PRAYING INTO THE 4TH WEEK OF THE YEAR (JANUARY 22 – 28)

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January 21, 2023

The week of January 22 – 28 is a very significant season. It is the fourth week of the year. This is the bridge week in the first seven weeks of the year. Patterns in the word of God indicate that the fourth season is one we should handle with prayer. Jesus fasted in the wilderness in the fourth chapters of Matthew and Luke. In the plan of God, the fourth season is for training, testing, triumphs and testimonies. For the kingdom of darkness, it is a time to cause troubles, temptations and tears. God made the fourth season a time of training and stretching for growth. Satan attacks people in the fourth season to confuse, frighten, deceive, cause error, stumbling, defeat and death.

The fourth season is like a fight-back season for darkness. So, God made luminaries to rule over darkness on the fourth day. After God had called forth light on the first day of creation, He created light bearers on the fourth day – as it were to reinforce light in the battle against darkness. In the fourth season, darkness manifests through temptations, pressures, pains, persecution, tension, conflicts, and confusion. Darkness does not kill but it can frustrate and confuse people and make them hurt themselves or do things they should not do. There are many things that happen in this season that should not happen but the reason they happen is because people are overtaken by the darkness (mental darkness):

The first murder was committed in the fourth chapter of Genesis.

Moses almost missed going to deliver Israel in Exodus 4.

Many Israelites who came out of Egypt in the book of Exodus perished in the fourth book of the Bible.

The failure of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam is recorded in the fourth book of the Bible. The negative ministry of Balaam against Israel, the rebellion of Korah and his company, the attack of the fiery serpents and Israel’s failure to enter the Promised Land on schedule are also recorded in the fourth book of the Bible.

Israel divided into two kingdoms under the fourth king of Israel, Rehoboam. One part of the kingdom turned to idolatry as a state religion.

The adversaries of Judah, Sanballat and Tobiah put up strong resistance in the fourth chapters of Ezra and Nehemiah. The work was made to cease in Ezra 4. Nehemiah was prepared for the opposition in Nehemiah 4.

Queen Esther came under intense pressure to act in Esther 4. The fasting that defeated Haman’s plot happened in this chapter.

The temptations of Jesus are recorded in the fourth chapters of Matthew and Luke.

A storm rose against Jesus and His disciples in Mark 4 as they were crossing “to the other side”.

The Early Church began to face persecution in Acts 4. The chapter ends with prayer that shook the building.

In Second Corinthians 4, Paul says, “We are hard-pressed on every side….”

The War of 1812 between the United States and the United Kingdom happened in the season of the fourth President of the United States, James Madison.

In Nigeria, the fourth national leader, Murtala Mohammed, was assassinated in a bloody coup in his sixth month of his leadership. The tough Buhari-Idiagbon regime was toppled in the fourth year of Nigeria’s fourth 7 years. A lot of misfortunes have befallen Nigeria since the beginning of her fourth republic; especially in the season of the 4th President in her fourth republic,Muhammadu Buhari.

The Ukranian Revolution of 2014 happened in the season of the ousted fourth President of Ukraine, Victor Yanukovych. This also happened at the beginning of the fourth seven years of her independence from the Soviet Union.

Going through the fourth week (Days 22-28) is like going through the fourth seven chapters (22-28) of the Bible. Genesis 22-28 are trial chapters in the lives of Abraham, Rebekah, Isaac, Esau, and Jacob. Numbers 22-28 are trial chapters for Balaam and Israel. Matthew 22-28 are trial chapters in the parables and experiences of Jesus and His disciples. Acts 22-28 are trial chapters in the life of Paul. The fourth seven books of the Bible (Song of Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentation, Ezekiel, Daniel and Hosea) are also full of trials and temptations.

The divine agenda for the week is to hold out light against effects of darkness. It is a week to subdue darkness, disorganization and disorderliness. It is a week to overcome temptations and trials. This is a week of organized strategic warfare against darkness – especially mental darkness that produces fear, confusion, deception, and wrongdoing. What you need is light and God has given you light in His word, in the Holy Spirit, and in the wise people around you.

PRAYER POINTS

1. Pray that the Lord will protect His people and leaders of nations from mental darkness leading to wrong decisions and actions – as in the case of the fourth king of Israel in First Kings 12.

2. Pray against manifestations of the murderous spirit of Cain that rises in the fourth season to attack the righteous and the innocent.

3. Pray for grace to discern the presence of the tempter and to overcome temptations this week. Pray against mental darkness and deception.

4. As heat was created on the fourth day of creation, pray against unnecessary heat this week. Pray that darkness will not overtake any part of our nation this week.

5. As Esther declared a fast in Esther 4, as Jesus withdrew to the wilderness in the fourth chapters of Matthew and Luke and as the Lord called John to “come up hither” in Revelation 4, pray that this is a week of blocking off and rising beyond the noise on this earth to pray and hear God.

This week, do not give room to darkness! God made the luminaries on the fourth day of creation. Jesus overcame temptation in the fourth chapters of Matthew and Luke and calmed the storm in Mark 4. Joshua and Caleb did not submit to fear in the fourth book of the Bible – Numbers. Nehemiah refused to be stopped by Sanballat and Tobiah in Nehemiah 4. Mordecai and Esther accepted the challenge to break the law for good in Esther 4. The Apostles refused to be intimidated by persecution and threats in Acts 4. This is a week of the dominion of light. Ephesians 4:27 says, “(Do not) give place to the devil”

BIBLE READING SUGGESTIONS FOR THE WEEK.

This week has patterns in the fourth day of creation narrative (Genesis 1:14-19), the 4th book of the Bible (Numbers), the 4th chapters of the Bible and the 4th seven chapters (22-28) of the Bible. You may read through the book of Numbers this week as you pray.

January 22: Numbers 1-6; Psalms 22

January 23: Numbers 7-11; Psalms 23

January 24: Numbers 12-16; Psalms 24

January 25: Numbers 17-21; Psalms 25

January 26: Numbers 22-26; Psalms 26

January 27: Numbers 27-31; Psalms 27

January 28: Numbers 32-36; Psalms 28

SCRIPTURE FOR WEEK

2 Corinthians 4:8-10: “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; [9] persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed- [10] always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body”.

Happy fourth week of the year!

PRAYING INTO THE THIRD WEEK OF THE YEAR (January 15 – 21)

By

Nkem Okemiri

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January 14, 2023

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Psalm 119: 105: “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path”.

God’s Word is light for all seasons. God’s Word helps us to understand the nature of seasons – to know what we ought to do and how we should pray. What does the Bible indicate concerning the third week? The third day of creation is the key to understanding the mystery of the third season. Every other ‘third’ in the Bible agrees with the third day of creation narrative:

Genesis 1:9-13: “Then God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so. [10] And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good. [11] Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so. [12] And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. [13] So the evening and the morning were the third day” (NKJV).

SEVEN APPLICATIONS FROM THE THIRD DAY OF CREATION:

1. The third week should be a season of unhindered communion between heaven and earth. The first thing God did on the third day of creation was to redirect “the water under heaven” that blocked the earth from seeing, hearing or feeling heaven. God cleared the obstruction between heaven (firmament) and dry land (earth) by relocating the water under heaven. Communion between God and man was the first thing Satan attacked and blocked in Genesis 3. It is to demonstrate the communion that should exist between Heaven and earth in the third season that the priestly book of Leviticus is placed third in the Bible. The third chapters of the Bible illustrate the same. Moses heard the Voice from heaven in Exodus 3 and responded. Samuel heard the Voice of God in First Samuel 3. Solomon heard the Voice of God in First Kings 3 and responded. The Voice from heaven came to Jesus in the third chapters of Matthew and Luke. Adam heard the Voice of God in Genesis 3 and hid himself. Communion with heaven was under attack.

