TAKE A STAND AND WATCH

Pr. James Victor Lubwama

Exodus 2:1-4 (AMP)

“Now a man of the house of Levi [the priestly tribe] went and took as his wife a daughter of Levi. 2 The woman conceived and gave birth to a son; and when she saw that he was [especially] beautiful and healthy, she hid him for three months [to protect him from the Egyptians]. 3 When she could no longer hide him, she got him a basket (chest) made of papyrus reeds and covered it with tar and pitch [making it waterproof]. Then she put the child in it and set it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile. 4 And his sister [Miriam] stood some distance away to find out what would happen to him.”

By the time of Moses’ birth, Pharaoh had ordered all new born Hebrew males to be killed. But when Moses was born, the parents hid him so as to spare his life. At around three months, his parents could not hide him anymore so he was put in a basket by the river banks so that the mother could nurse him whenever necessary; and one day when Pharaoh’s daughter came to the river to take a bathe and she saw the basket. She asked her maids to bring it to her and when she opened it, there was a baby boy. Pharaoh’s daughter had compassion on him. But out of sight was Moses’ sister who had been watching everything from a distance and who immediately intervened. Exodus 2:5-7 (NLT) says;

“Soon Pharaoh’s daughter came down to bathe in the river, and her attendants walked along the riverbank. When the princess saw the basket among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it for her. 6 When the princess opened it, she saw the baby. The little boy was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This must be one of the Hebrew children,” she said. 7 Then the baby’s sister approached the princess. “Should I go and find one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?” she asked”

Always Watch Out For the Next Step

Exodus 2:4 (AMP)

“And his sister [Miriam] stood some distance away to find out what would happen to him”

If this young girl - Miriam had not stayed around to watch over Moses she would not have seen what happened next, and probably intervene because the person she called to nurse the baby was her very mother (Exodus 2:8-9). We should all be like Moses’ sister - watch and see what happens next.   

We must watch our promises and prophesies at every level and interval. Watch out so that the devil does not steal your miracle. Moses’ sister stayed behind to see what happens next. The mother left, but she kept watching to see what will happen to the brother – she was her brother’s keeper. In the same way, as believers, we have got to keep watch day and night by fellowshipping and praying.

So many people give birth to things but don’t watch over them, but this young girl sacrificed her time to watch over her young brother and see what would happen. And the time she sacrificed eventually paid off. In the same way, after praying and God hears you, do not leave His presence before you get hold of your miracle; do not leave that place of grace until you see what happens next.

Watch and Pray

When Elijah had climbed the mountain to pray, he tasked his servant, Gehaz to be on the look out and see what happens. 1 Kings 18:42-44 (NLT) says;

“Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and fell to the ground and prayed. 43 Then he said to his servant, “Go and look out toward the sea.” The servant went and looked, then returned to Elijah and said, “I didn’t see anything.” Seven times Elijah told him to go and look. 44 Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea”

As watchmen we have got to be alert at all times - we fellowship every evening and wake up every morning to pray because we do not want our harvest to be looted and our miracles to be killed or stolen by the devil. While in Gethsemane, Jesus told the slumbering disciples in Matthew 26:41 (NIV) that:

"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation"

Watchmen never sleep because they are on guard to ensure that the enemy does not encroach or steal anything. Until the miracle is in your hands, don’t look away and don’t slumber. Take a stand and keep watch until you enter into your harvest.

Remember what happened in the days of Daniel. God heard Daniel's prayers and sent an angel with an answer to Daniel's prayer but the prince of Persia opposed the angel’s mission for twenty-one days until God sent Michael one of the chief angels to help him. So you have got to watch and be on the lookout because the principalities are always there to hinder or block your requests. Daniel 10:11-12 (NLT) says;

“And the man said to me, “Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you.” When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling. 12 Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. 13 But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me“

Many things start but die along the way because there is no one on the lookout or watching. We on the other hand are going to take a stand and, watch over our promises and prophesies on our knees - we pray and also go up to the watchtower to see what is happening. We look out while telling God, it’s not yet here; we have not yet seen it; God follow it up, ignite the fire Lord. The bible says in Habakkuk 2:1 (KJV) that;

“I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when am reproved.”

Let’s call unto God relentlessly; do not hold your peace, cast your burdens upon Him. You are the Jerusalem of God, so give Him no rest until He establishes you and perfects that which concerns you. Isaiah 62:6-7 (ESV) says;

"On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; all day and all night they shall never be silent. You who put the LORD in remembrance, take no rest, 7 and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise in the earth”