The night is divided into 4 parts called watches:
1st watch: 6 pm - 9 pm
2nd watch: 9 pm - 12 am
3rd watch: 12 am - 3 am (also called the middle watch' in the O.T.)
4th watch: 3 am - 6 am
Several years ago, the Lord spoke to me about intercession during the night/early morning. To make intercession means to stand in the gap for a person or situation according to Ezekial 22:30c (I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before me for the land.). To make intercession (to stand in the gap) is very important. When we stand in the gap, we put ourselves in the part of the wall that is broken down until the hedge is rebuilt. Our making intercession could mean the difference between life and death concerning a person or situation, and to NOT stand in the gap could mean detrimental results for those we are called to make intercession for.
EXAMPLES:
1. And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD. (Ezekial 22:30,31)
2. Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy [them]. (Psalm 106:23)
3. Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD. (Exekial 13:5)
4. And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered [it for] a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him. And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel. (1 Samuel 7:9,10)
5. And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD. And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that [are] therein? That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes. (Genesis 18:22-26)
God pointed out to me that when He'd awaken me to intercede for someone; it is usually around 2 am. Unbeknownst to me (at the time); it would be during the 3rd Watch. Whenever the Lord would awaken me during this time, I would feel a state of emergency for the person or situation I was to intercede for. And of course it is still this way today.
We ARE NOT to ignore the "call of the 3rd watch" because it is the time where witchcraft, death, (and other evil works) are prevelant. Someone's prison doors need to be open, and their bands of bondage loosed! Since I have shared this revelation, some intercessors have set their clocks because they have purposed in their hearts to pray during these hours and have seen great results.
THE 3rd WATCH IS A TIME WHERE:
1. There is an invasion of the enemy's camp (as the enemy sleeps)
So Gideon, and the hundred men that [were] with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that [were] in their hands. And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow [withal]: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon. And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled. And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, [and] to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath. And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites. (Judges 7:19-23)
2. Doors of the gate of the city are removed (as the enemy sleeps)
Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her. [And it was told] the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed [him] in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him. 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. (Judges 16:1-3)
3. Death of the 1st born of Egypt (as the enemy sleeps)
And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that [was] in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for [there was] not a house where [there was] not one dead. (Exodus 12:29,30)
4. Life and Death are exchanged (as the real mother sleeps)
And this woman's child died in the night; because she overlaid it. And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom. (1King 3:19,20)
5. Wicked men die
In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand. (Job 34:20)
6. Mighty men are broken in pieces
He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead. Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth [them] in the night, so that they are destroyed. He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others; Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways: (Job 34:24-26)
7. Prison doors are open (while the jailer sleeps)
And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. (Acts 16:25-27)
8. The deep in sleep fall to their death
And upon the first [day] of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together. And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. (Acts 20:7-9)
Again, it is imperative that we answer the "call of the 3rd watch" because in not doing so; we're acting in disobedience, selfishness, and neglecting our responsibility of being our brother's keeper . It should never be too cold or too early to get out of your bed to loose shackles or go into the enemy's camp on behalf of an individual or situation; so let's say YES!
As I begin to listen to the Lord, He showed me in scripture about this time frame (the 3rd watch or the middle watch). As I searched scripture, I understood the significance of rising to the "call of the 3rd watch". I took notice that the enemy is asleep during this watch in many of these scriptures. I KNOW the enemy is not asleep; but I I believe that he is unsuspecting because he is NOT anticipating us to be up bombarding his camp and unfortunately; he'd be correct about that. How many of us are awake praying between these hours? What a surprise attack that is>>>>the saints are awake>>PRAYING!>>and invading!!
I also took notice that when the righteous one (for a lack of better description) is asleep; the enemy exchanges life for death (1 Kings 3:19,20 and Acts 20:7-9). OVERALL, it IS a matter of life and death, but it's ALL ABOUT who's on [3rd] Watch?>>>>>US or THE ENEMY (hmmm?)
In closing, [again] it is imperative that we answer the "call of the 3rd watch" because in not doing so; we're acting in disobedience, selfishness, and neglecting our responsibility of being our brother's keeper . When you get your call>>>ANSWER! Loose...Invade....and Recover.