PRAYER: Pray that this is a week of open heaven and a week of unhindered access to heaven. Pray against distractions, interruptions and obstructions to communion with Heaven.

2. The third week is a time to battle and contain forces hindering and limiting the manifestation of God’s purposes. On the third day of creation, God contained and gave limited space to the waters hindering the manifestation of the dry land (earth) and vegetation and all in them. The enemy engineers opposition against God’s purposes in the third season. He labors to frustrate the people and work of God this season. The promotion of Haman in Esther 3 and decree of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 3 were weights on God’s people and God’s purposes.

PRAYER: Let this third week of the year be a season of containment for ‘dysfunctional waters’ hindering or limiting the manifestation of God’s purposes in the nations – as it happened on the third day of creation. Pray against evil weights that fall on people in this season.

3. The third week is for unveiling, manifestation and emergence. On the third day of creation, God spoke to the day land to appear. This season is for the manifestation of hidden people and platforms. Moses emerged in Exodus 3. In Joshua 3: 7, God told Joshua, “This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you”. Boaz emerged in Ruth 3 to inherit Ruth and birth the line of David. Samuel emerged a prophet in First Samuel 3. Solomon manifested as a wise king in First Kings 3. Mordecai began to stand out in Esther 3. Shedrack, Meshach and Abednego emerged in Daniel 3. John the Baptist and Jesus manifested in the third chapters of Matthew and Luke. Jesus manifested His glory on ‘the third day’ in John 2. The Apostles (Peter and John) manifested in Acts 3 following the healing of the lame man.

PRAYER: Pray that this third week will be a season for the unveiling, emergence and manifestation of hidden possibilities, platforms and people in the nations. Pray for the manifestation of helpful systems, platforms and sacrificial servant leaders.as with the Levites and Priests in the third book of the Bible.

4. The third week is for coming ‘out of the water‘. On the third day of creation, the dry land (earth) came out of the water and stood out. Israel crossed Jordan and came out of the water in Joshua 3. Jesus came out of the water in the third chapters of Matthew and Luke. Jonah came out of the water and the belly of the fish in Jonah 3. The Gentile believers came out of the water of religious restrictions into the liberty of the sons of God in the third seven chapters (15-21) of Acts.

PRAYER: Pray that this is a week of stepping out of the water and into the will of God. Pray it for yourself and for people you know. Pray it for God’s people and agents in the nations.

5. The third is a season to defy dryness and work against it. On the third day of creation, God commanded the dry land to bring forth vegetation. That is difficult and unnatural. Dry ground dries vegetation. However, the dry ground obeyed God and fruit trees and grasses appeared on earth. In Second Kings 3: 17, Elisha told the king of Israel, “For thus says the LORD: ‘You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink”. In Mark 3, Jesus told told the man with a withered hand to stretch forth his hand. He did and was healed. In Acts 3, Peter and John healed the lame man at the Beautiful Gate. Within the third seven chapters (15-21) of Genesis, dry Abraham and Sarah brought forth Isaac.

PRAYER: Pray the blessings of life and fruitfulness into the bodies and labors of God’s people in the nations. Let there be no room for dryness and unproductivity this week.

6. The third week is a season to watch against the spirit of death and its agents. The spirit of death rises in the third season. God knew that when He created food and medicine (natural life sustainers) on the third day of creation. There was no death in the world until Genesis 3. Haman plotted to kill Mordecai and all Jews in Esther 3. Nebuchadnezzar prepared a fiery furnace to roast God’s people in Daniel 3. The spirit of death visited the world within the third seven years of the 20th century through the First World War and the Flu. The evil spirit visited the world again within the third seven years of the 21st century with COVID-19. In 1966, the week of January 15-21 was a dark week in Nigeria. The bloody coup that reset Nigeria happened January 15, 1966. Mohammed Abacha died in a plane crash this week in 1996 (January 17). John 3 is about Jesus, the Answer to death. John 3:14-16 says, ” And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, [15] that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. [16] For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”. Jesus also rose from the dead on the third day.

PRAYER: Pray against the seeming evil partnership between the third season and the spirit of death. This week, decree that life will triumph over death as dry ground brought forth life on the third day of creation and as Jesus rose from the dead on the third day.

7. The third season is a turning point. The work of God on the third day of creation changed the course of things. The third chapters of the Bible are turning-point chapters (Genesis 3 and the Fall of man; Exodus 3 and the call of Moses; Joshua 3 and the crossing of the Jordan; First Samuel 3 and the call of Samuel; First Kings 3 and the wisdom of Solomon; Esther 3 and the promotion of Haman; the Baptism of Jesus in the third chapters of Matthew and Luke….). It is the same with the third seven books of the Bible (Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes) and third seven chapters (15-21) of the Bible. The season of the third king of Israel, Solomon, was a game-changing season in Israel. The third week of the year is one of the major game-changing seasons in the year.

PRAYER: Pray and decree a reset in your life, family, nation and in the nations. Decree a reset in the Body of Christ and in the congregations and communities of God’s people around the world.

BIBLE READING SUGGESTIONS FOR THE WEEK

I will suggest the following passages for this week:

Genesis 1: 9-13 (Third day of creation narrative)
The third chapters of the Bible. There are 60 of them.
The 3rd book of the Bible (Leviticus).
The third 7 psalms (Psalm 15-21)
You can read as follows or as the Spirit directs you:

January 15: Leviticus 1-4; Psalm 15.

January 16: Leviticus 5-8; Psalm 16

January 17: Leviticus 9-12; Psalm 17.

January 18: Leviticus 13-16; Psalm 18.

January 19: Leviticus 17-20; Psalm 19

January 20: Leviticus 21-24; Psalm 20

January 21: Leviticus 25-27; Psalm 21

You will learn from the third book of the Bible (Leviticus) how Israel under the Old Covenant ensured an open heaven through the offering and sacrifices and ordinances. We are under the New Covenant and the blood of Jesus has a stronger voice. The wisdom of God in the book of Leviticus is very instructive.

SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK

Exodus 3:7-8: “And the LORD said: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. [8] So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites” (NKJV).

Happy third week of the year!!!

NIGERIA: PRAYING INTO JANUARY 8- 14 (THE SECOND WEEK OF THE YEAR AND THE 15TH WEEK OF NIGERIA’S YEAR)

By

Nkem Okemiri

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January 8, 2023

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God made time for purposes. The Bible helps us to understand both the timing of purposes and the purpose of each time. We shall be watching and praying into the second week of the year as a gate of time for purposes.

The basic Biblical patterns for understanding the second week and all second seasons are

The narrative of the second day of creation.
The second book of the Bible
The second chapters of the Bible.

The patterns in the Bible indicate that

1. The second season is for thwarting evil monopolies and breaking controlling power and unleashing opportunities and freedom. Oppressive monopolies are very active in the second season. On the second day of creation, God created the firmament to destroy the monopoly of the waters that made it impossible for other things to exist.

