Sunday, 8/9/2026

MOVING FROM ORDINARY TO EXTRAORDINARY

The Life and Prayer of Jabez:1 Chronicles 4:9–10 (NIV84) Jabez was more

honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I

gave birth to him in pain.” Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you

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.” And God granted his

request.

God never meant for you to live just average. You are unique — one in

eight +billion.

1. YOU NEED THE UNSETTLING DESIRE TO LIVE IN GOD’S BLESSING.

You stop dreaming, you start dying. No goals → no growth. As long as

your horizon is expanding, you are a healthy human being.

A. We confuse humility with fear. (True humility says: “I can do it with

God’s help.”)

B. We confuse contentment with laziness. Philippians 4:12 (NLT) I know

how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret

of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with

plenty or little.

C. We confuse little thinking with spirituality. (Satan is an expert at

getting us to think small.)

Great men and women are simply ordinary people with great thoughts,

great ideas, and great ambitions.

2. YOU NEED A GOD-FOCUSED AND GROWING FAITH.

Jabez had no special ability, talent, education, or wealth mentioned — just a

common man with an uncommon faith in God.

His name in Hebrew means “painful.”

Don’t let other people’s labels limit God’s plan for your life.

Three kinds of people in life:

• Excusers — make an excuse for everything and for not believing God.

• Accusers — blame others, environment, or circumstances.

• Choosers — choose to believe God and move ahead in spite of difficulties.

(Jabez was a chooser. That is what made his life great.)

3. YOU NEED A GOD-BELIEVING PRAYER LIFE.

Jabez was honored by God simply because he prayed.

Jabez made three requests — pray these and live above average:

God’s power in his life — “Bless me… enlarge my territory.”

He was specific. Ambition is morally neutral; the difference is the motive

behind it. (James 4:3 (NLT) And even when you ask, you don’t get it

because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you

pleasure. — (wrong motives hinder prayer.)

Ephesians 3:20 — God is able to do more than you can think or imagine. You

cannot out-ask or out-dream God.

Over twenty times in the NT we are commanded to ask.

God’s presence in his life — “Let your hand be with me.”

Larger territory = more responsibility, more pressure, more enemies.

The closer you grow to the Lord, the more the devil will hassle you. You

need God’s presence in your work, career, family, and daily life.

God’s protection in his life — “Keep me from harm so that I will be free

from pain.”

The bigger you get, the more critics you will have. With God’s power,

presence, and protection you need not fear anything.

Remember: Ambition under the control of the Holy Spirit is the most

dynamic force in the world. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God

(Romans 10:17). The safest place to be is in the center of God’s will.