Travail, Avail, Prevail

Scriptures

Our Morning Scriptures are taken from 2 Samual 21 beginning with verse 8 and James 5 really the second clause of verse 16, for Context we will begin reading from verse 13 through 16. I will be reading from the NIV

2 Samuel 21:8-10 NIV “But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Aiah’s daughter Rizpah, whom she had borne to Saul?, ?together with the five sons of Saul’s daughter? Merab, whom she had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite?. 9 He handed them over to the Gibeonites, who killed them and exposed their bodies on a hill before the Lord. All seven of them fell together; they were put to death during the first days of the harvest, just as the barley harvest was beginning.

10 Rizpah daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest till the rain poured down from the heavens on? the bodies, she did not let the birds touch them by day or the wild animals by night.

The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), 2 Sa 21:8–10.

James 5:13–16 (NIV)

13Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.

14Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.

15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.

16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.:

KJV - The effectual fervent prayer of a rightous man availeth Much;

ESV - The Prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is workig

NLT - The Earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

What do you do when you are going through a Crisis

Merriam Webster’s Dictionary defines the work Crisis as the turning point for better or worse in an acute disease or fever; A paroxysmal attack of pain, distress or disordered function, an emotionally significant event or radical change of status in a person’s life.

It is a word that we constantly hear bombarded throughout the news and on our Televisions; We have a crisis in our streets with Gun Violence, the National government is at odds when the are face with the debt ceiling crisis. The state of CT is being to see the effects of a housing crisis, and its impact upon renters. We have just come out of what many call the COVID19 crisis, which only triggered the mental health crisis and vividly displaced the inequalities, which many many legislators local, state and even national push to declare racism as a public health crisis. The Bird flu and shipply delays aided in our inflation crisis. We have seen extreme weather patters, where a rain storm turn into a devestating tornado, can experience 60 degree weather in February and then 6 inches of snow on the first of March because of the global warming Crisis.

it could be as superficial as that first gray hair that appears right at the top of your forehead. Many spouses can attest to running to the grocery store to pick up an ingredient and picking up the wrong brand. It’s like grabbing the Goya Condensed milk, when we know we are an Eagle Brand Family, and in extreme emergencys we will accept Parrott. Culturally I will never forget, the day I made the mistake in picking up the Blue Mountain Curry, instead of Betapak, and while I will not start a war today, I have not seen a crisis graver than Bringing home a HTB Bun instead of a Golden Krust or vice Versa.

If only lifes crises where so insignificant. But we are honest, what happens when you get that grave as that knock on your door on a Thursday night at 10:00 to be told your father is found unresponsiive and not breathing. Of how do you handle the abdominal pain that is not remedied by our national cure all, that leaves you isoloated for weeks, it is that routine doctor’s visit that starts out as seemily routine, and leaving with a stage cancer diagnosis that you did not expect to hear.

Ultimately a crisis situation is one in which you are confronted with circumstances that are outside of your usual life experience and outside of your control.

Crisis are uxpected, they are traumatice, they have the ability to forever change your life, and usually upsets the steady flow or state of your life.

No man ever prepares for crisis well enough, we rarely get the warning , like Joseph during the Egyptian famine, or those who are privileged by science and technology, like seismographers who keep watch of impending earthquakes. Some times our past experiences, out overabundance of caution. experience may get to prepare for contingencies and steer clear of crisis momentarily, but one unarguable fact about every man is that we have all been hit by crisis at one point or the other. If we take a moment, we are usually in one of three stages, comeing out of a crisis, in the middle of a Crisis, or unbeknowst to us, about to enterinto one. Like they say, One things for certain, two things for sure for use. We will all face a crisis and Quite possibly, there are still more to come.

The Bible provides us with assusrance

1 Peter 4:12 “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:”

Jesus himself shares with us in John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

We as believers should take heart that no matter what we face, that we have Christ in the Crisis. God word recounts to us that one day while traveling with Christ, the disciples were faces with such a storm, what they went to wake the master up. Yes, Jesus work up and spoke to the winds and the wave, but it is important for us to remine that even with God with them on the ship, the storm or crisis came anyway.

