The Prayer of Jabez

1 Chronicles 4:9-10

Good Morning everyone! Isa ni sa mga rare opportunities nga ako mag share sa pulong sa Ginoo diri sa atubangan. It has
been 4 years since I last stood in this pulpit to share, I remember clearly nga atong first time ko nag share diri I was
talking about being thankful. I was 19 at that time (ayaw na ninyo kwentaha akong edad) and ingon akong papa nga
“ikaw among speaker sa thanksgiving” and he told me a year ago about that and ambot sad nganong wala ko nibalibad
but now I understood nga kung tagaan ta sa Ginoo ug opportunity to be used by Him wala gyud tay karapatan
mubalibad may it be big and small ways.

Let me start today’s preaching with a story. It was around 1960’s nga ang San Francisco nisaka ilang cost of living and so
kaning group of people called “Hippies” they all moved to Santa Cruz to have cheaper means of living. They got married
there and had children. Kaning mga hippies were known as free spirited people, most of them dili mutuo sa Ginoo, they
were known as users of hallucinogenic drugs, they didn’t want to live by rules and were basically gipang tawag as weird
people. Since known ni sila as weird people in Santa Cruz, especially teachers were used to having students nga
gipanganlan ug Frisbee, Time Warp, Spring Fever, Moonbeam, Earth, Love, Precious Promise.

During the first day of school, tradition na sa mga teachers nga ang mga ginikanan gina butngan ug name tags ilang mga
anak, pasakyon sa school bus and then send them off sa skwelahan. There was one kid ang nametag kay Fruit Stand so
even though the teachers found it weird gi try nila ug abi-abi ghapon si Fruit Stand sa klase. Gina offeran nila siya nga
magdula, “Fruit Stand lets play” “Fruit Stand lets have a snack” “Fruit Stand lets read a book”. Pero wala gyud siya
mitubag or ni react.

Pagkahuman sa klase, gihatod na sila sa parkingan sa school bus then gipangutana sa teacher si Fruit Stand asa iyang bus
assignment. Wala napod nitubag sa Fruit Stand. So ang teacher abi niya shy type lang gyud ni nga bata most especially
kay ang mga kids dili gyud kaayo mag tingog2 kung first day of class. Good thing, gi instruct sa Teachers ang parents nga
sa likod sa nametag isulat nila kung asa nga bus stop inaog ang bata inkaso para dili siya kabalo mupara or di siya kabalo
asa muuli. Pag turn sa teacher sa iyang namte tag nakatawa ang teacher kay naay nakasulat sa likod nga “Anthony”
nabali diay iyang nametag. So si Anthony kay dapat sa Fruit Stand nga bus stop inaog.

Names are a big thing sa atoa. Parents spend time mangita ug nindot nga pangalan sa ilang mga anak. Diba parents? I
myself didn’t like my name before kay gina binuangan ko sa akong mga classmates kay my real name is Bernice Jovel so
ilang joke sa akoa kay “Naa na si Bernice Santo ay” but later on I liked my name kay unique sya and the meaning behind
my name is historical. It’s a combination of both my grandmothers name Bebiana and Aniceta.

The person we will be talking about today is someone named Jabez. Sa panahon sa Bible, names were very very
important. Names would indicate or mu predict siya kung unsay mahitabo sa is aka tao or kung unsa ilang
character/personality.

Abraham – Father of Many Jacob – Deciever/ Mangigilad

Reuben – A son Moses – I drew him out of the water/ gikuha ko sya gikan sa tubid

Well for Jabez ang meaning sa iyang pangalan “PAIN” “KASAKIT”

Diba? What a name to have? Why is Jabez named Pain? Let’s read the text

1 Chronicles 4:9-10 verse 9 says:

Jabez was more honourable than his brothers. His Mother named him Jabez saying “I gave birth to him in pain”.
I am equally thankful my mom was not like Jabez’ mom. The reason nganong wala na nanganak again akong mama kay
grabe pud nga pain iyang gi-again pagpanganak nako. She labored for 12hours and it wasn’t easy. Maygani wa ko
gipanganlan ug Jabez…

Kalooy ni Jabez. Gi indentify siya as someone to be born looser. Imagine nganlan ka ug kasakit? So ang imong kaugmaon
subo, sakit. With that name anang panahona si Jabez gi identify as someone nga dili mahimong successful because his
name meant pain. Jabez was indetified as someone who would bring and experience pain.

