Jabez haters better understand this.

[Andrew]

well, then, I guess you shouldnt be talking to me then, since I believe pretty much in the Word of Faith, and hence am a "deceiver" to you.

chow and have fun

 

[Miss Shelby]

What is with the Prayer of Jabez haters? Have you not read the book? This is not a name it and claim it book. This is a book about allowing God to use you. This isnt about expanding your wealth or how much you own. Its about expanding your "area for the work of God" Territory. Its about allowing God to use you when you might not have been used by God before saying this prayer. You don't have to say this specific prayer. But it is a way to express to God that you want to be used by God. That you want Him to open your eyes to where He is already working.

Because you are missing alot of opportunities God would have used use in, just because you didnt ask God to allow you to be apart of what he is doing.

I'm a prayer of Jabez skeptic. I'm not so sure that there is anything wrong with having a small ministry. I don't really know why it would be necessary for God to expand something if it is adequately serving Him being a secret ministry.

Not only that, but this prayer just hit fanfare in 2000. One can sincerely ask why the Holy Spirit has kept this prayer a secret for 2 millenia. And one more thing... have you seen the oversaturation of 'Jabez' books, novelties, prayer journals, devotionals, Bibles...etc.. at your local Christian bookstore? There are even different versions of the Jabez prayer book..one for adults one for teens one for children. Why don't they target minorties such as the diabled or the imprisoned?

Yes I have read the book and I think it is worthy of the public critique it has been given.

Michelle

 

[Extirpated Wildlife]

Michelle,

I haven't been to a Christian bookstore in a long time. I really dont support the big Christian bookstores chains, ever sinse they basically ran a very nice Christian, family-owned bookstore nearly out of business. It was a huge bookstore too.

But the Christian bookstore chains came around and swallowed up the business.


i digress.....

If you stay away from the Christian bookstores, you wont get so caught up in the Christian moneychangers of today.

We became involved in this study before the hoopla. Our Adult team went through the book. Taking a chapter a week.

I was amazed out how Christians, who already care and are involved, started having encounters that could have only come because of God answering this prayer.

The thing is this. People don't continue praying this way. I gradually stopped. And so did the answers.

Seeking God assistance is tiresome worthy work.

 

[Extirpated Wildlife]

Its like if i talk about how much i think of my church all the time, you guys would start getting tired of it.

Anything that is oversaturated, people begin to overanalyze it.

I do the same thing. but i have been a part of this and i know first hand it works.

 

[Blindfaith]

Why don't they target minorties such as the diabled or the imprisoned?

Miss Shelby,  that is a great suggesstion!

Does anyone know who the publisher is?  Maybe an email could be sent and the suggesstion made. 

 [updown]Kudos to you Miss Shelby! [/updown]

 

[Miss Shelby]

I don't really have a problem with the prayer per se since it is a part of God's Sacred Word. What I tend to question are the claims the author makes in the book. For instance, that the ultimate form of worship is seeking God's blessings. Or the idea that being selfish in one's prayers is a sign of spiritual maturity. Or the false promise that if you say the prayer for 30 days your life will never be the same.

Also, he (the author) makes a very dangerous assumption in my opinion that all people who read the book are Christians. There is no statement of faith made in the book, no gospel message given. And these books are also sold at Wal-Mart and other secular stores.

If you and others at your Church have gone through the book and found something beneficial in it, that's great. I don't want to subtract from that in any way. I don't think it would be profitable for me to say this prayer, though because I don't think it would equip me spiritually for hardships and or sudden devasation of any sort.

Happy Monday to you!

Michelle

 

[Extirpated Wildlife]

Originally posted by Miss Shelby
I don't really have a problem with the prayer per se since it is a part of God's Sacred Word. What I tend to question are the claims the author makes in the book. For instance, that the ultimate form of worship is seeking God's blessings. Or the idea that being selfish in one's prayers is a sign of spiritual maturity. Or the false promise that if you say the prayer for 30 days your life will never be the same.
.....
I don't think it would be profitable for me to say this prayer, though because I don't think it would equip me spiritually for hardships and or sudden devasation of any sort.

Michelle

I understand your position. You, in an illustrative way, sound like a non-believer who is having a hard time coming to Christ. Lost people have issues for this and that. Excuses that hinder them from looking for the truth of God.

