| 1. Watch over your harvest
Paul and Silas had laboured, and the enemy had fought them, but now he had a new strategy.
Acts 16: 16-18 One day, on our way to the place of prayer, a slave girl ran into us. She was a psychic and, with her fortune telling, made a lot of money for the people who owned her. She started following Paul around, calling everyone’s attention to us by yelling out, “These men are working for the Most High God. They’re laying out the road of salvation for you!” She did this for a number of days until Paul, finally fed up with her, turned and commanded the spirit that possessed her, “Out! In the name of Jesus Christ, get out of her!” And it was gone, just like that. MSG
The significance of this event.
Remember that Paul had a dream where he was asked to come to Macedonia. This was a leading of the Holy Spirit. God had a plan for this region.
When the slave girl (with a python spirit) started pointing them out as servants of the Most-High God (v 17), the devil planned to put it in the minds of the people that the spirit by which this slave girl worked was one and the same with the Holy Spirit at work in Paul. To onlookers, Paul, Silas and the slave girl were doing the work of God. She was attempting to endorse them, which could mean both sides were operating in the same spirit.
Paul discerned what Satan was trying to do and dealt with the matter by casting out the python spirit. If this had not been done, the devil would have hijacked the harvest at Macedonia, causing people to think that Christianity and divination are the same.
You will observe from church history several Christian traditional celebrations have been mixed with pagan traditions. The goal has always been to downplay the Christian perspective. For example, the Christmas celebration is now ‘happy holidays, Santa Clause.
When have you heard that there is confusion about the Muslim holiday, Hindu or other non-Christian religious days?
We must be watchful over our harvest.
Paul’s display of the power of God drew in a harvest of souls, and the Philippi church was birthed.
Our first assignment as Watchmen is to keep or protect the garden.
Genesis 2: 15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. Tend and protect your garden (yourself, your home, your spouse and your children)
Pray
Read Matthew 13:1-9
A good harvest is premised on having the right soil. Bless the foundations of everything you have sown.
I bless the foundations of my labour. I bless you richly with the ability to bring forth a hundredfold harvest.
My labour in the field will yield a thousandfold in Jesus’ name. My effort will yield for me results beyond my imagination.
Address the highjackers and stealers of harvest
Why is it that just when a parent should be celebrating the wins of their son or daughter, the enemy strikes? Why is it that just when a person is celebrating one milestone, the enemy is looking for a way to spoil that joy? Watchers, we must disallow this trend by taking our stand. What we allow is allowed, and what we disallow is disallowed. God helping us.
Let the fire of the Holy Ghost destroy every bird assigned to devour my harvest.
Let the fire of the Holy Ghost consume all hijackers of my harvest
Matthew 13:6 – the sun scorched the harvest – I declare that the elemental forces will favour my cause. The sun shall not smite my harvest by day nor the moon by night. The sun and the moon corporate with my destiny and the destinies of every member of my family.
I speak to thorns and tares. You will not find access to my harvest in the name of Jesus.
Paul discerned that the girl was carrying a python spirit. He was alert, and he acted at the right time.
Lord, I ask for a discerning eye; I pray for the spirit of discernment. I pray that as You alert me, I will not be careless.
Keep me watchful over my harvest and the harvest of my family. Even when we are enjoying the harvest, Lord, I am not ignorant of the fact that the adversary is still roaming around. I ask that You build an edge of protection around me and all that I possess on every side. Job 1:10
Being a Watchman does not mean we should start suspecting everyone and everything. We must not allow the devil to plant the seed of fear. Take authority over the spirit of fear and falsehood.
I bind the spirit of fear and falsehood; I deny you access into my life in the name of Jesus.
2. Watching for messengers and enemies
Isaiah 21:6-8
6 For thus has the Lord said to me:
“Go, set a watchman,
Let him declare what he sees.”
7 And he saw a chariot with a pair of horsemen,
A chariot of donkeys, and a chariot of camels,
And he listened earnestly with great care.
8 Then he cried, “A lion, my Lord!
I stand continually on the watchtower in the daytime;
I have sat at my post every night
I’d like you to please read the above scripture again, paying attention to the underlined sentences.
At first, the watchman saw a chariot with a pair of horsemen, a chariot of donkeys and a chariot of camels. He listened “carefully with great care,” and then he shouted, “a lion, my Lord.”
Dear Watcher Temitope, pray that this year you will listen with great care even as you man your watch.
O Lord, anoint my ears that this year I will listen carefully to hear. I will not judge by the seeing of my eyes but by the discernment of spirit.
Jeremiah 51:12
Sentry – a soldier stationed at a place to stand guard and prevent the passage of unauthorized persons, watch for fires, etc., especially a sentinel stationed at a pass, gate, opening in defence work, or the like a member of a guard or watch.
Isaiah 62:6 I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem;
They shall never hold their peace day or night.
You who make mention of the Lord do not keep silent,
What do the watchmen watch out for?
- Messengers – so they can tell the gatekeepers to open the door
- Enemies – warn gatekeepers to close the gates and be ready
2 Samuel 18:27 – the Watchman identified the runner (messenger) by the way he ran even when he cannot see the persons face.
This is the work of the Holy Spirit. He will cause you to discern even before you see. The Watchman knew the stride of Ahimaaz; the Holy Spirit will cause you to discern the strides/ movements of a person, whether it is good or bad. Do not sleep on your watch.
Pray
Ask for the help of the Holy Spirit, that this year you will discern even before you see,
Pray that the Lord will cause you to discern the strides, and movements of people.
Pray that as the Lord shows, you will understand what He s saying and take the appropriate actions.
Thank God, who will alert you to the activities of the evil one so that you can employ His arsenals for protection and preservation.
Declare that day by day, your senses are exercised to discern good from evil.
Hebrews 5:14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Watchmen look for enemies.
When the enemy is approaching, they sound the alarm. If we function correctly, then we should be positioned for God to reveal to us the tactics and strategies of the enemy. It is God’s desire for us to win always, but we need to stay close. We need to watch.
2 Corinthians 2: 11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices. NKJV
2 Corinthians 2: 11 so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes. NLT
There are things we must do so that Satan does not take advantage or outsmart us. We must not be ignorant of his devices, intentions and schemes.
Pray
This year I am alert.
Satan will not outsmart or outwit me or any member of my family
We are not ignorant of his schemes and devices
God has given me the grace to watch, I have the strength and the will to watch and pray.
My home is protected, my home is secure, my family is protected, and the evil one does not and cannot overpower us.
Jesus, I thank You for my call as a watcher. I trust You to keep me spiritually and physically alert throughout this year. In Jesus’ name Amen.
Praise God for our first watch. Keep alert and keep watching.
Join me tomorrow for our weekly session of Let Us Break Bread Together |
