So far we have seen from scriptures,great lessons about midnight hours from the old testament.We have seen God using the midnight hours to free Israel from the land of their captivity in the book of Exodus.Even the angels utilising the midnight to destroy the enemies of God’s people.And we’ve also learnt a great deal from various old testament saints when it comes to midnight prayers. But today we shall be looking at our Lord and some saints in the New Testament and their commitment to this ‘mystery’ of midnight prayers.
-First and foremost,was our Lord Jesus,He stands out from the rest when it comes to midnight prayers. Despite that He was God in human form,He still subjected Himself to the midnight prayers. If there was anyone that had to give reasons why he/she can’t pray in the night,it should have been our Lord. Because He was God in human form,and was always so busy but nevertheless, He still made time to fellowship with God during the midnight hours leaving us,an example to follow. Before He choosed the disciples…, He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.Luke 6:12. Another time,after praying in the midnight hours He came walking on the water to meet His disciples in the boat. Matt.14:23-25,I trust the Holy Spirit to give you some revelations in these verses. And if you want to know how Jesus prayed just take a look at Hebrews 5:17,His prayers were different from many of our ”big man prayers” today in Churches. Today many of us pray with our mouths but our hearts are not in it but not so with Jesus,the bible says He offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him (the Father)…
Seeing Jesus engaged in midnight prayers several times in the New Testament is an example and encouragement for us to follow in His steps. If praying in the midnight was not beneficial our Lord Jesus wouldn’t ‘waste His time’ communing with God the Father in an odd hours while He should be sleeping and resting. Many of us when we were non-believers,we went out to night clubs,outings and parties till the next day,now that we are believers in Messiah,while can’t we give Him those midnight hours for fellowship. It was in the midnight hours that Jesus told His disciples..Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation Luke 22:46.This same words Jesus is saying to you and I,in this generation,”the battle is getting intense and will get more intense in the days ahead…(These are some of the words I heard from the Lord this past Saturday 08/03/14) Please brethren let us wake-up unto prayers!
And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.Mark 1:35. You can also read more; Luke 22:39-46, John 6:15,Luke 21:37,4:42,Mark 14:34-36,6:46.
-The Early Church: After James was killed by Herod the King,he caught Peter and put him in prison in other to killed him too but this time the church realised to pray for Peter’s release, even during the midnight hours. Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him Acts 12:5. That night as they were praying God sent His angel to release Peter from prison,when out of prison he came to the same house where the church was gathered, still met them praying for him,Acts 12:12. And you know what,the man Herod that wanted to kill Peter,died soon afterwards,Acts 12:23.
It’s time for the church of Christ to rise and shine,we have entered a most delicate period in world’s history.We can’t afford to fold our hands and go to sleep while many ‘Peters’ with great destinies are in different prisons waiting to be executed.Lets wake-up unto prayers both in the day, and night, in particular like the early church.And we shall see ‘Peters’ be set free and the ‘Herods’ that wants to waste the church will be wasted instead.
-Paul and Silas are another examples,the bible says… and at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them Acts 16:25. Paul and Silas have been caught and thrown into prison for preaching the word of God,but right there in the prison they did something which they were used to doing,I believe,they waited until it was midnight,then they started praying and singing praises to God in the midnight hours.They should have being ‘sorrowful, complainful and discourageful’, but instead they prayed and praised their way into freedom. No matter the bondage you may be into you also can secure your freedom if you do what Paul and Silas did.
-Anna the Prophetess was so privileged in her generation to see and behold baby Jesus.It was said of her that… she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day Luke 2:37.
It’s no doubt that the early church and christians understand the ‘mystery’ of midnight prayers,but I wonder why, the present church of today is neglecting it?
More verses:Luke 18:1,7, 2tim.1:3,1thess.3:10, 1tim.5:5, 1thess.5:17,Eph.6:18,Rev.5:7,
travail2prevail 