That Hand of God

1 Chronicles 4:10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.

As part of the blessing, Jabez wanted God’s hand to be with him. He wanted to be able to count on hands larger and mightier than his, to receive the blessing and manage the enlarged territory successfully. You see Jabez knew that it was not enough to receive a great gift, as one needed the capacity to defend, manage, administer and successfully grow the inheritance in order to leave it wholesome and whole for the next generation. An enlarging territory is a sure attraction to the enemy. Let’s look at the example of a man whose enlargement was dramatic and thus visible to the enemy. Genesis 26:12 “When Isaac planted his crops that year, he harvested a hundred times more grain than he planted, for the LORD blessed him. 13 He became a very rich man, and his wealth continued to grow. 14 He acquired so many flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, and servants that the Philistines became jealous of him. 15 So the Philistines filled up all of Isaac’s wells with dirt. These were the wells that had been dug by the servants of his father, Abraham.”(NLT)
A strong Hand is needed for breaking forth- this is the hand of God: Exodus 6:1 Then the LORD told Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh. When he feels the force of my strong hand, he will let the people go. In fact, he will force them to leave his land!” (NLT) Exodus 13:9b Let it remind you always to recite this teaching of the LORD: ‘With a strong hand, the LORD rescued you from Egypt. (NLT) Deuteronomy 4: 34 Has any other god dared to take a nation for himself out of another nation by means of trials, miraculous signs, wonders, war, a strong hand, a powerful arm, and terrifying acts? Yet that is what the LORD your God did for you in Egypt, right before your eyes. (NLT) Deut 7: 19b. And remember the miraculous signs and wonders, and the strong hand and powerful arm with which he brought you out of Egypt. The LORD your God will use this same power against all the people you fear.”

Walking by Faith

Walking with Caleb (A Poem)

Against all odds
We journeyed in the wild
And survived
Sustained by divine
Grain or manna
Rained from on high
For strength and stamina
A trustworthy design
For the taming of the heart, to love
And find faith frequencies above

Protected by twin pillars
Of fire and smoke
Living within a promise and a hope
By day we walk, by night we praise
We have travelled
Between the rock and a bitter place
Beheld bronze serpent raised on a pole
And received healing for the soul

We have drunk water from the rock
Which our thirst and vision unlock
At Marah, the waters were made so sweet
And Elim was a place we were destined to meet
And now the river, swollen and deep
At last— Jordan, so cold to our feet
The water piles up to make a way
Where God stands to lead this day!

Enlarge My Territory (4)

1 Chronicles 4:10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.

Isaiah 54:3 For you shall expand to the right and to the left,
And your descendants will inherit the nations,
And make the desolate cities inhabited.

The blessing of expansion is of the Lord and to His glory. It is a bursting forth, preceded by praise, in faith, in spiritual warfare. Faith that persists, glorifies God. Reference Abraham and the conception and birth of Isaac, Romans 4 : 18 “Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping–believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead–and so was Sarah’s womb. Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.” (NLT) Expansion is also taking to heart the wisdom and instruction of God, in meekness before God and man. The blessing persists in the idea of inheritance, possessing territory which one can then pass on to one’s line of descendants. We can pass on our spiritual victories to our spiritual children, born of our flesh and also our ministry. God always looks out for increase and sustainability, the expanding kingdom. It was one of His reasons for choosing Abraham. Genesis 18:19 “I have singled him out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just. God intends to give and have lasting enlargement through us, as is written, “we are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints.” We are His territory; we and all that is ours. It takes the meek to inherit the nations because their concentration is in the desolate cities where they can bring the light and transformation of Christ. The expansion is to His glory and praise, and unto us, the blessing! Can you be trusted with His bursting forth in your life?

Enlarge my Territory (3)

1 Chronicles 4:10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.

Isaiah 54 describes the enlargement or expansion as a breaking forth, explosive, broad and powerful which results in the enlarged ones possessing or having influence over (nations), territories, areas or fields.
Isaiah 54:3 (KJV)For you shall break forth on the right hand and on the left; and your descendants shall inherit the nations, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. (Young’s)Isaiah 54: 3 “For right and left thou breakest forth, And thy seed doth nations possess,”
The interesting thing is concerning possession or inheritance of nations, territories, Jesus did not describe aggressive acts. In fact Jesus in Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. This is a revelation which runs contrary to our expectation. Psalm 37 says: 9For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. 10A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. 11But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace. Concerning enlargement, it is by the doing of the Lord as says Isaiah 26:15 “You have enlarged the nation, O LORD; you have enlarged the nation. You have gained glory for yourself; you have extended all the borders of the land.” It is why he requires the believer to be meek. The battle is the Lord’s. Here is what He says about believers who may now seem barren, wasted or desolate, having lost much in the twists and turns of life. “Isaiah 49:19 “Though you were ruined and made desolate and your land laid waste, now you will be too small for your people, and those who devoured you will be far away.” Let us believe God for the blessing, for enlargement of territory in every aspect of our lives, that we may prosper even us our souls prosper. It is now important for us to come to an understanding of meekness if we want to inherit the earth. *Please read commentary on Meekness copied from Barnes and Gill in the comment box below.

