Speak Less, Say More

Tags

bible, Kingdom, love, power, Truth, Voice, Word of God

One of the greatest challenges people on earth face is the reality that there are a lot of people talking, but very few people actually saying anything. Pop singers have #1 hit songs with lyrics like, Watch Me, Shake It Off or Baby Baby, just to name a few and we spend millions of dollars on their albums, to tell us what, nothing. I was a teenager once before and we had some songs like this as well, where they were just to dance to, not to have some deep meaning in them, but it is not just in pop music. Worship songs are no better, we have gone from deeply theological hymns like Lift High the Cross, How Great Thou Art and To God Be The Glory to one chorus songs repeated over and over again, of which I love by the way. The challenge is we are not saying anything of substance or significance and we wonder why the wind blows or the snow falls and people are screaming it’s the judgment of God, the world is ending, or Jesus is coming back, tomorrow.

One of the greatest gifts the Bible gives us, is that it is filled with substance. It is riddled with the history of how a personal God walked and worked with people. How He took a no name group of people and made them into the most powerful nation on the earth. It is about how to live in community, how to be a family, how to work, play, teach and train. It is full of wisdom, romance, grace, consequences, choices and colorful characters. The Bible is rich in history, deep in understanding, full of mystery and glorious in expression. It tells of men, women and children, it includes the young and old, it is a book for the slave and the free, the lost and the found. People like Henry Ford found wisdom in it to invent the automobile and George Washington quoted it when he was establishing a brand new nation.

People have tried to burn the bible, kill the ones who printed the bible, destroy the followers of the bible, and to this day mock the ones who believe the bible, but it is not moved. It is an ancient text that is unshakable, unbreakable and unstoppable in its ability to inflict change. It is full of substance, secrets, mysteries, over and covert ways of doing life and it is a love letter, a manual, a blueprint for success. No wonder people wanted to take prayer out of school, change the definition of marriage, and ban Christian t-shirts, because the word of God is powerful, no matter what format it is presented in.

Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” – Jesus

In a system that is seeking to dumb you down, so they can feel like they have control over you. There is one book that will lift you up, correct you up and build you up from the inside out and that is the word of God. If you want to be inside strong, you must know the word of God, not memorize it, so you can quote it or slap somebody with the truth you know, but so you can learn to be a lover of God and a lover of people. The word of God transforms you from the inside out. The world is going to shake, challenges will arise, but if you are established in the word of God, you will be immovable, unshakable and undeniably able to speak less, but say more. And we need some people who have something to say, not just people who talk about a whole lot of nothing. So think deep, pray wide, sing loud, worship hard and watch God dig a well in your life that produces the oil of joy, the rivers of the life and the power of an indestructible life.

Religion and Politics

Tags

American Politics, church, Donald J Trump, Israel, King David, kingdom of God, Saul

The news media is daily in shock that Donald Trump is still, at least in the polls on top of the political pack. An outsider, a man with his own money, a man who says some extremely bombastic things, that in any other race would have caused the candidate to fall far below 5% support. He seems as though he is bulletproof and the media, up to this point did not see him even as a contender in the political race going into Iowa. He is also a very polarizing person for Christians, because many Christians want a Christian over our nation as the leader. But what is God doing through this whole process, what is the cry coming from the people in this nation, that wants someone like Donald Trump as their leader. Why is the media shifting their viewpoint on the subject of Donald Trump? What is going on below the surface in this political race?

As Christians we are called to ask questions, more than we try to provide answers to things we only know about based on what the media tells us. Very few of us have ever met Donald Trump, nor will we, but those who have, say great things about his heart, the atmosphere he creates in a room and the way he honors people. He is an outsider to politics, we do not have a political track record on him to see what he has or has not done in politics, but this is not even about Donald Trump, it is about the change that is occurring in politics whether you like it or not. Change that is needed, for the establishment has been unable to make any changes that cause our nation to rise. I salute the political race and the American people at this point for they want America, the America who is declared one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all to return. They are tired of politics as usual and the nepotism that has ruled for many years. Donald Trump is like a wrecking ball, but at least he is willing to break down some political correctness so we can have a voice again and declare the land of the free, the home of the brave.

The flip side of this same coin is the church, religion, Christianity as we know it today. The same movement that is happening in politics is happening in the body of Christ. Outsiders, new comers, people who are not seminary trained, grew up in church all their life people are rising. They are people who have been considered outsiders to the establishment, so they don’t know nor do they play the religious games and they refuse to be an echo. Some people like them and are rallying around their banner of love, others are labeling them Absalom’s or Korah’s for speaking out against the establishment. These people have faith that can move mountains, they have an identity that is secure in the Lord not their title or position and like John the Baptist they are meeting outside the prescribed places of worship.