FCF

James- Considered the Proverbs of the N.T. James is speaking to the church that is scatted over the Roman world. Reading the book of James seems to be sporadic at time. Almost as if it was a loved one going over various items before they leave. The opening and closing of this letter is veriy similar . He greets the saint and immedicalted indcates to them that life is no crystal stair andicates that they should rejoice, befause God Is working something out of you.

If I could summ it up it would start From James James 1:1-4 “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

He then closes the letter reiterating to them what do do when in any situation. Harships or happiness, we should respond tt the the father. He then emphesises to us the important of doubless, earnest prayer is beneficial to our survival.

Ferverent, Persistent Relentless prayer is necessary to us in our times of Greatest Crisis. We are to remain persistent in prayer regardless of the circumstances until we prevail agains that crisis that comes to attack us. I submit to use that we are all one travail away from a might outpouring.

But sister Loraind The questions today is who’s voice needs to griy out. Our maint text today provides us with great examples that we can glean from

Background

When we think of Who’s who’s of Women int he Bible, on Paper Rizpah would not be the one whom we would be initially drawn to. If I were to give a title to the Movie of Rizpah’s life it would be: Rizpah: A series of unfortunate events or Rizpha: Due to circumstances beyond out control.

There is very little that we know about rizpah. She is defined by who she belogs to. The Daughter of Aiah and the concubine of King Saul

Legally, a concubine was always subordinate to her master and mistress, and it seems at times that the Israelites held concubines in low esteem. If Exodus 21:10–11 refers to a concubine, we can deduce that the rights of the primary wife were protected, whereas the concubine had no legal rights, demonstrating her low position in the family hierarchy. In some circumstances, concubines were treated as wives (see Judg 19), but they certainly did not experience the full rights of free persons (Bird, Missing Persons, 23). There is even some evidence that the king passed his concubines on to his successor in the early monarchy (see 2 Sam 3:7–8; 16:21–22; 1 Kgs 2:13–22).

Rispha's Plight does not begin a 2 Samuel 21 rather it dates further back, almost 400 years. Beginning back with Joshua. Joshua the knee in your neck warrior. God instructed Joshua and the Children of Israel to evict all inhabitants out th of the land of caanan - and to make no deals with anyone. The Gibeonites through Lies and decieit tricked the Children of Israel into covenant with them. Joshua and the elders failure to consult with the Lord led them to possess the land with now lawful Squatters.

Approximately 325 years later - Saul is appointed as King and refused to Saul Refused to honor a God Made Covenant -

Pause

There was a famine during David's Reigh. Sauls Zeal towards the Gibeonites - Saul had feelins of ill will agains those who them

Even after the death of Saul she was a woman who was named in scandal b

izpah’s life has not been easy. After Saul’s death, she found herself in the middle of a bitter dispute between Abner and Saul’s surviving son Ish-Bosheth (3:7–11). Now her two sons not only have been executed but have been left exposed to the elements and to scavengers, which in the ancient world was a disgrace and a sign of curse. The verb used to describe Rizpah’s spreading the sackcloth for herself on a rock (v. 10) is the same verb typically used for pitching a tent, so it is possible that she constructed a simple shelter of sackcloth to provide some shade and cover as she protected the corpses from birds … by day and wild animals by night (cf. Alter 1999: 332). She continued in this arduous service from the beginning of the harvest till the rain poured down from the heavens on the bodies (v. 10). Whether the rain in view was an unseasonable shower or the autumn rains (cf. Deut. 11:14; Jer. 5:24) arriving months later, beginning in October, is not made clear in the text.

2 Samuel 21:1: when in right relationship with the Lord - God will always respond. - Thank you Lord that you are a covenant keeping God - You promises made towards us stand forever

During David’s reign there was a three-year famine, and David was informed by the Lord that its cause was Saul’s attempted genocide of the Gibeonites (2 S. 21:1f.). In restitution for these slayings, David handed over to the Gibeonites seven of Saul’s sons to be executed and exposed, apparently until the Lord responded with rain. Two of Rizpah’s sons were among those so executed

Travail

Travail - A term for th painful process one experience in giving birth to a child,but also used figuratively to describe the anguish and sorrow of disastrous or disappointing circumstances of life - It expressed the process of rebirth of the natiion of Israel that Yahweh accomplished through pain and suffering.

