***A. PROLOGUE*In Matthew 24:43 Jesus said, “But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into”. Knowing “the hour the thief would come” is critical to watching. Every purpose under heaven has its time; and every time has its purpose. Understanding the time gives us advantage over situations and frees us from becoming victims of the enemy’s surprise.
THE 33RD WEEK OF THE YEAR
This is the fifth week in the fifth seven weeks of the year. This is a week of breaking new grounds. The fifth day of creation was the beginning of motion, voice sound, sensory perception, and blessings. This week is the beginning of the New Testament side of the fifth seven weeks of the year. It’s is a new beginning. It’s a Book of Micah week in the year.
B. PRAYER POINTS
What is the divine agenda for the 33rd week and how can we pray? The Bible reveals six things about the 33rd:
1. The 33rd season is a time when people meet face to face with the reality they have been hiding from or running from. In Genesis 33, Jacob came face to face with his brother, Esau, but there was no trouble because God was with him. Manasseh became King in Second Chronicles 33. Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in 1933. The first time the Atomic Bomb was used was the season of the 33rd President of the United States. Terrorists bombed the twin towers of the World Trade Center at the beginning of the 33rd seven years of the United States. The year 1933 was a season of deadly fiery visitations. In the 33rd year of Nigeria, Ibrahim Babangida was compelled to step down and handed over to an Interim National Government that lasted only 84 days. He had hoped to transit from being military Head of State into a Civilian President. Dreaded Sani Abacha overthrew the Interim National Government and became Head of State.
PRAYER: This week, pray that the righteous be delivered from their fears; and that the wicked will run into their fears. This week, let fire-power be released from heaven against the wicked and wickedness.
2. The 33rd season is a time to break up camp and move on to the next level and place. Exodus 33:1-3 says, “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Depart and go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘To your descendants I will give it.’ In Numbers 33, Israel’s journey from Egypt to Jordan is summarized – according to starting and stopping points. Three words implying motion (move, departed, went) is used 42 times in this chapter. The word ‘camped’ is also used 42 times in Numbers 33 (NKJV). The death of Aaron at 123 years, on Mount Hur, is recorded in this chapter. His son Eleazar took over from him. This week, the Lord is prompting you to move from camping. This is a no-stopping week. The Lord wants you to move and move and move.
PRAYER: Pray this week that there be a progressive shift for God’s people in the nations. Pray for a positive shift from camping in your life, family, ministry, etc.
3. The 33rd is a season of blessing, redemption, and restoration. In Deuteronomy 33, Moses blessed the children of Israel before his death. In Job 33, Elihu spoke of ransom, redemption, and of a mediator. You do not need any of those three unless there is trouble. They are needed in the 33rd season. In Jeremiah 33, God promised to cause the captivity of Judah to return and to restore Jerusalem.
PRAYER: Pray and prophesy blessings over the nation and your people this week. Bless the local government areas, counties, cities, and regions. Decree recovery and restoration over the nation.
4. The 33rd is a season of judgment. Second Chronicles 33 is about the evil reign of Manasseh. Although he repented, God decreed captivity against Judah because of the sins of Manasseh. He ruled the longest in Judah but his death is recorded in this chapter. His son and successor, Amon, also ruled and died in this chapter. This chapter ends with the emergence of Josiah – the reformer-grandson of Manasseh. Isaiah 33 is about the judgment coming to Zion and to the Plunderer that had not been plundered. This is a season of plundering the plunderer. The book of Micah is the 33rd book of the Bible and it contains woes and judgments.
PRAYER: This week, pray that the Lord will bring down the wicked in the nation. Pray that He will raise replacements who will reverse the works of the wicked in the land. Pray against fire disasters and destructions from explosions in the cities of the nation.
5. The 33rd season is a time to rejoice in the Lord and praise His name. Psalm 33 is a call to rejoice in the Lord and praise Him (1-3) for His powerful word (4-12) and for His sovereign and saving power (13-22). This a week of joy. As we rejoice before the Lord, He will keep pain and sorrow far from us. The presence of the Lord matters greatly in the 33rd season. Moses could not move without God’s presence in Exodus 33.