Christians are resonating with these outsiders, for they recognize that the established religious system of our day is not working, so they are willing to try something different. They realize it is a risk, they know it won’t be applauded, but they have a desire for change and they want their voice back. Jesus told them, all authority in heaven and earth has been given to you, now go and cast out demons, heal sick people, baptize nations, preach the gospel with every creative way possible and be a minister in the marketplace for yours is the kingdom of God. They are asking questions of their leaders but not getting any answers, they are wanting to change, but the system is not willing to budge, so they rise up and go, not out of rebellion, but out of a need to live.

As believers, King David did the same thing. In I Samuel 17 there was a 40 plus day battle that was going on with no progress and no change in sight. With the enemy Philistines on one side and Saul and the Israeli army on the other side, they stood day after day and shouted to one another, but no one made a move. Then David comes on the scene and he hears the rewards for the one who defeats their best warrior, Goliath. The system wanted David to do it their way, but their way had proved unsuccessful, so David did it his way. This brought ridicule from his brothers, because they knew they were supposed to be the ones fighting, but they were caught in the system. So, David an outsider took a stand, defeated the enemy and activated the army of Israel. Yes, this victory was the end of Saul’s reign and the beginning of David’s, because of jealousy on Saul’s part and the need to be number one rather than on the team.

We are living in a day and age, where men and women, young and old are rising up with a heart like David, they see the system and how it has paralyzed the people; they see the leaders and how they are caught in the establishment; and they see the Lord and hear the shofar sounding in the heavens, so they are standing up, stepping out and shouting…it’s a new day in both religion and politics.

Humanities Problem, God’s Solution

Tags

church, Fear, fruit, kingdom of God, love, Religion, trees

When people see a tree, they see the fruit on the tree, the leaves or lack thereof on the tree, they see birds in the tree, the trunk of the tree, they see everything that is above ground and many people respond to what they see above ground. But, people are like trees, it is easy to see, correct, criticize, or compliment what we see on the surface, but what many fail to recognize is the source of the fruit, the leaves, the everything that has to do with a tree. The reason a tree exists is because of the root system that is below the ground. So, when you see bad fruit, it is important to recognize that the real issue is the root, not the fruit. If you can identify the root issue, you will see a change in the fruit issue. (Mark 8:24/Matthew 12:33).

Religion, including Christianity, which has in many ways has become a religion, looks to pluck fruit. Don’t drink, don’t smoke, don’t swear, don’t touch, don’t whatever, is easier to say because then you only have to deal with the fruit. But discipleship is about dealing with the root, so our fruit changes. If we can identify the root that is producing the fruit, we will see new fruit grow. God is always after the root, for He knows the issue is a root one, not a fruit one. On the verge of the greatest harvest the world has ever know, I hear the Lord calling people to “come here, come to Me!” Not those who are not saved yet, but those who already are saved. Humanities problem, whether believer or unbeliever, Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu or any other religion you want to name, the problem is yes sin, but the root issue is fear (Romans 3:23). We as people have a fear problem. We try to cover it up with money, marriage, ministry, or a myriad of other things, but the issue still remains, the root is still revealing the fruit of striving, struggle, anxiety, stress, etc. Humanities root problem, when you get to the root is fear. Just like Adam and Eve, we hide the root issues, and just try to change the fruit, but we must allow the uprooting, so we can start producing lasting fruit.

But, God, who is not without understanding of the human condition, from creation to the book of Revelation, has a solution. The answer, the only answer to fear is perfect love. Anywhere you have a fear, any fear of anything or anyone is an indicator of a place where perfect love has not penetrated us. Fear is an indicator of a need for love, not for food, sex, money, ministry or any of these other remedies we try. The only cure for fear is love, perfect love.

I John 4:18 “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

So, humanities problem is fear, but God’s solution is perfect love, it’s that simple. If we want to live fearless, we do not need to be more brave, more wealthy, more popular, more anything, we need to heed the call to, “Come Here!” Revelation 3:20 “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” It is an invitation to Christians, not unbelievers. It is a call to intimacy, to fellowship, to listening, to loving, to being healed, to partnership, to relationship. The Lord is building a bridal company, He is coming back for a bride, which means we must turn to a man. If you want to be a success in the kingdom, you must be a bride, it is Mary who chose the better portion, not Martha. Sit down with Jesus, yes He is man, yes men have hurt you, but He is Jehovah Rapha, He, the man is healing; He is Jehovah Jireh, He the man is provision; He is the I AM and He wants a relationship with you, but you must turn to a man, if you want to live without fear, for He is a man and He is perfect love. Come Here! Is God’s solution to man’s problem.

