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The Cult of Jabez: And the Falling Away of the Church in America

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Let's get honest, here! There are a lot of people who have read this book who don't like it. I am not in that category. This is a well-researched book and it strikes at the heart of this "JABEZ Cult," for lack of a better word. And yes, I have read the Prayer of Jabez, as have many of my friends and associates, and people in the church. There are those who love it and don't know why (although I think it's the promise of "getting" which attracts them), and there are those who are in the middle on this thing, and there are those who are saddened and grieved at such a thing which has occurred.

We have an epidemic in the Church in this nation today. And I'm not claiming to have been in every Christian bookstore, but the ones I have been in are innundated with this Jabez hype, from pendants, to coins, the talismans of every stripe, to bookmarks, to little booklets, to games, to music, to just about everything, and there are those who say that this is not a "cult." I beg to differ. But Pastor Hopkins doesn't beg, but he's bold in his assertion, and the reader would do well to "be transformed by the renewing of his mind," by getting this book and getting a Bible as well and compare the passages.

There are many great portions of this book, but I want to focus on what I believe is one of the most revealing parts. In chapter 7, entitled "Three Reasons God Will not Hear," Bruce Wilkinson is quoted in his preface to "...want to teach you how to pray a daring prayer that God always answers." Right there, we have a problem, and as Pastor Hopkins writes, "the prayer of a repentant sinner calling on the Name of Jesus Christ for salvation is the only prayer that God always answers." Check it out for yourself. It's in the Bible.

But, you see, we have those who read the Prayer of Jabez who hate knowledge, and choose not to fear God, and to refuse to accept godly counsel and reproof, all signs of a hard and impenitent heart. Pastor Hopkins is saddened and disturbed that there are many today in our generation who in times of great trouble and distress call upon God to help them, but they do not call to God from a humble heart that seeks repentance and forgiveness.

Do you ever wonder just what God requires? You think He's just an errand boy to satisfy your wandering desires? When are you gonna wake-up and strengthen the things which remain? There are three reasons why God will not hear prayer. Just follow.

The first reason God will not hear a believer's prayer, is:
"If I regard iniquity (sin) in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." (Psalm 66:18).

The second reason: "Ye ask and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts." (James 4:3) But Wilkinson takes it out of context and states "You do not have because you do not ask." This is in support of his blatant heresy.

The third reason: "And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood." (Isaiah 1:15) Pastor Hopkins states that our nation, so-called "under God," is guilty of the blood of the unborn, as "...many churches in America have never even so much as lifted a prayer to God on behald of the unborn...As the voices of the blood of nearly 50 million unborn children murdered in America since 1973 rise up to God in heaven, the vast majority of our churches have remained silent...We have the greatest 'worship and praise' services ever constructed in the history of the world, yet all the while the voices of those being led away to slaughter go unheeded...They just sing louder...And to bring the full chastening of God down upon this wicked self-serving church, in an age when rivers of blood are flowing in the streets, add to it all the words...'Bless me, Lord, Bless me indeed...enlarge my borders...'"

Pastor Hopkins encourages the reader to read the Sermon on the Mount to discover how Jesus Christ taught believers how they were to be blessed, and I would encourage the same.

Is anybody listening, here? Does anybody care? Are we so stooped in the materialistic culture of this nation, that we have forgotten some basic truths?

Read this book!!! I more than highly recommend it. I'd give it 25 stars if it were possible. This is serious stuff, folks. Don't get so caught up in this tiny Scripture verse that you will stoop to creating an incredible theology about it. Why is it that Christ never talked about Jabez? How about reading the 11th chapter of the Book of Hebrews - the hall of faith - and then come back and see if our current generation of "gimme Christians" qualifies.

A brilliant treatise on Jabez cultism!!! Read it and weep and repent!!!

I thought the Christian church would immediately see through the heresy of the "Prayer of Jabez." Many did. However, I was surprised so many bought into it. But with the Christian church of today and its focus on pop psychology and the needs of the "me first" generation, maybe it is not too surprising that "Jabez" sold so many copies. I wish everyone who read "Jabez" would read this book but sadly, the damage is done. This Health and Wealth gospel taught by Wilkinson plays very well in North America. It is not so easily accepted in other parts of the world.

Hopkins' has an excellent exegesis that show Wilkinson read far more into these verses in Chronicles than ever could be reasonably taught. The repetition of the Jabez prayer was a particularly warning siren for me. Didn't Jesus say that when you pray, don't use vain repetitions? ( Matthew 6:7).

Mr. Hopkins exposes this heresy for what it is. It is a man-centered philosophy that is basically selfish at its core. Was the Apostle Paul ever wealthy? Was his thorn in the flesh ever removed? It may be that God's will is for some to obtain wealth but to teach that it will come to all, is clearly anti-biblical. This book sold well as the stock market was flying high in the late 90's. But with today's economic realities, I think the heresy speaks for itself. It tickles the ears of many Christians but is clearly bologna. (See 2 Timothy 4:3-5) Thanks Mr. Hopkins. God bless.

I had high hopes when I first saw this book, but after reading it, I can say that it swings the pendulum way far to one side and is not balanced teaching. This is typical anti-prosperity doctrine and it keeps God's people in bondage and living within a "box". Pastor has a few valid points about praying selfish prayers, but he does not ONCE enlighten us with the dozens of scriptures in the Bible that refer to our prosperity. Does God want us ALL to be martyrs and give away all of our belongings? Does he want us to live with tattered clothing and just enough to get by? No...He doesn't. He wants to bless us so that WE CAN BE A BLESSING! Is Jabez's prayer really out of line?

