THE PRAYER OF JABEZ
BREAKING THROUGH TO THE BLESSED LIFE
Rev. Carolyn Schorle
“The Prayer of Jabez” has taken the Christian community by storm over the past couple of years, and the Alliance of Biblical Pentecostals felt the need to address the teachings of this popular book in this issue of the Sentinel. The back of the book asks this question: “Do you want to be extravagantly blessed by God? If so, read about the prayer of the little-known hero Jabez, and you will experience the release of God's favor, power, and protection. You will learn how one daily prayer can help you leave the past behind and break through to the life you were meant to live.” What a statement! But that is just what the book claims happens as you learn to daily pray the prayer of Jabez. It also claims that this is one prayer that God ALWAYS answers with a yes.
In the past fifteen years or so, it has been both discouraging and heart breaking to watch as the church has been reduced to nothing but one quick gimmick after another. There are claims that all you need to do to get what you want from God is to name it, claim it, and now pray it.
Several months ago, while in prayer, the Holy Spirit brought Hebrews 13:2 to mind. "Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them: and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body." Since then, I have daily prayed for brothers and sisters, and yes even children that are being persecuted for the cause of Christ. I wonder, as one sets in a dark prison, or one that is hungry, how do they pray the prayer of Jabez? This is a prime example of a scripture being taken completely out of context. Remember, if something can't be preached everywhere, it is not the true gospel of Christ.
Let us now take a look at the prayer of Jabez. Jabez and his prayer is recorded in I Chronicles chapter 4, where the posterity of Judah by Caleb is given. Then, as if placed there as an afterthought (and we know there are none), the birth of Jabez is recorded. It says that his mother called him Jabez, because she bore him with much sorrow, and that he was more honorable than his brothers. Then the record goes on to give his prayer of simply asking God to give him more land, to be with him, and God granted his request.
From all the advertisements, books, and what not, I can only come to this conclusion: we have no clue how to pray. For years we have read the prayers of the great men and women of the Bible, from Abraham, Moses, and N.T. saints. And yet in this book the prayer of Jabez seemingly takes preeminence over even the Lord's Prayer! Can you imagine when the disciples came to Jesus and asked Him to teach them to pray, He said: "when you pray, pray oh that thou 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. What happened to "if we suffer with Christ, we shall also reign with Him? What a selfish prayer.
For years pastors have been preaching for the flock to get their eyes off of themselves and on the needs of others. To pray this prayer as the author tells us is a very selfish prayer indeed. He even tells us that it is possible that God wants us to be more "selfish" in our prayer life. Mr. Wilkerson goes on to say there is no other sentence-other than his prayer for salvation that has revolutionized his life. He also tells us that Jabez was a gimper, one that wants to do a little more than required. That is an assumption pure and simple. We are not to add or take away from the scriptures. It does not state that Jabez wanted to do more than any other person; it states he was more honorable than his brothers. There were others, however few, serving God at the time of Jabez. It was a simple prayer for God to bless, keep, and God granted him that prayer.
Another assumption of this author is that Jabez's birth was beyond the usual and that his mother chose to memorialize this in her son's name. "He could have been born breech, or perhaps the mother had emotional pain-- maybe the father had abandoned her during her pregnancy; maybe he had died; maybe the family had fallen to such financial straits that the prospect of another mouth to feed brought only fear and worry. PLEASE, or as others would say "give me a break." These are conditions of birth just as God had told Eve they would be. The author assumes again that Jabez endured teasing of bullies, the daily reminder of his unwelcome arrival, (who said?) and mocking questions because of his name. This book is full of assumptions, and distortions, and psychologies .... and maybes.
Jabez is then described as standing before a massive gate, recessed into a sky-high wall. Weighed down by the sorrow of his past and the dreariness of his present, he sees before him only impossibility a future shut off. But raising his hands to heaven, he cries out, "Father, oh Father! Please bless me! And what I really mean is - bless me a lot!!" With the last word the transformation begins, he hears a tremendous crack, a groan, and then a rumble as the huge gate swings away from him in a wide arc. There, stretching to the horizon are fields of blessings. Jabez steps forward into a new life. Well, we all like happy endings, but in this life we are promised no such thing. It does sound like a good script to a movie, I wonder!
I am reminded of all the heroes of the faith who were willing to give their lives for the cause of Christ. Several times in scripture Paul asked God "to enlarge his territory" but the Holy Spirit forbade him, or God allowed Satan to hinder him. We must pray that we receive the burden of the Lord, and then leave it in God's hands to do his will and good pleasure.
The story continues on with Jabez looking at his present circumstances and concluding, "Surely I was born for more than this!" If he had worked on Wall Street, he might have prayed, "Lord increase the value of my investment portfolios." We cannot know the purpose of Jabez praying for this blessing, nor what was in his mind. Therefore we cannot and should not use this prayer as an example to get God to bless us in our own efforts. Jesus gave us a sample prayer.... let us pray it.