Are You Playing Politics with Penguins or Empowering Eagles?

Tags

America, Eagles, leadership, Ownership, Penguins, Politics

Being a leader, whether in the marketplace, church, home or community is a trust given to you from those who have chosen to follow you. As a leader, you impart to those under your care, who you are, so what you see in them is actually a reflection of who you are as much as it is who they are. Many politicians, pastors, leaders, managers, coaches, parents look at those who are following them and get frustrated with the follower, rather than examining themselves as the leader. We multiply who we are! So, if you don’t like what you see in those following you, it is time to look at who you are, rather than complain about who they are, and watch how things change.

Ownership is a mark of leadership. If you can take ownership for the nation or organization you lead, the church you oversee, the family you are a part of or the marriage you are in, you will realize that to be a successful leader is to be a person who takes ownership of both successes and failures. Many times we do the dance of dysfunction and then wonder why we are not advancing, having success or seeing the increase we desire. It all starts with taking ownership, recognizing as the leader in any given situation, you set the atmosphere that others who have given you the privilege of following them, adhere to.

The media, for example, is an amplification of the leaders they follow, so whether you watch the more liberal CNN, the more semi-conservative FOX, listen to the extremely conservative Rush Limbaugh, or the MSNBC version of politics, you will hear a bent toward an agenda. One of the challenges most Americans have is we listen to opinions and either agree or disagree, we do not engage in the discussion, seek out the truth, or ask questions that lead to deeper understanding. It is a lot like penguins, they find all their food on the surface, even though they are aquatic animals that can dive deep into the waters for different food.

Since we are on the subject of penguins, did you know that they used to have wings, but over time they evolved into flightless birds, so they have the appearance of wings, but they can’t fly. People love to watch penguins, they are cute, fun to document, and make movies about, but they are birds that used to be able to fly. Who or what, over time caused their wings to become flippers, even though they look like wings? Sounds a lot like what political correctness has sought to do to Americans.

This is why it is critical to know your identity, exercise your authority and fulfill your destiny (Luke 15:22). You were created to be an eagle, you have wings, you need to fly. Many people are frustrated because they are eagles wearing a tuxedo. They know they were created to fly, but from politics to the pulpit people have pandered to you as a penguin, rather than empowered you to be an eagle. Fear is the root issue of why people want you to stay a penguin. Jesus said, “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering” (Luke 11:52). Jesus is not afraid of you being powerful, that is why he was a leader that provided leverage for his disciples, He was not a lid on them.

Leadership is trust that demands humility, which is a continual listening, learning, and loving. The more you lift up those who have chosen to follow your lead, the more their updraft will lift you up, for this kingdom is one of lifting up, not tearing down and the last time I checked, the national bird of the United States of America is an EAGLE! It’s time to stop playing politics with penguins and to start empowering eagles in every area of life.

 

Just Stand

Tags

Chuck Pierce, church, faith, maturity, Rest, Stand, Striving, Warfare, Watch and Wait

It is January and many churches have asked their congregations to fast, whether for the whole month, for a week, for a day, for whatever. Our church is no different, we are in the middle of a one week fast and for me, who has been fasting for years, this one is different. A friend of mine Leann, said to me at the beginning of this fast, that the Lord spoke to her and said, this is not a fast to ask for things, it is a fast to draw near to Me. Little did I know how true those words were going to be for me as well and maybe ringing true for you too.

This fast has brought on more spiritual warfare than I have experienced in times past, but there is a grace for this fast like I have never experienced before as well. So, last night while in worship, I was struggling to enter into worship. The songs were great, the atmosphere was heavy, but I figured it was just because people were low energy due to fasting, then I had a vision. As I was pushing, struggling, striving in worship, I felt like I was running into saran wrap, or to a screen door. I could not breakthrough, and I am not one that strives anymore. Worship comes natural to me, I love being in the presence of God and can enter there easily and quickly, but something is different tonight, so I was pushing, thinking I needed to strive a little bit. But, when I did I kept hitting this wall, and the Lord spoke to me and said, just stand! I said, what, He said, just stand!