2. The second season is for releasing help and helpers to make a way where there is none. The second chapters of the Bible illustrate this. God made woman to be man’s help in Genesis 2. Women saved and helped Moses in Exodus 2. God used Rahab to help the spies in Joshua 2. Ruth met Boaz in Ruth 2 where God began to make way for her. In First Samuel 2, Hannah sang of God making a way for the poor and the beggar to sit with princes. Bathsheba intervened to make way for her son, Solomon to become king in First Kings 2. Elijah and Elisha found a way across Jordan in Second Kings 2 before the prophet was transported out of this world. God made a way for Nehemiah before the King in Nehemiah 2. God made way for Esther to become queen in Esther 2. Mordecai and Esther helped save the king’s life in Esther 2. Daniel and his friends solved the king’s problem and escaped death in Daniel 2. Baby escaped death in Matthew 2. Jesus turned water into wine in John 2. The Helper (the Holy Spirit) came in Acts 2. Woman are key players in the second chapters of the Bible because they ought to be key players in the second season.

3. The second season is for miraculous Intervention in tough situations. It is a season of exploits through the wisdom and power of God. The Lord intervened for Elijah and Elisha in the crossing of the Jordan in Second Kings 2.

4. The second season is for escapes from death. The spirit of death goes to work in second seasons. God warned man about death in Genesis 2:15-17. That is the first mention of death in the Bible. Many second chapters of the Bible are about escape from death. Moses escaped death in Exodus 2. Elijah escaped death in Second Kings 2. Daniel and his friends escaped death in Daniel 2. King Ahasuerus escaped death in Esther 2. Jesus escaped death in Matthew 2. Epaphroditus escaped death in Philippians 2. The spirit of death attacked Eastern Nigeria in the second 7 years of Nigeria with the Civil War.

PRAYER POINTS FOR THE SECOND WEEK

1. Pray that evil road-blocks will be dismantled as people return to work in the new year. Pray that the Lord will destroy evil monopolies oppressing people and working against God’s purposes in the nations.

2. Pray that the Lord will position helpers for His people this week. Pray that the Lord will send help to His people in the nations – among the persecuted and oppressed.

3. Pray that the Helper, the Holy Spirit, will help God’s people in their different circumstances this week. Pray that the spirit of revelation will work in us as it did in Daniel 2 and as it did for Joseph and Mary in Matthew 2.

4. Pray that the second week will be a week of escapes from death for God’s people in the nations – as Moses escaped in Exodus 2, as the spies escaped in Joshua 2, as King Ahasuerus escaped in Esther 2, as Daniel and his friends escaped death in Danie l 2, as Jesus escaped in Matthew 2 and as Epaphroditus escaped in Philippians 2.

THE 15TH WEEK OF NIGERIA’S YEAR

The 15th week is the beginning of the third seven weeks of Nigeria’s year. Going through this third seven weeks is like going through the third 7 books of the Bible (Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalm, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes). It is also like going through the third seven chapters of the books of the Bible like Genesis 15-21, Exodus 15-21, Joshua 15-21, John 15-21 and Acts 15-21, etc.

The fifteenth week is a turning-point. It is the beginning of a game-changing season.

The 15th book and 15th chapters of the Bible reveal that the 15th season is when the line is drawn between the old and the new. It is a season of celebration.

2.. It is a season for the fulfillment of the word of God. God sent Saul to fulfill His word concerning Amalek in First Samuel 15. The proclamation fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah. The prophecy about the restoration of the tabernacle of David saw fulfillment at the First Jerusalem Council in Acts 15. Even the revolution of Absalom was a fulfilment of Nathan’s prophecy.

Ezra, the 15th book of the Bible, opens with the written proclamation of Cyrus ending Babylonian captivity of the Jews; and initiating the rebuilding of the temple at Jerusalem. It is in Genesis 15 that God began to speak to Abraham about his children and descendants. In Exodus 15, Miriam led Israel to sing to God after crossing the Red Sea. God rejected Saul from being king in First Samuel 15. Absalom’s revolution against his father, David, began in Second Samuel 15. The reforms of Asa began in Second Chronicles 15. Gentile believers were officially recognized and received into the Church in Acts 15.

The 15th season is a season of revival – revival of godliness or ungodliness. First Corinthians 15 is about reurrection. The 15th season should be for the revival and resurrection of the Word but the enemy also takes advantage of the season. The Bible was first printed in the 15th century. In 2015, the United Kingdom had the Brexit Referendum. The same year, the United States legalized same-sex marriage. The administration of Yakubu Gowon was toppled in 1975, the 15th year of Nigeria. Islam is in her 15th century and is seeking world dominion. Buhari is Nigeria’s 15th National Leader and the Fulanis and Muslims seem to be having a revival. The 15th National Leader was called to revive good in Nigeria but like Saul, in First Samuel 15, he is sparing Agag and the Amalekites he should destroy.

PRAYER POINTS FOR THE 15TH WEEK

1. Thank God that we have crossed the Red Sea of our current year in the 14th week.

2. Prophesy and declare that Nigeria has come into a game-changing season in her current year.

3. Pray that the evil shall not overtake the good as Absalom overthrew David. Pray against the revival of wickedness. Pray against the overthrow of what is good in this season. This season should be for the overthrow of the enemy. Pray against the enemy having a revival in this week.

SCRIPTURES FOR THE WEEK

1 Samuel 2:9-10: “He will guard the feet of His saints, But the wicked shall be silent in darkness. “For by strength no man shall prevail. [10] The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken in pieces; From heaven He will thunder against them. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth. “He will give strength to His king, And exalt the horn of His anointed”.”

Acts 15:16: “After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up”.

Click HERE to learn more about the Mystery of the Second Week

PRAYING INTO THE SECOND WEEK OF THE YEAR (JANUARY 8-14)

By

Nkem Okemiri

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January 8, 2023

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God made time for purposes. The Bible helps us to understand both the timing of purposes and the purpose of each time. We shall be watching and praying into the second week of the year as a gate of time for some great purposes.

The basic Biblical patterns for understanding the second week and all second seasons are

The narrative of the second day of creation.
The second book of the Bible
The second chapters of the Bible.

These Biblical patterns indicate that

1. The second season is for thwarting evil monopolies and breaking controlling power and unleashing opportunities and freedom. Oppressive monopolies are very active in the second season. On the second day of creation, God created the firmament to destroy the monopoly of the waters that made it impossible for other things to exist. In the second book of the Bible Egypt (with her Pharaoh) was an oppressive monopoly.

2. The second season is for releasing help and helpers to make a way where there is none. The second chapters of the Bible illustrate this. God made woman to be man’s help in Genesis 2. Women saved and helped Moses in Exodus 2. God used Rahab to help the spies in Joshua 2. Ruth met Boaz in Ruth 2 where God began to make way for her. In First Samuel 2, Hannah sang of God making a way for the poor and the beggar to sit with princes. n First Kings 2, Adonijah needed the help of Bathsheba to inherit David’s concubine, Abishag. She tried but failed. Solomon refused and had Adonijah killed. Elijah and Elisha found a way across Jordan in Second Kings 2 before the prophet was transported out of this world. God made a way for Nehemiah before the King in Nehemiah 2. God made way for Esther to become queen in Esther 2. Mordecai and Esther helped save the king’s life in Esther 2. Daniel and his friends solved the king’s problem and escaped death in Daniel 2. Baby escaped death in Matthew 2. Jesus turned water into wine in John 2. The Helper (the Holy Spirit) came in Acts 2. It is interesting that women appear as key players in many second chapters of the Bible. They are important gatekeepers and watchers this season. Moses was a monopoly-breaker in the second book of the Bible but his mom, sister, Pharaoh’s daughter and Jethro’s daughters were there to help him in the second chapter of the book.

