Touré Roberts - Cheating the System

So what I want to do is talk about how Jabez went from one thing to another. How did he do it? Jabez, in essence, conveys a timeless message about cheating the system. Yes, indeed, because Jabez, in some way, cheated the system: the system of his beliefs, the system of his identity, the systems of the subculture he was raised in, and the system of the name that was placed upon him. In some way, he became this anomaly; he cheated the system. He was not supposed to be more honorable than all of his brothers; he was meant to be the one who continuously produced pain. You can only produce according to your perception; as a man thinks, so is he. I cannot produce beyond what I perceive, but I produce exactly how I perceive I am. Are you tracking with me? How does he do it? I want to give us four things that will ultimately serve as tools for you to help you cheat whatever systems you’re caught up in. You’re going to crack the code; you’re going to hack the system. I feel the Spirit of God; pull it right back here. So, I want to give you five things that Jabez did to cheat the system. Here we go.

The first thing that Jabez does to cheat the system, when he finds himself stuck in an identity that he did not choose, although there was greatness within him trying to emerge, is he decides that it is a spiritual issue. Oh, feel that right there! Being spiritual, let me tell you, is so underrated. We apologize for being spiritual. It’s so underrated. I often think about my prayer life; in our world and culture, we often say, «We have done everything we know to do; there is only one thing left to do now, and that is to pray.» So, you mean to tell me you waited until the end to be spiritual? Here is the reality: there are many more spiritual problems than you think. You may perceive there are natural problems, but they are actually spiritual problems. What is frustrating is when we try to cure, heal, or solve a spiritual problem with natural resources. This issue is spiritual; you have to grasp the dynamics of the spiritual. Everything that is natural was produced by the spiritual. The spiritual is underrated! Never let anyone laugh at you for being spiritual. Every hero in Scripture was spiritual. Jabez decides for himself that this is a spiritual issue, and therefore, he calls on God. He knows exactly what to do. You see, the greatness that was calling to him from within was spiritual, and to release spiritual things from you, you must become more spiritual. I feel the Spirit of God; you’ve got a natural problem, and you think it’s a natural problem, but it is not; it is a spiritual problem that will manifest in the natural if you become more spiritual.

Let me explain before I get too excited. We are taught to pray like this: when the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, Jesus said, «Pray like this: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.» Are you tracking with me? So, I have to be spiritual because the Spirit moves the earth. Spiritual things influence the earth. You think that the earth moves on its own? You have the power to affect the earth if you will open your mouth and pray. Some of you need to become more spiritual. When you become more spiritual, you’re going to see things shift in the natural. If you believe it, holler at me for three seconds! It’s more spiritual than you think, and don’t let anyone tell you that you are too spiritual. I’m not saying to be so heavenly-minded that you’re no earthly good, but you must understand that who I am in the Spirit will shake something in the earth. Are you tracking with me? The spiritual always precedes the natural, and you have to be careful because everything that is powerful, the enemy will make you cynical about. Did you catch what I just said? Everything that is powerful, your enemy will make you a skeptic regarding. I would do that too if I knew that all you had to do was become spiritual, and you’d start shaking things up. All you would have to do is get spiritual, and you would start coming into my camp and taking back what I stole. I would make you skeptical if I were your enemy. That’s why there is always warfare against your prayer life. You fall asleep, friend; you’ve been up all night! But the moment you stop praying is the moment the most powerful version of you is revealed, which is spiritual. Are you tracking with me?

So, Jabez decided, first, that it was a spiritual issue. This was his entry point into the incredible deliverance he was about to experience. Second, Jabez recognized and exercised the ability of God. What do I mean? He was spiritual; he went to God and prayed. Look at what he prays: «Lord, that You would bless me indeed.» Now, this was not a cute little blessing he was asking for; he literally says, «Lord, bless me indeed.» The Hebrew translation of that is «Barak.» It’s the same word.