Ephesians 6:13b-14a “…having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm…”

When I stopped pushing, striving, struggling to breakthrough, when I heeded the voice of God and just stood, in an instant, the presence of God rushed in and it was as though my bridegroom picked me up in His arms like a groom carrying His bride through the door. I saw the Lord pick me up in His arms and the door swung open and we walked through it. I did nothing, I just stood like He told me too and the door opened and we walked through it. It was different than anything I had been taught, or had experienced. It was all Him, I just had to stop striving and just stand.

As I have thought about this, I realized that we are living in a new day, the day of striving, struggling and making your own way is over. It is a day of just stand. Spirit led living is not about what we do, it is about what He does. Jesus said He did nothing, unless He saw the Father doing it. Many of us have struggled, fought, fasted, prayed, decreed, declared and we still have not seen the breakthrough. Our striving is not going to open the door we are asking the Lord to open, but our standing will. If we can learn to just stand, He will scoop us up and bring us into what He has prepared for us. He is waiting for us to stop striving and just stand.

Stand in Now Faith (Hebrews 11:1); stand in the finished work of Jesus on the cross (John 19:30); stand victorious (Romans 8:28); stand in your armor (Ephesians 6:10-18). It is a new day, there is a new way and glory is on the way, so we need to just stand. I know that when we do, He is going to carry us through and as Chuck Pierce said in his last prophetic word, “Doors are going to fall like dominos”. Just stand!

Dynamite Needs a Detonator

Tags

church, Dunamis, Dynamite, Gold, Gold Mines, Idaho, Kingdom, power, Thoughts

Ephesians 3:20 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”

Colossians 1:27 “To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

While in church last night my Pastor, Bill Virgin, who is a self-proclaimed mountain boy, from the backwoods of Idaho, said, “There is dynamite lying dormant in gold mines all over this nation, and all they need is a detonator.” Now to the naked ear, this may just be a country boy sharing another backwoods story, but for those with ears to hear, this is a piece to the prophetic picture of what God is doing right now on the earth.

There are people all over this nation and the world, living in caves, crevices, condo’s, cities and countries who are packed with dynamite inside of them. They gave their life to Jesus at some point, but never went beyond the salvation experience, or they have yet to crossover to becoming a Christian. Either way, they have dynamite lying dormant inside of them. Everyone one of us was born with dynamite, in the Greek, the word for power is dunamis, which in English is translated dynamite. You are the most powerful person in your life. God made you that way, He is not afraid of your power, actually He wants you to be powerful, that is why He created, inside your inmost being, dynamite.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.” Being created with eternity in our hearts is dunamis, it is power, it is dynamite, you are, I am, an eternal being, made of indestructible material. But for many the reality of this power lies dormant, we are like a gold mine, that once blown open are going to add value to the world. So, why have we not exploded with all this potential yet? Because we need a detonator.

A detonator is a device or small quantity of explosive used for detonating a high explosive (Merriam Webster online). A detonator is like a mustard seed, it is small, but it packs a punch. The word of God is a detonator, words are detonators, people are detonators. People have said things that have blown us up alright, but not to expose the gold, but rather to expose our shame, sin, or some other issue. But it’s a new day, the detonators God is releasing into your life are there to ignite the dynamite in your life so the gold inside of you is exposed. People are a gold mine and we are called to be gold diggers.

When we use our words as detonators to blow up belief systems that have kept people bound; when we use the word of God to blow up doctrines that have kept people from being powerful; when we use words to expose the gold in people; they then become detonators in someone else’s life to do the same thing. There is dynamite lying dormant in everyone’s life and when a detonator comes into your life, they will blow up your life in a way that exposes the gold in you. Christ in you is the hope of glory and His power is at work within you, He is the dynamite inside of you, He is about to blow our minds, so the gold in us can be seen.

It’s a new day, there is a new way, for glory is on the way. Let God arise and His enemies be scattered.

Decision (D) – Day

Tags

Choices, Compromise, contradictions, Decisions, Evangelism, maturity, Options

Joel 3:14 “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.” (NIV)

Joshua 24:15 “If serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…” (NIV)

I Kings 18:21 “Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you ^[a]hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word.” (NIV)

Romans 5:16 “Don’t you realize that grace frees you to choose your own master? But choose carefully, for you surrender yourself to become a servant – bound to the one you chose to obey.” (Passion Translation)

From Genesis to Revelation the bible is riddled with the call to make a decision, to choose, and as much as we as people would rather not choose, we have to make a choice, for the days of living in the indecision are fast ending. When I lived in Malaysia, I realized how American I was when I went to the grocery store and the choices were so limited, there were only 10 cereal choices, rather than the 50 I had in the US. But when I got back from living in Malaysia for 9 years, I realized how Malaysian I had become, because I was overwhelmed by all the choices here in the US. The more choices you have, the more freedom you think you are given, but actually the opposite is true, the less choices you have, the easier it is to decide. Once you decide on one thing, that is where real freedom is found.

