JABEZ – GOD IS IN THE BUSINESS OF CHANGING OF NAMES

1Ch 4:9 And Jabez was more honorable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying,
Because I bare him with sorrow.

1Ch 4:10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and
enlarge my border, and that thy hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that
it be not to my sorrow! And God granted him that which he requested.

A GERMAN CHRISTIAN POET - MORGENSTERN WROTE –“ALL SEAGULLS LOOK AS THOUGH THEIR NAME
WERE EMMA” AND THOUGH HE WAS KNOW FOR HIS “NONESENSE POETRY” - there was truth in his
suggestion that some linguistic labels are perfectly suited to the concepts they denote

NAMES convey symbolic IDEAS BEYOND THEIR MEANING

NAMES carry hidden baggage that play some role in shaping ….. THE WAY WE THINK OF OUR SELVES.

A SINGLE NAME TITLE HAS PROFOUND POWER TO SHAPE MATERIAL OUTCOMES OF A PERSON’s
EXPERIENCE OVERTIME.

THE NAMES people choose for their children convey a wealth of sometimes unintended information.

THE FIRST NAMING CEREMONY WAS CONNDUCTED BY MAN……. OVERSITED BY GOD HIMSELF..

Ge 2:19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air;
and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living
creature, that was the name thereof.

20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for
Adam there was not found an help meet for him.

AND THE WOMAN SHOWED UP…….. AND ADAM HAD A NAME ALREADY FOR HER

Ge 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman,
because she was taken out of Man.

MAN THEREFORE SEEMS MANDATED BY GOD TO DISH OUT NAMES – HE IS THEREFORE IN THE BUSINESS
OF NAMING THINGS, PEOPLE AND PLACES …… AND ALSO ACCEPTING NAMES.

YOU’LL THEREFORE NEVER FIND A NAMELESS PLACE OR A NAMELESS PERSON

BE SURE WHENEVER YOU SHOW UP SOMEWHERE YOU HAVE FAMILIAR FRIENDS – THEY HAVE A NAME
FOR YOU – IT MIGHT NOT BE THE NAME IN YOUR ID.

- ITS NAMES LIKE – “THAT LADY WHO”……………. HAS COME

- THAT GUY WHO”………LOOKS LIKE………..IS HERE
- THAT DANGEROUS GIRL IS HERE ……. HIDE YOUR HUSBANDS
- THAT BROTHER IS AROUND ………YOU BETTER HANG ON TO YOUR WALLET

IT’S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE FIRST NAME CHANGE WAS EFFECTED BY SATAN….

ADAM THE SON GLORIOUS OF GOD BECAME – ADAM THE NAKED SON OF THE DEVIL
AND GOD COMES CALLING HIS SON – ADAM! ADAM! AND ADAM CAN’T EVEN RECOGNIZE THAT WAS
HIS NAME.

HE’S ASKING EVE WHO’S THAT CALLING? AND WHO ARE THEY CALLING…….. AND GOD INSISITS AND
BECAUSE THERE WAS NO OTHER MAN AROUND ADAM DECIDES TO ANSWER.

BUT HIS ANSWER IS CORRECTIVE………. TO GOD’S CALL.

I AM NOT A DAM I AM NAKED………. AND GOD ASKS WHO TOLD YOU THAT YOU WERE NAKED.

- WHO TOLD YOU THAT YOU WERE POOR

- WHO TOLD YOU THAT YOU WERE A STRUGGLER
- WHO TOLD THAT YOU ARE GOOD FOR NOTHING
- WHO TOLD YOU THAT YOU ARE NOT MARRIAGE MATERIAL

WELL JUST LIKE MAN SATAN IS STILL IN THE BUSINESS OF RENAMING MAN…….. BUT JESUS CAME TO
CHANGE OUR NAMES.

Isa 62:2 And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by
a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.

Re 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that
overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a
new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

HOW DO WE ACQUIRE ALL MANNER OF WRONG NAMES – REFFER TO PAD.

JABEZ IS THE ORDINARY KIND OF A BELIVER WHO DARES TO BELIEVE GOD FOR AN EXTRA ORDINARY
LIFE.

