From: Jimmy Okberto
Life Is Good
Right now, before you do anything else, really notice what a gift today is.
Yes, it's another day, a new chance.
Yes, it's an opportunity to clean the slate and forget the past.
Yes, we're lucky to be alive. And thank God for that!
Most importantly, it's time to count your blessings and appreciate all the good
things you have. Spot the best things in your life, instead of focusing on your
difficulties and weaknesses. Think of what's good about you and your life,
instead of what's wrong with you and how you desperately need to change.
Take this time to appreciate yourself, and your family, your work, and all that
God has given you. And remember these blessings every day of your life.
WISHING YOU A VERY HAPPY NEW DAY.
==================================================
From: "suyento" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Problems with The Prayer of Jabez
by Berit Kjos
Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, 'Oh that Thou would bless me indeed,
and enlarge my coast [territory], and that Thine hand might be with me, and
that Thou would keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me!' And God granted
him that which he requested." 1 Chron 4:10
"...make the Jabez prayer for blessing part of the daily fabric of your life.
To do that, I encourage you to follow unwaveringly the plan outlined here for
the next thirty days. By the end of that time, you'll be noticing significant
changes in your life.... Read the Jabez prayer every morning.... Reread this
little book once each week during the next month...." The Prayer of Jabez, page
86.
"I have an uncomfortable feeling about The Prayer of Jabez.... The Lord
commented unfavorably on repetitious prayer. Please help me sort out my
uncomfortable feeling about this 'movement'. Reading Dr. Dobson's 'most
important letter he ever wrote' about Bruce Wilkinson's book and the effect it
has had on future plans of FOTF is disconcerting. Is my concern misapplied?"
Ramsay Devereux
---------------------------------
During an uneventful time in Israel's history, a faithful man named Jabez
prayed a simple, straightforward prayer and gained the favor and blessings of
God. Now, a small book has prompted millions of saints and seekers to memorize
and repeat the same prayer daily. After three thousand years of obscurity,
Jabez has found surprising favor with the world.
So, what's the problem with promoting a Biblical prayer that God honored in His
Word? After all, our Lord delights in the prayers of His saints -- all the
daily thanks, praises and petitions that turn our hearts to Him in faith,
worship and surrender. Using Bible verses as a basis for prayer and worship is
a wonderful habit. Why be concerned?
Because this book -- not Jabez' prayer -- promises rewards from God that God
doesn't promise in the Bible. While author Bruce Wilkinson enriches the meaning
of Jabez' prayer in the rest of his book, the first part (many readers go no
further) seems to put the book into the unbiblical realm of the "name it claim
it" movement. Consider the opening words:
"Dear Reader, I want to teach you how to pray a daring prayer that God always
answers. It is brief--only one sentence with four parts--and tucked away in the
Bible, but I believe it contains the key to a life of extraordinary favor with
God....
Thousands of believers who are applying its truths are seeing miracles happen
on a regular basis. Will you join me for a personal exploration of Jabez? I
hope you will!" Emphasis added
Millions have joined his quest. Many have testified to miraculous answers which
demonstrate God's love, mercy and intervention on behalf of those who seek Him.
But these amazing interventions and anecdotal stories don't prove that God
"always answers" this specific prayer. Nor do they verify that this Old
Testament prayer by itself "contains the key" to extraordinary favor with God.
Nor does the Bible suggest that we -- God's people -- have the authority or
power to "put Jabez' [or any other] prayer to work," as Christianbook.com
suggests in its publicity statement below. Ponder its invitation to potential
buyers:
"Discover how to release the miraculous power of God in your life! ...See what
God will do for you when you put Jabez' prayer to work!"
It is hard to see how anyone could conclude that Jabez' prayer "works" better
than the prayers of Moses, David, Elijah and Paul -- men used by God to
liberate His people, slay giants, restore life to a dead boy and bring sight to
the blind. The "miraculous power of God" demonstrated through their lives came,
not because of the words they uttered, but because they had consecrated their
lives to God, humbled themselves before Him, trusted in His provision for sin,
and chose to seek and do His will with all their heart and without compromise.
Therefore God forgave their sins, offered His strength in their weaknesses and
-- through the Holy Spirit in them -- put prayers in their hearts that
expressed His will. Because these men took time to know His Word and will, God
"spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend." (Exodus 33:11) No
less amazing, He called David "a man after My own heart, who will do all My
will." (Acts 13:22)
Unlike these friends of God who loved His Word and walked with Him, the church
at the dawn of the new millennium tends to be Biblically illiterate. [Chart]
Many are too distracted by work, life's pressures and "the pleasures of the
world" to open the Bible. But we all want His help, peace and blessings. In
this cultural context, the "positive assurances" and marketing tactics behind
Wilkerson's little book raise some searching questions:
1. Does the Bible justify using "the prayer of Jabez" as a formula for success?
If so, why would Jesus give us the model prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 ("Our Father,
who art in heaven....") rather than the prayer of Jabez?
