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August 23, 2022 6:00 am
Pastor Rick has a topical message (1st Chronicles 4:9-10)
One of the first place is a code for life shows up the 10 Commandments is developed throughout the Scripture Mica says he's shown you'll make what is good and what the Lord requires of you, but did you do justly and to love mercy and to walk calmly with your God. Then Jesus condenses the matter into this statement, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, strength.
This is the Christian life. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Genesis. Please stay with us after today's message more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, but for now let's join Pastor Rick in the book of first Chronicles chapter 4. As he begins his message.
A man named Jabez every bios.
Let's turn to first Chronicles chapter 4 text are verses nine and 10 beginning in verse nine it says now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers and his mother called his name Jabez saying because I bore him in pain. Jabez called 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 in Matthew 22 Jesus said you are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. In Luke we read, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you, but tarry in Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high. In acts chapter 1 we read, but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You shall be witnesses to me in Romans one we read, for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes in first Corinthians chapter 2 we read my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God in second Timothy we read, for God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, of love, sound mind and second Corinthians we read and he said to me, my grace is sufficient for you, my strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. And then in Luke chapter 18, Luke writes this about Jesus preaching on prayer. Then he spoke a parable to them that men ought always pray and not lose heart.
Very striking versus on the Christian life. It offers something that is not found anywhere else. It offers a friendship and occur in a community or a communion with with Jesus Christ was God Almighty, the son, God the son. It offers results in the life to come in this life right here right now but it certainly isn't that simple does not need to be made complex either. I think this ministry of believers. This body, this particular assembly. I think that possibly the Jules that were bright at one time are not as vibrant in our crown. Presently not a rebuke, not at all. This is part of life. The routines the ebbs and flows, but also part of life is our response to the routines to the ebbs and flows.
What are we going to do about the things that God brings our way or allows our way, whether they're good or bad, how my going to respond to this. Will I be noble.
Would it be honorable or will it be shameful would be neglect what what will I offer in return yesterday Sean and I had gone to Virginia Beach. There Calvary Chapel Virginia Beach had a men's conference and we were invited and so we went and on the way back we were talking about all sorts of things and one of the questions was asked to this effect. What oh what do I see happening with the body right now, what's going on with the church. Is there a coup in the making. Is there a great explosion of the Holy Spirit is there grumbling in the ranks of what's going on of the question wasn't put like that. I don't recall the exact word, but that's how I received it and I like to respond to that because when I had gone up to do the conference I had to do three sessions in one day assignment preaching God is going to love the guy I had planned to use the last message for this morning's message but I wasn't sure so I went home and I tried to see if the Lord wanted me to say something else that didn't work so I returned to where it I first contended to be and that is with this prayer of Jabez.
It has been refitted for a congregation of men and women and young adults, but I think very appropriate and so when I think about the question the state of this body and as I was working in this. I felt the Lord begin to very clearly direct me and in this way that we as a body of believers need fresh power in prayer is not entirely missing. If I have been successful at all.
As a pastor, it's because the people that I've been allowed to pastor. They pray for me. But as the body goes, you can do better. We can do more. There's more power to be had. We have bigger guns to fire and we won't if we neglect lessons such as this at a time such as this, they need not only our attention but our eager attention is a big difference a big difference. Something to not it's something you've given it attention.
It is something it is something else to not with an eagerness to stand up to welcome it to go forward with it and I have hoped and hoped and will hope for my own life in service, that the indisputable presence of God in the favor of God is on my life, no matter what's going on even when troubles come week, we tend to think when I got this big problems of God's favors not only in that's not. That is certainly not always the case. Born again believers very often is not the case at all is not the case with Job. For example, I will also hold for the frequent unmistakable encounters with God daily in my life every day I look for an encounter with God throughout the day, not just once, I don't always get it, but I always look forward and I often do receive it.
I have hoped for and still hope to have the power, the soundness and the love of God traveling through my life like a mighty river. Not not a tributary but like a mighty river. This is what I want. I think this is what every born-again spirit filled Christian wants.
It is the very thing that your flesh in my flesh and the devil in the world work against and try to keep from happening. Going back to our text, which I think will bring all of this out or at least much of it is a seemingly random verse. This is a desert of names of people we don't know we can't even pronounce their names and all of a sudden we stumbled upon this one verse. In the midst of them all is a prayer out as outstanding today as it was when it was spoken. Someone took notice of these words in this man's life and then they took the time to have others notice this man's words in his life and God's response to this man's words, which is very critical for me because whenever we consider characters in the Bible. We are looking at God's response to that individual and not so much the individual we identify with the individual. We understand them.
