PRAYING OVER THE WEEK OF February 19 - 25 (THE 8TH WEEK OF THE YEAR; AND THE 21ST WEEK OF NIGERIA'S YEAR)
A. PROLOGUE
February 19 is the beginning of the second seven weeks ( or 49 days) of the year running from the 8th to the 14th week. This is like journeying through the book of Exodus (the 2nd book of the Bible) and through the second seven books of the Bible (Ruth - Second Chronicles). In the book of Exodus, God battled Egypt to deliver Israel to serve Him. In the second seven books of the Bible, Israel struggled to remain loyal to God because of pressures and influences from nations around her. Whereas God delivered Israel in the book of Exodus, Israel served her enemies within the second seven books of the Bible. Her captivity is recorded in the 12th and 14th books of the Bible. This is a season to pray that you do not serve your enemies. It is a time to pray to be delivered from barriers and snares.
February 19 is the beginning of the 8th week of the year; and also the beginning of the 21st week of Nigeria's year. We shall be praying over this week as both 8th week of and 21st week.
THE 8TH WEEK
The 8th week begins with the 50 day of the year; the first of the seven Jubilees in the year. We are going to ask the Lord for things of the 8th week in this 8th week as Zechariah 10:1 tells us to do. "Ask the Lord for rain in the time of the latter rain... " The 8th is called 'new beginning' because it is the beginning of the second set of seven (8-14). The first of every seven is a new beginning. The 8th book and 8th chapters of the Bible give clue to the mystery of the 8th season. They reveal five things about the 8th season:
1. IT IS TIME TO MAKE A FRESH START
The 8th book and chapters of the Bible bear witness that the 8th is a new beginning - often following disaster and devastation. In Genesis 8, Noah and his family started a new earth. Israel went back to fight Ai after failing in the seventh chapter. Ruth and Naomi made a fresh start in the 8th book of the Bible. Israel made a move to become a monarchy in the 8th chapter of First Samuel. In Second Kings 8, the woman whose son Elisha raised from the dead returned home to restart life after escaping to the land of the Philistines for seven years because of famine.
2. IT IS A SEASON OF FAMINE
The 8th book of the Bible, Ruth, is about how Elimelech's family moved from Judah to Moab to escape famine; the disaster that befell them, how Naomi returned to Judah with Ruth after the famine. In Second Kings 8, Elisha directed the woman whose son he had raised from the dead to relocate from Israel for seven years because of famine. The destruction of vegetation and marine life is foundation for famine. In Genesis 8, God gave Noah an anti- famine blessing. Genesis 8: 22 says, "While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease."
3. IT IS A SEASON OF RELOCATION AND SHIFT
In Genesis 8, Noah and his family relocated from the Ark to the new earth. In First Samuel 8, Israel moved from Theocracy to Monarchy. In First Kings 8, the ark of covenant was brought into the temple. In Esther 8, Mordecai took over Haman's office and house. In Acts 8, many believers left Jerusalem because of persecution and escaped to other lands. Philip went to Samaria with the gospel of Jesus Christ. The capital of Nigeria moved effectively from Lagos to Abuja in the season of the 8th National Leader.
4. IT IS A SEASON OF SACRIFICES
Noah offered sacrifice to God in Genesis 8. Genesis 8:20 says, "Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar". In First Kings 8, Solomon offered sacrifices to God to to mark the entrance of the ark into the temple.1 Kings 8:5 says, "Also King Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel who were assembled with him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen that could not be counted or numbered for multitude". In Revelation 8, prayers were offered to God as incense. The sacrifices of the 8th provoke divine blessings and visitations in the season.
5. IT IS A SEASON OF SECOND CHANCE AND NO CONDEMNATION.
In Joshua 8, Israel had a second chance to go fight with and defeat Ai. In John 8, Jesus gave second chance to a woman who would have been stoned for adultery. Romans 8 says there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. Hebrews 8 is about the New covenant. The New Covenant is about second chance.
THE 21ST WEEK
The 21st week of Nigeria's week is the last week of the third 49 days (seven weeks) of her year. What does the 21st signify?
1. IT IS SEASON OF FULFILLING PROMISES
God fulfilled His promise to Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 21. Israel testified to God's faithfulness in Joshua 21. God granted the desire of His anointed in Psalm 21. The promise of New heaven and earth is fulfilled in Revelation 21.
2. IT IS A SEASON OF RECOVERY AND RESTORATION
Abraham recovered wells in Genesis 21. David recovered Moriah in First Chronicles 21. Jesus restored the temple in Matthew 21.
3. IT IS A SEASON OF MAKING "ALL THINGS NEW".
Although the 21st book of the Bible says there's nothing new under the sun, in Revelation 21, God declares, "Behold, I make all things new".
4. IT IS A SEASON OF EXPERIMENTS, MAKING DISCOVERIES, AND LEARNING
The 21st book of the Bible is about researches and findings concerning life. The 21st season is for learning about time. In Luke 21, Jesus taught His disciples lessons on times and seasons. The 21st book of the Bible teaches the mystery of time like no other book of the Bible.
5. IT IS A TIME OF JUDGMENT AGAINST WICKEDNESS
God judged Og and Sihon in Numbers 21, judged the house of Ahab in First Kings 21, judged Manasseh in Second Kings 21, and Jehoram in Second Chronicles 21. God visits the sin of bloodshed in the 21st season. Deuteronomy 21 is particular about this.
B. PRAYER POINTS
1. O Lord, deliver your people from disasters and from forced relocation in this 8th week. We shall not mourn as in the 8th book of the Bible.
2. O Lord, let the present pressures in Nigeria, the things the enemy meant against us, advance your cause in the land.
3. O Lord, remember, the humble this week; and make a way for the despised - as you did for Ruth in the 8th book of the Bible; for the Jews in the 8th chapter of Esther, for the woman caught in adultery in John 8, and for Samaria in the 8th chapter of Acts.
4. O Lord, command a positive shift for Nigeria in this 8th week of the year - in the economy, educational sector, in the political arena, etc.
6. O Lord, let our offerings of prayers, praise, and diverse sacrifices be precious in your presence as in Genesis 8, First Kings 8, and Revelation 8.
7. O Lord, let this week be a season to celebrate answers to prayer and delivery of promises as you did for Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 21; for Israel in Joshua 21, for your anointed in Psalm 21, and for your people in Revelation 21.
8 O Lord, this week, visit the wicked who waste other lives for their selfish interests and fears. Visit them as you visited Ahab in First Kings 21, as you visited Manasseh in Second Kings 21, and as you visited Jehoram in Second Chronicles 21.
9. O Lord, as Jesus cleansed the temple in Matthew 21, let this tabernacle of God called Nigeria be cleaned up and restored in line with the Divine Blueprint.
10. O Lord, as you led Israel to defeat Og and Sihon in Numbers 21, let every impediment to transition to a New Nigeria be dismantled in the name of Jesus Christ,
C. PROMISES
Isaiah 8:12-13: "Do not say, 'A conspiracy,' Concerning all that this people call a conspiracy, Nor be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. [13] The LORD of hosts, Him you shall hallow; Let Him be your fear, And let Him be your dread".
Revelation 21:5: "Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."
Happy 8th week of the year; Happy 21st week of Nigeria's year!
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