by Hope City Church on Jan 18, 2024
In the discourse on living a life empowered by the divine, the focus is on the concept of anointing, which is described as living with God's power to lead a supernatural life. This anointing is not merely an emotional experience but a transformative power that enables individuals to rise above the ordinary. The reference to Exodus 33:15 underscores the importance of divine presence in achieving anything of significance. The yearning for God's presence is not just for the sake of personal fullness but for increased sensitivity to divine guidance, which is essential for navigating life's journey.
The narrative shifts to the prayer of Jabez, highlighting the importance of praying with a purpose beyond personal gain. Jabez's prayer was not self-centered but aimed at making a difference and building an empire. The emphasis is on praying for things that align with divine promises and demonstrate the reality of God's presence in one's life. The call is to expand one's vision beyond material desires and to seek blessings that allow one to testify to God's goodness.
Protection is another key theme, with a reference to 1 Peter 5:8, which speaks of the devil as a predator seeking to cause harm. The plea is for strength and rescue from the enemy's attacks, recognizing that the struggles faced are not merely physical but spiritual, involving forces beyond human comprehension.
The concept of influence is also explored, with a desire for words and actions to carry weight and make a difference in various spheres of life, including politics and entertainment. The prayer is for a divine anointing of influence, ensuring success in all endeavors. Ephesians 3:20 is cited to illustrate the boundless nature of what can be achieved through divine power at work within individuals.
The speaker reflects on the act of cooking without measurements as a metaphor for the immeasurable blessings God desires to bestow. The prayer is for an outpouring of healing, breakthroughs, and answered prayers without measure, exceeding human capacity to contain.
The presence of God is described as the great equalizer, the game-changer that enables individuals to accomplish what they cannot do on their own. The New Testament reinforces the Old Testament notion that it is the anointing that breaks yokes and barriers. The presence of God is sought to rest upon words, visions, dreams, and decisions, ensuring that all actions are divinely inspired and effective.
The story of Jabez is revisited, emphasizing his honorable character and the effectiveness of his simple yet powerful prayer. The narrative encourages individuals to position themselves to be honorable in God's sight, which can lead to divine favor and the fulfillment of requests. The pain associated with Jabez's birth is presented as a catalyst for significant contributions and miracles, suggesting that pain can be a precursor to great achievements.
The discourse concludes with a focus on prosperity, defined as having more than one needs to make a difference in the lives of others. The desire is for blessings that enable individuals to meet their needs and, in turn, bless others. The prayer of Jabez is used as a model for seeking divine favor, expansion of territory, and protection from harm. The ultimate goal is to be blessed in order to be a blessing to others, fulfilling the Abrahamic promise of being a source of blessing.
Key Takeaways:
- Anointing is understood as the divine empowerment to live beyond natural limitations, enabling individuals to experience a supernatural life. This empowerment is not just for personal edification but for making a tangible difference in the world. The anointing is a transformative force that allows one to operate with God's power in every aspect of life. [25:55]
- The presence of God is essential for achieving anything of eternal value. It is not enough to have the fullness of God within; there must be an active awareness and sensitivity to His guidance. The presence of God is what directs and orders the steps of individuals, making it a critical aspect of living a life aligned with divine purpose. [27:46]
- Praying for protection is not only about physical safety but also about spiritual fortitude against unseen spiritual forces. Recognizing the spiritual nature of life's battles is crucial for seeking divine strength and rescue from adversities that threaten to undermine one's faith and purpose. [29:24]
- Influence is seen as a divine anointing that allows one's words and actions to have a significant impact on others. Praying for influence is about seeking the ability to affect change and inspire others in various domains of society, ensuring that one's contributions are effective and aligned with divine will. [22:33]
- Prosperity is redefined as the ability to have more than one needs, not for personal accumulation but for the purpose of being a blessing to others. The prayer for prosperity is rooted in the desire to fulfill one's needs and extend generosity to those around, embodying the Abrahamic blessing of being a conduit of divine favor. [17:45]
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. **1 Chronicles 4:9-10** - "Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, 'I gave birth to him in pain.' Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, 'Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.' And God granted his request."
2. **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."
3. **Exodus 33:15** - "Then Moses said to him, 'If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.'"