We understand the circumstances surrounding them, but it is God who we want we want to see how God responds to the drama that is before us in the pages of Scripture is interesting that there is in this record of this man's prayer and God's answer no indication that he prayed for hours and yet undeniably indisputably, it was a fervent prayer and it accomplish much. We read about that at the end of the prayer which will return to what in the first verse. Well actually the ninth verse of the first verse of our text it says now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His name means he will cause pain today you use the name Jabez and it's just that Jabez it's just a name and nothing more. But in his day when he had to answer to this name when people knew him by this name. It meant sorrow. It meant something and it was not good.
He didn't ask for this name.
His mother gave it to him at birth. He was cheated for life for life.
He was cheated due to an unfair name in a society where they valued the meaning of a person's name. I hope we learn from this man that it is in our best interest. As Christians, to overcome unfairness. What we often do when something unfair has happened to us as we question God, why did you allow it.
How come you length stopping this thing. I thought you loved me. I thought you died for me. I thought you looking to fill me with the Holy Spirit, God response to all of those as I do love you. I did die for you and I have and will fill you with the Holy Spirit.
But I need you to serve as a servant.
When Christian stop serving as servants the jewels in the crown grow dim when Christians are sidetracked when it's there when there is a me first way of life, which can happen so subtly that you don't even notice it when these things begin to happen. The light dims the charm is reduced and powers gradually taken away to be born with such a name sorrow here comes Mr. sorrowful that's the idea behind what he had to live with and work with his story starts out with a finale. The end is given to us right up right at the beginning of what he left behind in this world being born such a name.
The Bible tells us it was an honorable testimony again forged out of a congenital disadvantage from birth from birth. He was disadvantage and yet he did not let that stop him when I use the word forage I have in mind a picture of a man swinging a hammer with heat there's heat. There is power there is energy there was work. That's what it is in the Christian life for him to have this title in the end from God. God rename this man through his testimony, he said. It says in verse nine now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers came through hard work came through heat and effort and skill which is developed along the way. These things are the very things that defeat the causes of hell. These are the things these are principles. These are principles that govern our lives, our speech, our behavior. It is a code of life. It is a way to live.
We Christians, we have a code in life.
One of the first places a code for life shows up the 10 Commandments. It is developed throughout the Scripture Mica says he's shown you'll man what is good and what the Lord requires of you, but did you do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Then Jesus condenses the matter into this statement, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, strength. This is the Christian life how it should be, but it is also significant that in this section of Scripture. His brothers are not named in a book where names are important when the book will we have to swim through all these names.
The brothers of Jabez. Their names are not recorded next to his. That alone is a statement from God. It is an encouragement of God for us to be separate this into the blessing that was given to the tribe of Joseph from Moses. This would include the Joseph's sons. That became the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim, and he says with the precious things of the earth and its fullness in the favor of him who dwelt in the bush. That means God when Moses was on the mount Horeb and there from the from the burning bush, God spoke to him is referencing this poetically and he says let the blessing come on the head of Joseph and on the crown of the head of him who was separate from his brothers. How would you like to be the recipient of such a blessing for God to single you out and say you are separate from your brothers and as such a special blessing is upon you.
You're not like everyone else. The touch of God is on you. I think one of the things we learn from this is that to achieve an honorable name is to be separate from such brothers brothers in the in the spirit.
I'm not talking about those types of brothers. I'm talking about those who you are closely related to who do not have an honorable name. That is why the distinction is made.
This may cause unpleasantness to many who don't understand. Luke chapter 2 we read then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, behold, this child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against, yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. The scope of this prophecy is so far-reaching that it is ongoing. It is still the case, there is much confusion about Jesus Christ. This confusion of certainly in unbelievers, but even amongst the believers. There is much confusion about why he does what he does and how he does what he does and how long it takes him to do or to not do this being separate from brothers and others will cause discomfort for many who cannot recognize God's handiwork.
Those who are ignorant to the work of God. Romans chapter 12 if your enemy is hungry, feed him if he is thirsty, give him a drink for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head. This speaks of the sting of conviction from the righteous. The sting of the conviction from the rice righteous is a new sense to the life of those who are not right with God is a nuisance to their conscience because their guilty even if their guilt is simply immaturity is convicting. That is the idea behind you and I being the salt of the earth.
