Breakthrough Prayer: Dare to Ask for More - Get Your Ask Up (Part 2)
Main Text: 1 Chronicles 4:9-10
Jabez appears in only two verses of Scripture, yet his prayer has inspired believers for generations. His name meant "pain." Every time someone called his name, they reminded him of his painful beginning.
Some people have been labeled:
- Failure
- Convict
- Addict
- Poor
- Unqualified
- Rejected
- Divorced
Key Statement
"Don't let your history determine the size of your prayer."
Some people have learned to pray too small... based on what they have been through. There are people who don't have a prayer problem - they have a prayer-size problem. They pray:
- "Lord, just help me make it."
- "Lord, just pay this bill."
- "Lord, just give me enough."
- "Lord, just let me survive."
- "Lord, just keep things from getting worse."
But what if God wants you to stop praying merely for survival and start praying for significance? What if your prayer needs to move from "God, get me out of this" to "God, use me beyond this"?
Jabez teaches us that your past may explain you, but it doesn't have to define you.
1 Chronicles 4:9 (ESV) Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, "Because I bore him in pain."
Imagine growing up with a name that reminded you - and everyone around you - of pain. Every time somebody called his name, they were essentially reminding him: "You are pain." His circumstances gave him a label.
We have all been mislabeled at times based on our name, our mistakes, our family, or who we were connected to.
"Some of us have been wearing labels that God never gave us."
Congregational Declaration
"My history is not my destiny!"
The Bible says he was more honorable. We had no choice in regard to what we're named, but we have total control in regard to our character development. A person can get past a bad name if they develop good character. His prayer matched his character. Character prepares us for blessing.
How God Changes Your Name
Psalm 15:1-2 (MSG) God, who gets invited to dinner at your place? How do we get on your guest list? "Walk straight, act right, tell the truth."
Repeat after me: Walk straight. Act right. Tell the truth.
The Prayer of Jabez
1 Chronicles 4:10 (NKJV) And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying...
If you want something different, you have to do something different. 911 doesn't call you - you must call them.
Jeremiah 33:3 (AMP) "Call to Me, and I will answer you, and tell you [and even show you] great and mighty things, [things which have been confined and hidden], which you do not know and understand and cannot distinguish."
James 4:2 (AMP) "You have not because you ask not..."
Jabez didn't deny his pain - he prayed beyond it.
"Often the greatest enemy of your future self is the past pain you haven't released or learned from."
Jabez asked God to change his story.
1 Chronicles 4:10 "Oh, that You would bless me indeed..."
"God, I know where I've been, but I'm asking You to take me somewhere I've never been."
Matthew 7:7-8, 11 (AMP) "Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives, and he who keeps on seeking finds, and to him who keeps on knocking, it will be opened. If you then, evil (sinful by nature) as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good and advantageous to those who keep on asking Him."
Neighbor, you have to have a keep-on spirit. God can bless you with:
- Influence
- Wisdom
- Opportunity
- Favor
- Relationships
- Health
- Creativity
- Peace
- Open doors
- Resources
- Impact
Say this: "God, don't just bless what I'm doing. Bless who I'm becoming."
Some people have a big God with small expectations. But Jabez teaches: big God, bold faith, big requests.
Enlarge My Territory
1 Chronicles 4:10 "...and enlarge my territory" (The Message Bible says, "Give me land, large tracts of land.")
Jabez wasn't simply asking for a bigger house. He was asking:
- "God, increase my influence."
- "Increase my capacity."
- "Increase my opportunity."
- "Give me more people to impact."
- "Give me more responsibility."
- "Give me more territory for Your glory."
Ephesians 3:20 (AMP) Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us.
Mark 11:24 (AMP) For this reason I am telling you, whatever things you ask for in prayer [in accordance with God's will], believe [with confident trust] that you have received them, and they will be given to you.
1 Corinthians 2:9 (AMP) "Things which the eye has not seen and the ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him [who hold Him in affectionate reverence, who obey Him, and who gratefully recognize the benefits that He has bestowed]."
