Praying For Unity - United By Prayer #5 - Becoming An Extraordinary Christ-Follower

Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain” 10And Jabez called on 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.

1 Chronicles 4:9-10 NKJV

“The difference in ordinary and extraordinary is the extra.”

5 ESSENTIALS TO BECOMING AN EXTRAORDINARY CHRIST-FOLLOWER

ESSENTIAL 1 – I will place extra emphasis on Personal Character Personal Character.

Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers…

1 Chronicles 4:9 NKJV

The Eternal stays far from the wrongdoers, but He listens to the prayer of the right-living.

Proverbs 15:29 VOICE

Prayer that comes from faith will heal the sick…. And if they have sinned, they will be forgiven. For this reason, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous person is powerful in what it can achieve.

James 5:15, 16 CEB

The Berean’s were more honorable than those in Thessalonica. This was evident in the great eagerness with which they accepted the word and examined the scriptures each day to see whether Paul and Silas’ teaching was true. Many came to believe

Acts 17:11-12 CEB

ESSENTIAL 2 – I Will Place Extra Emphasis on Responding to Problems.

…and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain...

1 Chronicles 4:9b NKJV

Check any obstacle to extraordinary that you, like Jabez, face:

____ Mommy issues ____ Daddy issues ____ Sibling issues

____ Economic issues ____ Emotional problems

____ Issues with how others perceive me

Problems with ___________________________________________________

ESSENTIAL 3 - I Will Place Extra Emphasis on Passionate Prayer.

And Jabez called on the God of Israel…

1 Chronicles 4:910 NKJV

The LORD said: It isn’t too late. You can still return to me with all your heart. Start crying and mourning! Go without eating. Don’t rip your clothes to show your sorrow. Instead, turn back to me with broken hearts. I am merciful, kind, and caring… Perhaps I will change my mind… Then you will be blessed…

Joel 2:12 - 14a CEV

Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.

James 4:8- 9 NIV

ESSENTIAL 4 - I will Place Extra Emphasis on Proper requests.

We are confident that God listens to us if we ask for anything that has his approval.

1 John 5:14 GW

And yet the reason you don’t have what you want is that you don’t ask God for it.

James 4:2b NLT

JABEZ PRAYS HIS B. E. S. T. PRAYER: GOD PLEASE…

· Bless me - “Oh, that You would bless me indeed.”

· Expand my opportunity - “and enlarge my territory…”

· Stick with me - “that Your hand would be with me,

· Take me away from evil – “that You would keep me from evil.”

…lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Matthew 6:13 NIV

ESSENTIAL 5 - I will place Extra Emphasis on Purifying my Motive.

…that I may not cause pain!

1 Chronicles 4:9 NKJV

I am going to put a special blessing on you and cause your reputation to grow so that you will become a blessing and example to others

Genesis 12:2b NLT

And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.

James 4:3 NLT

I know, my God, that you examine our hearts and rejoice when you find integrity there. You know I have done all this with good motives…

1 Chronicles 29:17 NLT