It is not freedom to be sleeping around with multiple people, that is bondage, real freedom is being married and living monogamously with one person. It is not freedom to be jumping from job to job because you get offended when you are corrected, real freedom is staying the course, running the race and learning how to live with your cubicle companions over the years. We have bought into the lie that freedom is not choosing, actually, freedom doesn’t come until you make a choice. Anxiety and stress riddle people who are trying to find a house to buy, but peace comes when they finally make a decision. Freedom comes from making your choice, not from leaving your options open out of fear of making the wrong choice.

So, if freedom comes from making a decision, why are we so afraid of making a decision; why does the thought of D-Day rattle us so much? The most popular answer to this question is fear, fear of making the wrong decision. The funny thing about fear is, it keeps you from making a decision, but is nowhere to be found once the decision is made. The Christian challenge is that we have said a prayer but we never made a decision to follow a man. We got baptized in water but we never died to ourselves. We accepted Christ but we never said no to sin. So, we have altered our beliefs to match our experience, which is why you can be a Christian and still have sin as your master; you can live for yourself and still expect to be blessed; you can say whatever you want and not reap what you have sown.

The reason most people do not pick a path is because the gate that leads to life is called death; the path that leads to perfect love is called pain. Most people want relief from their distress, but they do not want to be made whole. We see, feel, experience the consequences of indecision, but yet we do not have the strength to make a different decision. We have become so comfortable with the bondage of indecision, when we meet someone who has made a decision, we get mad at them for they refuse to conform to our discomfort. Jesus didn’t die so you could be comfortable in your contradictions, He died so you could be free from sin. The Lord will never violate your free will, the choice has been and continues to be yours. Decision day is every day and what you decide is up to you, but I want to end by quoting Deuteronomy 30:19, “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!” (NLT)

What Are You Prepared For?

Tags

glory, Harvest, healing, Manifestation, Preperation, Workers

Can you feel it in the atmosphere? Can you sense it in your spirit? Can you recognize it in what people are saying? 2016 is sounding like a year like we have never seen before. I have never sensed the leaders in the body of Christ have so much excitement about what God is about to do. Kenneth Copeland is calling 2016 “The Great Year!”; Reinhard Bonkke is calling 2016 “The Year of No Restrictions”; The Hebrew Calendar calls 2016 “The Year of Ayin Av (Look Again at the Tent Peg)”. Everywhere you turn, every prophetic voice you listen to is proclaiming good news about this year, Max Lucado just released his newest book called Glory Days. Cindy Jacobs has yet to release her word, but from what she has hinted at, it is going to be alignment with all the other words spoken so far.

So, with a year so pregnant with promise, what are you prepared for? The promise for this year will not just blanket everyone with prosperity, healing, restoration, or whatever promise has been made on a general level. The promises of God are an invitation to everyone, but they are not RSVP’d by everyone. Promises, prophecies, proclamations are invitations for preparation. In Matthew 25 there were 10 virgins, all 10 were virgins, but only 5 were prepared when the Bridegroom came to the door to begin the party. What are you prepared for? Prosperity is not coming to everyone, healing will not flow through everyone, preaching a reformers message will not be heard through everyone. Why? Because to be a leader in what is coming, you have to be prepared. Heaven is a prepared place for prepared people and when heaven comes to earth, the way people are sensing it is coming, it is coming to a prepared people.

Now this does not mean you will not receive a healing, a financial breakthrough, or some other manifestation of glory, but will you sit back and let it come to you, or will you be prepared so you can be one who is sent to heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out the demons? Mark 16 and Matthew 28 says all believers are to experience this as normal Christianity, and many are not, because they are not prepared to carry the authority it takes to do exploits. We don’t let people drive who have not prepared in driver’s education or have taken a driver’s test; we don’t go to doctors who do not have a degree that showed they prepared themselves to do surgery; we don’t put our money in banks that are not prepared to protect our money. So, how much more is God not going give His authority to do exploits to those who are not prepared?