What is very notable sa kinabuhi ni Jabez was that when you would look closely sa 1 Chronicles its all names of people
and their decendants murag listahan sa mga family tree sa tribes. Theres a total of almost 500 difficult to spell and
pronounce nga ngalan. But then on chapter 4 verse 10 gi insert kini nga text

“Jabez was more honourable than his brothers. His Mother named him Jabez saying “I gave birth to him in pain”. Jabez
cried out to God of Israel, “Oh that you would bless me indeed 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”

After that very short text, the names continued again. It seems nga ang author was so moved by Jabez life that he
couldn’t help but include how remarkable his story was in 2 short verses.

But despite being named as pain, Jabez lived an honourable life. Now how did that happen? Si Jabez could have lived a
life nga naa sa kasubo kay “ah kasakit ra pod bitaw akong ending, panindigan nalang nato ni” but he didn’t. And this is
something we are gonna focus on today.

Jabez could have turned bitter or angry towards sa iyang pangalan ug sitwasyon. Pwede unta niya gi blame iyang mama
“nangong gipanganlan man ko nimog kasakit kabalo man ka unsa ka predictor sa future ang pangalan unya nganlan ko
nimog kasakit” Maybe Jabez could have given up and accepted iyang fate/destiny. But he didn’t. What Jabez did was this

He turned to God in prayer. He turned to God and prayed earnestly. What his mother named him, gi counter to siya sa
mga pag-ampo ni Jabez.

1. Oh that you would bless me indeed

 Jabez prayed to God that He would bless him. It wasn’t just a normal prayer of asking the Lord nga ibless siya
pero the bible described it as he cried out to God.
 Unsa diay meaning anang word nga “BLESS” So gi research nako ang meaning sa word. In Hebrew bless is “barak”
which means “to consecrate or sanctify by a religious rite; make or pronounce holy” himoong balaan or ideclare
ang isa ka butang as balaan. “BLESSING” in Hebrew is “Berakah” which means a special favour, mercy or benefit.
Us aka espesyal nga pabor, tagaan ug kalooy, kaayohan.
 When Jabez prayed earnestly, katong minghilak siya ug niampo sa Ginoo nga panalanginan siya, Jabez was
actually asking the Lord to set him apart, to make him holy. Himoon siyang balaan. Si Jabez gipangayo niya sa
Ginoo nga giila siya as iyaha sa Ginoo. He asked to be identified in God.
 This is for the fathers. Mga amahan. If ang imong anak naay pangayoon sa imo singko ba kini, or sapatos or
sanina unya mahatag nimo kini, unsa inyong bati-on? Diba malipay ka? How much more ang atong heavenly
father malipayon pud siya to bless us becaue it is the nature of the Lord to bless. Kinaiya na kana sa Ginoo ang
mupanalangin and Just like Jabez, let us not forget to ask the Lord in prayer to bless us. Sa imong pag-ampo,
ayaw kaulaw mangayo ug panalangin sa Ginoo.
 Notice that in Jabez prayer, he did not ask what kind of blessing to give him. Wala siya nangayo ug specific nga
panalangin but instead gihatag niya sa mga kamot sa Ginoo ug unsaon siya ug panalangin because he
understood that God knows everything.
  Ang Ginoo nakabalo sa mga panalangin nga imong gikinahanglan. Pangayo sa Ginoo ug panalangin ug salig nga
ang iyang mga blessings will be exactly what you need and that it will come in His perfect timing.
 Jabez prayer wasn’t a prayer asking for material wealth and he did not expect to immediately get it. Asking the
Lord to bless you simply means nga dili ka mag settle for nothing less and nothing than God’s best for you. Nga
nagsalig ka ang Ginoo mupanalangin ug sibo dili kulang, best labing-maayo para sa imoha.
2. Expand my territory
 At first pag-basa nako ani sa text it was a bit uncomfortable since akong una nahuna-hunaan nangayo ug
kabtangan si Jabez and its partially true but there more to that.
 Naay duha ka tinuohan sa mga Jews/Judeo, Ang una kay kung isa ka tawo mag himo ug daotan, kana nga tao
makatagamtam ug dili maayo nga mga kaagi ug resulta. Pero kung isa ka tao maayo or good, he would get good
things and good results, makakuha siya ug maayong mga butang ug results.

