7:24
Prayer: May God bless you to remove the shame and the reproach of your father’s house.
you pray you know what you want to make you stand out among the rest. So Jabez pray to God to enlarge my border [property], or give me more land.. our God is God of Advancement… progress.
May God enlarge your border and grant you influence that’s beyond your local community.
3rd Prayer
and that Your hand would be with me.
Jesus said I will never leave you nor forsake you. The hand of God is on us to favour us for speed like Elijha in 1 Kings 18:46
“then the hand of the Lord came upon Elijha, he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
May the same hand of God rest upon you to bring you to the place you’re supposed to be. May the hand of God grant you speed to achieve the impossible task this season and always.
4th Prayer:
You would keep me from evil so that it does not hurt me!”
Jabez understood that prosperity provoke wickedness, jealousy, betrayal, hatred.
There are people who will never mind you when you are poor and miserable. They prefer you as their friends to be begging them to receive small token. It’s like the crab basket. Everyone is in the dark wallowing in self pity BUT one day a crab saw a light and suddenly crawl to that light and suddenly other crabs began to pull him down from coming out of the basket. Instead of following him to the light.
I declare today, evil shall not hurt you.
Isaiah 54:17 declares:
No weapon formed against you shall prosper. Any tongue that rise against you shall be condemned. It is your heritage as God’s servants and your righteousness is of Him.
And God granted his request.
May God grant you your request in the name of Jesus