3. The second season is for miraculous Intervention in tough situations. It is a season of exploits through the wisdom and power of God. The Lord intervened for Elijah and Elisha in the crossing of the Jordan in Second Kings 2. In the same chapter, God used Elisha to heal a barren land. For those who believe in the supernatural, this is a week to pray for, and expect, miraculous intervention in certain matters.

4. The second season is for escape from death. The spirit of death goes to work in second seasons. God warned man about death in Genesis 2:15-17. That is the first mention of death in the Bible. Many second chapters of the Bible are about escape from death. Moses escaped death in Exodus 2. Elijah escaped death by departing the earth in Second Kings 2. Daniel and his friends escaped death in Daniel 2. King Ahasuerus escaped death in Esther 2. Jesus escaped death in Matthew 2. Epaphroditus escaped death in Philippians 2. The spirit of death visits nations going through the second 49 years (sometimes, second seven years). It may come through war, violence or other kinds of disaster.

PRAYER POINTS FOR THE SECOND WEEK

1. Pray that evil road-blocks will be dismantled as people return to work in the new year. Pray that the Lord will destroy evil monopolies oppressing people and working against God’s purposes in the nations.

2. Pray that the Lord will position helpers for His people in their different circumstances this week. Pray that the Lord will send help to His people in the nations – among the persecuted and oppressed.

3. Pray that the Helper, the Holy Spirit, will help God’s people this week. Pray that the spirit of revelation will work in us as it did in Daniel 2; and as it did for Joseph and Mary in Matthew 2.

4. Pray that the second week will be a week of escapes from death for God’s people in the nations – as Moses escaped in Exodus 2, as the spies escaped in Joshua 2, as King Ahasuerus escaped in Esther 2, as Daniel and his friends escaped death in Danie l 2, as Jesus escaped in Matthew 2 and as Epaphroditus escaped in Philippians 2.

5. Pray for women (wives, mothers, daughters and sisters) to occupy their places in families, communities and nations this week. Pray also that the Lord will protect them.

SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK

1 Samuel 2:10: “The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken in pieces; From heaven He will thunder against them. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth. “He will give strength to His king, And exalt the horn of His anointed” (NKJV)

Learn more about the Mystery of the Second Week.

PRAYING INTO THE FIRST WEEK OF THE YEAR (JANUARY 1-7)

By

Nkem Okemiri

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January 3, 2023

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The first week of the year is a book of Genesis season in the year. Genesis is the first book of the Bible and holds the guiding light for the first week of the year. The first chapters of the Bible are also applicable to this first week. Patterns in the first book and first chapters of the Bible indicate the following about the first week of the year:

1. It is a season to honour God by prioritizing His Word (or Voice) and your relationship with Him. The book of Genesis begins with God speaking. The first week of the year is a time to give attention to the Word of God. The word of must come before everything else. God is first and the first belongs to Him. God demands to be honoured with the first (Exodus 13:1ff; Proverbs 3: 9-10). God rewards honour and reacts against dishonour in the first season. In the book of Genesis, He rewarded honour in Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham and his descendants. He reacted against dishonour in Adam and Eve, Cain, the Flood generation, the Babel generation and in Sodom and Gomorrah.

The first season is a time to touch God’s heart through alignment with His plans and purposes. It is a time to acknowledge Him as FIRST in our lives. This is important because the devil uses every beginning to tempt men and recruit them to disregard God and live independently. He knows how spiritually strategic the beginning is; and that is when He wants people to focus on themselves instead of focusing on the Giver of time and life. Those who yield to the temptation inadvertently make themselves enemies of God and reset the course of the year against themselves.

PRAY that the Lord be honoured in your life and among His people in land.

2. It is a season to release the light of God’s presence against the darkness of the unknown future. God is Light and there is no darkness in Him. The light of the first day of creation did not come from the sun, moon or stars but from God Himself. It came from His Presence and Voice. God also began to reveal Himself and His plans to man in the first book of the Bible. The first week of the year is both for receiving light for the year and releasing light into the year.

PRAY “Let there be Light” into the new year this week. Receive light from His presence and release the same into the year.

3. It is a season to start work. It is the opening season of the year. God did the work of creation in the first book of the Bible and started the work of the first week on the first day of the week. Let us follow His steps and start the year’s work on this first week. The journey into the year starts this week. You have received a destination from Him. You have also received the roadmap. Now is the time to step out and go to work.

PRAY grace and strength and wisdom to start the work of the year and continue to the finishing point.

4. It is a season of recruitment. God recruited men in the first book of the Bible. He began with the creation of Adam and Eve. They failed. Abel came into alignment with God but was murdered by his brother. God came to Seth, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. God ended His search when He found Abraham. This week, God is looking in Christ. for the ‘People of the Year’. He is looking for people whose hearts are after His. It is important to give attention, and respond, to the pull of the Spirit on your heart. It might just be a recruitment opportunity.

PRAY to come into alignment with God and what He wants to do this year in your life, community, region or in the world.

NIGERIA: PRAYING INTO THE WEEK OF JANUARY 1-7 (THE FIRST WEEK OF THE YEAR AND THE 14TH WEEK OF NIGERIA’S YEAR

By

Nkem Okemiri

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January 3, 2023

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The week of January 1-7 is the first week of the new year, the 14th week and beginning of the 4th month of Nigeria’s year. So, we must begin with thanksgiving – especially in this first week of the new year. Let us give thanks to God for leading us through the past year. We couldn’t have made it without Him. Let us thank God for the promises of His presence and help in the new year.

The first week of the year is a book of Genesis season in the year. Genesis is the first book of the Bible and holds the guiding light for the first week of the year. The first chapters of the Bible are also applicable to this first week. Patterns in the first book and first chapters of the Bible indicate the following about the first week of the year:

1. It is a season to honour God by prioritizing His Word (or Voice) and your relationship with Him. God is first and the first belongs to Him. God demands to be honoured with the first (Exodus 13:1ff; Proverbs 3: 9-10). God rewards honour and reacts against dishonor in the first season. In the book of Genesis, He rewarded honour in Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham and his descendants. He reacted against dishonor in Adam and Eve, Cain, the Flood generation, the Babel generation and in Sodom and Gomorrah.

The first season is a time to touch God’s heart through alignment with His plans and purposes. It is a time to acknowledge Him as FIRST in our lives. This is important because the devil uses every beginning to tempt men and recruit them to disregard God and live independently. He knows how spiritually strategic the beginning is; and that is when He wants people to focus on themselves instead of focusing on the Giver of time and life. Those who yield to the temptation inadvertently make themselves enemies of God and reset the course of the year against themselves.

PRAY that the Lord honoured in your life and among His people in land. Pray that our devotion and sacrifice of time at the beginning of this year will be acceptable to Him.

2. It is a season to release the light of God’s presence against the darkness of the unknown future. God is Light and there is no darkness in Him. The light of the first day of creation did not come from the sun, moon or stars but from God Himself. It came from His Presence and Voice. God also began to reveal Himself and His plans to man in the first book of the Bible. The first week of the year is both for receiving light for the year and releasing light into the year.

PRAY “Let there be Light” into the new year this week. Receive light from His presence and release the same into the year.

3. It is a season to start work. It is the opening season of the year. God did the work of creation in the first book of the Bible and started the work of the first week on the first day of the week. Let us follow His steps and start the year’s work on this first week. The journey into the year starts this week. You have received a destination from Him. You have also received the roadmap. Now is the time to step out and go to work.

PRAY grace and strength and wisdom to start the work of the year and continue to the finishing point.

