Matthew 14:15-23; Psalms 119:62; Job 33:15, 22:27-28; Habakkuk 2:1; Acts 2:1-8; 2 Kings 9:17-18
We are walking in today: Eight Watches In Prayer, According To The Bible
According to the bible, there are specific times when watchmen watched over the walls of a city. Likewise, Intercessors are called to the same time of watch in their prayers.
The First Watch (6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.)
The Israelites ordered their prayer times accordingly, beginning with 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. which is a time of quiet reflection. Jesus used the evening watch to go aside and pray. (Matt. 14:15-23) In the early church, this watch at sundown was a time of corporate prayer (Vespers) where candles were lit, Psalms sung, thanksgiving offered, prayers said and blessings invoked. After the business of the day, it is a time to release anxieties to the Lord before sleep. During this watch, ask God to give you clear directions for the day ahead and about His call on your life.
The Second Watch (9:00 p.m. to midnight)
Ps. 119:62 says, “At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You because of Your righteous judgments.” It was at the midnight hour that God struck down the first-born of Egypt, and, consequently, His people were released from captivity and set free to worship Him. This watch is a time when God deals with the enemies that are trying to keep us from entering into His perfect plan for our lives. In the natural, this time is characterized by deep darkness. In the spiritual realm, the Second Watch is when diabolical assignments and sabotage are set in motion as supernatural creatures, including witches and demons and practices like black magic, collaborate to effect change and transformation for the evil one. It is important for intercessors at this watch to give thanks for the protection of the shadow of God’s wing and pray for a visitation from the Lord. “Let God arise and His enemies be scattered.”
The Third Watch (midnight to 3:00 a.m.)
This is a period of much spiritual activity. It was the hour that caught Peter denying his Lord. Often we are awakened during this time with dreams God has given to us. God uses dreams and visions to bring instruction and counsel to us as we sleep and reveals areas where we need to concentrate our prayers and intercession. “In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, while slumbering on their beds, then He opens the ears of men, and seals their instructions.” (Job 33:15) It is a time to pray to fortify yourself against doubt and unbelief and even the direction of your path. Be vigilant during this time and watch for God’s revelation for breakthrough for His plans and purposes for your life and territory.
The Fourth Watch (3:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.)
The spirit realm takes every word uttered from man as a command and mandate. Command your morning! Consecrate all the work for the day and pray for protection for God’s people throughout the day. “You will make your prayer to Him, He will hear you, and you will pay your vows. You will also declare a thing and it will be established for you: so light will shine on your ways.” (Job 22:27-28)
The Fifth Watch (6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.)
To watch is to set yourself to see what God will say to you. (Hab. 2:1) Practicing hearing the voice of God is essential to all the watches. One intercessor shared this insight, “I find the main focus of a watch is found this way: the Word and an event in time intersect. That’s it! That is the target. It is like the scope on a gun. The point of the vertical Word and the horizontal time intersect (whether it is a sound, an event, a song). That point is the starting point of the watch.”
The Sixth Watch from 9:00 a.m. to noon.
It is generally accepted that this time period marked both Christ’s sentencing by Pilate and crucifixion, and the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The Israelites also observed this period as a time for corporate prayer. It was at this daily time of prayer and instruction at the temple that Peter and John were attending when they healed the lame man at the Gate Beautiful. (Acts 2:1-8) The watchman guards and watches for the word of the Lord to be fulfilled. Pray for God’s redemptive purposes in your life and region and watch how He answers your prayer during this time.
The Seventh Watch (noon to 3:00 p.m.)
At mid-day gives an hour of rest and a time to seek the Lord. Historically, we find Christ on the cross atoning for our sins. Redemption and restoration for mankind manifests through God’s Son. Peter received the vision of the clean and unclean animals which heralded the inclusion of the Gentiles in God’s redemptive plan. It was during this watch that Daniel always went home to pray and consequently was thrown into a den of lions. Daniel was delivered from the lions’ den, and Daniel’s accusers became the lions’ dinner instead.
The Eighth Watch (3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.)
This watch sees the close of the business day. It gives an opportunity for prayer. The Lord tells us to pray without ceasing. The Bible records a pattern and plan for daily prayer that marshals His army’s forces. Beloved, it’s time to watch and pray.
Prayer moves the hands of God. Even as He spoke the universe into creation, God created us in His image. Our spoken words and prayers carry the power of creation within them. As intercessors and God’s watchmen on the walls of our families, cities and nations, we are called to watch over our assignments to see approaching danger and warn those endangered. (2 Kings 9:17,18)
We seal this prayer in the precious blood of Jesus of Nazareth, the only Begotten of the Heavenly Father and by the Holy Spirit: Fiveamprayer we are to watch and pray without ceasing!
That was a revelation and wisdom, that could only come from the Holy Spirit. 2 Chronicles 7:14-15,if my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. God bless you
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