Audio: Praying Into the Week with Nkem Okemiri
The eighth week is the week beginning the second 49 days (seven weeks) of the year. It is Day 50-56 of Nigeria’s year. The 8th book and chapters of the Bible reveal that the season is for starting over (new beginning), making involuntary or guided relocation, mentoring, fighting battles, warring against famine and death, receiving mercy.
GATE OF GRACE AND MERCY : The 8th gate of time is a gate of grace and mercy; and opens for the unworthy and despised. Ruth, a Moabitess came into the Commonwealth of Israel in 8th Book of the Bible. In the book of Matthew, Jesus began his healing ministry from the 8th chapter; and the first person he healed was a leper. The woman caught in Adultery was released in John 8. Samaritans and the Ethiopian Eunuch received the gospel in Acts 8. The 8th seven books of the Bible (Philippians – Titus) promote the grace of God in Christ Jesus. Former Vice President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, a man from a Nigerian minority group became President of Nigeria within the 8th seven years of our independence. Ebele became president in a season of Ebele.
PRAYER: Pray that this is a week of grace and mercy working deliverance and preservation in Nigeria. Declare null and void every voice of accusation and condemnation speaking against Nigeria.
REASONS TO BE PREOCCUPIED WITH GRACE IN THE 8TH WEEK
A. TO OPEN THE GATE OF POSITIVE NEW BEGINNINGS
The eighth season is widely known as a time of new beginning. It is the beginning of a seven-week season of war for freedom from evil monopolies. It is the beginning of a Book of Exodus season (2nd 49 days) in Nigeria’s current year. It is a new beginning when the old must give way to the new. Noah became the head of a new earth in Genesis 8. Naomi and Ruth made a re-start in the 8th book of the Bible. Philip’s ministry in Acts 8 was a new beginning for the early Church and the people he preached to. Nigeria’s 8th National Leader created 11 of the 36 states in Nigeria. His regime popularized the office of the First Lady. In his season, the capital of Nigeria moved effectively from Lagos to Abuja. Obama became President of the United States in 2008, the 8th year of the 21st century. That’s the first African American to serve as US President.
PRAYER: Pray that this will be a week of positive new beginnings in Nigeria.
B. TO OPEN THE GATE OF GUIDED MOVEMENT AND RELOCATION
The 8th season is a season of relocation and repositioning for change. Sometimes, it is forced relocation (or relocation driven by pressure); and sometimes it is planned or guided. In Genesis 8, Noah and his family (eight people) came out the ark that saved them from the flood to begin life in a ‘scary world’ of only 8th people. The rest of humanity had died in the flood; having their flesh and bones littered all over. In the 8th book of the Bible, Elimelech and his family moved from Judah to Moab because of famine. Even Naomi’s return to Judah from Moab, with Ruth, was still out of pressure. In First Samuel 8, Israel made the decision to move from theocracy to monarchy. In Second Kings 8, the Shunemite woman moved to the land of the Philistines, by the word of the Lord, because of famine. In Acts 8, the believers in Jerusalem moved into the regions of Judea and Samaria because of persecution. The 8th chapter of Hebrews is about the shift from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant.
That the 8th season is a season of relocation is confirmed by modern history. ‘Trail of Tears’, the forced hazardous relocation of Native Americans to a reserved territory west of the Mississippi River, happened in the season of the 8th US President, Martin Van Buren. The relocation of Nigeria’s Capital from Lagos to Abuja happened in the season of the 8th national leader, Ibrahim Babaginda. The Russia-Ukraine war of 2022 started in the 8th week of the year and caused forced relocation of Ukrainians.
PRAYER: This week, pray that the Lord will help Nigerians against forced relocation and will keep us from moving back and forth because of problems. Pray that He will deliver Nigerians situations that could trigger ‘famine’ and scarcity. Pray that this will be a week of guided movements and operations for God’s people in Nigeria .