- He’s/she’s the kind of a believer who – recognizes their limitations//disadvantages//lack of head

start in life BUT HAVING TAKEN STOCK OF THAT
- REFUSES TO BE REFUSED
- REJECTS TO BE REJECTED
- DENIES TO BE DENIED
- AND PINS DOWN EVERY CONCIEVABLE DEMONIC PIN DOWN
- Doubts his/ her doubts and chooses to believe God for the extra ordinary

REACHING FOR AN EXTRA ORDINARY LIFE SHOULD BE THE STRIVING OF EVERY NORMAL BELIEVER-
WHICH IS GOD’S PROMISE FOR US.

BUT STATISTICS SHOW THAT NOT MANY OF US ARE NORMAL BELIEVERS – WE HAVE QUENCHED OUR
APPETITE FOR THE SUPERNATURAL AND THE EXTRA ORDINARY.
Mr 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall
speak with new tongues;

Mr 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall
lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

BUT WE HAVE IT TWISTED…… IF A PERSON IS DOING EXPLOITS IN GOD……. WE SAY HE’S NOT A NORMAL
CHRISTIAN………. THE ONE THAT’S LIVING BELOW THEIR BIRTH RIGHT PREVILEGES IS THE ONE WE CALL
NORMAL.

WE ARE BORN INTO THE SUPERNATURAL AND THE EXTRA ORDINARY………JUST LIKE A BIRD IS BORN
WITH FLIGHT IN IT AND A FISH IS BORN WITH SWIM IN IT………. YOU ARE BORN INTO THE EXTRA
ORDINARY

IF YOU EVER FIND A FISH THAT CANT SWIM AND COMPARE IT TO ANOTHER FISH THAT CAN SWIM……..
WHICH FISH IS NORMAL.

YOU SHOULD BELIVE GOD FOR………..

- EXTRA-ORDINARY RESULTS BECAUSE – YOU CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO
STRENGTHENS YOU…………..
TO HIM THAT BELIEVETH NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE

- EXTRA-ORDINARY PEACE – HIS PEACE HE HAS GIVEN TO YOU- NOT AS THE WORLD GIVES –
PEACE THAT PASSES HUMAN UNDERSTANDING……….. I SLEEP SOUNDLY EVEN IN CRISIS

- EXTRA-ORDINARY JOY – BECAUSE THE OF THE LORD SHALL BE YOUR STRENGTH…… JOY LIKE A
RIVER AND FULL OF GLORY

- EXTRA-ORDINARY STRENGTH – BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN MADE STRONG IN THE LORD AND IN
THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT…………YOU ARE STRENGTHENED WITH ALL MIGHT IN YOUR INNER
MAN BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD

- EXTRA-ORDINARY HEALTH - BECAUSE BY THE STRIPES OF JESUS YOU ARE HEALED

- EXTRA-ORDINARY FINANCES BECAUSE – THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS SUCH THAT
THOUGH HE WAS RICH YET FOR OUR SAKES HE BECAME POOR SO THAT WE THROUGH HIS
POEVERTY MAY BE RICH

- EXTRA-ORDINARY WISDOM- BECAUSE WE HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST

WHY SETTLE FOR ORDINARY WHILE ALL THESE EXTRAS ARE AVAILABLE?????
BUT IF YOU WANT TO EXPERIENCE THE EXTRA-ORDINARY AND BE MORE FOR GOD YOU NEED TO SIGN
TO BE A GIMBER FOR GOD.

GIMBER – SOMEONE WHO DOES ALITTLE MORE THAN IS REQUIRED OR EXPECTED OF HIM…..

IN THE FURNITURE MANUFACTURING INDUSRTY GIMBERING IS PATIENTLY APPLYING THOSE RARE

ORNAMENTAL EXTRAS THAT SOMEONE ELSE WOULD THINK YOURE JUST WASTING UNNECESSARY TIME
AND RESOURCE – BUT FOR YOU THEY ARE A MARK OF QUALITY, VALUE AND EXCELLENCE – DISPLAYING
YOUR COMMITMENT TO A COURSE YOU TRULLY BELIEVE IN.

I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT I WANT TO BE A GIMBER FOR GOD.

