Breakthrough Worship Centre

20/02/2026

19/01/2026

CATCHING THE PRAYER LIFE OF JABEZ–MOVING FROM PAIN TO EXPANSIONS

Sunday Service message by Apostle Shemmy Makelele

18th January 2026

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 4:9–10

Bishop Shemmy Makelele began by emphasizing that God can use situations of pain and frustration to enlarge our hearts and territories.

Human nature often relaxes and slows down, but God sometimes uses pain to shake us out of comfort zones.

God did this with Jabez, Whatever we are passing through, God can turn it to our advantage, as was the case in Isaiah 54:1–2, the story of the barren woman.

God always starts from where we are.

The Bishop stressed that God deals with the condition of ones heart before enlarging space and influence.

Power and influence in the hands of a wounded heart is dangerous because power attracts many things.

God will only release influence after He has dealt with the heart.

Joseph is an example, his heart had to be processed before God lifted him.

Though the story of Jabez appears in only two verses, millions have been impacted by it.

Many Books and sermons have been written from the two verses prayer.

This reminds us that the effectiveness of prayer is not based on its length but on its content and the condition of the heart and spirit.

We must always pray the Word of God (Matthew 6:5).

The Meaning & Weight of a Name

The name Jabez means:

* bearer of pain, sorrow, or grief
* carrier or ambassador of sorrow
* one who causes pain or grief

The Bishop taught that what you call yourself, you eventually become.

Demons and curses can be transferred through names.

When Jabez was given that name, the spirit behind his mother’s pain came upon him.

Biblically, a name stands for:

1. The calling and mission of a person — Genesis 17:3–7

2. The character of a person — Genesis 27:36; 1 Samuel 25:25 People begin to take after what they are repeatedly called (Genesis 2:19–20)

3. Family or tribal identity — Luke 1:59–61

God attaches great significance to names.
May God make your name powerful even beyond your lifetime.

God has no problem changing names. If names had no significance, He would not have bothered to change the names of Abraham, Peter and others.

Our fathers did not have the knowledge we have today so we should not name children after circumstances.

Demons and curses can be transferred through names, and naming a child after an ancestor will also transfer their spirit and character.

Spiritual Lessons from Jabez
1️⃣ Prayer can change birth-related misfortunes

We cannot control things surrounding our birth. Jabez prayed and God heard him and answered.

2️⃣ Prayer can cancel generational curses and attract blessings

The pain was transferred from mother to son, an evil family pattern (Lamentations 5:7).
Curses can fight your potential and blessings. delay your qualifications, but prayer delivers.

3️⃣ Prayer is a key to expansion and enlargement

Just as nations have natural superpowers, believers have spiritual power through prayer.

4️⃣ Prayer attracts God’s presence and power

Jabez prayed for the hand of God, and God granted it.

5️⃣ Prayer changes spiritual identity

Jabez changed from one who caused pain to a vessel of healing and blessing. Believers should pray, “Keep me from evil that I may not cause pain,” and become carriers of love, peace, and solutions.

How to Catch the Spirit of Prayer

The Bishop concluded that spiritual things are caught, not just taught.
We catch the spirit of prayer through:

1. Association— Genesis 13:15; Proverbs 13:20
Who you are found with can influence you.

2. Impartation — Romans 1:11
We do not impart what we know, but who we are. Prayer is not learnt but imparted.

3. Submission — Hebrews 7:7
The lesser receives from the greater

The prayer of Jabez was short but it was outstanding—and God granted his request. Jabez got tired of evil patterns in his life and decided to address them. You need to recognise evil patterns that run in families and be the one to stop them.

MAY GOD GRANT YOUR REQUEST

12/01/2026

🔥 WHY WE FAST & PRAY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR

The message on 12 January 2026 by our Bishop, Apostle Shemmy Makelele, was on 'Why we fast and pray at the start of the year', where we were reminded that every year, God opens a season of preservation, direction and grace for His people, which we must embrace.

🌱 *Why the Beginning Matters*

How you start the year influences how you experience the rest of it as first things are always foundational.

To be prophetically minded means deciding now how you want the forces of life to treat you. Jesus teaches in Matthew 7:12 that we can determine how we want others to treat us.

"What you don’t want done to you, don’t do to others. What you want to see in the year, begin declaring it now."

Jesus also placed fasting alongside giving and prayer three acts of righteousness

Matthew 6:1-18 ...and before stepping into ministry, He separated Himself 40 days and nights

Matthew 9:14-16, Luke 4:1-2

"Whatever we hope to achieve, must be launched from the altar of prayer and fasting the place where God determines speed, accuracy and impact."

✨ Eight Reasons We Fast & Pray

1️⃣ We Honour God With the First Fruits

God instituted the law of first things (*Exodus 13:1; Deut. 26:1-4*).
When we tithe our first days, we allow God to bless the rest. When you fast for 40 days.
What you receive in the 40 days will honour your 346 remaining days.

2️⃣ We Seek Divine Guidance

We have never walked this year before.
But God knows the end from the beginning.
As we seek Him, He prepares us for battles ahead (*Joel 3:14, Joshua 3:4, Isaiah 58:11*).

3️⃣ We Silence Potential Battles

Before battles appear physically, we deal with them spiritually.
Like the arrows in 2 Kings 13:14-16, prophetic declarations matter.
Maximize prayer, maximize decrees.

4️⃣ We Humble Ourselves & Crucify the Flesh

Pride opens doors to destruction.
Fasting reminds us we are nothing without God.

5️⃣ We Prepare the Ground for Supernatural Results

Fasting is spiritual cultivation.
This year, may your results be supernatural (Isaiah 58:3).

6️⃣ We Receive Spiritual Cleansing & Personal Revival

Many carry wounded hearts—hurt, bitterness, unforgiveness.
God restores purity and clarity (Psalm 50:10-12; Isaiah 58:8).
Don’t worry about what people say or think about you, worry about God’s approval.

7️⃣ We Allow God to Commission Us for Kingdom Assignments

Every believer has a calling—regardless of their profession.
Acts 13:1-4 reminds us that God sends ordinary people into extraordinary assignments.
This year, build God’s kingdom where you are—business, ministry, home, academia.

8️⃣ We Attract Cooperate Blessings

God moves not only on individuals but on communities.
Just as He covered Israel under one cloud (*1 Cor 10:1-4),
there are blessings meant for all of us when we fast and believe together.

⭐ Conclusion

This is a season of preservation, direction, cleansing, commissioning and blessing.

Step into it!

Embrace it!

Declare it!

Let God shape your year before life does.

🔥 *Start strong — finish victorious!

31/12/2025

2026
YEAR OF SUPERNATURAL SPEED FOR EXPANSIONS