Revelation lesson #9 -- The Church At Ephesus

This is NOT a political message! However, it is a comment on things that have happened this past week and what I believe is their relation to the coming of the Lord. First, I know that the United States of America does not in any way represent the whole world. However, I believe that we can get an idea of what is going on in the world by looking at our own nation. It is interesting that almost 250 years ago we fought a revolutionary war in order to be separate and apart from those European nations that were governed by a king and had a state religion. Many fought for that very reason - to be allowed to worship God - not as the king or some pope told them but according to the dictates of their consciences which were being led by the Holy Spirit. Yet, today we have many, and way too many, who are willing to give up that liberty that was purchased by the blood patriots just for the sake of what they call “peace.” But “peace” that is purchased by the loss of liberty is not real peace. Over the years, and in the past few months we have seen things happen in America that I, being naive as I am, never thought I would see in this God blessed land. We have seen the total denial of God by a nation that was established by His providence. We deny His Word to school children so we can give it to them in prison. We don’t want His Ten Commandments hanging in the classroom or the courtroom, and yet we decry the increase in crime and wonder why so many young people seem to be turning to that life. (It almost seems a “badge of honor” among some to have a criminal record today.) And we regularly permit the wholesale slaughter of little babies by the abortionist’s hand. In many cases churches are no better. Many see “the church” as a social organization. It is not! A church of the Lord Jesus Christ was purchased by His blood, through His suffering and should exist to glorify Him. Many believe the church is to grow through programs and parties, but remember: In John 12:32 Jesus said, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” Acts 2:47 says, “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” (I want to pastor a church that the Lord adds to, not one that man adds to.) Many see the Lord’s church as a place to “have fun” in the sense that the world “has fun.” Coming to church should delight us so that we look forward to it, but we do not come just to “play” as a child would play with his toys. Church is a place where we come to worship God and to study His Word and learn more about Him. (And if anyone believes they know all there is to know about the Bible, about God, and about His worship, they haven’t learned anything yet.) There are those, also, who want the Lord’s church to be like every other “church” in town. We are different! And we are to be different. We have a different origin, a different Head, a different organization, and a different purpose in this world. Remember Israel from I Samuel 8:5 when they wanted to be like everybody else and said to Samuel, “now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” There is danger in wanting to be like everybody else. (Listen to that young people.) And now, this past week, we have seen where this devolution in America is leading. We have seen a man executed by a sniper’s bullet because he dared to speak publicly and often for the godly principles of the Bible. Remember what Jesus told His disciples in the 15th and 16th chapters of John. John 15:18-21: “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. (19) If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. (20) Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. (21) But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.” John 16:2-3: “They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. (3) And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.” Our text declares that society is not going to “evolve,” but “devolve” -- “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” This is what I call the natural progression of degeneration.

We live in evil times. Some say we are living in “post-christian” America. Post-christian = anti-christian. The Bible tells us that the spirit of antichrist is in the world today. But it was also in the world 2000 years ago during John’s day -- I John 4:3: “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” All of this spells opposition for the child of God. However, none of it gives the saved an excuse for not serving God. Both II Corinthians 5:10 and Romans 14:10 warn us that we will stand before Christ in judgment - not to determine salvation, but to give answer for our lives as those who are saved. II Corinthians 5:10 says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” Romans 14:10-12 tells us, “But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. (11) For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. (12) So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” I Corinthians 3:13 tells us that every man’s works shall be tried by fire: “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.” I don’t know about you, but at the end of this judgment I want to hear my Lord say, “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (Matthew 25:23) We often hear a message from these verses at a funeral service or at the graveside of some faithful saint of God, but II Timothy 4:6-8 was given in light of the prophecy of perilous times (chapter 3) as Paul faced the end of his life. These verses should encourage believers to faithfully serve the Lord as they look for His return. They show us what we need if we are to remain committed to the Lord even in perilous times. They show us how we must live if we are to hear the Lord Jesus say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant . . . ” There must be:

