We are still continuing our discussion on midnight prayers and today we shall be looking at various individuals in the Old Testament who knew something about the midnight hours and utilise the midnight hours,both to secure their breakthroughs,deepen their relationship with God,breaking down the bondage of evil and turn their/others destinies around.
-Jacob: And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day Gen.32:24. We are all familiar with the story of Jacob,whom after he has cheated his brother of his birthright and his Father’s blessing.He now run to stay with his Mother’s brother Laban,and serve him for about 20years,acquiring two sisters as wives and other possessions.But the time came that Jacob was to return back to his family,then he remembered his brother whom he has cheated.He knew that except God intervenes he is not going to see his brother and still be alive.So that midnight Jacob having put aside his wife and children,was left alone.And he wrestled with God that night,therefore securing a change of name and destiny for himself.
Are you facing any challenge like Jacob,why not wrestle with God in the midnight hours.
-Samson: And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an hill that is before Hebron, Judg.16:3. Samson was surrounded by enemies that wanted to kill him but before they could carry out their plan,Samson went-up at midnight and carried the gate of the city away.Thereby delivery himself from his enemies.
You too,can allow the Holy Spirit to anoint you,so that you can as Samson plunder the gates of your enemies.For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places Eph.6:12.
-Gideon:And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Take thy father’s young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it: Judg 6:25. The Lord picked Gideon in other to bring deliverance to a whole nation through him and strategically told him to pull down the altar of Baal which the people worshiped,during the midnight hours.By the time the people woke up in the morning the altar was totally destroyed. Brethren,from this story you can see that there are certain kind of prayers or battles that required the midnight hours. Just like the Lord told Gideon,He has specifically directed us to utilise the midnight hours also to pull down the altar of darkness around us and that’s what we’ve being doing once a Month,and we are seeing the fruit of it in our lives and around us.
-Samuel:And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I, 1Sam.3:3-4.The midnight hours is a time of divine visitations and revelations.It was during the night that God visited Samuel,and called him to be Prophet to Eli’s house and family and to the whole of Israel.God revealed to him what He was about to do…Just Imagine what would have happened if Samuel had refused to be awoken,to fellowship and listen to God,maybe he would’ve missed what God was trying to tell him at that point. Try to spend the midnight hours to fellowship and listen to God just like Samuel,since everywhere is quiet cause people are sleeping,it’s easier to hear the small still voice of the Holy Spirit which is most vital for direction in these days we’re living.
-Elisha: Elisha was surrounded by the Syrian armies during his sleep in the midnight hours but fortunately he woke up early and prayed for blindness to smite them all. 2Kings 6:14-18. How joyful it is to catch the thief red-handed in his act! I pray the Holy Spirit will position us during the night exactly when our enemy is planning ‘to sow tares among the wheat’,to apprehend him.
-David: David,’The man after God’s heart’,was such a man,that worship and pray to God both day and night.While others are sleeping,many times,he is wide awake,in communication and fellowship with His God.David was a man devoted in unusual acts of devotion at unusual times even in midnight hours. My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?Psl 42:3.When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.Psl 63:6.
The Psalmist still says; At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.Psl 119:62. I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.Psl 119:147-148.
-Moses: Moses was also one of the old saints whom spent time with God during midnight hours. Infact more than once he was in the presence of God 24/7 for 40 days and nights. And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments Exo.34:28. Thus I fell down before the LORD forty days and forty nights, as I fell down at the first; because the LORD had said he would destroy you Deut.9:25.
-Isaiah:With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness Isa.26:9. Even Prophet Isaiah was such man,that desired and seek God in the night,so early in the day.And the midnight hours (12pm-3am),signal the end of the previous day and the early beginning of the new day. God in His wisdom says; I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me Prov.8:17.
Time will fail me to mention others old testament saints who knew something about the midnight hours,people like Jeremiah,Joel,Daniel,Ezekiel and numerous others. Jer.9:1,Dan.7:2,7,13, Jer 14:17,Lam.2:18-19,Judges 7:1,9,Hab.2.1,Micah 2:1. Search the rest for yourself! Shalom!!
It’s time to ‘fast from sleep’ once a while,brethren the condition around us,is fast deteriorating,lets wait up!!!
travail2prevail 