The author states that this prayer insures that God will intervene in the situations which we, (did you get that) initiate: He goes on to state, as God's chosen, blessed sons and daughters, we are expected to attempt something large enough that failure is guaranteed unless God steps in. With that we release God's power to accomplish His will and bring Him glory through all those seeming impossibilities. Well, I remember David praying for the Lord to keep him from praying the prayer of presumption and rightly so. The scriptures tell us that if we are the children of God, then we will be led by the Holy Spirit, not by our own wills and desires.
In closing, there are many experiences the author tells us about in this book. After all he has prayed this prayer every day for over thirty years and has seen God do mighty things. Now I am going to be honest with you, I have never prayed this prayer, but over the thirty-three years I have been a Christian I also have seen God do great and mighty things, simply because He is a Great and Mighty God. No, dear ones, it is not a prayer prayed like a mantra, but trust, faith, and total obedience, praying in the name of Jesus, to a loving, faithful, and prayer answering God .....
PART 2
While doing more research on the prayer of Jabez, I came across a news flash that I would like to share with you. This was supplied by Crosswalk's News Channel. The report is as follows. "The Board of Directors of Walk Thru the Bible announced Feb. 15th that Dr. Bruce Wilkinson is resigning." December 2001, Professor Mark R. Talbot of Wheaton College publishes his scathing theological treatise against the teachings of Dr. Bruce Wilkinson's "The Prayer of Jabez". Equating Wilkinson teachings with the ancient heresy known as Gnosticism, Talbot's closing statement was a simple prayer... "May God Himself keep His people from falling prey to this book's inadequate theology." To this I add a hardy Amen. In January 2002, Dallas Theological Seminary publishes a paper by Professor of Theology, Dr. R Zuck, with the most unfavorable view of Wilkinson's teachings to date from the seminary where Dr. Wilkinson received his Masters Degree.
MORE PROBLEMS WITH
THE STORIES OF THE JABEZ PRAYERS
Mr. Jones Goes To Heaven--- The author states that a man named Mr. Jones dies and goes to heaven. Upon his arrival, Peter is waiting at the gate to give him a tour. Mr. Jones notices an odd-looking building. He thinks it looks like an enormous warehouse it has no windows and only one door. He asks to see inside, but Peter hesitates. "You really don't want to see what's in there," he tells the new arrival. Mr. Jones wonders why there would be secrets in heaven. What incredible surprises could be waiting for him there? The tour ending, Mr. Jones again asks to see inside the structure. Peter relents. When they enter, Mr. Jones almost knocks him over in his haste to enter. It ends up being filled with row after row of shelves, floor to ceiling, each stacked neatly with white boxes tied in red ribbons. The boxes all have names on them. Mr. Jones asks if he has one? "Yes, you do." Peter tries to guide Mr. Jones back outside, but Mr. Jones is dashing toward the "J" aisle to find his box. Because of the nature of the book, I don't know if the "J" stands for Jabez or Mr. Jones. You fill in the blank.... Peter catches up with Mr. Jones just as he is slipping the red ribbon off his box. Looking inside, Jones has a moment of instant recognition, and he lets out a deep sigh like the ones Peter has heard so many times before. In the white box were all the blessings God wanted to give to him while he was on earth ... but Mr. Jones had never asked.
I know that Jesus told us to ask and it shall be given to you, seek and ye shall find. However, this is another example of scripture being taken out of context to prove the author's point. The scripture tells us that it is the Father's good pleasure to give us the kingdom. What greater blessing than to know that you have eternal life! Heaven will not be full of white boxes with unclaimed blessings, but with the praises of those redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb.
Another Jabez experience is as follows--- While on a trip, the author encounters a young man whose marriage is on the rocks. After the young man shares that his wife has left him, Wilkinson asks him if he is open to a couple of ideas, the man replies that he is. He then proceeds to tell him of the Biblical principles for a happy marriage. When the conversation is over, the young man jumps to his feet with the new insights on how to save his marriage. After agreeing to let Mr. Wilkerson know how it is going, he runs off to find his wife and save his marriage. As the boat begins its departure, with Mr. Wilkerson at the back of the boat starting to second guess his divine appointment, running along side the boat is the couple holding hands, shouting, "It worked! It worked! We're together."
I am the first to want to see marriages saved and brought back together. However, if we look back at the story, where is Jesus in all of this? Jabez's prayer certainly is there, but I don’t see Jesus. Where is the plan of salvation? Is this man told that one day if he does not repent and give his life to the Lord he will die in his sins and go to burning hell? Is he told that Jesus is their only help to keep the marriage together? I know this is not popular today, but it is a reality. We must give people Jesus. We simply must. I wonder, are they together today?
Heroes of Ordinary People--- Mr. Wilkerson states that big screen heroes don't seem to put any stock in dependence --- but you and I were made for it. Dependence upon God makes heroes out of ordinary people like Jabez and you and me. How? We're forced to cry out with Jabez's third desperate plea. I have read this prayer several times, and I do not detect any desperation in Jabez's plea. "Oh, that your hand would be with me!" With that we release (did you get the wording?) God's power to accomplish His will and bring Him glory through all those seeming impossibilities. How sad that one is taught that God's power has been kept at bay till the prayer of Jabez comes along. Did Jesus release this prayer on the disciples when he told them to go heal the sick, and cast out demons?