4. It is a season of recruitment. God recruited men in the first book of the Bible. He began with the creation of Adam and Eve. They failed. Abel came into alignment with God but was murdered by his brother. God came to Seth, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. God ended His search when He found Abraham. This week, God is looking in Christ. for the ‘People of the Year’. He is looking for people whose hearts are after His. It is important to give attention, and respond, to the pull of the Spirit on your heart. It might just be a recruitment opportunity.

PRAY to come into alignment with God and what He wants to do this year in your life, community, region or in the world.

THE 14TH WEEK OF NIGERIA’S YEAR

The 14th book and chapters of the Bible indicate that the 14th season is a time of fearful things accompanied by divine intervention. That is the reason Jesus said in John 14:1, 27:
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. [27] Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

WAR

The 14th season is a time of invasions and war. Genesis 14 tells us about war that took place in a 14th year. Caleb went to war for his inheritance in Joshua 14. God helped Jonathan and his armour bearer against the Philistines in First Samuel 14. God helped king Asa against his enemies in Second Chronicles 14. Both Sennacherib and death came to Hezekiah in the 14th year of Hezekiah’s reign. The first World War happened in 1914. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.

CAPTIVITY

The 14th season has something to do with captivity. Lot was captured by enemies in Genesis 14. Judah went into captivity in the 14th book of the Bible. The Babylonian Captivity of the Papacy’ happened in the 14th century when for about 67 years (1309 – 1376) seven popes ruled from France instead of Rome – because the king of France brought the papacy under his rule. 2014 was a year of abductions in Nigeria and it was in the season of the 14th National Leader, Goodluck Jonathan.

JUDGMENT

The 14th season is a season of judgment. God killed the firstborn of Egyptians on the 14th day of the first month. God sentenced Israel to 40 years of wandering in the wilderness in Numbers 14. Judgment came upon Jeroboam the son of Nebat in First Kings 14. Ezekiel 14 is about judgment purposed for Judah. The 14th book of the Bible ends with judgment poured out on Judah. Revelation 14 is about the judgment of the earth.

DIVINE INTERVENTION

The 14th season is a time of intervention. The Passover happened on the 14th day of the first month. God delivered Israel at the Red Sea in Exodus 14. God delivered Hezekiah from Sennacherib and death in the 14th year of Hezekiah’s reign. A lame man was healed by the power of God at Lystra in Acts 14.

PRAYERS FOR THE 14TH WEEK

Pray that this will be a week of Intervention in Nigeria. Rename this week of Nigeria’s year and call it PASSOVER. Evil will pass over Nigeria and Nigerians this week.

Pray that he Lord will cut off the Pharaoh and Egyptians that want to follow us into the year. Pray against the Sennacherib coming against Nigerians in this season. All enemies of Nigeria rising in this week will go down.

Pray against disasters of the 14th season – especially the spirit of abduction and death – and decree that they be far from Nigeria.

Pray for the reversal of sentences of death over Nigerians in this season as God did for Hezekiah in his 14th season. Numbers 14. Job 14.

SCRIPTURE FOR THE 14TH WEEK

Exodus 14:13-14: “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. [14] The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”

King Charles III: The Mystery of the 13th Monarch of the United Kingdom

By

Nkem Okemiri

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December 30, 2022

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God changes seasons in nations by changing the leaders. Once there is a leadership change in a nation, the season has changed in that nation. Daniel 2:21 says, “And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding”. The Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. His Word rules in all dominions of the earth. He blessed Britain and gave her dominion over many lands and waters. She is both the greatest constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy on the face of the earth.

Since the Union of 1707 and from the season of Queen Anne, 13 monarchs have come to power in the United Kingdom:

1. Anne (1702–14)
2. George I (1714–27)
3. George II (1727–60)
4. George III (1760–1820)
5. George IV (1820–30)
6. William IV (1830–37)
7. Victoria (1837–1901)
8. Edward VII (1901–10)
9. George V (1910–36)
10. Edward VIII (1936)
11. George VI (1936–52)
12. Elizabeth II (1952–2022)
13. Charles III (2022– )

Charles III was proclaimed king following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on September 8, 2022. She was the 12th monarch. The goal of this article is to show how history fits into patterns given in the Bible. God’s Word is light! We would be wiser if we see, from God’s Word, where we’re going before we start the journey. Before delving into the season of King Charles III, the 13th Monarch, let me show how the season of the 12th monarch corresponds to patterns in the Bible.

THE 12TH MONARCH

The 12th monarch of the United Kingdom, Queen Elizabeth II, came to power in 1952 following the death of her father, King George VI, the English monarch of the WWII season. The reign of Queen Elizabeth II as the 12th monarch of the United Kingdom is another confirmation that our numbered or dated seasons can be understood or interpreted from the books and chapters of the Bible that correspond to them. The Biblical patterns for understanding the season of the 12th monarch are the 12th book of the Bible and the 12th chapters of the Bible. These Biblical patterns were supposed to be light for her season. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

The 12th book and 12th chapters of the Bible indicate that the 12th season is a time of departures, overthrows and intervention from troubles.

Abraham left Ur of the Chaldeans in Genesis 12

Egyptian bondage ended for Israel with the Passover in Exodus 12.

The conquest of Canaan was concluded in Joshua 12.

The season of sane Judges for Israel ended in Judges 12.

Samuel retired from active service as Israel’s leaser in First Samuel 12

Israel became two kingdoms in Fist Kings 12.

Elijah departed this earth in the 12th book of the Bible. The House of Ahab also came to an end in this book.

The active mention of Herod in the book of Acts end in Acts 12. Peter’s season of active ministry in the book of Acts ended there too.

The season of the 12th monarch was a time departure from what used to be both in longevity and tenure of the Monarch. Queen Elizabeth II lived 96 years and reigned over 70 years. It is also typical of the 12th season that decolonisation and devolution marked this season of the 12th monarch. The United Israel became two separate kingdoms in First Kings 12. Queen Elizabeth II represents change. Some things have ended with her reign and can never be revived. The Bible reveals that the 12th season is an endpoint and a new beginning.

The British monarchy is in a new season. The 12th monarch has ended an era. The monarch is never going to be what it used to be.

THE SEASON OF THE 13TH MONARCH

What does the Bible indicate concerning the season of the 13th Monarch, King Charles III?

The 13th book and chapters of the Bible reveal four major things concerning the 13th season:

A. The 13th season is a season of separation but the evil one wants to make it a season of mixture and pollution. It is a season of divisions when people and things are put where they belong. The division of Bible narratives by chapter numbers took place in early 13th century. The adversary pushes for unholy mixtures and alliances in this season. Lot separated from Abraham in Genesis 13. Abraham returned from Egypt in Genesis 13 but also returned with Hagar – the Egyptian slave girl.Israel moved from Egypt in Exodus 13 and God commanded all firstborn be consecrated to Him. Leviticus 13 is about the separation of the (unclean) leper. The priests (consecrated men) examine the lepers. In Numbers 13, Joshua and Caleb stood out from the rest of the 12 spies. Deuteronomy 13 is about how Israelites should deal with those who will tempt them to step out of their consecration to serve other gods.I n Judges 13, Samson’s mother was to consecrated herself to conceive and give birth to a Nazirite. In First Samuel 13, Kings offered a sacrifice he was not consecrated for and was rejected from being king. In First Kings 13, the man of God from Judah violated his consecration and died for it. The 13th book of the Bible, First Chronicles, opens with a genealogy running from Adam to the families of the tribes of Israel. The 8-chapter genealogy put the world and Israel in families. The 13th season is a time to put people and things where they belong. In First Chronicles 13, the Ark of God was conveyed on an animal-driven cart instead of being carried by the shoulders of consecrated men. Uzzah died from the error because the Ark of God and an animal-driven cart do not belong to the same family. They don’t go together. In Second Chronicles 13, Judah defeated Israel in battle because Israel under Jeroboam had mixed things up and lost consecration before God. In Nehemiah 13, the Jews were called to separate from mixed marriages and unholy alliances. In Revelation 13, the beast marked his own people with 666. The mark of the beast distinguished between men and men. Those who do not belong to the beast must stand out and reject the mark of the beast at whatever cost.