If gitubag sa Ginoo ang pag-ampo ni Jabez, then makabalo si Jabez nga gitagaan siyag pabor sa Gino okay sakto
iyang gipang buhat. Because he has done the right things, God will bless him with wealth.

Ang ikaduha nga tinuohan sa mga Judeo, kay ang relasyon sa mga Judeo sa ilang mga yuta. Ang land sa Canaan
dili lang siya homeland or an old country where ang mga lolo sa mga lolo nila Jabez didto nagpuyo but ang it is
closely tied to God’s promise of prosperity, dako siyag koneksyon sa saad sa ginoo sa kalamposan. Sa panahon
nila Jabez, dako kaayo nga necessity or kinahanglan gyud kaayo naa kay piece of land or yuta par aka maka
survive ug mabuhi imong tibook pamilya. Ang ilahang mga yuta mao kini source sa ilang panginabuhi ug tanan
nilang basic nga mga panginahanglan.

Pero ang pagpanag-iya nimo sa yuta naay kauban nga responsibilidad ug obligasyon. Ang tag-iya dapat faithful
siya sa Ginoo para maimoha or magpadayon nga maimoha ang yuta. Ang tag-iya dapat mugamit sa yuta
faithfully nga muhatag sa saktong mga portion and measure sa fruits, animals ug gulay in nature. Ang tag-iya
usab dapat responsible nga mu care sa iyang mga isaraelites nga kauban nga walay mga kabtangan. Ang madato
nga tag-iya sa yuta naay mga responsibilidad sa mga nabalo, wala nay mga ginikanan according sa Jewish nga
pagtuo. Dili lang kini public nga responsibilidad but it was a question of faithfulness. Para kay Jabez asking the
Lord ug dugang nga teritoryo means nga mangayo pakag dungag responsibilidad nga mahimo kang faithful sa
pag hawid sa mga regalo/gifts sa Ginoo.

If we ask for God to expand our territory in the present, kung karon nato ni pangayoon sa Ginoo this would
mean nga panalanginan ta niya ug additional territory so that mahimo kini nga opportunity para sa atoa to
influence and touch lives for His glory. Kung mangayo kitag bigger territory it means dako nga responsibilidad
and big responsibilities will require mas closer ng relasyon diha sa Ginoo para faithfully a handle kanato kung
unsa man ang iyang gihatag sa atoa.

If duna kay negosyo it’s a territory that God has given you, you can always ask God to expand your business. He
wants you nga mahimo na siyang opportunity to touch individual lives, mahimo kang good influence to the
people in your business all for His glory.

If you are a mother/father or a parent, your territory is your family. The Lord wants you to be of good influence
and impact sa miyembro sa imong pamilya. Gusto niya nga mahimo kang maayo nga impluwensya sa imong mga
anak, sa imong mga parente. Ang inyong mga balay is the single most powerful territory for you to change a life
for God.

If you are a teacher, your territory is your school, your students, how will you make an impact in their lives? If
you are a student, your classmates and friends. For those who are working it can be your officemate or kauban
 sa trabaho. It can be your customers that you see daily. It can be the people you meet daily. Tanan sila kabahin
sa atong territory nga pwede nato ma impluwensayhan para mahimaya ang Ginoo.

No matter what vocation you have, bisan unsa man imong trabaho, ang highest form or pinaka taas nga form sa
prayer ni Jabez for dungag nga teritoryo is that asking the Lord for more opportunities to be able to impact
others in such a way nga ma touch nato ang kinabuhi sa uban para sa iyang Glory. Doing more for Jesus Doing
more for the Lord.