Another divine appointment--- While serving as a youth pastor, the author tells of twelve high school kids that proves to him that the hand of God is available to every believer who asks. Now I am trying not to be cynical. Why would it take twelve high school students to prove that God 's hand is on every believer who asks? The author has claimed to have prayed the prayer of Jabez for over thirty years, experienced miracle after miracle, and taught seminars, and it takes twelve college students to prove to him that God's hand is on every believer that asks. Has he forgotten that the steps of a righteous man are ordered by the Lord? He then goes on to tell of inviting in a children's ministry specialist (whatever that is) to help the twelve students with a backyard Good News Club. The ministry leader tells them that getting thirteen or fourteen children in the backyard club would be a smashing success ... Not for this man. He says "If we don't have one hundred kids in each club by the end of the week, we should consider it a failure." I recall the story of the ninety and nine, where the Good Shepherd goes out to look for the one that is lost. The end of the story has each team with more than one hundred children, and at the end of the week, over five hundred. We rejoice over all that heard the Good News. However, I would have considered it a success if there had been only the thirteen or fourteen. I guess he forgot that where two or three are gathered in His name, He is in their midst. Success is not in numbers but being faithful to what God has called you to. If God asks you to minister to one hundred people or to only one, He considers it a success. I am reminded of Mr. Livingston, the great missionary to the natives in Africa. He preached to them for over seven years and had only one convert. That, my dear friends, is success in God's eyes.
Oh, That You Would Keep Me From Evil--- As we look at the last request of Jabez, the author states that it is a brilliant strategy for sustaining a blessed life. In the previous chapters our petition is for supernatural power to work through our weakness; in this one, our petition is for supernatural help to protect us from Satan's proven ability to make us come in second. I have read the scriptures through numerous times in the past thirty years as a Christian, and I do not recall reading anywhere that Satan has the ability to make us come in second. Actually, the scriptures teach us that we are able to do all things through Christ who strengthens us. This theology is foreign to the written Word of God. When we are weak, He is made strong.
The author goes on to tell us that since Satan most opposes those who are becoming the greatest threat to him and his kingdom, the more God answers your Jabez prayers, the more you should be prepared to confront spiritual attack. So that means that God answers prayers in Jabez's name and not our Lord. I ask you again, people, where is Jesus in all this? Talk about making us second, is this not what is being done to the Lord Jesus? I would like to add something else here. I am sure that if Jabez were here today, he would be highly upset by the way that he is being exalted above the Lord Jesus Christ. I know I would be. Please understand, I am not attacking this man personally; however, we are to confront those that teach contrary to the doctrine of Christ.
Welcome to God's Honor Roll--- The author asks the question of whether we think God has favorites. He then states that God makes His love available to all, and Jesus came to earth so that "whosoever" might call on His name and be saved. But, (there are always those buts) Jabez, whose prayer earned him a "more honorable" award from God, might have made the case that God does have favorites. God says Himself that He is no respecter of persons. God chooses whomsoever He wills for the tasks set before them. He chose Abraham to leave his people and travel to a foreign land; He chose David to be leader of Israel; He chose Paul to be the apostle to the Gentiles. He is the potter; we are the clay.
The Cycle of Blessing--- As the author looks back over his divine appointments, he sees the footprints of Jabez and his little prayer.
As you repeat the steps, you will set in motion a cycle of blessing that will keep multiplying what God is able to do in and through you. He then states that the growth curve soon starts to spike upwards. You don't reach the next level of blessing and stay there. You begin again-- Lord, bless me indeed! Lord, please enlarge…! And so on and so on.
God's blessing does not depend on us going from cycle to cycle, but from obedience and trust. In the Psalms, David says that we are daily loaded down with benefits. Blessed is the man whose God is the Lord. His loving kindness is better than life. Oh that we would just praise Him for who He is and what He has done for us!
Making Jabez Mine--- We are now challenged to make the prayer of Jabez for blessing a part of the daily fabric of our life. We are then given the outline of the six steps that is to become a lifelong habit. The author then tells us that it's only what you believe will happen, and therefore do next that will bring about a life change. There is no mention of faith; it is only what you believe will happen. This is another way of packaging the positive thinking of the faith teachers. If you believe it, it will happen; if you don't, something is wrong with you. Forget about God being in control, or His will being done. As the author and those who pray this prayer daily see prayers answered, they credit them to the miracle of Jabez.
I would like to credit the Lord Jesus for all the answered prayers, for the " no's" to prayers, trials, heartaches, victories, hard times, bad times, healings, or no healings. For all that he has allowed me to experience, and the things he has not allowed me to experience that has been for my own good. For it is in Him we live, and move, and have out being.
This is not the end of the story. At the back of the book the author wants stories and testimonies of answered Jabez prayers to put on his web site, or perhaps to write another book. He then advertises his resources to help live the Prayer of Jabez and if that 's not enough, he has given a companion to the breakthrough series, "The Secrets of The Vine."
Mr. Wilkinson, please, we have had enough…
Rev. Carolyn
Schorle is an ordained minister with the Alliance of Biblical Pentecostals. She and her husband Pete presently reside in
Keystone Heights, Florida.