In the 13th seven years of the United States, slaves were separated from their masters by the 13th Amendment and the Emancipation Proclamation.

In this season of the 13th British monarch, the United Kingdom should be prepared to deal with separations in four different levels:

1. Separation within the Royal Family: this is already building up. It’s only a matter of how far will the rift between the Sussexes and the Royal Family go? Abraham dealt with this in his own household. He let Lot go peacefully. Wars are not necessarily in this season. The parties within the Royal family should learn from Abraham in Genesis 13

2. Separation within the United Kingdom: In the season of the 13th monarch, a part of the United Kingdom might separate from the the Union. The United Kingdom needs to prepare for this.

3. Separation from racial segregation: the United Kingdom is a multi-racial kingdom. She has citizens from all over the world and all need to be protected and not discriminated against.

4. Separation from spiritual mixture: God wants His people to stand out for Him in the 13th season. He demanded it in Nehemiah 13 and in Acts 13. He will demand that His people stand out for Him in this season. The United Kingdom should purge herself of any ungodly mixtures and stand out for God. You cannot sit on the fence in the 13th season. Will she stand for God and with God or will she be standing with the people? Will she be separated to God or stand for nothing and all things? In the 13th book of the Bible, David separated himself and his all to God. The Lord has a special claim on Charles III both as firstborn and as 13th monarch. Will the Lord have him and his kingdom or will it be otherwise.

B. The 13th season is a time of judgment against wickedness. The 13th chapters of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Zechariah are about judgment. The 13th chapters of Mark and Luke are also about judgment. In this season,God expects full alignment to His nature, will and purposes and reacts against things that are out of alignment. God draws attention to His will in this but the Bible also indicates that human arrogance reaches an intolerable peak in the 13th season. Men are sorely tempted to disregard and dare God in this season. David’s son died for his wickedness in Second Samuel 13. The man of God from Judah was judged for disobedience in First Kings 13. Elymas was judged with blindness in Acts 13. This could be a time of judgment in the United Kingdom unless she moves back closer to God and His Word. If His Majesty, King Charles III pursues alignment with the God of Israel and His Word, his kingdom will be blessed and his reign peaceful.

3. The 13th season is a season of love in which the adversary seeks to promote pseudo (counterfeit) love, spread hate and perpetrate wickedness. Love is the nature of God and the love-chapters of the Bible are the 13th chapters: In Genesis 13, Abraham eschewed quarrelling with Lot because “we are brethren”. In John 13, Jesus commanded his disciples to love one another. Romans 13 says Love is the fulfilling of the law. First Corinthians 13 says Love is greater than faith and hope. Hebrews 13 says, “let brotherly love continue”. The enemy works wickedness in the 13th season. In Second Samuel 13, one of David’s sons raped David’s daughter, Tamar (Absalom’s sister) in the name of ‘love’. Absalom killed him for it. That was hate in a chapter of love! Psalm 13 is a prayer of deliverance from enemies and troubles. The humble need God’s mercy in the 13th season because of the wickedness of the wicked. The season of the 13th monarch should be marked by love and it should start from the Royal family. May this season of godliness in the land not become a time of wickedness and abominable acts in the United Kingdom.

4. The 13th season is when Heaven focuses on taking and giving lands. The strife between the Herdsmen of Abraham and and the Herdsmen of Lot was over insufficient land. In Genesis 13, “…The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are-northward, southward, eastward, and westward; [15] for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever. [16] And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered. [17] Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.” [18] Then Abram moved his tent, and went and dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to the LORD”. In Numbers 13, Moses sent 12 spies to view the land of Canaan and bring back report. In Joshua 13, God told Joshua to survey the conquered lands for allocation to the tribes. In this chapter, Israelites began to receive and possess their possessions. Isaiah 13 is about the desolation of Babylon. Their land was given to the Medes. Matthew 13 is about parables concerning land and things done in it. Luke 13 also has land parables.I n Acts 13, God released Paul and Barnabas for their missionary work in foreign lands. Saul became Paul in this chapter. Believers were first called Christians here. Paul judged Bar-Jesus (Elymas) in this chapter. The 13th season is a time of taking lands for God.

Since the 13th season is a season of consecration to God, the god of this world wants it to be a season of committing sacrilege and forming unholy mixtures on earth. Think of 2013 and LGBTQ ‘breakthroughs. Since God wants the 13th season to be a season of love, the enemy wants it to be a season of pseudo love, hate, and wickedness. Judas Iscariot became betrayer of Jesus in John 13. Since, God made the 13th season to be a season of receiving inheritance, the enemy wants it to be a season of strong resistance to entering, possessing, or enjoying, your inheritance. He fights with terrorism and persecutions to scare people from lands.

PRAYERS

Pray that this is not a season of hate and wickedness.

Pray that this is a season of separation to purpose and not a season of mixture. Pray for countries that may want to separate from the United Kingdom.

Pray that things that should come under judgment in the United Kingdom may be judged.

Pray for the breaking of new grounds in the United Kingdom. The 13th season is not for business as usual.

SEPTEMBER: NIGERIA’S 12TH MONTH

By

Nkem Okemiri

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December 29, 2022

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Nigeria begins a new year every first of October. This means September is the last month of Nigeria’s year. It is the 12th month of her year. As Nigeria’s year is ending, the Hebrew year is beginning. As we give thanks for surviving the past 11 months, and prepare to CROSS-OVER to a new Nigeria-year, we pray that in this 12th month,
1. Nigeria will take a step forward from where she’s been to the New Place God is calling her – as Abraham did in Genesis 12 and as Elijah moved up in the 12th book of the Bible.

2. The Lord will break the strength and backbone of the wicked and give His people a fresh Passover experience as He did to Pharaoh in Exodus 12. Jezebel and the House of Ahab perished in the 12th book of the Bible.

3. The Lord will overthrow and reverser the plans of the enemies of God’s people as He did in the 12th month referred to in Esther 9 and as He did in Revelation 12.

4. The Lord will free the abducted and those imprisoned unjustly as He did in Acts 12; and also that the Herods operating in the land will go down.

5. The Lord will rescue and preserve the Seeds of Change in the land from those who seek to devour them as He frustrated the dragon and delivered the Man-Child and his mother in Revelation 12.

6. The Lord will release the Intervention and Rescue Anointing to help Nigeria – such as He released through Elisha in the 12th book of the Bible.

Happy Cross-over month, Beloved Nigeria!

2023: The Revelation of God You Need for the Season

By

Nkem Okemiri

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December 29, 2022

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Your faith in God is according to the revelation of God you have. God reveals Himself uniquely in each season. God’s people must know God in a certain way in 2023. Here are five ways you need to see God in 2023:

1. A REVELATION OF GOD AS THE SOVEREIGN LORD

Isaiah 42:8: I am the LORD, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images.

Isaiah 43:12-13: I have declared and saved, I have proclaimed, And there was no foreign god among you; Therefore you are My witnesses,” Says the LORD, “that I am God. [13] Indeed before the day was, I am He; And there is no one who can deliver out of My hand; I work, and who will reverse it?.”

