Have you ever had a "title" which defined you as something you did not want to be?
Maybe someone called you "stupid", "airhead", "ugly", or "good for nothing". Words have power, and if you believed the words spoken over you then it can affect your life.
1 Chronicles 4:10 gives an insight of a man who was given a name which meant "to grieve or be sorrowful". He was defined by this name, and it meant he would not amount to much and/or would cause others pain. This defined him as one who could not be trusted or given responsibility. The root word for his name can even be translated as "wicked" and "idol", for idolatry was wicked in God's sight. It also meant mental and physical pain. His name was the opposite of a blessing! My goodness, his mother must have had a hard time in childbirth in order to give him that name!
But Jabez did not settle to live a life with that name and its meaning. He went to God to change it. (And we can do the same!) "And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, "Oh that thou wouldest richly bless me, and enlarge my border, and that thy hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me!" And God brought about what he had requested."
Not only did Jabez not want to cause grief or be a bad risk, he wanted God to keep him
from evil and grief and make his life a blessing! He wanted to be trusted and given greater territory as God kept His hand on him. The scripture says God "brought about" what Jabez requested. It doesn't just say that God granted what he asked, but that He brought it about! Oh, I like that!
In Hebrew, each letter has a word concept. The three Hebrew letters in the name
"Jabez' represent revelation, house and desire. Jabez needed a revelation from God of who he really was, not only in his home but also in his desires. He could have agreed with what was said about him and followed evil desires of defeat. But, instead he went to the God who created him. He went to the One who is the Father of Lights and had good plans for him, (Jer 29:11). There is no darkness Him.
As we enter the Hebrew month of Elul this week, recognize that it is a month to be courageous. It is a month to evaluate your life, repent of where you have gotten off track and choose to realign with what God has in mind for you! His plans are good, and He has called you to trust Him in this time of transition! Elul is the eleventh month as we end the Hebrew year of 5777. It is a time to prepare and get ready for the new year filled with new beginnings! Be like Jabez and make inventory. Go before God and ask for His best. Cancel what evil may have been spoken over you and choose to believe the "good report" and how God sees things! (Begin praying the prayer of Jabez above and believe for blessings!) Discover who you really are like he did!
Join us on Tuesdays at Anna's Gate! Bring your group and be in our filming audience. This week we have a special guest from Israel who is an artist and amazing teacher. Peggy Powers will be on the harp leading worship and the Heavens will be open! (We will not be filming this teaching but Peggy's harp music is available on our website to open the Heavens in your home!) The more time we spend in His presence, the more we will discover how He sees us!
We would like to INVITE you to bring widows and prayer warriors from your church to Anna's Gate to be in our filming audience on Tuesdays! We air on four local networks as well as globally, via Internet. Call our office (865-803-5445) with your reservation and how many you would like to bring.
We would also like to invite you to send us a brief testimony
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