#### Observation Questions
1. What specific request did Jabez make in his prayer according to 1 Chronicles 4:9-10?
2. How does Ephesians 3:20 describe God's ability to work in our lives?
3. What was Moses' condition for moving forward in Exodus 33:15?
4. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the anointing in a believer's life? [25:18]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jabez's prayer was considered honorable and effective? [10:03]
2. How does the concept of "immeasurably more" in Ephesians 3:20 challenge our understanding of God's blessings? [21:51]
3. What does it mean to live a life empowered by God's presence, as described in Exodus 33:15 and the sermon? [27:15]
4. How can recognizing the spiritual nature of life's battles, as mentioned in 1 Peter 5:8, change the way we pray for protection? [28:58]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced pain. How did you respond in prayer, and how might Jabez's example guide you differently? [11:48]
2. In what areas of your life do you need to pray for God's blessing and enlargement of territory? Be specific. [13:25]
3. How can you cultivate a greater awareness of God's presence in your daily life? What practical steps can you take? [27:15]
4. Think of a situation where you need divine influence. How can you pray specifically for God's anointing in that area? [20:58]
5. Identify a recent challenge or attack you faced. How can you apply the prayer for protection from 1 Peter 5:8 in your current circumstances? [28:58]
6. How can you shift your prayers from being self-centered to being focused on making a difference and fulfilling God's promises? [28:09]
7. What specific actions can you take this week to be a blessing to others, reflecting the prosperity described in the sermon? [17:45]
Day 1: Embrace Divine Empowerment
Divine anointing transcends natural limitations, equipping one with supernatural capabilities to impact the world positively. This empowerment is not for self-glorification but to serve and make a difference, reflecting God's power in every life aspect. [25:55]
Isaiah 61:1 - "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners."
Reflection: How can you use your unique gifts and talents to serve others in a way that reflects God's anointing in your life?
Day 2: Pursue God's Presence Relentlessly
Achieving eternal significance requires the active pursuit of God's presence, which guides and directs one's path. This pursuit is not just for personal fulfillment but to ensure that every step taken is ordained and aligned with divine purpose. [27:46]
Psalm 143:10 - "Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground."
Reflection: In what ways can you cultivate a deeper sensitivity to God's presence in your daily routine?
Day 3: Stand Firm in Spiritual Battles
The struggle against spiritual forces requires divine strength and protection. Acknowledging the spiritual nature of conflicts is essential for seeking God's power to overcome life's adversities and to remain steadfast in faith and purpose. [29:24]
Ephesians 6:12 - "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
Reflection: What spiritual battles are you currently facing, and how can you actively put on the armor of God to stand firm against them?
Day 4: Seek Influence for Kingdom Impact
Praying for influence is about desiring the ability to inspire and effect change in society, ensuring that one's contributions are impactful and divinely inspired. This influence is not for personal gain but to advance God's kingdom in every sphere of life. [22:33]
Matthew 5:13-14 - "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden."
Reflection: How can you be 'salt and light' in your community, and what specific actions can you take to increase your influence for God's kingdom?
Day 5: Prosper to Bless Others
True prosperity is having the means to bless others, not for selfish accumulation but to extend generosity and fulfill the promise of being a conduit of divine favor. This form of prosperity reflects the heart of God and fulfills His purpose for abundance. [17:45]
2 Corinthians 9:8 - "And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."
Reflection: How can you use your resources to bless someone in your community this week, and what steps will you take to make this happen?