Isaiah 44:6: “Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God.

Isaiah 44:24-28: Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, And He who formed you from the womb: “I am the LORD, who makes all things, Who stretches out the heavens all alone, Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself; [25] Who frustrates the signs of the babblers, And drives diviners mad; Who turns wise men backward, And makes their knowledge foolishness; [26] Who confirms the word of His servant, And performs the counsel of His messengers; Who says to Jerusalem, ‘You shall be inhabited,’ To the cities of Judah, ‘You shall be built,’ And I will raise up her waste places; [27] Who says to the deep, ‘Be dry! And I will dry up your rivers’; [28] Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, And he shall perform all My pleasure, Saying to Jerusalem, “You shall be built,” And to the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.”‘

Isaiah 45:18-19: For thus says the LORD, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: “I am the LORD, and there is no other. [19] I have not spoken in secret, In a dark place of the earth; I did not say to the seed of Jacob, ‘Seek Me in vain’; I, the LORD, speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.

Isaiah 48:17: Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go.

Isaiah 51:15: But I am the LORD your God, Who divided the sea whose waves roared- The LORD of hosts is His name.

2. A REVELATION OF GOD AS THE LORD OF HOSTS

Isaiah 2:12: For the day of the LORD of hosts Shall come upon everything proud and lofty, Upon everything lifted up- And it shall be brought low-

Isaiah 5:16: But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, And God who is holy shall be hallowed in righteousness.

Isaiah 8:13: The LORD of hosts, Him you shall hallow; Let Him be your fear, And let Him be your dread.

Isaiah 9:19: Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts The land is burned up, And the people shall be as fuel for the fire; No man shall spare his brother.

Isaiah 23:9: The LORD of hosts has purposed it, To bring to dishonor the pride of all glory, To bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth.

Isaiah 31:4-5: For thus the LORD has spoken to me: “As a lion roars, And a young lion over his prey (When a multitude of shepherds is summoned against him, He will not be afraid of their voice Nor be disturbed by their noise), So the LORD of hosts will come down To fight for Mount Zion and for its hill. [5] Like birds flying about, So will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem. Defending, He will also deliver it; Passing over, He will preserve it.”

Isaiah 37:16-17: “O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. [17] Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God.

Isaiah 48:2: For they call themselves after the holy city, And lean on the God of Israel; The LORD of hosts is His name:

Isaiah 54:5: For your Maker is your husband, The LORD of hosts is His name; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth.

3. A REVELATION OF GOD AS REDEEMER

The word “Redeemer’ is used only in 18 verses in the Bible. Thirteen of those verses are in the 23rd book of the Bible – Isaiah. This indicates that ‘the Redeemer’ is so needed in the 23rd season.

Isaiah 41:14: “Fear not, you wortm Jacob, You men of Israel! I will help you,” says the LORD And your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 43:14: Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: “For your sake I will send to Babylon, And bring them all down as fugitives- The Chaldeans, who rejoice in their ships.

Isaiah 44:6: “Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God.

Isaiah 44:24: Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, And He who formed you from the womb: “I am the LORD, who makes all things, Who stretches out the heavens all alone, Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself;

Isaiah 54:8: With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; But with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,” Says the LORD, your Redeemer.

Isaiah 59:20: “The Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” Says the LORD.

THE LORD IS THE REDEEMER WHO HAD REDEEMED AND WILL REDEEM HIS PEOPLE

Out of the 59 verses where the word ‘redeemed’ is used in the Bible (NKJV) 13 verses are in Isaiah – the 23rd book of the Bible. That’s more than 20%.

Isaiah 29:22: Therefore thus says the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: “Jacob shall not now be ashamed, Nor shall his face now grow pale;

Isaiah 35:9: No lion shall be there, Nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it; It shall not be found there. But the redeemed shall walk there,

Isaiah 43:1: But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.

Isaiah 44: 22-23: I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.” [23] Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth; Break forth into singing, you mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, And glorified Himself in Israel.

4. A REVELATION OF GOD AS THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL

Isaiah’s ministry began with a revelation of the Holy God. Isaiah 6:1-7 says, “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. [2] Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. [3] And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!” [4] And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. [5] So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts.” [6] Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. [7] And he touched my mouth with it, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged.”

The title, ‘The Holy One of Israel’, is commonly used in the 23rd book of the Bible (Isaiah). This should take our minds back to Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy where God revealed Himself as the Holy God. The Lord God of Israel is not an unholy God. He detests filthiness, sin and iniquity. 2023 is the year of the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 1:4: Alas, sinful nation, A people laden with iniquity, A brood of evildoers, Children who are corrupters! They have forsaken the LORD, They have provoked to anger The Holy One of Israel, They have turned away backward.

Isaiah 40:25: “To whom then will you liken Me, Or to whom shall I be equal?” says the Holy One.Isaiah 52:11: Depart! Depart! Go out from there, Touch no unclean thing; Go out from the midst of her, Be clean, You who bear the vessels of the LORD.

Isaiah 57:15: For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

HIS HABITATION IS THE HOLY MOUNTAIN

Isaiah 11:9: They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea.

Isaiah 66:20: Then they shall bring all your brethren for an offering to the LORD out of all nations, on horses and in chariots and in litters, on mules and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem,” says the LORD, “as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD.

5. A REVELATION OF GOD AS SHEPHERD

Psalm 23:1-3: The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. [2] He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. [3] He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.

Psalm 23 reveals God as Shepherd and in 2023, God’s people need to know God as the Shepherd Who cares, protects, provides and guides. Isaiah 40:10-11 says, “Behold, the Lord GOD shall come with a strong hand, And His arm shall rule for Him; Behold, His reward is with Him, And His work before Him. [11] He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young”.

2023: GOD’S PRESENCE – A GREAT NEED

By

Nkem Okemiri

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December 28, 2022

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The most important thing you need in 2023 is the Presence of God. That is the greatest need of the season. The presence of God will guide you, make a way for you and preserve you. The presence of God will give you everything else. The 23rd book of the Bible (Isaiah) bears witness to the power of God’s presence:

Isaiah 19:1 says, “The burden against Egypt. Behold, the LORD rides on a swift cloud, And will come into Egypt; The idols of Egypt will totter at His presence, And the heart of Egypt will melt in its midst”.Isaiah 63:9 says, “In all their affliction He was afflicted, And the Angel of His Presence saved them; In His love and in His pity He redeemed them; And He bore them and carried them All the days of old”.

Isaiah 64:1-4 says, “Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That You would come down! That the mountains might shake at Your presence- [2] As fire burns brushwood, As fire causes water to boil- To make Your name known to Your adversaries, That the nations may tremble at Your presence! [3] When You did awesome things for which we did not look, You came down, The mountains shook at Your presence. [4] For since the beginning of the world Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, Nor has the eye seen any God besides You, Who acts for the one who waits for Him”.

The presence of God guided David away from death in First Samuel 23. Psalm 23 shows the difference God’s presence can make in your life in a 23rd season. With the presence of God in 2023, the year will be a Psalm 23 year for you. Psalm 23: 4: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me”

YOU NEED NOT FEAR IN 2023

Those who are conscious of God’s presence with them do not fear any circumstance, man or spirit (Psalm 23:4). Fearful things may happen in 2023 but we need not fear anything when our Redeemer, the Lord of hosts, the Holy One of Israel, is with us.

