BREAKING OUT OF LIMITATIONS

1 Introduction

Luke 1:28-30  “You have found favour with God.”

· Mary’s life lifted to new level of experience, enlargement, purpose.

· Favour = presence and power of God, grace.

· Favour of God = God’s presence and power acting on your behalf to give you an advantage in life so will and purpose of God accomplished.

· “Found” (2147 Strongs) = to find by search, to obtain something sought.

· Ephesians 3:20  God able to do more exceedingly than ask or think.

· Luke 1:37 “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”

2 Example of Jabez (1 Chronicles 4:9-10)

(i) Background of Jabez = Sorrow

· “More honourable” (3513 Strongs) – kabad = glory, honour, splendour

· Jabez stood out from his generation.

· Holy Spirit draws attention to his circumstances and favour.

· Mother bore in sorrow

· “Sorrow” (6090 Strongs) = to be in pain, sorrow, turmoil.

· Birth surrounded in personal sorrow and pain for mother.

· Entrance into life in painful circumstances.

· Not how you start – it’s how and where you finish!

· Not past that determines future – choices, destiny of God.

· Jabez (3258 Strongs) = to grieve, be sorrowful

· Name in Bible describes nature, character, distinguishing feature.

· Whenever asked his name: “Sorrow”.

· Not content to be confined by past or people’s opinion.

· Choice how life goes – must choose life.

(ii) Sorrow can destroy hope!

God of hope – your joy, no man can take it, you let it go!

Luke 24:13-21  Disciples on road to Emmaus

· “Sad” (4659 Strongs) = angry face, mournful, sad appearance, sullen face.

· Consequence of Jesus’ death on cross.

• ‘Sad’ – loss of joy.
• ‘Reasoned’ – tried to work it out in head.
• ‘Trusted’ – loss of what expected, hoped for, confident.
• ‘Unbelief’ – loss of faith in Lord and promises of God.
• ‘Eyes held’ – “to use strength, seize” – unable to discern presence and works of God.

· Proverbs 13:12   “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.”

• Heart is the core of person’s life – seal of faith.
• Hope deferred Þ expectations removed, delayed.
• “Sick” (2470 Strongs) = grieve, weak, afflicted, worn.

· Needed hope renewed by (i) Word of God (ii) Encounter with God

(iii) Jabez broke free of sorrow

· “Called upon the Lord”

• Not content to be limited – arose and went to source of life.

· Romans 10:13   Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

• God is rich, wealthy, increase all who call upon Him.
• Save Þ protect, restore, heal.
• Must have desire for change.
• Must have faith in character of God.
• Must choose to let faith arise again towards God.

· Jabez sought God’s blessing!

• Didn’t wait passively; accept fate – took action.
• Sought God’s blessing, God’s favour.  (Ephesians 1:3)
• We have been blessed with Christ with every blessing.
• Must appropriate – take hold of God’s promises.

Jabez sought three specific things

a) “Enlarge my coast” = Increase (not just for self, leave legacy)

· “Enlarge” (7235 Strongs) = increase, have more.

· “Coast” (1366 Strongs) = border, boundaries, territory possessed.

· Enlargement of responsibility, sphere of influences, authority.

· Desired to break forth out of present limitations.

· Dissatisfied – sought enlargement of his metron.

b) “Hand with me” = Power of God

· Hand of God – always symbolic of His power, miracles.

· Exodus 15:6   Right hand glorious in power.

· 1 Chronicles 29:12  “In your hand is power and might, in your hand is to make great.”

· Mark 16:17  “These signs follow those who believe.”

c) “Keep me from evil” = Protection from demonic

· Evil = adversity, calamity, destructive forces.

· Grieve – that which causes sorrow.

· Desired protection from demonic forces and victory over past sorrows – walk in new realm.

· God gave Him what he requested.

· Enlargement – Miracles – Protection

· Didn’t happen as prayed – happened as he acted in faith and obedience.