Asking the Lord for more territory can also be applied in doing the ministry. You can always ask God for more
ministry. Sometimes we think nga puno na gyud atong schedule nga wala na tay panahon sometimes mag huna-
huna ta nga di nato kaya mag ministry kay dili ta kabalo, wala tay talents, or maulaw man ko, or wala tay hanaw
but when we really desire to do more for the Lord all we need is a willing heart. I started being involved in the
ministry in the church as a door greeter. Sauna while I was around mga 3rd year HS I had my very first ministry in
the church. Mutuo mo ug sa dili maulaw baya pod ko and I was very hesitant nga ma involve sa ministry but I
was given the opportunity to be in a ministry in the church. Akong pinaka una nga ministry in church was “Door
greeter” tig abri ko sa pultahan sa among youth church kung naay musulod and the only words that I said were
Good Morning. All throughout the service mao ra gyud akong trabaho. Paghuman sa service balik na sad ko sa
door “See you next Sunday” pero if you pray by faith for more ministry amazing things will happen for you. As
your opportunities expand, imong abilidad, talents, resources mu expand pod.

3. Your Hand will be with me

 When I read this part of the text, I asked myself bitaw no how often do I pray and ask the Lord for His hand to be
with me? How often ba gyud nato gina ampo nga ang Ginoo magkuyog kanato ug when do I really mean it?
 Naulaw ko while I was reading this. I was ashamed because the times when I recall or mahinumduman nako nga
nag-ampo ko nga kuyugan ko sa Ginoo are the times when im only in need of a helping hand, when I am scared
and when things do not go as plan or bati ang sitwasyon.
 Sadly those are the times nga gusto nato magkuyog ang Ginoo sa atoa pero lahi ra gyud kung pangayoon nato
nga ang Ginoo magkuyog kanato sa tanang panahon. “Lord be with me kay im about to say hurtful things to my
friend.” “Lord be with me kung magsugod nakog tipas sa saktong agianan” “Lord kuyugi ko kay nagsugod nakog
palayo nimo” “Lord be with me when im about to be disobedient or mga panahon nga wala nako magtuman sa
imong mga sugo”
 That is the kind of “be with me” nga gina express ni Jabez. If seeking God’s blessings is our ultimate act of
worship, kung ang pagpangayo sa panalangin sa Ginoo ang atoang act as worship, asking Him to expand our
territory and to do more for him kaya tong utmost nga ambition, then asking for God’s hand kay atong strategic
nga desisyon para ma sustain kanato ang pagbuhat ug mga great and mighty things nga iyang gisugdan sa atong
kinabuhi.
 When Jabez mentioned “Oh that your hand will be with me” nagpakita kini nga si jabez mapainubsanon siya nga
pagkatao. The Lord has given us instructions sa iyang pulong to be humble before the Lord our God (1 Peter 5:5-
6) Jabez knew nga kung siya lang dili niya makaya ang tanan but when the Lord’s hand is with Him he will be able
to do it.
 God is able to strengthen, deliver and help his people. Ang Ginoo kay maayo mu hatag kusog, tabang ug
dkadaugan sa iyang mga anak. Jabez was simply asking to experience God. Nahibalo si Jabez nga ang iyang
gipang ampo kay mga dagkong butang ug di niya na kaya buhaton nga siya lang. Iyang gi acknowledge ug
gipasidayag ang iyahang dependence sa Ginoo. And that is the attitude we all should have.
 Kung inyong mabantayan si Jabez wala siya misugod ug ampo nga ang kamot sa Ginoo will be with him. At that
point wala pa siguro niya makita ang need. Siguro makaya ra niya ug handle ang gipang hatag nga
responsibilities, territories ug panalangin sa Ginoo. Pero sa dihang ming lihok na ang Ginoo sa iyang kinabuhi ug
 mihatag na ug mga dagkong responsibilidad, iyang nahuna-hunaan nga nag kinahanglan na siyag tabang sa
Ginoo that he needed divine intervention. He could have turned back, pwede unta nga wala na lang niya gi
balibali ang mga responsibilidad kay di na niya makaya or he could have continued to do it sa iya lang makaya
but instead he prayed. He turned to God.
 Gisulayan nakog pangita unsay pasabot sa bibliya anang “Hand of the Lord” sa biblical term it is Gods power and
presence in the lives of His people. Ang gahom ug presensya sa Ginoo sa kinabuhi sa iyang mga
katawhan.( Joshua 4:24 and Isaiah 59:1)
 Acts 11:25 says “The hand of the Lord was with them and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.” The
church growth bears powerful witness to both the necessity and the availability of the hand of God to
