Open Heavens March 28th, 2008

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Job 38-42

UNVEILING YOUR PRINCE-HOOD

MEMORIZE: "And Jabez was more honorable than his brethren; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him in sorrow" (1 Chron. 4:9)

READ: 1 Chron 4:9-10

There are two extremes a man can be. You can be an "honorable Jabez" or a "sorrowful Jabez". In between the two are several possible steps. In Genesis 25:24-26, a set of twins was born-Esau and Jacob. While Esau means red and hairy, Jacob means sup-planter, deceiver, and fraudster. Right from the womb Jacob schemed to overtake his elder brother Esau. The day of birth revealed his unhealthy struggle. Psalm 51:5 says, "Behold, I was sharpen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me". The laws of sin and death had started to operate in everyone right from the womb. Everyone was conceived and born in sin. The average person, like Jabez was born into sorrow. Everyone begins life as a sorrowful Jabez. But we don't have to die that way!

What does the name Jacob represent? It represents everything that is associated with crime, cheating, deceiving, and lies. Anyone including so called believers who still engage in any form of deception is operating at Jacob's level. Jacob also signifies a raw state, naivety, and latent-ness. This means anyone who is yet to develop himself and tap the talents and abilities inside of him is operating at Jacob's level. It also represents one who struggles to make progress solely by self effort, worldly wisdom, and any fraudulent means. If you remain in the mould of Jacob, you will not secure the promises. You cannot enter your promised land as a Jacob. God's judgment awaits the Jacobs!

After years of perpetual sorrow, pain, lack, frustration, poverty and disappointment, Jabez rebelled against the cocoon society and family had prepared for him. He led a one man protest march to the Throne of Grace and everything changed. That trip brought out the Prince in him. Suddenly, the most neglected became the most sought after. Are you still living in the mould people have designed for you? Break off today! Lead a protest march like Jabez and Jacob until your prince hood comes out. Jacob would have disappointed himself and unborn generations if he had not succeeded in bringing out the Israel in him. There is an Israel in you. There is a prince within you that is fighting to get out. Until you let him out, you cannot be your best. Until then, you will not be a man who can influence God and man. If you die with your Israel buried in you, you would have failed woefully. Your Israel must come out. You must be all God planned for you to be. For your change to come from Jacob to Israel mould, you have to give your life to Christ and wrestle in prayer daily asking for this change until it comes.

ACTIONPOINT
Ask God to bring out the Israel in you. Command your prince-hood to manifest.