The 42nd week of the year is the 7th (Sabbath) week ending the sixth seven weeks of the year. As a 7th season week, it is for bringing people into rest. The 42nd season is a time to turn situations around through prayer, prophetic decrees and the release of the Power of God.
BIBLICAL PATTERNS FOR THE WEEK
There are five Biblical patterns for understanding the 42nd week:
1. The 7th day of creation. This is because the 42nd week is the 7th week in the 7-week season that began September 3. This is a seventh-day-of-creation week.
2. The Book of Luke – the 42nd book of the Bible. This is a Book-of-Luke week.
The 42nd chapters of the Bible (Genesis 42, Job 42, Psalm 42, Isaiah 42, Jeremiah 42 and Ezekiel 42).
The 7th section chapters (22-24) of the sixth book of the Bible (Joshua). This is a Joshua 22-24 week – time to be up in the spirit.
The third and last 9 books of the New Year (Hebrews – Revelation)
B. BIBLE READING SUGGESTIONS FOR THE WEEK
Going through the 42nd week of the year is like taking a journey through the 42nd book of the Bible (Luke). It is also like walking through the six 42nd chapters of the Bible. So, the Book of Luke and the 42nd chapters of the Bible are great guiding lights for the week.
You may want to read the suggested passages as follows but also be free to follow the leading of the Spirit of God:
October 15: Luke 1-4.
October 16: Genesis 42; Luke 5-8.
October 17: Job 42; Luke 9-12.
October 18: Psalm 42; Luke 13-15.
October 19: Isaiah 42; Luke 16-18
October 20: Jeremiah 42; Luke 19-21.
October 21: Ezekiel 42; Luke 22-24.
WORD FOR THE WEEK
Isaiah 42:14-16: “I have held My peace a long time, I have been still and restrained Myself. Now I will cry like a woman in labor, I will pant and gasp at once. I will lay waste the mountains and hills, And dry up all their vegetation; I will make the rivers coastlands, And I will dry up the pools. I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them”.
THOUGHTS AND PRAYER POINTS FOR THE WEEK
What can we glean from the Bible concerning the 42nd season? Five major things:
- 1. It is an end-point to WAITING:
a). WAITING FOR PRAYERS TO BE ANSWERED
In the 42nd book of the Bible, Zechariah received answers to his prayers. Simeon and Anna, with others who waited for the redemption of Israel, also saw the answer to their prayers in the same book. The 42nd season is the waiters’ season of joy.
b). WAITING FOR PROMISES AND PROPHECIES TO BE FULFILLED
In the 42nd book of the Bible, a virgin conceived and gave birth to fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy. In Luke 24, Jesus spoke of sending the Holy Spirit – the Promise of the Father. In Luke 4, Jesus said He is the fulfillment of Isaiah 61. The 42nd season is a special time to see Isaiah 61 fulfilled
c). WAITING FOR DREAMS TO COME TRUE
Joseph’s dreams came to pass in Genesis 42. Joseph remembered his prophetic dreams when he saw his brothers bow to him as they came to buy grain in Egypt. He saw his dreams fulfilled. His brothers fulfilled the dream they sought to destroy. This is a season when impossible dreams and promises become reality.
d). WAITING FOR AFFLICTIONS AND TRIALS TO END
Job’s troubles ended in the 42nd chapter of Job. In Job 42, God turned the captivity of Job around and gave him double blessings for his losses. In the days of Elijah, the judgmental drought ended in the 42nd month. Revelation 11:2 says the gentiles “will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months”. They will not go beyond the 42nd month. Revelation 13:5 says the beast “was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months”. He will not be allowed to go beyond the 42nd month. The 42nd seasons is an endpoint to trials.
2. It is a season to test patience and perseverance in prayer. The 42nd season is a time to pray and receive answers. However, the kind of prayer that works in this season is persevering prayer. People are tempted to give up praying in this season because it looks like it’s not producing any result. That is the reason the 42nd book of Bible tells us about those who waited in the place of prayer and about tarrying to receive power from on high. The first chapter of Luke tells us about Zechariah and Elizabeth. Luke 11 and 18 teaches importunity in prayer. Sweat dropped from Jesus like drops of blood as He prayed in Luke 22. This is time to pant for God’s visitation as the deer pants for the water brooks (Psalm 42).
3. It is time to birth dreams and expectations through prayer. This is a week to battle weariness and resistance to breakthrough as we pray to birth change.This week the kingdom of darkness will battle to resist prayers, fulfillment of prophecies and answers to prayers – and it may seem that heaven is shut against our prayers. This week, as we pray, we shall be shutting the gate of the week against things that will hinder answers to prayer and the delivery of God’s promises in our lives and nations. We should not give access and room to weariness, discouragement, unbelief, prayer-lessness, and sin.
4. It is a time to get results and change situations by the power of the Holy Spirit. Isaiah 42:1 says, “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. The 42nd book of the Bible attests that the Holy Spirit is behind all God-results. When Mary wanted to know how she would conceive a child, in Luke 1, the angel told her the Holy Spirit would come upon her. “For with God nothing shall be impossible. In Luke 4, Jesus did exploits in Galilee when He returned from the wilderness in the power of the Spirit. In Luke 24, Jesus commanded His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they are endued with power from above.
5. This is a week of possibilities. Things that are considered impossible happen in this season. The 42nd book of the Bible opens with two ‘impossible’ stories of miraculous conceptions: the first is about an old barren woman that got pregnant and the second is about a virgin that conceived without a man. The 42nd week is a week of miracles. Luke 1:37 says, “For with God nothing will be impossible.” Luke 18:27 says, “…The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” Job 42:1-2 says, “Then Job answered the LORD and said: “I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You”. This is a season to show that God can do everything!
6. This is a season of restoration. In Job 42, God gave Job everything he had lost, health, wealth and children. He was adequately compensated.
HOW TO LIVE IN THIS SEASON
This week, following the pattern in God’s Holy Word, I will ask you to do the following:
1. Persevere in the place of prayer. Jesus taught importunity in prayer in the 42nd book of the Bible. Job was restored in the 42nd chapter of the 18th book of the Bible after he prayed for his friends. Pray for deliverances.
2. Believe and expect the impossible to be made possible for you. This week is for the release of great faith. In the 42nd book of the Bible, the centurion, the Syrophoenician woman, and Jairus exercised great faith. The fulfillment of Joseph’s dream in Genesis 42 was an impossible thing made possible. The restoration of Job’s health, wealth, and family, was an impossible thing made possible.
3. Expect vindication. Expect the fulfillment of prophecies and promises. The 42nd season is the end of waiting and the time for the confirmation of God’s word. God vindicated Joseph in Genesis 42 and vindicated Job in Job 42.
4. Expect strange good messengers of God with strange good news of answers to prayers. Expect positive visitations. Expect strange callers with good news. Expect a great turnaround.
PRAYER POINTS FOR THE 42ND WEEK:
Pray for grace and increased strength to pray and not faint this week (Luke 11, 18, 22).
Pray for the release of answers to those waiting in prayer and fasting for change. Decree supernatural turnarounds, with tangible testimonies of answers to prayer.
Pray to activate the fulfillment of prophetic words as it happened to Joseph in Genesis 42, for Zechariah, Mary, Simeon and Anna in the 42nd book of the Bible.
Pray for the end of troubles for those whose afflictions have have seen the 42nd day, the 42nd week, the 42nd month, and the 42nd year.
Pray to be endued with the power of the Holy Spirit for the tasks and operations of this week. Pray for the move of the Holy Spirit in the nations this week.
Have a happy 42nd week of the year!