**Favorite topics, if you've been with me long enough, hopefully you know this by now, but it is Jabez. Jabez is one of the most effective, powerful prayers in the Bible. It was a prayer of someone by the name of Jabez. Over the years, this prayer of Jabez became a movement where you saw books, you saw bracelets, you just saw all types of marketing things because somehow the word, the verbiage, the title, the idea of the concept of the prayer of Jabez just really took off, and people could relate to that.**
**I just feel led today to take us back. I want to see the basics, but I think the prayer of Jabez, as powerful as it was, is one of the most basic prayers that we can pray or positions or models, if you would, that we could pray to see maximum impact in our lives. I want to just read the scripture here: 1 Chronicles 4:9. It says here, 1 Chronicles 4:9, and we'll pray through some of this here as you prepare for work, school, whatever the specificity of that may be for you today.**
**It says in 1 Chronicles 4:9, "Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, 'I gave birth to him in pain.' Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, 'Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.'" And verse 10, the scripture says, "And God granted him his requests." That was a powerful, simple yet powerful prayer, and we know that it was effective because the scripture says, "And God granted him what he requested." What lets me know that God was attentive? God's ear was bent for Jabez; He was willing to hear what Jabez had to say.**
**The scripture says Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. Listen, whether it is blood siblings, whether it is co-workers, whether it's people at your church, whether it's people in the city in which you reside, you can position yourself to be honorable. It's not about always trying to be better than in a shallow way, but we can position ourselves to be so honorable in the sight of God that it puts us in a favorable place where we can ask some things from God. We can be that favorite child, if you would, that God would hear us and respond.**
**It says that his mother named him Jabez, saying, "I gave birth to him in pain." Listen, you know some of the greatest things in our lives can be birthed through pain. My question to you is, have you experienced any pain lately? Have you been through pain lately, and you're so focused and consumed on the pain that you may be missing the miracle, the possibilities that can come out of this pain? It says his mother named him Jabez because she gave birth to him in pain, and unbeknownst to her, she gave birth to a significant child. She gave birth to something that would make a significant difference and give a significant contribution to his country, to the people that were around him, and even those in his home.**
**So when you look at this prayer of Jabez, my question will be: What kind of prayer should I pray when I'm in pain? Okay, I'm setting in. What kind of prayer should you pray? What kind of prayer should we pray when we are in pain, when we're going through, when we're dealing with loss, when we're dealing with abandonment, when we're dealing with the loss of a loved one, when we're dealing with people turning against us? What kind of prayer should you pray? Should I pray when I find myself in emotional pain, physical pain, spiritual pain, psychological pain? What kind of prayer should we pray?**
**Well, number one, I would say pray for blessing. Jabez, in the midst of all he was going through, in the midst of all the opposition, in the midst of all the pressure, he prayed for a blessing. "Oh, that you would bless me!" If you're in pain right now, pray for a blessing and ask God to bless you. Your children going through pain? Ask God to bless them. Your spouse, someone you value, someone who is close to you is experiencing a level of pain, emotional or physical pain? Pray for blessing. Psalm 51:12 says, "Surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them, watch this here, with favor as with a shield."**
**So, Father, right now in the name of Jesus, I pray for a blessing upon everyone that is listening to my voice right now. I pray that you will shield them, that you will protect them from any and everything that would try to come up against them to steal their joy, to steal their peace, to steal the promises that you have made available for them. Father, I declare that you will not allow whatever they are experiencing to continue on for too long. I know that you will not put more on us than we can bear. So we thank you, Lord God, that our pain, that our pressure has a timeline, that it has an expiration date. I believe right now, God, that pain is expiring in the lives of your people and that you are blessing them suddenly and supernaturally. God, come on, speak specifically what you need God to bless you in. Speak, call out specifically that child's name, that spouse's name, that thing that you need God to bless in this season. Pray for blessing.**
**John 3:2 says, "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health just as your soul prospers." Pray for a blessing. What about Genesis 26:12-13? When Isaac sold a seed in the land, the Bible says when Isaac sold the seed in the land, he reaped in that same year—not another year—he reaped a harvest in that same year, a hundredfold blessing. The Bible says, and it goes on to say, "And the Lord blessed him." The man began to prosper and continued to prosper until he became very prosperous. Come on, look at the degree, look at the acceleration, look at the increase of the blessing that was on Isaac. He began to prosper, he continued to prosper, and he continued to prosper until he became prosperous.