And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying,
"Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that your hand would be with me, and that you would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain."
So God granted him what he requested. -I Chronicles 4:10 NKJV

Pastor Hopkins seems to ignore the fact that this prayer IS in the Bible, and it WAS ANSWERED by God. If Jabez prayed this and moved God, then why does Pastor Hopkins say that we CAN'T pray this way?? It would be outrageously selfish to just pray , "bless me"....BUT, pray this after you have prayed for everyone else's needs in earnest. Pray it because by being blessed you can go out and BLESS OTHERS.

Pastor Hopkins also has an issue with TV evangelists, calling some of them "money-grubbing, prosperity preaching, false prophet of the past forty years" . I would be very careful with accusations against other preachers who give millions and millions to feed and clothe the poor. There are some very generous preachers out there who give and give and give...and their hearts are pure.

I'm sure you cannot offer much help to people, Pastor Hopkins, if you are not praying to be blessed. Just think of how your territory could be expanded and all of the people you could feed and clothe if the Lord BLESSED YOU to overflowing.

* "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law" (Galatians 3:13) which includes poverty and lack.
* The blessing of Abraham is supposed to come upon those who are in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:14)
"The Lord blessed Abraham in all things." (Genesis 24:1)
"(Abraham) was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold." (Genesis 13:2)

Search through your Bible for the way God has blessed His people and how He DELIGHTS in blessing us.(Psalm 35:27) He wants to bless us so that we can be a blessing to others...we are His arms and legs...we have to take His food and clothing and gospel to the poor...AND WE NEED MONEY TO DO IT!

Oh, and one more thing to add. Not once did I read any teaching in Pastor Hopkins' book that taught about seedtime and harvest...one of the most prevalent of Jesus' teachings... Jesus was VERY interested in our prosperity..

I ordered my first book, The Cult Of Jabez after recieving an email about it. At this time I am placing my 2nd order through amazon.com to give to a friend.

I picked it up to read one morning and never put it down until it was finished. As I read the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart. I broke down in teras and wondered how many preachers including Bruce Wilkerson would stand on the street corner and procliam the gospel of Jesus Christ in rags. Preachers in these times seem to be after the money end of Christianity. How content would they be to give up all they had for the cause of Christ? How content would I be?

Job a just man in the eyes of God was stripped of all earthly possesions and his health also but still loved God with all his heart and never once complained or prayed the prayer of Jabez.

The book, The Cult Of Jabez convicted my heart. Each and every day of our lives we are to spead the gospel without care for the things of this world. I greive for the many years and opportunities that I let slip by me living in sin pursuing the things of the world.

My prayer is that more people would read this blook and understand the calling on their life.

I picked up this book just to skim through it, and was immediately hooked on the first page! This book pulls no punches and challenges us to live as first century Christians. Frankly, I felt convicted and challenged by the book, and it has motivated me to be more serious about seeking God's heart more than my own comforts. This book forces you to examine where your heart actually is.
I would give this book to anyone who desires more than the feel-good gospel preached in to many of our churches.

If you were expecting a course in Greek and Hebrew you will not find it in "The Cult of Jabez...and the falling away of the Church in America", by Pastor Steve Hopkins.
If were expecting the unexpected; a book that you will not be able to put down, a book that will hold your feet to the fire of a passionate love for Jesus, you will cherish this book.
All of my American Dream type Christian vanities have been challenged.
Wilkinson's Jabez has been successfully exposed as a shameful invention of a church age that has lost contact with the Lord, her God. Am I ready to lay down my life for the One who laid down His life for me? Or am I waiting on some future blessing, or "Jabez appointment" before I act? The fields are white unto the harvest.
I am moved to pour out my heart before God in search of His moment by moment will for my existence. This kind of prayer life cannot be achieved by simply repeating a few words for a few seconds each morning. If you were waiting for an excuse to buy this book, you found it! You will not regret it!

I knew the prayer of Jabez was wrong long before I heard of this book. The prayer was said by Jabez ONE time. The prayer of Jabez book tells us to say it every day for 20 years, like some kind of mantra or magic spell that will cause blessing to come. If you really believe in the prayer, say it ONCE, or once a year; to say it everyday is like saying "there is a million dollars in my bank account." You are trying to make something happen by the words you are saying like they have some kind of magic power. It is wrong. I am very glad to see this book!

Thank goodness someone finally had the nerve to stand up to this apostate movement.

I'm glad to see a biblical approach to prosperity. I'm sure that we should not discard Jesus' teachings and example of sacrificial living to follow another pied piper of selfish prosperity and lust. Hopkins does an excellent job of pulling the churches coattails and pointing us pack to Christ! To the naysayers - Don't hate the messenger.

This book is a wonderful book that really needed to be written to expose the lies that are written in The Prayer of Jabez. In these times it seems there are so many "Christian" books written that completely take scripture out of context and are meant to lead us astray in our walk with Christ. The Prayer of Jabez has certainly been one of these that is full of lies and prosperity teaching.
I have noticed that most of the bad reviews are by people that love The Prayer of Jabez... makes me wonder how so many Christians can buy into this garbage! And it truly saddens me to see that so many people don't take the time to compare what they are reading to what ALL of God's word says. I hope that as Christian we can look around and see that the teachings of The Prayer of Jabez are completely against scripture.
This book written by Pastor Hopkins is VERY sound in it's exposure of the Prayer of Jabez. We ought to be thankful there is someone out here willing to take the time to write a book refuting this garbage. A definite MUST read if you have read the Prayer of Jabez! Open your eyes people of God! And keep your eyes on Christ Jesus...not Jabez!!