Called!
1 Chronicles 4:9 “Jabez, whose name commemorates his mother’s labour pains…” (The Voice)
Jabez, as you can imagine, went about life with this label, this name tag, “he that causes pain”. As you can imagine, it probably was difficult for Jabez to find a wife. Imagine he is courting a lady and she takes him home to her father. And her father asks him, “What is your name young man?”
Identifiers
1 Chronicles 4:9 “And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.”
As I was waiting, seeking God, and watching with God over this season, the Lord said to me, “I Will Give You A Name”. When God says to you, “I Will Give You A Name”, naturally what comes to my mind is that God will give me a new name.
Your Name Is?
Genesis 32:27-28 “[The Man] asked him, What is your name? And [in shock of realization, whispering] he said, Jacob [supplanter, schemer, trickster, swindler]! And He said, Your name shall be called no more Jacob [supplanter], but Israel [contender with God] …” (AMPC)
Names are very, very powerful. Names are tools of identification and because names are tools for identification, they inadvertently become a tool for identity. When you are called a certain name, after a while you derive your identity from that name.
The Key
1 Thessalonians 5:18 “No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (LB)
One of the things that keeps people from being grateful is when they are stuck in the previous chapter. Your life is like a book if you get to a chapter where tough things happen. Read the rest of this entry
Learn
2 Timothy 3:16 “All of Scripture is God-breathed; in its inspired voice, we hear useful teaching, rebuke, correction, instruction, and training for a life that is right” (The Voice)
The three things that happen to everyone, that if managed properly will lead to more; the first is AGE, the second is LOSS. When you look at every life that is great, and everyone that is worth listening to, because not everybody is worth listening to. Read the rest of this entry
Loss To More
John 12:24 “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives.”
The greatest level of loss, if you will, is death. However, except the kernel of wheat experiences that loss, it abides alone. Unless the kernel of wheat, the corn experiences the loss, it will not experience the more. Read the rest of this entry
Restored!
Matthew 19:29 “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.” (NIV)
The first of three things that happens to everybody, that if you harness well you will end up with more is AGE. The second thing that happens to everybody is LOSS. The truth is that loss and more do not really go together. Read the rest of this entry
Age Factor
Job 32:7-8 “I thought to myself, “Age should speak first; those advanced in years will teach wisdom.” But alas, it turns out it is the spirit in a man, not age, and the breath of the Highest One within him that lends understanding.” (MSG, emphasis added).
Do not let anyone define you by your age. Do not allow anyone block you because of your age. Trust me, age can just be a number. I am not saying age is just a number. I know that you have heard it said that age is just a number, not necessarily but age can just be a number. Read the rest of this entry
Not Age
Job 32:7-8 “I thought to myself, “Age should speak first; those advanced in years will teach wisdom.” But alas, it turns out it is the spirit in a man, not age, and the breath of the Highest One within him that lends understanding.” (MSG, emphasis added).
Over the next few days, we will be looking at three things that happen to everybody. Things that if handled well will always lead to more. Read the rest of this entry