accomplish the business of God.
 Depending on God doesn’t mean na magpuyo nalang ka diha and just wait for God to help you. We need to be
balanced people. We pray for Gods blessings, seek an enlarged territory/influence/ministry but when God opens
opportunities for us and his blessings we don’t need to take the extremes of doing it all in our strength nor
neglecting the work. Dili dapat nga kung daghan na tag opportunities or ministry buhaton nato tanan magka
kuba kuba nata di pod pwede nga wala tay himoon. Rather, kinahanglan nato ibutang ang atong mga kamot sa
kamot sa Ginoo and allow God nga ang iyang Kusog mao atong mahimong kusog, iyang kaalam mao atong
mahimong kaalam.
 Like any loving father God is waiting and watching for you to ask for the supernatural power he offers. Pinaagi sa
kamot sa Ginoo as his hand touches your life ma experience nimo ang confidence nga gikan sa iya the type of
confidence nga dili tungod kay capable ka or naa kay kahibalo pero confidence nga naay gamhanang Ginoo nga
magtabang sa imo, you will gain passion to do more for Jesus and most of all you will be of good influence to
others because of Him.
 Dependence on God makes heroes of ordinary people like you and me – Bruce Wilkinson
4. Keep me from harm that I may not cause pain
 The best war is the one prevented and not fought. Ang pinaka maayong gubat mao tong napunggan ayha paman
nasugdan.
 As God begins to bless us and our ministries expand, as we begin to put ourselves in His hands our enemy will
seek to destroy us and stop our ministry and purpose.
 Harm is what we come to when we pursue desires of our sinful nature. Their evil results are noted in the 5th
chapter of Galatians. They are sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry,
hostility, quarrelling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, and division between us.
 Harm or kung sa binisaya pa makadaot. Mao kining usa ka panghitabo nga makuratan nalang ta kay wala ta na
ready. It comes when we least expect it.
 But harm is also done in the mistakes we make for ourselves. Makadaot nga panghitabo nga resulta sa mga
sitwasyon nga wala ta nangayog kaalam sa Ginoo, resulta sa sayop nga desisyon. Resulta sa mga panahon nga
mupili ta sa sayop or makasala ta. Usahay mabuhat pud nato ni sa uban ug dili lang kita ang masakitan. Harm is
the kind of thing that separates us from God’s love and presence. Mao ni ang usahay mubulag sa atoa sa gugma
ug presensya sa Ginoo.
 Jabez name meant pain. He had caused pain but he did not want to cause any more pain. Jabez wanted his life
to be a blessing. Jabez wanted to be protected from the harm and evil and he also wanted to be kept from
sinning because he completely understood that sin causes pain. Sin brings pain into the world, sin causes pain in
the life of a sinner and as well as those against whom it is committed. But more especially sin will cause God
pain. Remember the condition of the world before the flood. The Bible says “The Lord saw how great mans
wickedness is on the earth and that everything in his heart was only evil. And it repented the Lord that he had
made man on the earth and it pained his heart. Sin brings pain to the heart of God.
  Sin is like cancer, it will eat its way through your life, sin will deprive you of the blessings of God. Sin will weaken
and even destroy your Christian influence. Sin will cause the hand of God not to be upon your labor and effort
for him. Sin will turn your success into defeat and will bring evil and wickedness against you, sin will cause pain
nto everything you say and do “sin will bring forth death” James 1;15
 Most of the time we pray for strength to endure temptations for victory over the attacks of our raging adversary,
Satan. Sa atong pag ampo common nga mangayo tag kusog nga kaya nato labanan ang temptasyon pero sa pag-
ampo ni Jesus “The Lords Prayer” in Matthew 6:13 he asked for deliverance “And lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13). When was the last time you asked God to keep you away from
temptation? Kanus-a ba ta last naka ampo nga ihilayo ta sa Ginoo sa temptasyon? In the same way God wants
you to ask for more blessings, kung unsa kita mag ampo ug more blessings, territory and power, gusto sa Ginoo
nga mu-ampo usab kita ug protection against temptation nga dili kita ma butang sa mga sitwasyon nga ma
tempt ta by evil.
 "The most effective war against sin is to pray that we will not have to fight" [Ibid., Wilkinson, p.68.]