In the days of Jesus, rabbis would often use prayer outlines. Today, many
faithful students of Biblical history believe that "the Lord's prayer" was such
a prayer -- one that provided a pattern or outline for longer prayers. Then as
now, its short parts were reminders that God would be pleased if we would
include certain points in our quiet times with Him:
� Praise to our heavenly Father who hears and provides.
� Confession and cleansing as we bow before a holy God.
� Thanks for the goodness and glory of His Kingdom.
� Confidence in His perfect plan and readiness to yield to His will.
� Trust that our Provider will meet our needs each day.
� Faith that through the cross, we have forgiveness for every sin.
� Prayer for grace to forgive others and be filled with His love.
� Prayer for wisdom to recognize and resist any temptation or evil.
� Praise for His sovereignty, love and faithfulness to those who follow
Him. See the last part of Heaven is Forever
Though both prayers were pleasing to our Father, their differences are
important. Jabez focused on God's gifts. Jesus emphasized the Giver. Jabez'
prayer reflects the Old Testament context where God demonstrated His love by
prospering His people. The Lord's prayer reflects the New Testament
understanding that -- because of the cross -- we share in the life, suffering,
ministry and triumphs of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Since the prayer of Jabez precedes the New Testament call to absolute
commitment, it is acceptable to the world. It sounds good whether people serve
God or self. Since it doesn't point to Christ or the cross, it carries no
offense. It offers the same blessings to those who pursue a self-made image of
God as to those who walk with Jesus.
In a recent interview, George Barna, founder and president of the Barna
Research Group, shared his concern:
"One of the frightening things that we find in our research all the time is
that even among the tens of millions of born again Christians, about half of
them would say that when it comes to Christianity they are not absolutely
committed to the faith. ...we've made it too easy to be part of the Christian
church. I think that there is very little sense of privilege and awe and
responsibility that comes along in our culture with the notion of being
considered a disciple of Christ. It is like, 'Hey, I got my salvation taken
care of, I've got my membership card at my church. Now let me go to the country
club and do my thing.' The problem is that Christianity is not just about being
a church member. It is about consistently trying to become more like Christ. It
is about life transformation.
"... small groups may be doing more to inhibit peoples' spiritual growth than
to facilitate that growth. Part of the reason is that, first of all, in most
groups, you have an individual who's in charge of the group or leading the
group who really doesn't know Scripture very well. So if they're leading a
discussion or trying to teach on things, more often than not, what you wind up
with is heresy rather than Christian orthodoxy." Interview with George Barna,
Part I
It's easy to distort our understanding of God in a culture that prompts people
to interpret His Word according to a politically correct consensus rather than
by the Bible itself. It's tempting to seek a feel-good god whose will and ways
match human wants and illusions. But to assume that an imagined God will bless
our lives and extend our sphere of influence, is presumptuous at best. "You
thought that I was altogether like you," warned God. "But I will rebuke
you...." [Psalm 50:21]
2. How can Mr. Wilkinson assure anonymous readers that God "always answers"
this particular prayer in contrast to other prayers? The preface of the book
implies that God not only answer this prayer, His answer is always "yes."
That's a denial of some of the Bible's guidelines for answered prayer.
For example, Psalm 66:18 tells us that "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the
Lord will not hear." And Proverbs 21:13 warns, "Whoever shuts his ears to the
cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be heard."
James 4:3-4 explains another reason for unanswered prayer: "You ask and do not
receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is
enmity with God?"
God's will and guidelines overrule the desires and requests of those who don't
know Him. Perhaps some people need to learn humility, surrender, obedience and
faith based on Scriptures before they excel in "daring" prayers? For,
throughout the Bible, God shows us that the state of a believer's heart is as
-- if not more -- important than the particular words used. "The effective,
fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." (James 5:16).
3. Could a formula prayer raise false expectations of what God might do and
therefore bring disappointment, doubt and disillusionment rather than faith and
thankfulness?
Bruce Wilkinson makes more staggering claims. "Join me for that
transformation," he writes on page 91. "You will change your legacy and bring
supernatural blessings wherever you go. God will release His miraculous power
in your life now. And for all eternity, He will lavish on you His honor and
delight."
He will? In a chapter called "Welcome to God's Honor Roll," Wilkinson writes,
"You don't reach the next level of blessing and stay there. You begin again --
Lord, bless me indeed! Lord, please enlarge...! And so on. As the cycle repeats
itself, you'll find that you are steadily moving into wider spheres of blessing
and influence, spiraling ever outward and upward into a larger life for God....
You will know beyond doubt that God has opened heaven's storehouses because you
prayed."