I. THE FAITHFUL COMMITMENT OF THE PRESENT -- VS. 6.

II. THE FEARLESS COURAGE OF THE PAST - VS. 7.

III. A FULL CONFIDENCE FOR THE FUTURE -- VS. 8.

Paul’s message to the Thessalonians makes it very clear that the apostle believed in the imminent return of the Lord Jesus -- I Thessalonians 4:16-17: “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” I believe these verses also show us that for the past 2000 years the way has been being prepared, and is still being prepared today for the appearance of the man of sin, the Antichrist. Verse 3 says, “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition. . .” Verse 7 tells us, “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work . . . ” Satan has been and is still at work preparing for the coming of his “messiah,” the Antichrist. And the only reason he has not appeared yet is the restraining power of the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, there is great reason to believe that even today Satan is readying the world for the full revelation of and take over by the Antichrist -- and it is occurring right before our eyes. The stage is being set, and the hearts of men are being prepared for the unveiling of the son of perdition, as he is called here, who the Lord will destroy with the very brightness of His coming. It seems reasonable that God would give His children some insight into His future plan, and though many doubt the Word of God the soon coming of Christ is being revealed before our eyes. II Peter 3:10 tells of the destruction by fire of this sin-cursed world: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” God shall judge this world by fire and with FERVENT HEAT (burning heat; hot heat; to set on fire). You’ve heard, “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity?” At this time it is going to be the heat! Man has advanced in knowledge to where he could set off such an explosion to bring this about, but God does not have to rely on the accidents and failures of men to accomplish His will. HE WILL BRING JUDGMENT! The Bible tells us that the man of sin will come to rule the world, and many things today point to the world’s being made ready for the Antichrist.

I. THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF SCIENCE.

II. THE HUNGER FOR PEACE.

III. THE INDIFFERENCE IN “CHRISTIANITY” (CHURCHES).

IV. THE ELIMINATION OF GOD FROM DAILY LIFE.

V. THE CENTRALIZATION OF POWER.

VI. THE SATANIC FACTOR.

VII. THE PROLIFERATION OF “MIRACLES” IN THE WORLD.

There ought to be something different about a child of God and the rest of this sinful world. We live in a world of perversion, pre-marital sex, fornication, adultery, abortion, etc. And some of those who practice such things profess Christ as Savior, and some of them are even members of the Lord’s churches. And too often churches choose to ignore them in order to avoid having to deal with their sin. But listen to what our Lord had to say to one of His churches about this matter. I Corinthians 5:2, 6: “And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. (6) Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?” II Corinthians 6:14-18: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (15) And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? (16) And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (17) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, (18) And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” Based on that plea 7:1 says: “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” I will say it again, God’s people and the Lord’s churches are to be different from the world. We are to have a different standard -- a standard of righteousness. Since the world walks in darkness, we who are saved have an opportunity to stand out as examples of what God can do in a life by walking in the Light. Not only should we be different in the things we do, but we should be different in our attitudes and outlook as well. (A child of God who doesn’t have an outlook that is different from this world’s is not “good advertising” for our Lord.) And the difference should show . . . like a glow. Our text is the account of Moses’ second trip up Mt. Sinai to receive the tablets of stone with God’s commandments written in them. Recall he broke the first set of tablets when he came down from the mountain and found the Israelites worshipping the golden calf and committing fornication. In 34:1-2 God told him to “. . . Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest. (2) And be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning unto mount Sinai, and present thyself there to me in the top of the mount.” This is also when God hid Moses “in a clift of the rock” and passed by him and covered him with His hand so that Moses saw only the “back parts” (the glory trail) of God. And vs. 30 says, “And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.” Moses had been in the presence and glory of God, and his face revealed it. We are in the very presence of God this morning. In Psalm 139:7 the psalmist asked concerning God: “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?” Jesus is here -- Matthew 18:20: "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” The Holy Spirit is present -- Ephesians 2:22: “In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” The entire Godhead (Trinity) is present in these services this morning (and every time we meet). For that reason, we should have a “glow” about us when we leave this place today. And note, Moses’ glow lasted for a substantial period of time. It didn’t go away the minute he came down from the mountain. Neither should our “glow” for having been in God’s presence this morning go away quickly or with any kind of suddenness. (I have seen some of God’s people put their “grumble face” on the minute they walk out the church house door.) In this message we are going to examine Moses after he came down from his “conference” with God on Mt. Sinai he had . . .