CONCLUSION

So, what happened to Jabez? Unsa man ang nahitabo kay Jabez? GOD ANSWERED HIS PRAYER

You see, the moral of our story is that prayer changes things. Naay gahom kung musalig ug muampo ta sa atong
gamhanan nga Ginoo. Mao ni ang rason ngano ang kinabuhi ni jabez nag stand out sa book of chronicles. Mao ni atong
matun-an sa kinabuhi ni Jabez. Prayer will change things

What struck me the most is that kung isummarize nimo ang pag-ampo ni Jabez, its simply a type of prayer nga nangayo /
ga invite sa Ginoo nga mahimo siyang present sa atong kinabuhi, nga mahimo siyang kabahin sa atong adlaw adlaw, nga
mahimo siyang kabahin from the biggest details to the smallest sa atong mga kinabuhi

Friends, let us learn to value prayer. To make prayer an essential part of our everyday lives.

In closing let me share a story about my college friend. She’s a muslim who comes from a prominent family of politicians.
They are very consecrated muslims. This friend takes seriously the order of the Q’ran to pray 5 times in a day. Ang tawag
ani kay Salah. Everyday my friend will always bring with her a compass kay they need it para sakto ang direction sa ilang
prayers kung asa sila mag atubang, and iyang prayer mat or janamaz ug another type of hijab (covering) nga pang prayer
lang.

One time we were watching a movie sa mall and ang alarm sa akong friend ni ring so she immediately walked up got her
bag and told us nga mag-ampo sa siya never hesitating nga basin ma miss niya ang ending sa movie nga among gina
watch. 1 salah is equivalent to 18-20mins of prayer. That’s quite long!

At that time it struck me the most. Naulaw kaayo ko when I was looking at my friend. Because I understood how she
valued prayer. How she was ready to give up everything so she can pray. I asked myself “How many times do I pray in a
day? 3 times pamahaw, paniudto, panihapon?” What am I doing? Why am I not praying? My time is so consumed with
all of the unnecessary things and yet daghan kaayo kog complaints here and there na dapat I should be praying instead?
Up until this moment I am still haunted by what I felt on that day. When clearly I don’t need a mat, a hijab, a compass, I
can pray immediately yet what am I doing?

Im not saying nga mag ampo na ta 5 times in a day. My point here is that I hope we all understand how important and
essential prayer is sa atong kinabuhi. That despite all the busy days we have we will always have time to communicate
with the Lord with our heavenly father. I hope and pray nga masabtan nato ang value sa prayer sa atong daily life as we
live for God.
A life of prayer - as demonstrated in the way Jabez prayed, seeking a closer relationship with God - changes things,
changes everything, changes life itself.

I hope and pray that as we continue on with this life we will never get tired of praying. That as we reflect on the life of
Jabez we will also be brave enough to pray like him, to express our dependence sa Ginoo through prayer.

Would you like to see God come alive in your life once again? Would you like to see how God can work through you
great and amazing things?

Pray for more of God.

Pray for opportunities to give a testimony and be of good influence

Pray for dependence upon Him

Pray that God would keep you focused by removing all distractions

This is my invitation to you this morning

LETS ALL PRAY