Wilkinson mentions the "mostly ordinary, easy-to-overlook people" listed in
Hebrews 11 who won honor from God. But Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah and
Moses hardly fit that description. Then he fails to mention the faithful men
and women who received the opposite of honor and blessing in this world:
"...others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a
better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes,
and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were
tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and
goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented- of whom the world was not
worthy." Hebrews 11:35-38
God shows us that suffering -- not prosperity, power or influence -- is an
essential part of our life in Christ. We cannot be one with Jesus without
sharing His battles as well as triumphs. "For to you it has been granted on
behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,"
wrote Paul to the Philippians (1:29)
Jesus told us to "count the cost" of discipleship -- not the blessings of the
world:
"If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you.... for they do not know the
one who sent me." (John 15:20-21)
4. Could an habitual prayer such as the prayer of Jabez, distract from hearing
and praying according to God's will for the day? The Bible tells us that " we
do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes
intercession for us.... according to the will of God." (Romans 8:26-27)
Remember, Jesus always prayed and served according to His Father's will and
purpose on each occasion. If we give ourselves unreservedly to do the same, He
will answer our prayer:
"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything
according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever
we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him." 1 John
5:14-15
5. Might some readers be seeking the power of prayer rather than the power of
God? There's a significant difference between the two, and the former has
always been far more alluring to human nature than the surrender and obedience
involved in ongoing Biblical prayer. Most people would rather memorize and
repeat a formula prayer that "works" than take time to seek to know the heart
of God. It's easier to imagine "what Jesus would do" than actually study His
Word and know His will -- then to submit will to His.
Formula prayers dominate in pagan religions. Compare Mr. Wilkinson's preface
and the Christianbook's publicity statement with the following quote from
Medicine Buddha Sadhana, a small book given to thousands of people who attended
a May 2001 a "Medicine Buddha Empowerment" workshop led by The Dalai Lama:
"To recite the Medicine Buddha Mantra brings inconceivable merit. ... If you
recite the mantra every day, the buddhas and bodhisattvas will always pay
attention to you, and they will guide you. All your negative karmas will be
pacified and you will never be born in the three lower realms.... and all your
wishes are fulfilled."
Sounds tempting, doesn't it? It appeals to human nature and its "felt needs."
Who wouldn't want to recite a prayer or mantra that promises easy access to
higher powers that will fulfill your dreams and satisfy your wants?
But God knows that our finite dreams and human wishes fall far short of His
wonderful plan for us. His rocky road to victory includes hardships and
humiliations that rarely find a place in our hopes and prayers. Therefore,
knowing the inclinations of our human nature, He shows us the way:
"And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they
think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like
them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In
this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your
kingdom come. Your will be done...." Matthew 6:7-9
The issue here is your motive -- your reason for repeating certain words. Do
you believe that repetitions will add strength to a prayer? Then you may be
trusting mere words more than your all-powerful, sovereign God.
For instance, the customary words used to "put on the armor of God" could be
little more than a "vain repetition" if you merely and mindlessly recite the
familiar steps: "Now I gird my loins with truth... I put on the breastplate of
righteousness... the sandals of peace..." There's no magic in those words
alone. Instead they remind us to actively -- by faith -- "put on" Christ's
truth (His Word), righteousness (includes confessing sins), peace, etc.
But it's no "vain repetition" to pray through the steps listed in Ephesians
6:12-17 (see The Armor of God), giving Him thanks for each vital part and
praising Him for the protection He offers you in Himself. For when you turn to
Him in love, faith, humility and surrender -- "pouring out your heart" to your
Father and King -- then He will surely hear and answer according to His perfect
plan for your life.
6. Can we assume that a step toward victory in one battle will work the same
way in another battle? For example, God told Joshua to march around Jericho 7
times. Victory involved obedience to those specific guidelines. They don't
apply to other battles.
A generation earlier, God had told his faithless people to enter the promised
land. Fearing the giants in the land, they refused. God didn't give them
another opportunity. But when they faced the consequences of their
disobedience, they made a belated decision to do what he said. But it was too
late. The grace that came with God's command, couldn't be applied at will. So
they lost both the battle and their lives. (Numbers 13-14)
7. Is it Biblically accurate to expect that the evils that surround us not
touch and "grieve" us? In Christ, we are "more than conquerors." But that
doesn't mean escape from the wounds and griefs that today's warfare inflicts on
God's soldiers. As long as we live in a fallen world and walk with Him, evil
will touch us. But we won't bear its assaults alone. When we stand equipped
with His truths and promises, He will lead us in His triumph -- a triumph that
would look anything but triumphant to those who expect the world's peace and
prosperity. See The Armor of God and prayerfully consider 2 Corinthians 4:7-10,
"...we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power
may be of God and not of us. We are
hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed;
we are perplexed, but not in despair;
persecuted, but not forsaken;
struck down, but not destroyed
always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life
of Jesus also may be manifested in our body."
If we are one with Jesus, we must set our hearts -- not on blessings in the
world but on fellowship with our King -- as did Peter, James, Paul and
countless other saints and martyrs who, through the ages, have relinquished
earthly comforts and popularity for a far greater eternal treasure. Paul said
it well,
"But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet
indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of
Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and
count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having
my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in
Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and
the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings....
"Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on,
that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me....
One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward
to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the
upward call of God in Christ Jesus...." Philippians 3:7-14
Taken from http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/Jabez.htm
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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