I. HE EXHIBITED A GLOWING FACE - VS.28.

II. HE EXPERIENCED A GRADUAL FADING - 29-30.

III. HE EXERCISED A GLORIOUS FAITHFULNESS.

Our achievements in life are, most often, a product of and controlled by what motivates us. Whatever motivates you drives you, compels you to become whatever you become. Sadly, there are those in our world, and some of them are in the Lord’s churches that seem to have absolutely no motivation whatsoever. These do little, produce little, achieve little. I believe the greatest failure of believers and the Lord’s churches in this 21st century is the failure to witness of Jesus Christ. We make many excuses for our failure. Someone has even come up with a list of the top ten excuses people give for not witnessing. What is the chief purpose of a New Testament church? (Hint: Ephesians 3:21.) Who makes up a church? (Ans: Saved, scripturally believers covenanted together to obey Him.) John 15:8: “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” John 15:16: “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” I believe we could say without fear of error that the greatest witness for Jesus, other than the Lord Himself, was the Apostle Paul. Paul was saved to win souls to Christ - Acts 9:15: “But the Lord said unto him (Ananias), Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel . . . ” Paul’s heart’s desire was to bring people, especially his Jewish brethren to Christ -- Romans 10:1: “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.” Look again at his commitment and compassion in our text. "(3) For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh . . . ” He is saying, “If it were possible, I would give up my salvation so my kinsmen would be saved.” In II Corinthians 5 the subject under discussion is our desire to put off this tent (“tabernacle,” frail body) in which we live on this earth and to put on “a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (the glorified body). In vs. 2 Paul says, “For in this (this body) we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven . . . ” In vs. 8 Paul says, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” And in the verses that follow Paul reveals to us what motivated him and made him such an effective witness and soulwinner for the Lord Jesus Christ. The business of winning souls is the work nearest the heart of God, and it should be our first love. As we look at these verses we are going to discover that the same motivations should exist in our lives today.

I. THERE IS THE COMPULSION THAT DRIVES US - VS. 9.

II. THERE IS THE COMPENSATION THAT AWAITS US - VS. 10.

III. THE CONVICTION THAT ALARMS US - VS. 11.

IV. THE COMPASSION THAT OBLIGATES US - VV. 14-15.

V. THE CONFIDENCE THAT ASSURES US - VV. 16-17.

VI. THE COMMISSION THAT APPROVES US - VV. 18-20.

Can a person limit God? We would immediately answer with a resounding NO! But there is also a certain YES! You ask, “How is that possible?” In one sense it is impossible for the creature to limit the Creator. Certainly, no mere human being can limit the Almighty God. However, when God ties His work to man’s faith and/or obedience, there is a sense in which man can and does limit God. The psalmist is saying that God wanted to do so much more for Israel, but the choices in life they made limited the Lord from doing more for them. God will not bless our disobedience. God will not underwrite our sin. He will not help us sin -- James 1:13: “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:” If you are tempted, it is coming from YOU -- James 1:14-15: “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (15) Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” LIMIT is from a root word that means “to scratch; to imprint; to make a mark.” Some suggest the meaning of “grieved.” When we, in our hearts and minds, limit the power of God it grieves the Almighty. Adam Clarke says, “Here it most obviously means an insult offered to God.” Albert Barnes: “The idea in the word would seem to be that of making a mark for any purpose; and then it means to delineate; to scrawl; or to set a mark for a limit or boundary. Thus it might be applied to God - as if, in estimating his character or his power, they set limits or bounds to it, as one does in marking out a farm or a house - lot in a city or town. There was a limit, in their estimation, to the power of God, beyond which he could not act; or, in other words, his power was defined and bounded, so that beyond a certain point he could not aid them.” The Scripture says of Jesus when He was in Nazareth: Matthew 13:58 -- “. . . he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” Mark 6:5-6 - “And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. (6) And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.” You know what they were doing? They were limiting Jesus, limiting God! For just a few minutes I want us to look at this psalm and see why Israel limited and grieved God and then consider how we might limit Him.