**
**I speak that; I declare that type of blessing upon your life, exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ask or think or even imagine. What does the word prosperity mean? When I think about it, we've been declaring it the year of more and that God's going to do exceedingly abundantly. We're declaring a current season, a series that I mean right now, exceedingly more. When I think of the word prosperity, I think about having more than I need so I can make a difference. Come on, somebody! Prosperity means to have more than I need so that I can make a difference in the lives of others. That is what I believe that God is ours to do in me, in you, through us because we are honorable people who are positioning ourselves in such a way that we know where our help comes from.**
**Jabez prayed to the Lord, and that's what we're doing today. We're devoting this time today; we're speaking the word of God. We're depending on the word of God for His blessings, His promises, His will to be manifested in our life. He said, "Lord, bless me." And so, "Lord, bless me with more than I need so that I can be a blessing to the world around me." That's my desire: God bless me with more than I need so I can be a blessing to those that are around me.**
**Look at that prayer again. It says Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother named him Jabez, saying, "I gave birth to him in pain." In pain was he given birth. It says, but Jabez cried out to the God of Israel and said, "Oh Lord, oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be upon me and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And it says God granted him what he requested. Lord, bless me with more. What's the more? The more is not for me to say, "Look at how large my bank account is." The more is not for me to keep heaping upon stuff—I'm hoarding more shoes, more dresses, more suits, more cars. The more is so that, yes, He's blessing you. He told Abraham, "I'm going to bless you and make you a blessing." So yes, the first goal is to be blessed to see all of our needs met. It is God's will for your needs to be met. It is God's will for you to not have to rob Peter to pay Paul. It is God's will for you to have a place to live and reside and be able to get from A to Z.**
**Father, I pray that as we are declaring today that you bless us, that your people's needs are met. I want to assure that they are blessed, that their needs are met, that there's no lack in their life. And God, as you make sure that their needs are being met, I declare that we will fulfill the Abrahamic blessing that was spoken over Abraham's life—that he's going to be blessed, that he will be a blessing. Let us be men and women that become individuals who have our needs met, and you reposition us also to be a blessing in the lives of other people. Pray for a blessing.**
**Here's the second thing: pray for influence. That's my desire personally right now, that God would give me a level of influence in all sectors of society right now, whether it's influence in religion, in the church world, if you would, whether it is in business, in education, in entertainment, in politics. God, give me influence. Give me a voice. Let my words be weighty. Let what I say be effective. Let there be something different on what I say and what I do, that whatever they do, God, it may not work, but for me, it will work because there is a grace, there is an anointing called influence on whatever I put my hands to; it will prosper. So pray for influence. Begin to pray that God would use you in a way that you can influence others.**
**Look what it says here in Ephesians 3:20: "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ask or even think." The NIV version says, "Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine according to His power that is at work on the inside of us." I think sometimes when I'm cooking, and sometimes when I look at a recipe, and sometimes the recipe calls for a teaspoon of this or a tablespoon of this or four tablespoons of that, and there are times where I don't want to measure. It's like I do not want to measure; I just want to cook, and I just want to one tablespoon, two tablespoons, three, four, five. I want to do what I feel is best for what I am cooking. It is that thought of immeasurable; there's no measuring stick to what God wants to do. God wants to lavish you; He wants to pour upon you more than you can handle, that cannot even be measured.**
**I pray right now that God, you are pouring out without measure—God, healing, breakthrough, answered prayers, God swinging open doors. God, that Father, you are doing immeasurable things in our life. I declare healing upon healing, breakthrough upon breakthrough. God, whatever the specificity is that your people need on today, pour it out without measure. God, give us more than we can handle in the area of what is right, and we'll rejoice in it all; we'll praise you through it all, God, because you are worthy to be praised. So listen, let us see what God is doing. Let us see so that we can pursue all that God has for our life. God, we want to see; we want to know what it is that you are doing in this season so that we can partner with you and make a difference and be men and women of influence.