That Your Hand Would Be With Me
1 Chronicles 4:10 "...that Your hand would be with me..."
Jabez understood something powerful. More territory without God's presence can become more trouble. He's not saying, "God, give me more so I can do more for myself." He's saying, "God, if You enlarge me, stay with me."
Because I don't just need God's blessing - I need God's hand. I don't just need an opportunity - I need God's guidance. I don't just need expansion - I need God's presence.
Exodus 33:15 (AMP) And Moses said to Him, "If Your presence does not go [with me], do not lead us up from here."
Psalm 51:11 (AMP) Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Psalm 127:1 (AMP) Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain.
John 15:5 (AMP) I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.
Say: I receive.
- "Lord, put Your hand on my life."
- "Put Your hand on my family."
- "Put Your hand on my business."
- "Put Your hand on my ministry."
- "Put Your hand on my finances."
- "Put Your hand on my future."
Keep Me From Evil
1 Chronicles 4:10 "...and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!"
Jabez understood that enlargement without protection can become dangerous. He doesn't just ask, "God, don't let evil hurt me." He also says, "Don't let me become the source of pain for somebody else."
Isaiah 54:17 (AMP) "No weapon that is formed against you will succeed; and every tongue that rises against you in judgment you will condemn. This [peace, righteousness, security, and triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from Me," says the Lord.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (AMP) Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life].
But God is asking, "Can I trust you with the territory?" Before God enlarges your territory, He may need to enlarge:
- Your character
- Your wisdom
- Your patience
- Your integrity
- Your discipline
- Your generosity
- Your capacity
God isn't just interested in increasing what is in your hand - He's interested in increasing what is in your heart.
So God Granted Him What He Requested
Breakthrough Principle: You can't receive what you refuse to request. There are things you need to stop assuming God doesn't want for you. You need to ask.
Your Prayer Needs to Get Bigger
Maybe you've been praying, "Lord, give me a job." Start praying, "Lord, give me a career that impacts generations."
Maybe you've been praying, "Lord, help my business survive." Start praying, "Lord, enlarge my business so I can employ people, serve people, and fund Kingdom work."
Maybe you've been praying, "Lord, help me get out of debt." Start praying, "Lord, give me wisdom and discipline to build wealth and become a blessing."
Maybe you've been praying, "Lord, help my family." Start praying, "Lord, make my family a generational testimony."
Five Questions for Your Breakthrough Prayer
- What have I stopped asking God for because I became disappointed?
- What territory is God calling me to believe Him for?
- What limitation am I allowing to determine my expectation?
- If God answered my biggest prayer, who else would be blessed?
- Am I asking God for more while also asking Him to make me capable of handling more?
The D.A.R.E. of Breakthrough Prayer
D - Define the Desire What are you actually asking God for? Don't pray vague prayers. Be specific.
A - Ask Boldly Jabez said, "Bless me indeed." Don't be afraid to ask God for something bigger than your current reality.
R - Reject Your Limitations Don't allow your past to dictate your future. Don't allow your current resources to determine God's potential. Your limitation isn't God's limitation.
E - Expect God to Move Jabez prayed. God answered. Faith doesn't guarantee that God will answer every request exactly as we imagine, but it gives us the confidence to approach Him boldly and trust His wisdom.
Declaration
"I refuse to pray small prayers to a big God!" "My past will not determine my future!" "My pain will not determine my purpose!" "My limitations will not determine my territory!" "I will ask God to enlarge me!" "I will ask God to bless me!" "I will ask God to guide me!" "I will ask God to keep me!" "And I will trust God with the answer!"
Breakthrough Prayer: "Lord, Enlarge Me"
Father,
I come before You like Jabez. I know where I've been, but I believe You know where I'm going. I refuse to allow my past to determine my future. I refuse to allow my pain to determine my purpose.
Today, I dare to ask You for more. Bless me indeed. Enlarge my territory. Expand my influence. Increase my capacity. Open doors that no man can shut. Give me opportunities that exceed my expectations.
But while You enlarge my territory, enlarge my character. While You increase my influence, increase my wisdom. While You increase my resources, increase my generosity. While You increase my opportunities, increase my discernment.
