DELIVER ME FROM EVIL

SERIES: THE PRAYER OF JABEZ.

TEXT: 1st CHRONICLES 4:9-10.

Jabez prayer is one of the most remarkable prayers in the Bible.

Jabez, in his plea to God, he recognized the presence of evil and cried out for deliverance.

Jabez recognized and understood that evil has the power to hinder progress, bring pain and delay destinies.

Jabez prayed, “Keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me.”

Many christians today face different forms of evil-spiritual attacks, afflictions, limitations and unseen battles.

Some people start spiritual battles in the womb, others at childhood, teenage, adult, mid-life, old age, battles seen and unseen are real.

The enemy constantly seeks to derail God’s people through sin, oppression and discouragement.

However, just like Jabez cried out for deliverance, we too can seek God’s intervention.

Prayer is the only scriptural medicine prescribed to overcome afflictions. Whatever afflictions, be it poverty, hardship, struggling with your business, sickness, do not get worried, but channel all your energy and time into prayer.

Afflictions can come to a man from various sources and for various reasons, but God is willing to give freedom to everyone who believes and calls upon Him for liberty, just like Jabez did.

In Exodus 3:7-10, God says of the children of Israel-

1. I have seen the affliction of my people. God can see every affliction of His people even when it is hidden from man. God can see the source, the people and the power behind the affliction.
2. I have heard the cry of my people. God can hear every cry of His people due to pains and suffering. God is aware of the reasons they cry and the people or power making them cry.
3. I know the sorrow of my people. All the sorrow we bear due to whatever reason, situation or condition are well known unto God. He knows the causes of our sorrow and because He knows, He will not be willing to forsake His people in their sorrow unless they are not willing to be free.
4. I will come down to deliver. God promises four deliverance for His people:-

• He will take away all the afflictions.
• He will destroy all their oppressors.
• He will wipe away all their tears.
• He will take away their sorrows.
• God promises to restore them for blessings.

The duty of evil is to afflict. Jabez was in essence praying to be kept delivered for all manner of affliction.

There are classes and categories of afflictions depending on the mission.

• There is affliction on a killing mission. This includes the spirit of death chasing someone, terminal sickness and diseases that come upon a man to stay for long time and latter kill the person. Jabez prayed deliver me from such.
• There is affliction on avenging mission. This kind of affliction is sent to take vengeance against the evil seed sown by someone or his or her parents-Gen. 4:9-13.
• Affliction sent against somebody’s peace or well-being. This is the kind of affliction to make someone to be troubled continually and solution to problem like that is usually very difficult-Luke 8:43-48.
• Affliction that comes due to curses or negative pronouncement. Some people are operating under a curse or some negative pronouncement, and as such a result their lives are being resisted or limited in one area or another and no appreciable progress can be seen in their lives-1st Chron. 4:9-10. Jabez had pronouncements and prophesies done upon his life especially by his mother.
• Afflictions that come to monitor satanic covenants, oaths or vows.  Some people are under one satanic covenant or the other either the one they enter into personally or someone else entered into on their behalf consciously or unconsciously. Evil dreams that generate fear, torment and oppressions and all kinds of demonic oppression.
• Afflictions sent to attack someone’s faith in God-Job 1:8-12.
• Afflictions sent to attack your harvest or reward for labor-Judges 6:2-6 etc.

Let us learn how evil operates, the power of prayer in overcoming it, and how we like Jabez can walk in victory through divine protection. May God deliver us from all evil:-

RECOGNIZING THE PRESENCE OF EVIL.

• Evil is a force that seeks to hinder God’s plans in the lives of His people.
• Jabez understood this and made it a point in his prayer to ask for deliverance.

Evil brings pain and sorrow-Gen. 6:5-6.

• Jabez associated evil with grief. Wherever evil prevails sorrow, loss and suffering follow.

The enemy seeks to destroy destinies-John 10:10.

• The devils goal is to steal, kill and destroy, just as attempts to divert people from God’s purposes.

Evil works through various channels-Eph. 6:12.

• The enemy uses different means- temptations, demonic attacks and human opposition to bring evil upon believers.

Ignoring evil is dangerous-1st Peter 5:8.

• Many believers fall into destruction because they are not vigilant against the enemy’s schemes.
• Job experienced satanic attacks, but because of God’s intervention, his latter end was greater than his beginning-Job 42:12-13.

THE POWER OF PRAYER IN OVERCOMING EVIL.

• Jabez did not rely on his strength, he called on God for deliverance. Prayer is a mighty weapon against evil.

Prayer invokes divine protection-Psalm 91:10-11.

• When we pray, God assigns His angels to shield us from the attacks of the enemy.

Prayer cancels the works of darkness-Isaiah 54:17.

• Now weapon formed against us shall prosper when we seek God’s intervention.

Prayer strengthens our spiritual defenses-Eph. 6:18.

• A prayerful believer is equipped to withstand the enemy’s assaults.

Prayer brings victory over the enemy-Luke 10:19.

• Jesus has given us power and authority to trample over every power of the enemy.
• Hezekiah prayed and God delivered him and Judah from the invasion of Sannacherib-2nd Kings 19:14-20.

WALKING IN GOD’S DIVINE PROTECTION.

• Jabez request for deliverance from evil was not just about avoiding attacks but about walking under God’s covering daily.

Stay in God’s presence-Psalm 91:1.

• Those who abide in God’s presence are shielded from danger.

Obedience keeps us safe-Deut. 28:7.

• When we obey God’s word, He fights our battles and causes our enemies to flee.

Faith overcomes fear-2nd Timothy 1:7.

• Fear is a tool of the enemy, but faith in God assures us of His protection.

The blood of Jesus is our covering-Rev. 12:11.

• • Through the blood of Jesus we are protected and victorious.

• The children of Israel were spared from the plagues of Egypt because of the blood of the lamb-Exodus 12:13.

HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR DELIVERANCE.

• It is not enough to be delivered from evil. We must remain in God’s protection to avoid future attacks.

Guard your heart-Proverbs 4:23.

• The enemy usually uses thoughts and desires to lead people back into bondage.

Be watchful and disciplined-1st Cor. 16:13.

• A careless believer becomes a target for the enemy.

Live a life of holiness-James 4:7.

• When we submit to God, the devil has no legal ground in our lives.

Keep growing spiritually-Col. 2:6-7.

• The deeper we grow in Christ, the stronger we become against the enemy’s schemes.
• The man at Bethesda was warned by Jesus to “sin no more” after he was healed, lest a worse thing happen to him-John 5:14.

TRUSTING GOD FOR TOTAL VICTORY.

• Jabez prayer ended in victory because God granted his request. We must have the same confidence that God will deliver us from every evil.

God is faithful to deliver-2nd Thess. 3:3.

• He has promised to guard us from all evil and keep us secure.

Victory is assured in Christ-Romans 8:37.

• We are more than conquerors through Christ who strengthens us.

• Never stop praying-1st Thess. 5:17.

• Continuous prayer keeps us strong and victorious.

Declare God’s promises daily-Psalm 91:7-10.

• Speaking God’s word activates His protection over our lives.
• Paul and Silas trusted God for victory and even in prison, they overcame through prayer and praise.

CONCLUSION

• Jabez understood that evil was a force capable of causing pain and limitation, so he cried out to God for deliverance.
• His prayer was not just about avoiding hardship but about securing a life of divine protection and purpose.
• Today, believers must pray the same prayer.
• May the Lord hear our cry and deliver us from every work of darkness!!