Birth Paings - ie the literall Physical pain that accomplished childbirth. - Throughout the bibile the point seems implicit tht the Birth-pants are worth endurein becuase of the results.

Change your position and your posture -

Burlap - It was a material that was rough and uncomfortable - - It referral to a type of materail or to an itmne of clothing work to expressn contrition, lamentation, supplication or repentnace.

It was uncomfortable - It was unattractive - and Easily recognizable

Her blanket was a visible indication of intention of permanent habitation until there would be a change in her situation that would bring her consulation - I'm not moving until there is a change -

2. Spread Out Upon the Rock

The Rock is a symbols of GOd’s Reliability and his strength.

Psalms 18:2 “The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”

Psalms 18:31 “For who is God save the Lord? Or who is a rock save our God?”

Psalms 18:46 “The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; And let the God of my salvation be exalted.”

Psalms 62:2 “He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.”

Psalms 71:3 “Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: Thou hast given commandment to save me; For thou art my rock and my fortress.”

Psalms 95:1 “O come, let us sing unto the Lord: Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.”

Are we willing to stay on the rock, until

Who is the Rock - Are we willing to place ourselves in a position or repsondence that is rooted and based upon the word of God.

Psalms 27:5 “For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: In the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock.”

Psalms 32:7 “Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.”

Rizpah make a choice today that would indicate that she chose to

Psalms 88:1 “O Lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee:”

3. Chase the scavenger birds or the air - Requires Sight - The birds desire to pick apart their flesh - BACK OFF DEVIL

4. Fight the wild animal in the dark or noigh - Required Sensitive hearing - It is time for us in Zion to attune our ears to the sensitivity of the Spirit. To have the discernment back in the house. - Spirit filled ushers -

Are our ears in tune to hear the growls.

Preacher’s Preference and review of the text allows us to make some assumptions about the scriptine even though it is not expressedley stated.

lets us realize that she sould not fight alon in the dark. So although it is not stated directly int he script there had to be a fire that was constat at that time.

Intrestinly enough to know - Rizpah’s name means Hot Coal

Rizpah's name means hot stone or a live coal - it was her devotion that casused received the King's attention.There must be a fight. Shere must have a fight within her. She has to awaken herslef, althorug she was time.

Can you inagine yoursrsl in her eakend state she was swining within everyting with her. Her voice was indciate that you weill not touch them. I will hor htem. She was not aftrain fo the enemy

Micah 4:9-10 “Now why dost thou cry out aloud? Is there no king in thee? Is thy counseller perished? For pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail. Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: For now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, And thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered; There the Lord shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.”

But she didn’t pray over just one Child, but she had to fight over all seven

What possibly could Rizpah have ahd to beat away. There were seven sons that she had to fight off. Come with me for a moment.

God's Holy Standard - NO MORE COMPROMISE & OUR FIRST LOVE -

Socienty has screamen us the change in stgatus. It is no longer one Nation under God. Americal has not upheld the biblical standard, and Daily we have seen the spriit of the Anticrhist come and sweep our standards away. There was a time when the wold paused to honor the Sunday and keep it holy, but we have sold our fidelity for the almithgty dollary and Chicken and Waffles Brunch. It would be catastrophic enough, if what we saw was only happening int he world, but some how and some where, there was a crack and an opening and there has been a falling away. Preachers have replaced the word of God for instagram liked and positive affirmations. Believers will be the first one to post slander about ministries on social media and argue on with those that condem it.

Apathy has gripped the hearts and minds of many in the body. There are more shades of Gray that there are

People won’t sow into the Kingdom but will pay over 1400 dollars to go to a Beyonce Concert and then will argue with Chrisits that speak against it. Instead of loving or casting the hell out of many, we have soothed, pet poweders and coddeled demons, as if the work of the Cross wasn’t sufficeent.