I WANT TO BE MORE AND DO MORE FOR GOD THAN IS REQUIRED OF ME

- GIVE ALITTLE MORE

- PRAY ALITTLE MORE
- WORSHIP AND PRAISE AND BE THANKFUL ALITTLE MORE
- READ HIS WORD ALITTLE MORE
- BE BLESSED ALITTLE MORE
- BE A BLESSING ALITTLE MORE
- BE POWERFUL ALITTLE MORE
- LOVE AND TOUCH LIVE’S POSITIVELY ALITTLE MORE

JABEZ WANTED TO BE AND TO DO A LITTLE MORE FOR GOD…… HE HAD THE REQUIRED TENACITY TO
SPENT TIME IN GOD’S PRESENCE MAKING HIS REQUEST KNOWN……AND AS WE FIND OUT AT THE END
OF THE VERSE THAT HIS REQUEST WAS GRANTED.

1Ch 4:9 And Jabez was MORE honorable than his brethren

JABEZ WAS REQUIRED TO RESIGN TO THE FATE OF HIS NAME - AND THE BEST HE COULD EVER HAVE
WAS A LIFE OF PAIN AND “AFFLICTION”….. His mother named him affliction

Sadly JABEZ is stuck up between A VICTIMISING MOTHER and an absentee, irresponsible FATHER…… THE
MOTHER EMOTIONALLY NAMED THE CHILD AND THE NAME STUCK….. WITH NO FATHER TO CHANGE IT.

HE WAS NOT LIKE JACOB…….. Jacob had, had the firsthand experience of living under the influence and
character of the wrong name……. HE THEREFORE DID NOT NEED ANYONE TO CONVINCE HIM WHAT A
WRONG PROPHECY IN A NAME CAN DO TO A MAN’S/ WOMAN’S LIFE

SO ONE DAY WHEN HIS WIFE RACHAEL GOT EMOTIONAL JUST LIKE JABEZS MOTHER AND CALLED HER
SON……. BENONI…. “THE SON OF MY SORROW”………… JACOB SAID WAIT A MINUTE……..LET’S CHANGE
THAT NAME TO BENJAMIN…….. “The son of my strength/ right hand”. (GEN 35:18)

YOU NEED EARTHLY SPIRITUAL FATHERS WHO CAN CONTENT WITH DEMONIC NAMINGS AND GIVE YOU
A DIFFERENT NAME- THAT WILL PROPHETICALLY PROJECT YOU TO YOUR DESTINY
IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH AN AUTHORITATIVE PERSONALITY – JABEZ WAS REQUIRED TO STOP BEING
AMBITIOUS AND JUST LIVE OUT AND ACT OUT THE TRUE MEANING OF HIS NAME.

- BECOME WHAT HIS NAME REALLY MEANT

- BE TRUE TO HIS NAME

UNDESTAND THAT NAMES WERE AND ARE STILL VERY SIGNIFICANT IN ISRAEL – ALMOST EVERY NAME
IN THE BIBLE HAS A SPECIFIC SIGNIFICANT MEANING.

THE NAME HAD A DECISIVE EFFECT ON THE ON GOING CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND THE
FULFILMENT OF DESTINY OF THE PERSON – IN SHORT NAMES WERE CONNECTED WITH CHARACTER
AND DESTINY.

A GOOD EXAMPLE IS THE NAMESOF THE THREE PATRIACHS – ABRAHAM, ISAAC AND JACOB

TWO OF THEM HAD THEIR NAMES CHANGED BY GOD HIMSELF BECAUSE – IN MEANING THEY
CONTRADICTED THE VERY THING THAT GOD WANTED TO DO IN THEIR LIVES

ABRAM – EXALTED FATHER – (EXALTED BUT BARREN) YET GOD’S AGENDA WAS FOR HIME TO BE A
FATHER OF MULTITUDES

SO GOD CHANGES HIS NAME TO –ABRAHAM…… THE FATHER OF MULTITUDES…….. and true to his
name no one on earth dead or alive has as many sons as Abraham….. YOU ARE A SON OF ABRAHAM

AND THE BLESSING OF ABRAHAM IS YOURS

JACOB …… MEANS SUPPLUNTER….. CONMAN/ TRICKSTER

YET GOD’S DESTINY FOR JACOB WAS “A PRINCE WITH GOD”……. I’VE NEVER SEEN A PRINCE WHO IS A
STREET THIEF

SO GOD CHANGES HIS NAME TO ……..ISRAEL – A PRINCE WITH GOD/ A GOD WRESTLER……. AND TRUE
TO HIS NAME HE WRESTLED WITH GOD UNTIL GOD RELEASED THE BLESSING OF MULTIPLICATION
UPON HIS LIFE.

