Our world is in dire need of intercessors as the devil is increasing his activities knowing he has limited time left. The church too being under a siege needs the prayer of sincere children of God as they remain the only solution to her mounting problems. However, in order to a worthy intercessor (watchman) and be truly qualify as God's instrument, it necessitate that such must be like the four Hebrew children in Babylon-in whom there was no blemish (holy, pure, chaste, no spiritual contamination). God wants to conscript into His army eligible warriors who will confront the gates of hell and salvage our world from ruin. Some of God's re-known watchmen and faithful intercessors are Moses, Samuel (Jeremiah 15:1 &Hebrews 3:2, 5) and Jesus (Hebrews 7:25). Paul the Apostles was also a faithful intercessors who ceaselessly prayed for the church and the gentiles. Despite all he suffered for the course of the gospel, he endangered his life and he did more exploits than the rest of the apostles, yet, he had time to pray. He prayed often and fasted often too. His lifestyle was not with ease of accumulation of wealth or material goods (1 Corinthians 4:11-13, 2 Corinthians 11:26-27). Jesus, our perfect example of a great intercessor, in His attempt to introduce the disciples to the ministry of intercession called Peter, James and John and asked them to watch with Him. Stay here and watch with me the master said but the watchmen were busy sleeping (Matthew 26:36-40). He came thrice and each time He found them sleeping, so, He left them and went on with His prayers. But He can't leave us now because there's so much to be done with limited time frame. The church cannot afford to be complacent with the situation of the church negatively impacting our societies and nations at large. Hence, no one is exempted both the priests and the laity must be involved. Owning to the significant role of the watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7), the priests have the mandate to restore the backslidden nations and leaders to God as Jehoida and other priests did (2 Kings 11:17). However, wailing men and women (laity) are to hold unto the hand that holds the heaven and the earth on behalf of the church and the nations. God is again saying, watchman, what of the night!
God desires that Zion should come into terms with Him but she takes delight in things that affords her pleasure and temporary satisfaction. as she's bent on tending to the world (Isaiah 32:9-15, 2 John 2:15-17). Instead of praying the church is full of activities and partying. She lay helpless because she refuses to wield the power of prayer and intercession. Alas! the church is sleeping and slumbering when she needs to pray the most. And the soul of Jesus is exceedingly heavy as it was when he was to go to the cross because of our carelessness and our prayerlessness. He paid a huge price even with His life though not easy, He did everything necessary for our redemption and He has also bequeathed so much authority to the church. When He said all power in heaven and on earth has been given to me, hence, we have no excuse (Mathew 28:18, Luke 10:19). Besides, God has given us assurance about the dominance of Jesus (Romans 15:12) and He affirmatively spoke concerning Him "for His name shall be exalted over all the earth." Therefore, we have all it takes to make tangible impact in the kingdom of God in these last days. But if the watchman fails in his responsibility, there will be doom (Acts 12:1-4). When persecution arose against the early church, Herod's violence led to the arrest of James. Initially, the church didn't take it seriously until James was killed and Peter was arrested. But when they saw the evil trend, the church did not allow Herod to further his evil scheme but prayed to God and strange deliverance took place (Acts 12:5-11, 4:24-31, Numbers 23:21). God's intention is that the opposition, persecution and the likes that the church faces should be fuel for revival and opportunity for prayer. In like manner, wake-up call signals now abound everywhere. Apparently, there is great need for prayer and intercession on behalf of the church than ever before. And as faithful watchmen, it is when our obedience is complete (to watchfulness in prayers) that we can demand submission and revenge of all disobedience (2 Corinthians 10:6).
Knowing the need for the hour, Jesus instructed his disciples to get a sword-be battle ready, no carelessness, frivolity, slumber or feebleness. It is not a mere statement that the disciples should get a sword. Jesus meant every word He uttered. In the gospel according to Luke chapter 22 verse 35-36, "And He said unto them, "When I sent you devoid of bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything? "So they said, "Nothing" Then He said to them, Buy now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack, and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one." Really, Jesus did not expect the disciples to get swords in order to kill and destroy, but He wanted them to realize the need for preparedness for warfare (an ongoing spiritual battle). Sword is a weapon of war and the disciples need to be fully armed more so that He would no longer be with them. The sword they need is the word of God-the sword of the Spirit which is inseparable from prayer (Ephesians 6:17-20). And this is what the psalmist also talked about in psalm 149:6-9. Besides, Jesus did not ask them to get the physical sword so they could defend Him because His father has legions of angels that can fight for Him. We recall how He healed Marcus whose ear was cut off during His arrest at Gethsemane (Luke 22:49-51, John 18:10-11).
Now is the time to quit running in the face of the giants rather we ought to look into the covenant that we have with God. God has established a covenant of salt with His people for dominion and power (2Chronicles 13:5). As we make ourselves available to God, He becomes our ability and we shall be filled with His presence, power and enjoy His provisions. If David never conquered bear, he wouldn't be able to confront and conquer the Goliath of Gath. If the children of Israel didn't take Jericho, it wouldn't have been possible for them to enter and possess Canaan. Even when battered by the enemy, our defensive mechanism is still to challenge him. If we run away from the devil, he will run after us, but if we stand our ground and resist him, he would flee. And that's what James meant when he said "Resist the devil and he will flee from you." So, as we submit ourselves to God, we'll be able to boldly resist him and he has no alternative than to flee away from us. He doesn't flee yet because we have not taken it upon ourselves to resist him or possibly because we have not fully submitted to God (James 4:7). This reminds me on an incident that happened several years ago. Thieves and robbers informed people living in a particular residential area of their invasion. They actually notified them through written letters pasted on the walls of several houses in the area. So, on the day the thieves promised to come, members and representatives of the association of landlords in the area together with the night guards fully armed (vigilante) stood outside waiting for the thieves. The thieves did not show up, probably they've seen the seriousness of the people to confront and attack them. When elders are at the gates, they easily turn battles away but when there are no elders at the gate, there is danger, and trouble can easily come in.
The devil is known for whom he is, always fomenting trouble and he does what he knows best to do-to attack and create confusion. His inborn nature is to oppose anything of God, he cannot do otherwise; hence, the church needs to pray against his dribbling tactics. He is ever furious to see progress in the things of God. Restoration of the saints to true righteousness gives him serious heart ache, and when he sees that the gap are closed (open doors to his activities), he gets angry (Nehemiah 4:7-9). When we seek the presence and the glory of God, things gets harder and not easier. And it becomes a battle because we make ourselves a cheap target of the enemy. When the devil wants the church to be silent in darkness, we need to watch in prayer (Isaiah 21:11, 62:6-7). When the strength of the labourers is failing them and the giants are fainting we need prayers. When the enemy cunningly bombards to frustrate and cause the work of the kingdom to cease, we need prayers (Nehemiah 4:11-12). Someone like Paul the Apostle despite his prayerfulness, tactfulness and vastness in the word God says a great and effective door has opened to him, but there are many adversaries (1 Corinthians 16:9). When the enemy vows to enter into our midst and kill (Nehemiah 4:11, Psalm 79:1-2), the church needs to watch in prayer. Truly there are foes to confront but the God of the battle is with us to fight for us and give us the victory. The heroes of faith are also waiting to see our record since they cannot be made perfect without us (Hebrews 11:30). Surely we know that through Jesus we will conquer the devil and thwart all his evil counsel and operations in our generation.
