EXPECTING GREAT THINGS OF GOD

I Chronicles 4:10

"Jabez prayed to the God of Israel:

"Oh bless me and increases my land! Let your hand be with me, keeping me from evil and ridding me of pain."

Introduction

Two more weekends and you'll be in the New Year!

I expect great things from God!

Grateful to have expected the great things of God (world and humanity has forgotten to expect great things).

With the misery ... people assimilated culture of doom. In a little TV show "Retrospective 2002" and the headline: "See what went bad in 2002."

Vision petty! Do not draw attention to the good news, the big things, but for what went bad. It is the culture of doom and morbidity (which is bad gives IBOPE.

If a person saves someone from drowning, this does not give audience. But if someone drowning, this gives). It is the "spirit of vulture", of misery, of little things that have dominated the lives of people who have no expectation of God.

How many are expecting good things for the New Year? Raise your hand ...

The text speaks of someone who expected great things from God - his name: Jabez. And God granted his request!

Chapter is part of the genealogies of the Old Testament - are texts tiring, even boring (huge list of names unknown - only in Chronicles are 500 of them!) It discouraged!

But amidst all, Jabez was more honorable than his family, says verse 9: "Jabez was the most respected man of his family." Another version: "more honorable than his brothers."

The mother gave the name "Jabez", because "a lot of pain I gave birth to." The meaning: "it causes pain." Whoever this name?

Instead of being bitter, change the name, Jabez turned to the Lord - he expected great things of God for your life.

V.10 says: "Jabez prayed to the God of Israel:" Oh bless me and increases my land!

Let your hand be with me, keeping me from evil and ridding me of pain. "

Many feel that prayer is to be freed from pain or a request that he would not cause pain to others.

The fact is that it was a big request made to God.

There are people who do not expect much from God and there are others who expect nothing ...

Is the kind that says, "Ah! If God Quise and give me a little tent where I hide, okay ... "If God is able to give a good house, worthy, why want a little tent?

You know, some people suffer from the syndrome Gabriela (remember the novel by Jorge Amado?): "I was born this way, so I grew up, I will always be so; Gabriela!" - This is typical of accommodated, the hopeless.

Someone once said: "There is very little difference between people - but that little difference makes ALL the difference." It's true: some expect great things from God, others expect little or nothing ...

I believe that Jabez was honorable because he asked God to help him live so straight that would not cause pain to others, I believe it was because he knew illustrious expect great things from God.

Beloved: Whatever its name, you can also be a person dreamy! Start today to expect great things from God. Ask Him to bless you!

Believe that God promises extraordinary things to those who seek Him in faith!

You expect great things from God? Is waiting for them now?

If you expect great things from God (some steps):

1) You Need Asking God's Blessing

The v.10 reveals Jabez saying this: "Oh, Lord, bless me."

Jabez must know a proverb that says, Proverbs 10:22: "The blessing of the Lord brings wealth [is that enriches], and does not include any pain." Hallelujah!

On a Wednesday in October, in the year 1999, a time of much prayer, the Holy Spirit spoke to me: "Nothing is small for God. Nothing of God is just. Nothing.

Bible says in everything give thanks, but I also know that God's blessing does not include pain. So there are some things I've learned: illness

is not of God, lack of money is not of God, discouragement is not from God, any pain comes from God to destroy us ... So if it is not of God I do not want, and therefore also pray, "Bless me, Lord!"

The Bible says exactly Jabez, a person who knew what pain: "[he] prayed to the God of Israel: Ah, bless me ...". Another version even says "If you bless me greatly" - there was just no!

Why do not you just get to take this step? ... Ask God's blessing on your life!

Use wisdom, consider and take a decision: the blessing of God enriches - God does not take the person, he does not regret ...

Tonight Say: "Lord God, bless me!" All men, say it now, say, "Lord God, bless me." Now women ...

If you expect great things of God (other action is ...):

2) You Need To desire one Abundant Life

V.10b: "And raise my land." Another version: "And alargues my boundaries."

Jabez had vision for growth - wanted to expand its borders ...

You need this vision: you want a better life, be a better person, to have a more productive life, abundant!

Jesus once said that this is what glorifies God, John 15:8, "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit"!

To bear much fruit, you need to choose a life of growth.

This week, I heard of a meeting of pastors who were praying for their ministry. Some prayed: "Lord, make Thy work prosper; raises your people

to conquer the city! "But there was one who prayed:" Lord God, grant that my church has 4 people ... ".

It mediocre life of the person who does not want to grow in life, she sleeps and gets sick - people who accommodate, could well be dubbed BARROW? Why ... are people who need to be pushed forward practical!

Beloved: Have a vision for growth! Once a man ... came believer all vain the pastor and said, "I am 23 years of Christian life." The pastor immediately corrected, "No, no! Brother has 1 year of believer. The rest is repetition. " How are ... well: no sign of improvement, growth ... are always the same people years ago ...

But when the person is well, healthy, she is not accommodated, it grows. The thesis of Rick Warren, who systematized A Purpose Driven Church, is precisely this:

"Where there is (only not growing those who are not healthy).

For Jabez was spiritually healthy: wanted to be greatly blessed, heart beat by the blessing of God, wanted to break boundaries (having increased their land) ...

If you want to expect great things of God, begin today to want an abundant life too. DREAM DREAMS OF GOD! MAKE PLANS ...!

If you want to be a better employee, needs to develop as an employee. If you want to be a better leader, needs to develop as a leader. If you want to have children best, you must become a better parent ... Finally, the only way you grow is choosing to be a healthy person.