PRAYER: Pray that this 33rd week will be a week of rejoicing (and not sorrowing) in the land. We have wept enough. This week, let joy overtake mourning in the nation.
6. The 33rd is a watchman season. In Ezekiel 33, the prophet is a appointed a watchman to warn the people of impending disaster. News of the fall of Jerusalem came to Ezekiel in this chapter. Ezekiel 33 is about the certainty of the judgment. The 33rd season is a time when watchmen and gatekeepers must be alert and active.
PRAYER: This week, pray for grace to stand on the watch with your spiritual senses on alert. Pray also that watchmen in the nation will be alert and not slumber. Pray also that the watchmen declare, promptly, what they see.
C. SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK
Psalm 33:18-19: “Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy, To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine”.God is watching over His people – especially this week.
THE 46TH WEEK OF NIGERIA’S YEAR
What is the divine agenda for the 46th week?
The 46th book and 46th chapters of the Bible reveal two major things about the 46th day, week, or year:1. It is a season to pursue and fight for UNITY and TOGETHERNESS In Genesis 46, Jacob and his family moved from Canaan to Egypt to reunite with Joseph. Jacob’s family came together and everyone’s name was mentioned. Psalm 46 is a WE, OUR, and US psalm ( not a ME, MY, and I psalm). It is the psalm of a united people. The 46th book of the Bible, First Corinthians, is about unity in diversity. It is about uniting with God (as His house and field) and also with God’s people (as members of one Body of Christ). The 46th season is a time to work towards unity and against division. Be careful with controversies in this season. The United Nations came into existence in 1946, the 46th year of the 20th century. In the 46th year of Nigeria (1st October 2005 – First October, 2006) the government suffered greatly from disunity. The National Assembly fought the presidency; and even within the presidency, the President and the Vice President had contentions. The President lost his wife in this season. America’s 46th President is battling division in the country. This 46th week is a time to bring before God the issue of disunity in Nigeria.
2. The second thing about the 46th season is that it is a season to lean on God as strength. God reassured Jacob in Genesis 46. The presence of God is paramount in the 46th season. Psalm 46, Isaiah 46, Jeremiah 46, and the 46th book of the Bible all bear witness to this.
3. The 46th is a season of manifestations of the supernatural operation of God. The 46th book of the Bible says a lot about the manifestations of the Spirits. The Voice of Healing Revival Movement arose in 1946 – the 46th year of the 20th century.
B. PRAYER POINTS
1. Pray that God will heal our nation from and political and racial divisions.
2. Pray that God will heal the Body of Christ in Nigeria from division due to doctrinal persuasions, leadership preferences and ethnic prejudice.
3. Ask the Lord to restore unity in homes and families – between spouses, siblings, and between parents and children. The 13th chapter of the 46th book of the Bible shows that 46th is a week of love and unity.
4. Pray that God will scatter those who gather together against His purposes in the nation. Pray disunity, divisions, strife, and confusion into the camp of the enemy.
5. Pray that the Lord will show His presence among His people in this week. This is a week of “manifestations of the Spirit” per the 46th book of the Bible. Let the Lord fight for His people in Nigeria – by His presence – in this 46th week of our year. Let the Lord fight for us against those who trust in idols and in their own strength.
6. Israel divided when the fourth king, Rehoboam came to power. Buhari is the fourth president in the fourth republic. Pray against, and cast out, the insensitive spirit of Rehoboam sitting over the government and stirring division in the land.
C. PROMISE
Isaiah 46:3-4: “Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, And all the remnant of the house of Israel, Who have been upheld by Me from birth, Who have been carried from the womb: [4] Even to your old age, I am He, And even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; Even I will carry, and will deliver you”.
Have a happy 33rd week of the year and a greatly blessed 46th week of Nigeria’s year.