1Chronicles Sermons by Rev. Mike Jones [Revised February 14, 2019]
IChron 12:32 THINGS WE OUGHT TO DO
IChron 12:32 THINGS WE OUGHT TO DO2-
IChron 12:32 THINGS WE OUGHT TO DO3
IChron 12:32 KNOW WHAT YOU KNOW?
IChron 04:9-10 POWER PRAYING
And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested (1 Chronicles 4:9-10).
I call this “Power Praying” because after Jabez’s Prayer the LORD GRANTED HIM HIS REQUEST. I think all of us desire that kind of Prayer life- one that achieves results and produces answers. Let’s Look closely at this prayer and see what Jabez did that made his a POWER PRAYER.
I. Note the location of this prayer. It is found among the “graveyards” of the first ten chapters of First Chronicles. Among all those “headstones”, God stops at this one to make a comment. That shows the First Principle in Power Praying. Recognize Our ACCOUNTABILITY to God. The Psalmist said that “if I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Psalm 66:18). Power Praying comes from Pure Living!!
A saint of old said that, “My greatest thought is my accountability to God”. This accountability is not just for FUTURE REWARDS- “Only one life twill soon be past. Only what’s done for God will last”. It is also for PRESENT PRAYER ANSWERS (Are you as anxious to reward a rebellious child as you are an obedient one???).
II. Power Praying is also built by MY RESPONSE to life’s situations- vs 9 Don’t let Bad Circumstances keep you down-
These Circumstances may be FAMILY PROBLEMS- “More honorable than his brothers”.
These Circumstances may be PERSONAL LIMITATIONS- Jabez had to outlive a Bad Name- Jabez means sorrowful
1. Maybe sorrow of Childbirth (Caused by Sin)
2. Maybe Dad had just died (Not mentioned)
Your Reputation is built Day by day, responsibility by responsibility. Past and Present Character flaws often make us doubt God will do anything for us.
Family, Fortune, and sometimes even Facts (!) combine to hinder our Faith. People’s Words and Our Works often combine to discourage and intimidate us. Because of our Circumstances we feel that God CANNOT or WILL NOT hear our prayers. 1 John 3:20-22 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
Finally, Note the ELEMENTS in His Prayer vs 10. He Request:
A) Prosperity- “Bless me Indeed”- The Word “Bless” here means Spiritually happy. It is like the word used in Ps 1:1 Blessed is the man that avoids evil and clings to God. He is asking God to make him spiritually ready and able to receive something from God.
B) Property- “Enlarge my Coast” He may be remembering God’s Promise to Abraham. Power Praying must be based on God’s Word. There are numerous Blessing that God has promised His people. Just be sure you don’t take the promise out of context or twist it to fit your desires-James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
C) Presence- “Thine hand with me”. Power Praying means walking in cooperation with God. We join together, hand in hand. That is because we realize that our Breath is in his hand (Physical Dependence); I depend on His strength to keep Satan from Plucking me out of his hand (Spiritual Dependence); and I look forward to the day I can say, “Into thine hands I commit my spirit” (Eternal Dependence).
D) Power- “Keep me from harm (evil)” (Also found In Lord’s Prayer). Like the Sailor who lives with his enemy (water) you must learn to trust the “Ship” to protect you. Power Praying learns to Trust God’s Strength and Protection. It does not try to do the job on its own.
E) Peace- “It may not pain (grieve) me”. Power Praying learns to trust God’s Wisdom. We always ask for His will to be done because we know He can see far beyond our limited vision.
F) Performance- God granted Him his request. Power Praying gets results.
Do you pray with little hope of answers? Is your prayer life simply a form and fashion? You need to learn, and practice, the principles of Power Praying. God delights in hearing the prayers of His children; Give Him that joy today.
IChron 12:32 THINGS WE OUGHT TO DO
I Chron 12:32 And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do
I. WE OUGHT TO HEED GOD’S WORD- Heb 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only. The Children of Israel started out from the land of Egypt obeying God’s Word but as they traveled they began to complain, then to compromise, and finally to disobey God’s word. They ended up wandering in the Wilderness, waiting to die. We must learn today to obey God even if it doesn’t make sense to us.
II. WE OUGHT TO CONTINUE TO PRAY- Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint Pray and keep on Praying. God wants to Bless you but sometimes He must get our attitude right. There is POWER in Prayer. There is PROVISION in Prayer. There is PEACE in Prayer.
III. WE OUGHT TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER- I Jn 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. They’ll know we are Christians by our Love— which means we ought to bear one another’s burdens- Rom 15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Can you think of a better time to render aid to someone in need- an extra $5 may mean a great deal to one of our widows.
IV. WE OUGHT TO OBEY GOD- Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. To obey is better than sacrifice.
Obey God’s command to BE SAVED
Obey God’s Command to be a Witness
Listen to God’s voice. Learn to distinguish God’s voice (My sheep know my voice, another they will not follow).
IChron 12:32 THINGS WE OUGHT TO DO2-
I Chron 12:32 And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do. Knowing how to act in India is very important- put right hand on left shoulder of single woman is proposal of marriage. No TP so never shake hands- if necessary use only right hand.
I. WE OUGHT TO CONTINUALLY APPLY GOD’S PRINCIPLES TO DAILY LIVING- Heb 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only. The Children of Israel started out from the land of Egypt obeying God’s Word but as they traveled they began to complain, then to compromise, and finally to disobey God’s word. They ended up wandering in the Wilderness, waiting to die. We must learn today to obey God even if it doesn’t make sense to us.