You become healthier by getting rid of everything that hinders health: addictions, bad habits such as overeating, oversleeping ... and begins to do things

certain: exercise, good nutrition ... (Spiritually is like that: you must leave sin: lying, envy, anger, unbelief, self-indulgence ... and do the right things: obey God, to love God and neighbor ...

Becoming a healthy person, you will have dreams, vision for growth, will be humorous, is excited to work and say, "Lord, extends my boundaries, increases my land!"

But what should be your motivation to ask this prosperity to God? It's for you or bless others?

Your motivation must be the motivation of Jabez: The idea here is to get to share!

The more abundant your life is the more you can help others. God likes it, and so, the Bible says "And God answered the prayer of Jabez."

If you expect great things of God (other action):

3) Wish You Need God's Power

V.10, Jabez prayed: "[Lord] Let thy hand be with me."

The hand of God is powerful! The heavens are the works of God's hand, says the Psalm 102.25: "The heavens are the work of thy hands." We are also the handiwork of God, we can say with Job, "Were your hands shaped me and made me" - have the fingerprints of God!

The mighty hand of God was manifested when the people of Israel was miraculously delivered from slavery in Egypt - they all said: "the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with miracles! "... was recognition of the power of God!

Another text very impressive on the mighty hand of God, 1 Kings 18:46: "And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah, and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel."

The NIV has replaced the term "hand" for "power" and not a mistake: "The power of the Lord came upon Elijah ..." and the result: "ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel."

It was a powerful race: Ahab went to Jezreel car (v.45), and Elijah, who was on the hand of God, holding the garment at the waist, ran, reached Ahab Ahab exceeded the car and got in front of him! Oh! Glory!

That's what Jabez asked God, "Lord, that your hand be with me," your power over me!

When you have the power of God, you are able to do supernatural things.

You also need to want the power of God.

If you do not want and seek the power of God for your life ... you will be left behind.

If you expect great things from God (Providence):

4. Spiritual Coverage You Need

Jabez prayed (V.10d): "keeping me from evil and ridding me of pain."

The whole time we are subject to many evils and many pain (Jesus himself taught to pray, "Deliver us from evil").

This is because the devil is the destroyer, he is the author of evil.

This order confirms the existence of Jabez malignant devil (indeed we can not deny - that the cloister in order to escape, cheat, and those who seek perfection extinguishing their carnal desires, can not.).

Evil originated in Devil; however, he always seek housing in the lives of human beings. Nobody escapes being attacked with aches and pains!

When you pray, "keeping me from evil and ridding me of pain" or "deliver us from evil," we're talking about, first, the evil that comes out.

Sometimes loved ones are instruments in the hands of the devil to try: an invitation to try this or that, with talk that is not a sin, everyone does and will not hurt anyone! - ... A young man convinces his fiancee that the love that unites allows the realization of all your desires! Are wiles of the devil to cause aches and pains!

The prayer "deliver us from evil" or "keep me from evil ..." also refers to evil: jealousy, pride, selfishness, envy, lying, stealing, unworthy thoughts ...

Jesus said (Matthew 15:19): "Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies." The prophet Jeremiah said: "The heart is deceitful, more than all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?". Our hearts, unfortunately, is the source of many ills and pains!

But God is the only one capable of PROTECTIVE COVER U.S. and rid ourselves completely evil. Amen?

I'll tell you something biblical: Through Moses, God said that every family in Israel kill a lamb and put its blood on the doorposts of their homes - Moses said to the people: "When you pass through the land the Lord to smite the Egyptians He will see the blood on the lintel and doorposts. By then, the Lord will pass through this door. He will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to kill your firstborn. "

Satan is the destroyer - since the fall of man into sin until the resurrection of Jesus, the power of death was in the hands of the devil.

But that night of Passover in Egypt, God illustrated His plan ...

When Satan, in the shadows of the night, would design a darkness mortal on earth, God's presence was leading the work of the destroyer. When God saw the blood on the doorposts of each house of Israel, He, God Himself "went over the door," protecting its residents - the presence of God each covered family home Hallelujah!

The Psalmist expressed this better than anyone, centuries later, Psalm 91: "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High, in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my God, my refuge and my fortress, and I trust ... he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings you shall take refuge ... Not fear terror by night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor the plague ... A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand, but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt and shalt see the reward of the wicked. "

On that dark night of death, protection against the destroyer was the blood (of lamb - spread on the doorposts cross). What a vivid picture of the coverage of salvation we have in Jesus!

Jesus is the Lamb of God for us, his cross becomes our gateway to life - the blood of Christ is in it, providing us with safe cover the destroyer!

Jabez recognized this and asked God: "Lord, keep me from evil, and deliver me from the pain" - he was asking God to cover.

Beloved, we have from God all the protection we need against all the forces of evil - the devil's power over our lives was broken on Calvary.

Now, in Christ Jesus, we have the cover of God coverage about our lives, about our homes, our families ... Hallelujah!

So if you want to enjoy the great things of God, ask God's protection because the devil is the destroyer and he wants to take you down!

Conclusion:

Taken these steps, IN FAITH, expect great things from God!

God will honor your faith! "And Jabez was the most respected man of his family." Another: "Jabez was more honorable than his brothers."

Begin to expect great things of God from today ...

Seeking Blessing of the Lord;

Wishing abundant life;

Seeking the Power of the Lord;

Seeking Coverage God.