Return to list of "Prayer of Jabez" series



TITLE: Your Hand be with Me (3rd in series of 6)
TEXT: Isaiah 6:4-8
PROPOSITION: We must realize our dependence on God.
QUESTION: How?
KEY WORD: Ways
SCRIPTURE READING: Same
INTRODUCTION:

  1. Some might think that I have gone too far with this one.
  2. Bless me. OK. Expand my territory. OK.
  3. Preachers burnout, quit the ministry. Why? Failure in this prayer.
  4. They try to be a “one-man band” instead of letting God conduct the orchestra.

Independence
  1. We start thinking, “I can't do this, take this, handle this, anymore.”
  2. I am not strong enough, wise enough to deal with this.
  3. We end up feeling - alone, abandoned, afraid
  4. Alone - like Elijah - 1 Kings 19:1-10 (7,000 protected by God)
  5. I am not the man for this job. Get someone else. Isaiah 6:5-8
  6. Moses at burning bush - I can't talk to a king - Exodus 3:9-12
  7. Plaque in my office - “Lord help me to remember that nothing is going to happen to me today that You and I together can't handle.”

Attempt something so large that failure is guaranteed
  1. Janet and I on our trip in 1993 - to Kirovo-Cheptsk, Russia
  2. 6 of us for one week. Then Janet and I and our 17 yr. Old son.
  3. Went to see the mayor - not receptive, within the hour, we had appointments at factories, schools, senior centers, interviewed on cable TV
  4. In 21 days - 93 baptisms

Here are the rules:
  1. PRAY - Ask God's hand to be with you
  2. Do something that goes against common sense
  3. Contradicts your previous experiences
  4. Disregard your feelings, training, and need for security
  5. Sets you up to look like a fool and a loser
  6. Daniel, Fiery furnace, Elijah at Mt. Carmel

Many Biblical Examples
  1. Moses and snake of brass on a pole - Numbers 21:8
  2. Holding stick out over the Red Sea - Exodus 14:16
  3. Poison pot of stew, add some meal - 2 Kings 4:40

Conclusion:
  1. We need God's help.
  2. Without God - we are nothing. John 15:5
  3. With God - all things are possible. Mark 10:27
  4. With Christ - I can do all things. Philippians 4:13



Return to list of "Prayer of Jabez" series