Jabez - Enlarge My Territory

Enlarge my territory

In           Increase the area of my land

In           Increase the number of people under my authority

Increase the number of people on whom I can have an influence
Increase the impact that I have on one or more individuals

The reason for seeking an enlarged territory could be selfish and carnal according to the natural mind. In that case the motive would be to have more and better possessions, towards self comfort or pride of life and vain glory. If we are diligent, striving and working hard, we may achieve these goals.

Proverbs 22:29 (NKJV)
Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.

One may have as vast a territory as the world and yet have his soul so restricted as in a prison.
Jesus said,
Mark 8:36-37 (NKJV)
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Often we hear of people who have gained world wide recognition in sports or other areas of achievement, depressed, with their soul oppressed by the enemy.

Jeremiah 45:2-5 (NKJV)
"Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch:
'You said, "Woe is me now! For the Lord has added grief to my sorrow. I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest." '
Thus you shall say to him, 'Thus says the Lord: "Behold, what I have built I will break down, and what I have planted I will pluck up, that is, this whole land.
And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh," says the Lord. "But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go." ' "

There is no peace or lasting fulfillment in finding and achieving great things for ourselves. We are asked not to seek them but we are asked to seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness.

Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Matthew 25:29-30 (NKJV)
For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.
And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

It is imperative that we be profitable servants, according to Jesus’ Parable of the Talents’. If we love the Lord, we would be responsible with the task he gives us and also seek profit for His kingdom. Then He enlarges our territory for His name’s sake. His kingdom is an eternal kingdom and extends to the ends of the earth and His glory is everlasting. It is beyond time and beyond space. There are people of God who are within the boundaries of a prison cell. There are other Christians who are physically restricted or disabled, unable to get about. Yet their souls are free in Jesus like Paul and Silas, who saw their prison doors open through their songs and praises. Some such Christians are setting others across the world free through their prayers and God-inspired writings while in prison. Fanny Crosby - the blind hymn writer, John Bunyan and the Apostle Paul are good examples of this. Their spiritual boundary extends across the world, impacting lives for eternity!

Joshua 1:1-5 (NKJV)
After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, saying:
"Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them--the children of Israel.
Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.
From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory.
No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.

Psalms 2:8 (NKJV)
Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession.

While travelling to many nations, flying over various lands, I wonder why the Lord would give me such opportunities and graciously carry me around this way. At such times the Lord reminds me, “It’s because, in your closet, you have prayed for these nations!” Sometimes enjoying the comfort of the business class in the aircraft, I wonder why I would be blessed so? The Lord says to me, “You are in My business. The business of the Lord of the whole earth!” In Christ Jesus, we have authority over all evil over all the earth. We make use of this authority by praying in the name of Jesus in submission to Him.

Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV)
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

Luke 10:17-19 (NKJV)
Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name."
And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Sins such as anger, bitterness, prejudices and fears bind us with invisible cords and keep us from seeing our territories enlarged. The more the forgiveness and love I receive from the Lord, the more the forgiveness and love I can give to others and the greater the territory I gain!

Matthew 5:5 (NKJV)
Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.

2 Corinthians 10:12-18 (NKJV)
For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us--a sphere which especially includes you.
For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ;
not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men's labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere,
to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's sphere of accomplishment.
But "he who glories, let him glory in the Lord."
For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
Revelation 5:13 (NKJV)
And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!"

Enlarged territory means more responsibility and requires more wisdom, and more strength. A child promoted to a higher class has to start studying more complex, bigger books. We need to always replace the clothes and shoes of our growing children with bigger ones. Taller trees have roots that go deeper and taller buildings need deeper and stronger foundations.

Isaiah 54:1-3 (NKJV)
"Sing, O barren, You who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, You who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate Than the children of the married woman," says the Lord.
"Enlarge the place of your tent, And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare; Lengthen your cords, And strengthen your stakes.
For you shall expand to the right and to the left, And your descendants will inherit the nations, And make the desolate cities inhabited.

When more doors open with greater opportunities for ministry,  we need to become stronger spiritually. The more we are required to give, the more we have to receive from the Lord. Hence we need to spend more time with the Lord, seeking His face, studying the word and praying. If not, we will soon fall away like the house that was built on sand that got washed away in the storm!