II. WE OUGHT TO BE CONSISTENT IN OUR PRAYERS- Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint. Pray and keep on Praying. God wants to Bless you but sometimes He must get our attitude right. There is POWER in Prayer. There is PROVISION in Prayer. There is PEACE in Prayer.
III. WE OUGHT TO LOVE FELLOW CHRISTIANS- I Jn 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. They’ll know we are Christians by our Love— which means WE OUGHT TO BE CONSIDERATE OF OTHER PEOPLE’S NEEDS- Rom 15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
IV. WE OUGHT TO PUT GOD’S WILL FIRST IN OUR LIFE- Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. To obey is better than sacrifice.
Obey God’s command to BE SAVED
Obey God’s Command to be a Witness
Listen to God’s voice. Learn to distinguish God’s voice (My sheep know my voice, another they will not follow).
Knowing what you Ought to do can sometimes save your life- Saifal knew what I ought to do on my first trip to Nepal during an emergency- Stay Calm.
IChron 12:32 THINGS WE OUGHT TO DO3
I Chron 12:32 And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do Knowing how to act in India is very important- put right hand on left shoulder of single woman is proposal of marriage. No TP so never shake hands- if necessary use only right hand. Why you need a door greeter and a song leader who tells people what to do (sit or stand).
[Note- Look at the other descriptions of the people of David’s Army around this verse- vs 25- “Might men of valor for the war”. Vs 30 “famous throughout the house of their fathers”. Vs 33- “which could keep rank: they were not of a double heart”
Several times in Scripture the word “ought” is used to establish life principles.
I. WE OUGHT TO REMEMBER WHAT GOD HAS TAUGHT US- Heb 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. We live in a changing society where moral principles and evens manners are fast changing. Society may change but scripture does not! Change is not bad; slipping away from God is! Make a list of 5 things I will go to jail for. And Remember it is your Walk and not your Talk that God is looking at- James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only.
II. WE OUGHT TO BE CONSISTENT IN OUR PRAYERS- Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint: Pray and keep on Praying. God wants to Bless you but sometimes He must get our attitude right. There is POWER in Prayer. There is PROVISION in Prayer. ($1,000 this week!). There is PEACE in Prayer.
III. WE OUGHT TO LOVE FELLOW CHRISTIANS- I Jn 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. They’ll know we are Christians by our Love— which means WE OUGHT TO BE CONSIDERATE OF OTHER PEOPLE’S SPIRITUAL MATURITY- Rom 15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
IV. WE OUGHT TO MAKE OBEYING GOD OUR PRIORITY- Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. To obey is better than sacrifice.
Obey God’s command to BE SAVED
Obey God’s Command to WITNESS
Obey God’s Voice in LIFE. Learn to distinguish God’s voice (My sheep know my voice, another they will not follow) and then trust what that Voice is telling you to do!
Knowing what you Ought to do can sometimes save your life- Saifal knew what I ought to do on my first trip to Nepal- Be Calm or start a riot.
IChron 12:32 KNOW WHAT YOU KNOW?
And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; (1 Chronicles 12:32).
The Bible is history from no earth to a new earth; from no man to the God man; from a garden to a golden city. It reveals very little of what happened before creation and very little about what will happen after the present earth’s story is complete.
What you believe determines what you do. In the beginning of the Bible we learn that dealing with Satan is not a Power encounter, it is a Truth Encounter. Satan did not attempt to overpower Eve; he simply used deceptive words to build unbelief. That makes knowing what you believe very important.
In the beginning of the Bible we learn that dealing with Satan is not a Power encounter, it is a Truth Encounter. Satan did not attempt to overpower Eve; he simply used deceptive words to build unbelief. That makes knowing what you believe very important. (Fix flat tire. Not powerful enough to move car but faith enough to believe turning jack will raise car).
Knowing what you know determines how you live. A doubter is one who feels bad when he feels good for fear he’ll feel worse when he feels better.
THREE THINGS I KNOW.
- I Know I am saved by faith in Christ– These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God (1 John 5:13). Not saved by my good works, good behavior, or my good reputation.
- I Know God is in control of my circumstances– And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). I know that sometimes a good God allows bad situations to happen to good people- And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness. And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him (Mark 1:12-13). God does this to Develop us and to Discipline us (And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god Daniel 1:2). (This is when Daniel and his friends were carried captive in order to witness to the heathen. Ezekiel was later carried away to witness to Israel and Jeremiah was later allowed to stay and witness to the last part of the nation).
- I Know I can trust God with my Life, my Labor, and my Love– …I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day (2 Timothy 1:12).
Satan’s objective is:
- to get me to act independently of God (Rebellion)
- work for self instead of the Savior (Selfishness)
- find something that he can get me to love more than God
Hindrance to faith is fear: Fear to totally commit, fear of failure in that commitment, fear of giving control to someone else. Answer: There is no fear in love; bur perfect love casteth out fear (IJohn 4:18).
THREE THINGS I DO NOT KNOW:
- My own heart– The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9). I do “stupid” a lot more than I should!
- The impact of my life on God’s plan- Es 4:14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? The ripple of your life may rock many boats!
- The end of my life– Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. (James 4:14) Life Happens. Often life happens suddenly.
When God puts Himself on your agenda you may not get another day- In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain (Daniel 5:30) But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? (Luke 12:20)
Example of young boy in Cracker Barrel who pumped and pumped a water pump but never got any water because the pump was not connected to water! If you are working your way through life the best you can but never enjoying the water of life (a relationship with Christ) then I invite you to stop pumping and starting knowing you are saved by Faith in Christ.