I. HOW ISRAEL LIMITED GOD -- PSALM 78:1-72.

II. HOW WE LIMIT GOD TODAY.

In Matthew 24:7-8 Jesus was answering a question about the end times when He said: “ . . . there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. (8) All these are the beginning of sorrows.” Recently we have seen an 8.8 earthquake that just occurred off the coast of Russia. Wednesday evening I read that Mt. Rainier in Washington state, one of the few active volcanoes in the world is showing signs of waking up. Mt. Rainier is currently going through “earthquake swarms.” Since July 8 there have been over 1,000 tremors or earthquakes in and around it. “The USCS reports that earthquake activity has slowed down from the 41 events per hour on July 8 to a few events per hour by July 25.” (KIRO TV, Seattle). According to the USGS, there have been 184 Magnitude 2.5+ earthquakes on Earth over the last day (Thursday). Of those, 157 (that's a whopping 85%) have occurred in the general vicinity of the 8.8 quake off the coast of Russia. There is the recent deadly flood in Texas and two earthquakes in the past few days in Northeast Arkansas with the largest being a 2.5. And the north rim of the Grand Canyon is said to be a blazing inferno due to wildfire. (And that is just in the United States!) Romans 8:22: “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” In the introduction to the study in the book of Revelation I pointed out that we are pre-millennial, pre-tribulation Baptists. Pre-millennial means that we believe that Jesus will return to “catch up” (rapture) believers and remove them from “this present evil world” prior to His coming to set up His millennial kingdom. Pre-tribulation means we believe that Jesus will come just before or at the very beginning of the Great Tribulation that He spoke of in Matthew 24. The verses of our text are “companion verses” to the information Jesus gave in Matthew 24. In our text He is dealing with the questions His disciples asked in Luke 21:7: “And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?” These words are the answer as He tells of judgment to come, His return, and the end of the world. Someone will ask, “Is Jesus really coming again? Do you really believe that?” I know a lot of saved people live like they don’t believe it, but my answer is an unequivocal, “YES!” And, there is a way for us to know that His Second Coming is near, “even at the door.” No one knows the day or hour of our Lord’s return. Jesus said so in Matthew 24:36: “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” But God has revealed signs whereby we may be enlightened and know that His coming is near. I pray that God will use this message to stir our hearts and minds that the glorious coming of Jesus is close so that it may be uppermost in our hearts. That we will not be satisfied with merely being “saved,” but that we arise from our state of lethargy. That by the power of the Holy Spirit our hearts may be stirred to labor for Him for His coming is near. Here are some Bible reasons why I believe we should watch for the coming of Jesus, and why I believe His coming is near.