C. TO OPEN THE GATES OF MENTORING PRIVILEGES
Naomi mentored Ruth in the 8th book of the Bible. Philip coached the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts 8. Paul was mentor in the 8th seven books of the Bible. The eighth-seven books of the Bible are Philippians, Colossians, First Thessalonians, Second Thessalonians, First Timothy, Second Timothy, and Titus. These are Paul’s letters to encourage, correct, teach, and guide. Most of these epistles were written to challenge error and get things done the right way. In the epistle to the Colossians, Paul challenged Gnosticism. In this epistles to the Thessalonians, he challenged the errors concerning the Second Coming of Christ. In the epistles to Timothy and Titus, he gave instructions that would help the young pastors do the right thing in the churches they worked with. May the Lord bring necessary support to you in this week.
PRAYER: Pray that God will give us instructors and teachers to guide us to the solutions we need in Nigeria as Naomi guided Ruth in the 8th book of the Bible.
D. TO SHUT DOORS AGAINST FAMINE
The Bible reveals that the 8th season is associated with famine. Elkanah and his family were driven by famine to go to Moab in the 8th book of the Bible. In 2nd Kings 8, the Shunemite woman moved because of famine. In Mark 8, Jesus fed 5000 because people were hungry and had no food. Second Corinthians 8 is about giving to support others in need. In Revelation 8, the sounding of the trumpets released disasters on earth affecting vegetation and water. Noah’s sacrifice in Genesis 8 produced a divine blessing against famine.
PRAYER: Pray that doors and channels of provision shall be open to God’s people in Nigeria.
E. TO SHUT DOORS AGAINST THE SPIRIT OF DEATH
Elkanah and his two sons died in the 8th book of the Bible. In 2nd Kings 8, the trigger of restoration for the Shunemite woman was the story that Elisha had raised her son back to life. In John 8, Jesus said the one who believes in Him shall not see death. The 8th week is a time to pray against deaths. Boko Haram news of suicide bombing and raids occupied Nigerians in the 8th seven years of our independence. Nigeria’s first coup, counter-coup, and Civil War happened within the 8th seven years of our Amalgamation. A plane crash that killed 87 people happened in that season also; on November 20, 1969, in the 8th week of that particular Nigeria year. President Musa Yar’Adua died in office at the beginning of the 8th seven years of our independence. We block this gate of the 8th week against the spirits of death and destruction.
PRAYER: Pray that this week would not be a week of deaths and destruction in Nigeria. Pray against plane crashes and mass death.
F. TO OPEN THE GATE OF DIVINE FIRE AGAINST THE ENEMIES
The 8th season is a season of battles. Moses released the second and third and fourth plagues (frogs, lice, and flies) against Egypt in Exodus 8. Israel fought Ai in Joshua 8. In Judges 8, Israel, under Gideon’s leadership subdued the Midianites. Gideon also killed Zebah and Zalmunna. In First Samuel 8, Israel wanted a king who could lead the nation to war and fight her battles. In Second Samuel 8, David fought battles and subdued the Philistines, Moabites, Syrians, and Edomites. The nations became his servants. In Daniel 8, ‘the male goat’ nation confronted the warring and conquering ‘ram’ nation and subdued it. The goat was eventually overpowered. In Acts 8, Philip’s ministry in Samaria overthrew demons and dethroned Simon the Sorcerer; who had bewitched an entire nation to believe he was the great power of God. In Revelation 8, by the opening of the seventh seal, heaven declared war against the earth with the successive sounding of four devastating trumpets. This week, be sensitive to the Spirit, arm yourself for spiritual warfare, and get in the war against darkness. Nigeria was in a civil war in the 8th seven years of our Amalgamation.
PRAYER: Pray that God will keep us from physical wars in every part of Nigeria and grant us victory in the spiritual battles of this week.
SCRIPTURES FOR THE WEEK
Psalm 8:2: Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, Because of Your enemies, That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.
Have a Happy and a greatly blessed 8th week of Nigeria’s year.
