Posted on 10/29/2001 6:59:00 AM PST by Aquinasfan
"...Dr. Wilkinson encourages folks to pray Jabez's prayer VERBATIM EVERYDAY (p. 11). This is contrary to Jesus' instructions of "when you pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do." Wilkinson seems to be selling Jabez's prayer as a scripturally sanctioned incantation that can guarantee blessings. So, you decide - Who's instructions on prayer are you going to follow: Dr. Bruce Wilkinson's or Jesus'?"
"...To Dr. Wilkinson, the key isn't God's choice to answer Jabez's prayer. To him, the key is that Jabez stumbled upon the RIGHT FORMULA for asking things of God. Wilkinson reverses the cause and effect and declares that Jabez was honorable because he figured out the right way to pray."
"...If any good is to come from the Jabez phenomenon, it will be that people will spend more time in prayer to God. "
"...I'm not concerned that the book has been printed or that people actually believe the things in it. I'm concerned because we're seeing the camel's nose of what I perceive as heretical beliefs poking into the tents of formerly sound mainline denominations and independent churches. Dr. Dobson's endorsement has caused the book to literally fly of the shelves and I think he has given creditability to what would have previously been denounced as a prosperity gospel or "name-it and claim-it" theology. For me though, the real tragedy of Bruce Wilkinson's book will be in the carnage created as desperate souls follow his advice and pray Jabez's prayer for a month and see no change or things getting worse around them.
The book has no discussion of what to do when the prayer seems to fail (and a child dies, a marriage fails, a job is lost or healing does not come, etc.). Many of them will turn to themselves seeking the reason. Wilkinson seems to have guaranteed that the prayer will work and the implication must be that a failed prayer means failed faith or something else wrong with the individual in question. They will hurt and they will feel alone and like spiritual failures, unable to confess what they're going through to a church that has embraced The Prayer Of Jabez. Many who fail to see the promised results will turn from God thinking that Christianity is a sham. They will question God's existence or His faithfulness because, in my opinion, the book teaches a shallow 'results-oriented' faith that is supposed to guarantee success as a opposed to a deep, abiding, loving relationship with our Father that will sustain us through heartaches, failure and success. So that there will be people there to pick up the pieces, please pray that God will use you when the time comes."
"...I would like to close by asking Dr. Wilkinson and his followers a few questions: Would the Apostle Paul have been beheaded if he had prayed Jabez's prayer? Would the Apostle Peter have been crucified upside down if he had Jabezed? And would John the Beloved have been exiled to the Isle of Patmos if he had possessed his very own copy of The Prayer Of Jabez?"
They, too, think you can recite certain formulaic prayers, to bring the favor of the "saints" that they have synthesized from both west African mythology and Roman Catholicism.
The fact is that we have to put some work into it. The Lord does not make any distinction about the order of words in personal prayer. "The Lord looks on the heart."
Glad to hear it.
Luke 20
You know the commandments: `Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'"
21 "All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said.
22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.
24 Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!
25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Luke 9 23
Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
The problem I have with praying for wealth and riches are these teachings of my Lord Jesus, who didn't even have a place to lay his head on this earth. What makes me or anyone else better than The Son of God, Himself? Taking up my cross and denying myself just doesn't sound like rolling in the lap of luxury to me.
Could it be that these blessings were happening in these peoples' lives all along and there were not aware of them because they were not 'praying for a blessing' specifically in their minds?
Could it be that since they began to pray a prayer that they have become more cognizant of the blessings that were already in their lives but did not take the time be be aware of them?
I am the grateful recipient of blessings daily. From just waking in the morning full of grateful thoughts to my spouse being blessed with a bonus at work.
They are all blessings from the Lord.
Perhaps, we all need to encounter life with gratitude to recognize our blessings, the blessings that were already there and those to come.
There are many Christians who go through life with their heads down. They don't look up to see God's hand in all they do. I believe this prayer was so important to Jabez because of his birth. What is sad to me is that this book is so enlightening to so many Christians. I mean, how can so many Christians go throught life not knowing the absolute love of God and his desire to give good gifts? The greatest of which is a relationship with Him in which we fulfill His purpose with our lives through whatever means He sees fit.
You know Jerry,the depth of God's word never ceases to amaze me
Man can take one verse and meditiate on it for days,no weeks and have God do a mighty work in His life through that one verse...
His Word is sharper than any double edged sword..We always ask,"May God bless the reading of His word".....and He does!
Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it. Except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.I enjoyed it very much that he spoke of the blessing as a heritage from God. He talked about his children and his spiritual children. Still, I think I like Spurgeon's better.It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He giveth His beloved sleep.
Lo, children are a heritage of the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is His reward.
As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of the youth.
Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies at the gate.
A quiver holds 7 arrows..this mom of 7 would like to atest to the truth of that Psalm!
I read it, and while I don't pray it, I saw no harm in it. The problematical enlarge my territory line, as tought by Wilkinson, does not refer to material possesions and stock portfolios. He meant, rather to pray for the enlargement of one's territory of influence on behalf of God.
It's a pity that rags like The Enquirer portray the book as a "rags-to-riches prayer, but that simply is not the case. Jabez is not the most profound book I've ever read, but I can see where it has value for some.
Gotta run, i'll look at this thread later.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.