Now, i am not trying to completely insuate this on you. Only for illustrative purposes only.

Like i stated. I understand your position. But your unwilling to take the step of understanding the book. I go to a Baptist church. Its not like i am a WOFer.

I very much took the book to help you to pray that you can be a blessing for others. If you read it as a WOFer book, then yeah, you are going to have trouble. Your going to be skeptic.

This is no different than praying for God to reveal where He is working around you. Because he already is.

This book, to me, wasnt about getting you out of hardship. This was about getting yourself to seek where God is already working.

I really don't care if people pray this prayer. I think that if you take the concept of seeking where God is working, then you will do well.

 

[Miss Shelby]

Originally posted by blindfaith 
Miss Shelby,  that is a great suggesstion!

Does anyone know who the publisher is?  Maybe an email could be sent and the suggesstion made.  

 I'll look into it blindfaith. It is worth the suggestion I suppose.  My cynical nature tells me it probably won't be heeded, though.

Michelle

 

[Extirpated Wildlife]

Originally posted by Miss Shelby
 I'll look into it blindfaith. It is worth the suggestion I suppose.  My cynical nature tells me it probably won't be heeded, though.

Michelle

One thing i will agree with you on is the abuse of such books. Making a book to a specific group.

Pretty soon they will have the NIV for Prisoners and the NIV for handicap.



Why do we have to tailor books?

 

[Miss Shelby]

quizzler-

You're all for this book because it has helped you to reap some Godly benefit in your life, but now you are against the idea of tailoring it to prisoners and the diabled? Don't they have ministries, too? They may not make for  profitable marketing strategies but I think their ministries are just as important as yours.

Michelle

 

[JesusServant]

Originally posted by seebs
I'm pretty sure God can use me whether or not I use any particular series of words to ask.

I thought this was strictly a Christian only forum...

 

[Blackhawk]

pg 16 of the book illustrates why I do not like it. It talks about testimonies of people who prayed this prayer for a length of time and got blank. The focus is on the prayer not God.

 

[Extirpated Wildlife]

Originally posted by Miss Shelby
You're all for this book because it has helped you to reap some Godly benefit in your life, but now you are against the idea of tailoring it to prisoners and the diabled? Don't they have ministries, too? They may not make for  profitable marketing strategies but I think their ministries are just as important as yours.

How is someone not being ministered too because a tailored book isnt made for them? Sounds like a cope-out.

 

[Extirpated Wildlife]

Originally posted by Blackhawk
pg 16 of the book illustrates why I do not like it. It talks about testimonies of people who prayed this prayer for a length of time and got blank. The focus is on the prayer not God.

don't remember 16. What i know is my experience with this.

I'll seise on this. It seems people didn't read it with the same mindset i had. I never read it to get something from God but to be used by God.

 

[Blackhawk]

Originally posted by quizzler
don't remember 16. What i know is my experience with this.

experience can lie if it is not grounded in theological truth. 

 

[Miss Shelby]

How is someone not being ministered too because a tailored book isnt made for them? Sounds like a cope-out.

Did I say that prisoners and diabled people shouldn't be ministered to because there is no 'Jabez prayer book' for them? No. The fact is, they are a poor marketing target so chances are they will never get their own 'limited edition'.

Michelle

 

[Extirpated Wildlife]

Originally posted by Blackhawk
experience can lie if it is not grounded in theological truth. 

Your assuming. You know what assuming does?

 

[Extirpated Wildlife]

Originally posted by Miss Shelby
The fact is, they are a poor marketing target so chances are they will never get their own 'limited edition'.

 

[Blackhawk]

Originally posted by quizzler
Your assuming. You know what assuming does?

what am I assuming?  You made a direct statment that you believe in the book and its mesage  because of what you have experienced.  I said then that experiences can seem to be a reperesenative of truth but really not.  Again what am I assuming? 

 

[Extirpated Wildlife]

Originally posted by Blackhawk
what am I assuming?  You made a direct statment that you believe in the book and its mesage  because of what you have experienced.  I said then that experiences can seem to be a reperesenative of truth but really not.  Again what am I assuming? 

We went through this in our Adult Team. We believe it to be grounded in Truth. We have witnessed truths behind this book. Not wealth. Not healings. But God opening doors to share the gospel with others.

That is what i believe the book is truly about. Reaching others for Christ.