Let Your hand be upon me. Guide me. Protect me. Correct me. Direct me. And keep me from becoming the source of pain to others.
Lord, I believe You are able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that I can ask or think. So today, I'm taking the limits off my prayer. I'm taking the limits off my expectations. I'm taking the limits off my faith.
Bless me. Enlarge me. Keep me. Use me. And let everything You place in my hands bring glory to You.
In Jesus' name, Amen!
Seven Keys from the Prayer of Jabez
- Ask boldly for God's blessing.
- Believe God for greater influence.
- Depend completely on God's presence.
- Pray for divine protection.
- Break cycles of pain.
- Expect God to answer.
- Live a life worthy of God's favor.
Weekly Prayer Points
Jeremiah 33:3 (AMP) - "Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you [and even show you] great and mighty things, [things which have been confined and hidden], which you do not know and understand and cannot distinguish."
Hebrews 11:1 (AMP) - Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality - faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].
Hebrews 11:6 (AMP) - But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him.
James 4:2 (AMP) - You are jealous and covet [what others have] and your lust goes unfulfilled; so you murder. You are envious and cannot obtain [the object of your envy]; so you fight and battle. You do not have because you do not ask [it of God].
Psalm 15:1-2 (MSG) - God, who gets invited to dinner at your place? How do we get on your guest list? "Walk straight, act right, tell the truth."
Matthew 7:7-11 (AMP) - "Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives, and he who keeps on seeking finds, and to him who keeps on knocking, it will be opened."
Ephesians 3:20 (AMP) - Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us.
1 Corinthians 2:9 (AMP) - "Things which the eye has not seen and the ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him [who hold Him in affectionate reverence, who obey Him, and who gratefully recognize the benefits that He has bestowed]."
Exodus 33:15 (AMP) - And Moses said to Him, "If Your presence does not go [with me], do not lead us up from here."
Psalm 51:11 (AMP) - Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Psalm 127:1 (AMP) - Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain.
John 15:5 (AMP) - I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.
Isaiah 54:17 (AMP) - "No weapon that is formed against you will succeed; and every tongue that rises against you in judgment you will condemn. This [peace, righteousness, security, and triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from Me," says the Lord.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (AMP) - Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life].
Romans 8:28 (AMP) - And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.
Luke 16:10 (AMP) - "He who is faithful in a very little thing is also faithful in much; and he who is dishonest in a very little thing is also dishonest in much."
Psalm 84:11 (AMP) - For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows grace and favor and honor; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
Jeremiah 29:11 (AMP) - "For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you," says the Lord, "plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."
James 5:16 (AMP) - Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God - it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].
Isaiah 54:2-3 (AMP) - "Enlarge the site of your tent [to make room for more children]; stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, do not spare them; lengthen your tent ropes and make your pegs (stakes) firm [in the ground]. For you will spread out to the right and to the left; and your descendants will take possession of nations and will inhabit deserted cities."
Discussion Questions
- Jabez carried a name that literally meant "pain" everywhere he went. What label - whether spoken by others or repeated by yourself - has shaped how you see your own potential? What would it look like to let your character, rather than your history, define you moving forward?
- This message challenges the difference between praying to survive and praying for significance. Look honestly at your recent prayers - are they mostly "just help me make it" prayers, or "use me beyond this" prayers? What's one area of your life where you've been asking God for too little?
- Jabez didn't just ask for more territory - he asked for God's hand to go with it. Why do you think it's dangerous to pursue increase (in influence, income, or opportunity) without also asking for God's presence and guidance? Is there an area where you're chasing expansion without inviting God into it?
- Using the D.A.R.E. framework (Define the Desire, Ask Boldly, Reject Your Limitations, Expect God to Move), write out one specific, bold prayer request for this season of your life. What limitation do you need to reject in order to pray it with confidence?
- The message says, "Before God enlarges your territory, He may need to enlarge your character." Which of the qualities listed - character, wisdom, patience, integrity, discipline, generosity, capacity - do you sense God is currently growing in you? What's one practical step you can take this week to cooperate with that growth?