Love is not permissive in the sense that we let everybody do whatever they want, love protects, love empowers, love matures, love develops, love trains, love prepares us to do exploits. Our Father is about to release a measure of His glory on the earth, it is going to blow our minds, but it is not going to be given to everyone, Isaiah 11 says there is a remnant that has been prepared for this hour. Many will be surprised at who has been preparing and who hasn’t. For what we do in secret will be rewarded openly, and some have been preparing in secret, not fully understanding what was coming, but now that it is here to some measure and about to be very near in a major measure, the clarity of preparation is evident.

As the Parable of the Workers (Matthew 20) says, it doesn’t matter when you start working, we are all going to be paid the same, but I sense this is the last hour to prepare for what is about to be poured out and many are ready with oil in their lamps and extra in their vale, but for you that did not prepare, it’s not too late to start. The workers are few and the harvest is plentiful, so this blog is my prayer for the Lord of the harvest to send out more workers into His harvest field. We need your help, we can’t do this alone, this job is beyond a remnant, it is for a body, I plead with you get prepared for the kingdom of God is about to invade the earth and we need your help.

Look Again at Jabez

Tags

2016, 5776, Abundance, Ayin Av, Blessing, Identity, Pain, Prayer of Jabez, prosperity

5776 is the Hebrew year; 2016 is the Gregorian year; but the meaning of the year is the same, Ayin Av. Ayin means to see, to look again, Av means tent peg, hook, plumb line, connector. Today I hear the Lord saying, look again at Jabez, see him today in the year of Ayin Av, 5776, 2016, so on this first day of 2016, I looked again and what I saw blew my natural mind. I trust it will explode in you like it did in me.

I Chronicles 4:9-10 says, “Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother named him Jabez saying, “Because I bore him with pain.” Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!” And God granted him what he requested.”

Jabez means pain, but it also means abounding or abundance. Jabez’s mother named her son based on her current situation (intense labor pains), not based on a prophetic destination. So, Jabez became a self-fulfilling prophecy, because names are powerful. But Jabez as he matured, realized his name meant more than pain, even though “honorable” actually means burdensome. So Jabez brought more pain to his family than his brothers. The duality of meanings of words is all over scripture and that is why we need the knowledge of God to cover the earth as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14), for there are hidden meanings to discover that will unlock treasures untold.

Jabez grew up in pain, but his name also meant prosperity, abounding, abundance, so there was a side of his name he had yet to experience, but when he discovered the other meaning of his name, he prayed for 4 things: 1) Blessing; 2) Enlargement; 3) Hand; and 4) Keeping. These requests carry such significance, they were so aligned with the Av (plumb line, tent peg) that God granted his request. So, what exactly did He ask for and when we pray this prayer, what exactly are we asking for?

1. Blessing – Jabez asked for the blessing of Jacob(Genesis 32:24-31), he asked for the blessing of a name change. He, like Jacob wanted to be blessed with the other meaning of his name. Jabez knew pain, but he was requesting to know prosperity. Pain prepares you for prosperity, so prosperity won’t bring you pain, for pain and prosperity are connected. (See Joseph for another example of this).
2. Enlargement – Jabez asked for land, to become many, to increase his territory, (Psalm 16 is what Lance Wallnau has prophesied as the word for 2016). Jabez was aligning himself with the blessing of Abraham (Genesis 12). Isaiah 54 speaks the same request, and Isaiah says the key to increasing influence is worship, sing my friends, sing!
3. Hand – Jabez wanted God’s hand to be with him, this was a request for the authority, influence and leadership of Moses (Exodus 33:12-23). He wanted the glory (weightiness) of God. His name meant a heavy burden, but as he discovered the truth of his name as weighty, he requested the weighty glory of God that Moses experienced in the cleft of the rock.
4. Keeping – Jabez wanted to be kept from harm (evil, misery, distress or injury), he was requesting to be aligned with someone in the future, he was wanting to be in alignment with Jesus and His kingdom. Matthew 6:9-13 is a prayer with the same request, and Revelation 21:3-5 promises the same thing. He wanted to be healed of all pain, so he would not hurt anyone.

The prayer of Jabez is a prayer of alignment, he requested he would be aligned with the blessings of Jacob, Abraham, Moses and Jesus. He was a tent peg in the sense that he hooked or connected himself to the past and the future. In this year of Ayin Av, we need to look again as there are connections that God is making, just like he connected I Chronicles 4:10 to Isaiah 54:2-3 to Matthew 6:9-13. We also need to look again, for we are not recycling the old, we are entering a new wine skin with new wine.

Jabez teaches us through his prayer that identity precedes destiny which will usher in prosperity without pain. I hope you take the time to look again at Jabez.