I. THE PRESENCE OF LATTER DAY SCOFFERS - II PETER 3:3-7.

II. THE GREAT APOSTASY - II THESSALONIANS 2:3.

III. REJECTION OF HOLY SPIRIT LEADERSHIP - I TIMOTHY 4:1.

IV. PERILOUS TIMES - II TIMOTHY 3:1-5.

V. THE IMMORALITY OF OUR DAY.

VI. THE LORD'S CHURCHES IN THIS AGE - REVELATION 3:14-22.

VII. THE LESSON OF THE BUDDING FIG TREE.

Last week we looked at a man, Jabez, who had every reason to “throw in the towel” and quit. His name, Jabez (“The son of my sorrow; the son of my pain and affliction; and he will cause pain”) didn’t help him any. His brethren apparently did not help him any because II Chronicles 4:9 says, “Jabez was more honorable (worthy of honor) than his brethren.” He lived in a time when it seems there were very few “notables” in his world because he Word of God has so very little to say about them - “so-and-so begat so-and-so, and he died,” etc. And yet, Jabez did not quit! In fact, his prayer is recorded in the Word of God and serves as an inspiration to each and every child of God. Most of us, no doubt, can relate to the psalmist when he said in Psalm 73:2, “But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.” Honestly, there have been time I have just wanted to quit. That is t Satan wants God-called preachers who are still declaring the truth to do. He is working on our minds! That is one of the reasons God-called pastors quit the ministry each year. It is also one reason some of the young men God is calling to preach do not answer the call. Did you know that being a pastor is listed among the four most difficult positions in the United States? It is listed among the top reasons for depression and other mental issues. Recently I shared the following on Facebook, “The Price Of Being A Pastor.” So please don’t think me unspiritual or lacking faith for saying I have thought about quitting. Instead, would you be truthful enough to confess the same - that there have been times when you thought about quitting? Look at what the psalmist said in vs. 2 of the 73rd Psalm - “. . . my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.” Some attribute this psalm to Asaph, and others attribute it to David. Regardless of who wrote this psalm, he was a servant of the Lord who almost quit. Unfortunately, for many of God’s people, they don’t almost quit, THE DO QUIT. Preachers quit preaching. Church members quit going to church. This is not new, but it is of great concern. The encouragement from the Apostle Paul in Galatians 6:9 is that believers not to be “weary in well doing,” and we are not to “faint.” Weary means "to turn out to be a coward; to lose one’s courage; to lose heart (in view of trial or evils); to become despondent. FAINT means "to relax, to weary; to be exhausted, esp. from failure of power." The idea is, “Do not lose heart, lose your courage just because you are wearied by trials.” Do you believe we are in the last days? Well, the Bible says difficult time will come in the last days. But it also teaches us that it has been difficult to stand for Christ in any days. I Timothy 4:1-2: “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; (2) Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” In I Corinthians 15:58 believers are instructed to be “steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” (STEADFAST = sitting fast; fixed; settled. UNMOVEABLE = without moving from place to place; not moving away; unmoved; firm. ABOUNDING = to be over and above.) Why do people quit serving God? How can we keep from quitting? Where can we find strength for the inevitable discouragements that come to our lives as believers? These are some questions we will examine in this message titled “Don’t Quit!”

I. THE REASON FOR QUITTING.

II. THE RESILIENCE TO CONTINUE.

III. THE REAL EXAMPLE (OF ONE WHO WOULD NOT QUIT).

I was talking with someone recently about this thing called a “comfort zone.” Everybody has a comfort zone. It is that temperature at which we feel most comfortable. It is the way of life in which we feel at ease. We probably all have people with whom we feel most comfortable. When we are in the wrong crowd, or the wrong situation, or the wrong place, doing the wrong things, we can feel very uncomfortable. As individuals we can become satisfied with the status quo. We can so structure our lives that we can almost predict what will happen from one day to the next. Now there is nothing wrong with being satisfied with your job, but when you are satisfied with your service to the Lord, you have problems. There is nothing wrong with being comfortable in your home, but when you become complacent with your prayer life and satisfied with your spiritual progress, you need to be revived. (By the way, that is a part of what revival is - being dissatisfied with where we are spiritually and DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT!) We should never reach the place as believers where we are totally satisfied with our walk with the Lord and our witness to the lost. If anyone ever reached a point he could be satisfied with his spiritual progress, it was Paul. Yet, he remained unsatisfied and always reached for more. Philippians 3:12-14: “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. (13) Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, (14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Not only do individuals live in a spiritual comfort zone, many churches do too. In a few weeks, on Sunday night, we are going to look at such a church. What did the Lord say to that church? Revelation 3:15-16: “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. (16) So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” I believe today most churches have found their comfort zone. We have learned the art of peaceful co-existence with the world about us. When our attendance is up and offerings are good, we may be tempted to back off and take it easy. We may not pray for the church as we should. We may not invite others, or witness as we should. The sad truth is that when a church becomes complacent, that church begins to die! It may take years, but she begins to die when she gets satisfied with her spiritual level and growth. A church is in serious trouble when it becomes satisfied and complacent -- in its comfort zone. How do we move out of our “comfort zone?” It is seen in our [TEXT] -- I Chronicles 4:9-10.

“And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. (10) And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.”

You might recognize these verses as the prayer of Jabez. About 20 years ago these verses were very popular and caused quite a stir. There were books written about this prayer. Many sermons were preached from these verses. Unfortunately, a great number of those sermons presented those verses as dealing with material blessings and success. But that is NOT what Jabez is talking about. He is praying for spiritual growth and blessing. Let’s look at these verses today and find out what we need to move out of our spiritual comfort zone.

I. JABEZ AND HIS PERSONALITY -- VS. 9.

II. JABEZ AND HIS PRAYER -- VS. 10a.

III. JABEZ AND HIS PROVISION -- VS. 10b.