The Message - Pine Rivers Christian Church

The Message

The Jabez Lesson, by Dave Palmer

If you would like to hear Pastor Dave share on this message, click here to go to the 96.5 site and look for Pine Rivers Christian Church.

On the 20th January 1788, the second fleet arrived in Sydney Cove. Six ships had left England but only 5 arrived at their destination. Amongst the ships that arrived that day was one that has since become infamous, mainly because of its human cargo. It was the Lady Juliana and it contained 225 female convicts.

Amongst those convicts was an 11 year old girl called Mary Wade. Mary had been sentenced to death for stealing some articles of clothing. Her reprieve was to be sent to the penal colony of Sydney Cove. In her lifetime Mary is said to have had 21 children. As you can imagine, many Australians can trace their lineage to Mary wade. One of those being our own Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. Another, lesser know individual, being my dear wife.

Some years ago now my wife and I attended a family reunion of some of Mary Wade’s descendants. Hundreds of people were present. I felt a little out of place at first but remember feeling a rush of excitement when, at the end of the day, I discovered that my name had been added – through marriage – to the list of Mary Wade’s descendants. It made me feel a sense of value and importance. It made me feel like I belonged.

There is a popular TV show that has been screening on the ABC called Who do you think you are? Over the last few months the series has been tracing the family history of well know personalities. It has been a fascinating, and often surprising series, particularly for the personalities involved. This raises the question of why are we so interested in our families history?

WellI guess it is because many of us are interested in where WE came from. What is it that has made us who weare. What potential might we have, based on the successes, or failures, of past descendants. What is our heritage and how do we feel about that? What has made us who WE are? How has it defined our identity and given us a sense of value?

My own story is somewhat different to my wife’s. I came from a broken family and do not know my families lineage.

However, as I have grown older I have become more interested in those that were before me.

I guess that is why I am interested in a guy that appears in the Old Testament of the Bible. Not a lot is said about this guy. But what is said had great significance to me when I first read about him many years ago. He has since become popular and a number of books have been written about him and he even has a seminar based upon him. His name is Jabez. And he is found in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10:

“Jabez was more honourable 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.” (NIV)

Jabez’s mother had given birth to him in very painful circumstances. So she called him PAIN! How would you like a name like that?

Obviously Jabez battled with that name as it defined his sense of identity, set the boundaries of his potential, and reminded him of his painful heritage. However, the amazing thing about this story has to do with a decision that Jabez made. He decided that he would not continue to allow his past heritage to define who he was and what he did. He determined to rewrite his future – with God’s help.

We don’t know what happens next to Jabez. All we know is that his future would have been better, broader and less confined than his past.

(Me, and not Jabez, as a child)

My own experience has not been unlike that of Jabez. I decided some years ago now that I would rewrite my future, and God has been with me all the way. I don’t have time to talk of the amazing adventures that my wife and I have had over the last 28 years. All I can say is that our life has been full.

I found Christ at the age of 20. He saved me from depression, potential suicide and a selfish existence that could have eventually destroyed me anyway. Since that time I have learned that we have no control over our past, but, as my wife so often says to me, “It may not be your fault, but it is your fight!”

You have the power to choose how you write your own script from here on earth. No matter what heritage has been passed on to you, you are the only one who can determine what happens from now on. You can settle for your lot in life – or you can commit yourself to God and ask Him to enlarge your future (and in doing so, also enlarge the future of others).

My prayer for you, wherever you are, right now.

Dear father, thank you that you love us. Thank you that Christ died for us to give us an abundant life. Today Lord we commit ourselves to you. Please forgive us for our failures and mistakes. And help us to make decisions that will enlarge our futures, in Jesus Name – AMEN!