IN EACH CASE OF NAME CHANGE YOU’LL REALISE THAT THE NAMES WERE CHANGED DURING A TIME
OF CRISIS

CRISIS SITUATION HAPPEN WHEN YOUR TRUE SELF IS TIRED OF BEING CONTAINED AND IS WRESTLING
WITH STATUS QUO TO BREAK OUT OF FOREIGN UNTRUE NAMES IMPOSED ON YOU.

- IDENTITY CRISIS MEANS YOURE NOT YOURSELF – BREAK OUT TO YOUR REAL SELF
- POVERTY CRISIS MEANS YOU SHOULD BE RICH – BREAK OUT TO PROSPERITY
- SICKNESS CRISIS MEANS YOU SHOULD BE HEALED – BREAK OUT TO DIVINE HEALTH

WHATEVER CRISIS YOU’RE IN ---- YOU NEED TO BREAK OUT.

I LIKE JABEZ BECAUSE HE HAD – “THE PRISON BREAK FAITH” – NOW WE’RE LIVING IN BETTER DAYS
THAN JABEZ BECAUSE THE PRISON HAS BEEN BROKEN ONCE FOR ALL BY JESUS
THE DOOR IS GAPPING OPEN…….. IF YOU LISTEN YOU WILL HEAR THE CREEKING OF THE DOOR
SWINGING FREELY INVITING YOU TO AN UNSTOPPABLE, IRRECOVERABLE ESCAPE.

YOU’RE AN ACTOR IN THE PREASON BREAK DRAMA – QUESTION IS ARE DARING ENOUGH TO BREAK
FREE.

JABEZ IS MY HERO – AND SHOULD BE EVRY BELIEVERS HERO-

HE’S THE LITTLE BIG MAN OF THE BIBLE - HIS CHARACTER IS NOT LOFTY AND UN ACHIEVABLE LIKE THAT
OF MOSES, OR DAVID OR DANIEL OR JOSEPH.

INFACT YOU FIND HIM TACT IN THE MOST OBSCURE UNREAD PAGES OF THE BIBLE…… 1 CHRONICLES….
NINE ChaPTERS OF UNFAMILIAR HARD TO PRONOUNCE NAMES.

YOU WOULD BE FORGIVEN IF YOU PUT CRONICLES DOWN AND REACHED FOR THE TV REMOTE….. IT’S
TOO BORING.

BUT IN THERE IS WHERE YOU FIND YOUR MOST ENCOURAGING MAN…..

A LITTLE TWINKLE IN THE BLACKNESS OF THE BLACKEST NIGHT……. BUT STILL SHINES ON DEFYING THE
DARKNESS THAT THREATENS TO SWALLOW HIM UP IN OBSCURITY…….. THROUGH THE POWER OF
PRAYER

I LOVE JABEZ………HE TESTIFIES FOREVER OF THE POSSIBILITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN GOD FOR EVERY
PRAYING MAN AND WOMAN.

- HE’S THE INSIGNIFICANT SIGNIFICANT MAN

- HE’S THE POOR RICH MAN
- THE SICK HEALED MAN
- THE PAINFUL, SORROW RIDDEN LIFE WHO LIVES HAPPILY EVER AFTER……

ALL THROUGH THE POWER OF PRAYER……

MAX LUCADO……. Our prayer may be awkward, our attempts may be feeble

But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not in the one who makes it, OUR PRAYERS
DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

- PRAYER IS THE MOST POWERFUL WEAPON AGAINST TRIALS;

THE MOST EFFECTIVE MEDICINE AGAINST SICKNESS AND THE MOST VALUABLE GIFT TO
SOMEONE YOU LOVE.
 - WHEN WE FEEL POISONED BY STRESS, PRESSURE, PAIN AND FAILURES; THE BEST ANTIDOTE IS
TO PRAY, NOTHING MORE NOTHING LESS.

- SATAN TRIES TO LIMIT YOUR PRAYING BECAUSE HE KNOW, YOUR RAYING WILL LIMIT HIM.

IMAGINE IF JABEZ SAID I’M TOO DISCOURAGED I CANNOT PRAY…….I THINK I WAS MEANT TO BE THIS
WAY FOR LIFE

- WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU MORE THAN YOU CAN STAND……. THEN KNEEL.

NO NAME IS CAST ON STONE FOR A PRAYING MAN AND A PRAYING WOMAN.