Enlarge my Territory (2)

1 Chronicles 4:10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.

In Isaiah 54, we already noted that territory enlargement began with first steps in spiritual warfare. The barren woman was told to sing, break out into singing and loud cries, in order to embrace the promise to take territory,”For more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married woman,” says the Lord.” Soon after the command to praise, physical action steps are instructed, 2 “Enlarge the place of your tent, And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare; Lengthen your cords, And strengthen your stakes.” In order to appropriate the blessing as declared by God, your faith will need action steps. Ask yourself, where is the PLACE of your tent? (Location, genre of the expansion) What territory are you expanding into? How do you set about enlarging? 1.You may need strategies to fill up the current capacity of your tent, (more learning). 2.You may need to make room in the tent by throwing out some junk, removing some limitations( reorganizing, prioritizing). You may need to stretch somethings out, which have some slack to gain maximum function (sharper vision, mission and goals). You may need to strengthen your own ability to manage a new capacity,(mentoring, partnership, team). You may need to expand into adjoining territory, (promotion: purchase, inherit, challenge). To enlarge, you will need the wisdom of God and the direction of the Holy Spirit, to make use of the opportunity provided by the blessing. And your access is through prayer. James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” I might add that God delights in Kingdom expansion through the expansion of every child of God.

“Sing, O barren,
You who have not borne!
Break forth into singing, and cry aloud,
You who have not labored with child!
For more are the children of the desolate
Than the children of the married woman,” says the Lord.
2 “Enlarge the place of your tent,
And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings;
Do not spare;
Lengthen your cords,
And strengthen your stakes.
3 For you shall expand to the right and to the left,
And your descendants will inherit the nations,
And make the desolate cities inhabited.

Enlarge my Territory (1)

1 Chronicles 4:10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.

First on Jabez’s list of blessings was “Enlarge my territory.” Jabez wanted to expand. He wanted to increase the area of his influence. He wanted to increase the area of his harvest. It would also be the area of his responsibility and the area of his stewardship. It is clear that the blessing from the beginning , in Genesis, focused on fruitfulness and multiplication, as well as dominion and influence. By the time Abraham was getting the Blessing, there was another pronouncement, “You shall possess the gate of your enemy.” Note that after the original blessing an enemy had stepped in by way of Satan and sin. There was now opposition to the pathway of blessing. It would take the ability to possess the gate of the enemy, for one to advance into increase and fruitfulness in the blessing. Anyone who prays for this blessing must be prepared to engage in work and spiritual warfare. In Isaiah 54, we see the encouragement of the Lord to a barren woman who wants to be fruitful and multiply. He begins by saying, “Sing O barren!’ That is her invitation to participate in the spiritual warfare that will bring about victory and the manifest blessing. Singing praises, shouting declarations of faith about the purpose and promise of God, is the advance into the warfare to take the new territory for the sake of fruitfulness and increase. Psalm 8: 2 says ” Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, Because of Your enemies, That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.” In Matthew 21:16, Jesus substitutes praise for strength with regard to Psalm 8, giving a revelation that praise is a spiritual weapon of strength that silences the enemy. It is the start of possessing the gate of the enemy, referring to the spirit of limitation. Praise activates the blessing.

Isaiah 54 1:Sing, O barren,
You who have not borne!
Break forth into singing, and cry aloud,
You who have not labored with child!
For more are the children of the desolate
Than the children of the married woman,” says the Lord.

The Blessing: your blessings (3)

1 Chronicles 4:10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.

In the the New Testament the Blessing transitions thus: Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). The Blessor Is Within. In Ephesians 1:3, Paul declares that believers have been given EVERY spiritual BLESSING in heavenly places. Again the word declares, 2 Corinthians 1:20 “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.” The BLESSING now acts from the Inside Out. It begins with intimate relationship through the abiding presence of Christ, and manifests by the word and faith in the power of God. It is the reason we must have renewed minds, which can agree with the Spirit of God within us concerning the word and the way of God. Romans 12: 2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Then we can uphold the right confession and receive from Him by faith. Faith works by the principles of love, wherein we are called to love God and our neighbor as ourselves. The spirit of Faith is speaking and believing. And as well, faith is the assurance that what you are believing for will actually manifest. Only the word and the Spirit can give that assurance. Faith also comes by hearing and hearing the word of God. Faith is a part of that Blessing, and The BLESSING is part of Christ. The Blessing is for you and for me who believe in Christ, lovers of God. Therefore we can call on Him and say like Jabez, “Bless me a lot,” because it is His will, and desire, and in his power, and plan to manifest Himself and the Blessing which is of Him, in our lives.