The light of the world. Sampson was supposed to be an incarnate conscience, and he simply became a menace. He is not the man to follow in Scripture, though he was blessed when it was all said and done, and he shows up in Hebrews chapter 11 is one of the heroes of the faith. There are things about his life that are recorded for our benefit for us to avoid their grades and their profound in their scope.
So we see from these things. That honor is not an entitlement. It is an achievement, you are not entitled to have a good testimony simply because you named Jesus as your Lord. That is not enough. There's too much going on.
The stakes are too high. God requires more from his people and that is effort that his work in the power of the Holy Spirit and in no other way can it be done and that's why I started off this message this morning. Speaking from the Scriptures versus on power how important it is and the idea behind it all is that there is no power available to the Christian worth preserving in a sea of names.
If there is no contact with God on a regular basis plugged into the Lord. No matter what defeat is not a cause to stop praying.
Being unhappy with your life. Being depressed being cheated, being the victim of that which is unfair. These are not really reasons to sever communion with the throne in heaven reasons to show up in front of honor is not an entitlement when honor is shown to those who don't deserve it. We are irritated were disturbed were bothered by that Jesus himself spoke about this thing that belongs to life.
This principle of honor, even he subjected himself to this. It says in John chapter 8 Jesus answered, if I honor myself, my honor is nothing. It is my father who honors me honors a something we take to our self is something that others recognize because it becomes the beacon.
It flashes out, it radiates the jewels in the crown, they radiate the crown is given to us by the Lord in the power of service under the Holy Spirit. And yet, we have to ask ourselves does jewelry need to be polished.
Does it need attention now about his mother says his mother in verse eight, called his name Jabez saying because I bore him in pain.
What was she thinking she was not thinking of us is closer to the idea. Others fell under the same shadow of a mother's misdirected lashing out at life in Scripture mothers your position is such a high honorable position honorable position. But again, you're not entitled to honor as a mother simply because you had a child. There's more to being there's more to motherhood than simply giving birth. There is the need to give Christ there's a need to give instruction in care. These things are essential then not ancillary. They're not on the side and not something that just helps along they are critical features Benjamin, one of the sons of Jacob when he was born Rachel named him then on I son of my sorrow, son of my pain. Fortunately Jacob was there to reverse that decision and said no his name shall not be bent on I but it should be Benjamin son of my right hand, he exalted the child he reached in and he helped out mom and a time of great pain and sorrow. Ichabod was named in glorious because he happened to be born of the time when the people who were supposed to be God's people had brought much shame on themselves, but there was no one there. We read in Scripture to help Ichabod to the Stockton name to put on this innocent lad. It was no one there to help Jabez when he was born and say no don't name him man of sorrow, name him something else.
Anything else but that in spite of all this, we don't read of Ichabod again, but we do read of Jabez and we read that he did not allow himself to be tripped up by that which was unchangeable, something he had no power over hats of the contrast is before us. You can be dealt a rotten hand in life, like Ichabod and Jabez you can live in such a way that does nothing more said about like Ichabod or you can live as as Jabez did, and you can have an honorable name amongst your brothers. You can pray to God with fervency and effectiveness because God grants you the very things you ask for and now verse nine is says and Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying Willis will just pause there.
Jabez called on the God of Israel. This is the master key to life when the apostle Paul was converted from sure destruction, destruction of his own soul.
Destruction of the lives of others. This is what we read about that moment Paul telling the story of what it was told to him by another disciple when that disciple went to him and baptized him in and said God is God's great plan for your life is says, and now why are you waiting arise, be baptized, and wash away your sin, calling on the name of the Lord good studies to find out the phrase or the callings on the name of of God or the Lord just in the book of Genesis and see how many times it's attached to Abraham and how when he called on the name of the Lord.
He also built an offer of an altar and offered sacrifices to God and then he continues in his prayer. Oh that you would bless me indeed. He wanted the favorable touch of God upon him. Upon his life. This, again, this is the kingpin of the prayer. All else that follows is the detail, but this is what is really all about that you would bless me indeed. Luke's gospel in chapter 2 records this about Jesus Christ and Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man. You see God's blessing was on the Lord Jesus Christ. Certainly in a greater way than anyone because God's blessings on Jesus Christ was a signal to mankind that this one is the Christ who you've been listening to cross reference radio daily radio ministry of Pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel in Mechanicsville, Virginia. Pastor Rick is teaching from God's Word each time you tune as we mentioned at the beginning of today's broadcast. This teaching is available free of charge at our website.
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