RTW 2024

There was a man named Jabez who was more honorable than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful. He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!” And God granted him his request.‍

1 Chronicles 4:9-10

Salmon was the father of Boaz. Boaz was the father of Obed. Obed was the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of David.
Ruth 4:21-22

• The manner in which we read Scripture matters. 
• The Prayer of Jabez is looked at as a very self-centered prayer. 
• It is not. 
• Hermeneutics matters. 
• Context! Context! Context!
• Jabez is not like modern readers. 
• He did not live in a modern materialistic society. 
• We must look at the text through the Old Testament lens and then through Christ. 
• Under the old covenant, God’s arrangement with Israel was different. 
• The blessings of Israel were generally physical in nature. 
• We can’t bring Israel’s blessings directly into the new covenant. 
• That would change how those covenant blessings have been altered by the kingdom of Christ. 
• Under the new covenant, the Holy Spirit is our blessing. 
• Ephesians 1:3; Galatians 3:14
• We are not promised material wealth. 
• We are not promised security. 
• We are promised hardship. 
• John 16:33
• God may bless us by taking something away. 
• We must not seek Christ mainly for something He can give us. 
• He is the blessing.

Remember that Christ is the blessing.