**
**Here's a third thing: pray for presence. Pray for the presence of God to sit on your words, to sit on your vision, to sit on your dream, to sit on the decisions you are contemplating. Pray for the presence of God. Listen, the presence of God is the great equalizer. The presence of God makes the difference. The scripture says this in the Old Testament, and it is just as equally, if not more true today in the New Testament, that it is the anointing that destroys the yoke. The presence of God is a game changer. The presence of God will allow you to do in God's strength what you can't do in your strength. You need the presence of God. Acts 11:21 said, "The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord." You know, at Hope City, it is my desire that all that we continue to do, that we do it because of the presence of God, that because the hand of God is with us, that God is working in our lives—not by power, not by might, but by the Spirit of God. Yes, we need power; yes, we need might, but what God is doing is not by that power alone; it's not by that might alone; it is by the Spirit, by the anointing of God being in the midst of His people.**
**Now, what is the anointing? Living my life with God's power so I can live a supernatural life. That's what the anointing is. It is living my life with God's power so that I can live a supernatural life. Somebody write that down: the anointing is not just this emotional, sensational thing that just jumps on you and just hits you and makes you run around the church. Listen, I don't need anything to hit me; I don't need to catch anything to make me lift up my hands, to make me shout, to make me dance. David said, "When I think of His goodness and all He does for me, my soul," which is the seat of my emotions, how I think, how I feel, that causes me to lift up my hands, that causes me to rejoice, that causes me to dance. The anointing comes in our life, over our life, so that I can live my life with God's power so that I can live a supernatural life.**
**Exodus 33:15 says that Moses said to Him, "If your presence does not go with us, do not send us from here." Listen, the presence of God in 2024, if you want to see more, if you want to see exceedingly and abundantly above all, ask for more of His presence. Yes, you have the fullness of the Godhead living on the inside of you, but more awareness, more being sensitive to the moving and the directing. The steps of a good man, a good woman are ordered by the Lord. Make us more aware and conscious of the presence of God that's in our lives. He said, "Lord, let your hand be with me or on me because what you have called me to do, watch this here, is too big for me to handle."**
**Let's say this again: think about what Jabez was not praying—a selfish prayer. Jabez was praying a prayer so that he could make a difference, so that he could make an impact. And when you reposition why you're praying, and not just a selfish prayer just to heap stuff upon yourself, but you're praying for stuff, you're asking for stuff, you're asking for healing, you're asking for direction because you want the promises of God to be fulfilled. You want people to know that God is real; you want people to know that God is with you. Make the vision, make the plan bigger than just, "Oh, I want my bills paid," "Oh, I want a new house," "Oh, I want a new car." Make it bigger than that. Make it what the book of Matthew says: "Let men see your good works so that they could glorify your Father which is in heaven." I want God to do all of this for me for people to ask me, "Hey, how you do that?" "Hey, how you getting that?" "Hey, how those doors open for you?" And I want to be able to testify of the goodness of my God.**
**One more thing, and we're going to be done here: pray for protection. Pray for protection. 1 Peter 5:8 says, "Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." It says, "Resist him, standing firm in the faith." He said, "Lord, strengthen me," or "Lord, strengthen us," and "rescue us from the attack of the enemy." That's what Jabez was praying. He was saying, "Lord, keep me; let your hand be with me and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." So pray today that, "Lord, strengthen me, strengthen us, and rescue us from every attack of the enemy." I don't know what attacks, I don't know what pressure you may be experiencing and where it is coming from, but you can pray, "Lord, keep me; cover me from the attacks of this." Again, we're not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against rulers.**
1) "The anointing is not just this emotional sensational thing... it is living my life with God's power so that I can live a supernatural life." [25:55] (Download)
2) "The presence of God is the great equalizer... it will allow you to do in God's strength what you can't do in your strength." [24:09] (Download)
3) "Pray for the presence of God to sit on your words, to sit on your vision, to sit on your dream, to sit on the decisions you are contemplating." [24:09] (Download)
4) "Jabez was praying a prayer so that he could make a difference, so that he could make an empire... not just selfish prayer just to heap stuff upon yourself." [27:46] (Download)
5) "Pray for protection... 'Lord strengthen me and rescue me from the attack of the enemy.' That's what Jabez was praying." [29:24] (Download)
6) "Prosperity means to have more than I need so I can make a difference in the lives of others." [17:45] (Download)
7) "God bless me with more than I need so I can be a blessing to those that are around me." [17:45] (Download)
8) "You can position yourself to be honorable... it puts us in a favorable place that we can ask some things from God." [11:35] (Download)
9) "Some of the greatest things in our lives can be birthed out and birth through pain... you may be missing the miracle, the possibilities that can come out of this pain." [11:35] (Download)
10) "Pray for a blessing... 'Oh that you would bless me.' If you're in pain right now, pray for a blessing and ask God to bless you." [14:40] (Download)
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