Revelation 2:4-5 “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”

The enemy would love nothing more that to see the church, the called out

Hebrews 12:14 “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:”

Unsaved Family Members Our Men and Our Children -

Recent study say that 75% of our Children of the Faith leave the faith. Children spend an avaerage 30 hours of school - Another 45- 60 hours on Social media - and We epecte to see imact in our children in 2-3 hours in a week. - How do you counter balance 2 hours in church - Rizpah are we awake and fanning the flame. - s is there anyone here today that is willing to joing me and fight back and fight for our children. Half our marrainges end in divorce - Average age where sexual expermenteation begins at age 11 -

what if you and Were were as despearte for our living childred as Rizpah was for her dead children -

Our Future, Every Promise and God Ordained Destiny

The Voice of the Church and Godly Leadership

Unity in the Body of Christ

Revival and Outpouring -

They data is present - a 2022 Suty noted that there is a delcine of Christiantiy is deu to people leaving Chritianting and choosing to have no religious affiliation.

Avail

To use to one’s Advantaage

Rizpah fought to a poitn until the King Heart about her.

They Bible does not provide with any indication that she called a meeting, that she politiced.

She spent her time fighitng -

It first got the King’s attention

Psalms 40:1 “I waited patiently for the Lord; And he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.”

The necessity of earnest prayer - even in the hardest and most depraved times is necessary to see results. it is the driving force that is powerful and effective. - Tenacious, Prayer is what is partnered with to Get's God's attention.

An answer to prayer may note come immediately. Petitiaion are to continue praying in eranes. THis requires patience, determination and at time a willness to resited with God for the Deisred outcome.

But it moved the King to Action

When David learned of Rizpah’s vigil, he chose to reward her efforts and at the same time create a lasting memorial to honor Israel’s first dynastic family. The king ordered that “the bones of those who had been killed and exposed” (v. 13) be gathered up and taken to an appropriate burial site. Then David had “the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan” (v. 12)—and no doubt the bones of Abinadab and Malki-Shua as well—exhumed from a burial site under a tamarisk tree at Jabesh Gilead (cf. 1 Sam 31:13) and brought back across the Jordan River into the Promised Land. The text’s special emphasis on the bones of Saul and Jonathan is no doubt because they were the two most prestigious individuals being honored in the reburial and because the biblical writer wished to emphasize David’s loving loyalty to his father-in-law and best friend, a loyalty that extended beyond death.

It move the king to full restoration - After the execution, which took place at the beginning of the barley harvest, Rizpah stood guard over the exposed corpses, chasing away scavengers, until the rain fell. She thus procured for her sons, as provided for by David, an honorable burial along with the recovered bones of Saul and Jonathan (vv 10–14).

Prevail

Prevail - to Conquer - To to be or become effective of effectural

to use persuations sucessfully

The Famine did not fall unitl the bodies and bones were buried - Revival did not come withouht recompense - and not just the bones of Rizphah's sons, and the five others, but completion - Causinal connecntion to Christ - Our redemption was not secure until the body came down off the cross and was buried - The Shedding of his blood, paid the price that redeemed us and brought honor to oru name.

Rizpah represents perhaps the supreme expression of maternal loyalty in the Bible. Death had taken her two sons from her, but through her selfless efforts she made sure it would not also rob them of their dignity. Thanks to her efforts, her sons and relatives were given the honor of a mourned death. Her sackcloth bed provided for her a spartan abode in which to grieve among the corpses. Furthermore, until the Lord lifted the curse that had eventuated the death of her loved ones through the sending of drought-concluding rains, she protected the corpses from being dishonored by birds and wild animals. By vigilantly seeing to it that none of the bones were stolen or destroyed, Rizpah preserved the possibility of a dignified and proper burial for her sons and relatives.

The site selected by David for memorializing the house of Saul was “Zela in Benjamin” (v. 14; cf. Josh 18:28), an unidentified spot a few miles north of Jerusalem. The location was appropriate, for it permitted Saul and his descendants to be buried “in the tomb of [his] father Kish.”

It was when the bones were brought back - and they were given a proper burial - God Ended the famine

2 Chronicles 7:13-14 “If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

It Sent the Rain

Repentance is the precursor for rain, revival - If I shut up heavean and there is no rain - If my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray -

The Good News of Jesus Christ - Jesus is our intercessor - He