Isaiah 7:4-7: “and say to him: ‘Take heed, and be quiet; do not fear or be fainthearted for these two stubs of smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria, and the son of Remaliah. [5] Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah have plotted evil against you, saying, [6] “Let us go up against Judah and trouble it, and let us make a gap in its wall for ourselves, and set a king over them, the son of Tabel”- [7] thus says the Lord GOD: “It shall not stand, Nor shall it come to pass.

Isaiah 35:4: Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you.”

Isaiah 41:10-14: Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ [11] “Behold, all those who were incensed against you Shall be ashamed and disgraced; They shall be as nothing, And those who strive with you shall perish. [12] You shall seek them and not find them- Those who contended with you. Those who war against you Shall be as nothing, As a nonexistent thing. [13] For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’ [14] “Fear not, you worm Jacob, You men of Israel! I will help you,” says the LORD And your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 43:5-6: Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, And gather you from the west; [6] I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not keep them back!’ Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of the earth-

Isaiah 44:2: Thus says the LORD who made you And formed you from the womb, who will help you: ‘Fear not, O Jacob My servant; And you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.

Isaiah 44:8: Do not fear, nor be afraid; Have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.’”

Isaiah 51:7-8: “Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, You people in whose heart is My law: Do not fear the reproach of men, Nor be afraid of their insults. [8] For the moth will eat them up like a garment, And the worm will eat them like wool; But My righteousness will be forever, And My salvation from generation to generation.”

Isaiah 54:4-5: “Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; For you will forget the shame of your youth, And will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore. [5] For your Maker is your husband, The LORD of hosts is His name; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth.

Isaiah 54:14: In righteousness you shall be established; You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; And from terror, for it shall not come near you.

HOW TO ENSURE GOD’S PRESENCE IN 2023

1. GIVE YOUR ATTENTION TO GOD’S WORD

In Second Kings 23, the reformation of Josiah began with the reading of the word. The king and the people read the book of the Law that was found in the Bible. 2023 is a year to bring your life into alignment with God’s word. This is a season to read the word of God and give it the attention it deserves. Reading the word and paying attention will open your eyes to things that need correction in your life and challenge you to take necessary action.

2 Kings 23:1-3: Now the king sent them to gather all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem to him. [2] The king went up to the house of the LORD with all the men of Judah, and with him all the inhabitants of Jerusalem-the priests and the prophets and all the people, both small and great. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant which had been found in the house of the LORD. [3] Then the king stood by a pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to follow the LORD and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people took a stand for the covenant.

2. REPAIR THE HOUSE OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE

Your body is the temple of God. It is the dwelling place of God. It is the House of prayer where men ought to meet with God and receive answers to their problems and needs. The House of God is a great need in the 23rd season.

In Psalm 23:6, the psalmist said, “… I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever”.Isaiah 2:2-3: “And it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the LORD’s house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it. [3] Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Isaiah 37:1: “And so it was, when King Hezekiah heard it, that he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD.

Isaiah 37:14-20: “And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD. [15] Then Hezekiah prayed to the LORD, saying: [16] “O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. [17] Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God. [18] Truly, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands, [19] and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were not gods, but the work of men’s hands-wood and stone. Therefore they destroyed them. [20] Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the LORD, You alone.”

Isaiah 38:20-22: “The LORD was ready to save me; Therefore we will sing my songs with stringed instruments All the days of our life, in the house of the LORD.” [21] Now Isaiah had said, “Let them take a lump of figs, and apply it as a poultice on the boil, and he shall recover.” [22] And Hezekiah had said, “What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the LORD?”

Isaiah 66:1-2: “Thus says the LORD: “Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? [2] For all those things My hand has made, And all those things exist,” Says the LORD. “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word.

Isaiah 66:20: “Then they shall bring all your brethren for an offering to the LORD out of all nations, on horses and in chariots and in litters, on mules and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem,” says the LORD, “as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD.

Second Kings 12 reveals the importance of having the house of God in order in the 23rd year of the 21st century:

2 Kings 12:4-12: “And Jehoash said to the priests, “All the money of the dedicated gifts that are brought into the house of the LORD-each man’s census money, each man’s assessment money-and all the money that a man purposes in his heart to bring into the house of the LORD, [5] let the priests take it themselves, each from his constituency; and let them repair the damages of the temple, wherever any dilapidation is found.” [6] Now it was so, by the twenty-third year of King Jehoash, that the priests had not repaired the damages of the temple. [7] So King Jehoash called Jehoiada the priest and the other priests, and said to them, “Why have you not repaired the damages of the temple? Now therefore, do not take more money from your constituency, but deliver it for repairing the damages of the temple.” [8] And the priests agreed that they would neither receive more money from the people, nor repair the damages of the temple. [9] Then Jehoiada the priest took a chest, bored a hole in its lid, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one comes into the house of the LORD; and the priests who kept the door put there all the money brought into the house of the LORD. [10] So it was, whenever they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king’s scribe and the high priest came up and put it in bags, and counted the money that was found in the house of the LORD. [11] Then they gave the money, which had been apportioned, into the hands of those who did the work, who had the oversight of the house of the LORD; and they paid it out to the carpenters and builders who worked on the house of the LORD, [12] and to masons and stonecutters, and for buying timber and hewn stone, to repair the damage of the house of the LORD, and for all that was paid out to repair the temple.

2 Chronicles 23:18-19: “Also Jehoiada appointed the oversight of the house of the LORD to the hand of the priests, the Levites, whom David had assigned in the house of the LORD, to offer the burnt offerings of the LORD, as it is written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was established by David. [19] And he set the gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the LORD, so that no one who was in any way unclean should enter”.

3. DO AWAY WITH IDOLS AND ABOMINATIONS

Idols are offensive to God especially in the 23rd season. Idols are unnecessary because God said, “I am the Lord and there is no other”. Idols are alternatives to faith in God and they are mocked in the 23rd book of the Bible. Do not allow anything to strive with God for space and loyalty in your life. God will declare war against 21st century idols in 2023. Let God have His space and time in your life in 2023.

When King Josiah began his reformation in Second Kings 23, it was an all-out war against idolatry – idols (images), their altars and their worshippers.

2 Kings 23:4-8: And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, the priests of the second order, and the doorkeepers, to bring out of the temple of the LORD all the articles that were made for Baal, for Asherah, and for all the host of heaven; and he burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried their ashes to Bethel. [5] Then he removed the idolatrous priests whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense on the high places in the cities of Judah and in the places all around Jerusalem, and those who burned incense to Baal, to the sun, to the moon, to the constellations, and to all the host of heaven. [6] And he brought out the wooden image from the house of the LORD, to the Brook Kidron outside Jerusalem, burned it at the Brook Kidron and ground it to ashes, and threw its ashes on the graves of the common people. [7] Then he tore down the ritual booths of the perverted persons that were in the house of the LORD, where the women wove hangings for the wooden image. [8] And he brought all the priests from the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where the priests had burned incense, from Geba to Beersheba; also he broke down the high places at the gates which were at the entrance of the Gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were to the left of the city gate.

Isaiah 2:8: Their land is also full of idols; They worship the work of their own hands, That which their own fingers have made.

Isaiah 2:17-19: The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, And the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; The LORD alone will be exalted in that day, [18] But the idols He shall utterly abolish. [19] They shall go into the holes of the rocks, And into the caves of the earth, From the terror of the LORD And the glory of His majesty, When He arises to shake the earth mightily.

Isaiah 2:20-22: In that day a man will cast away his idols of silver And his idols of gold, Which they made, each for himself to worship, To the moles and bats, [21] To go into the clefts of the rocks, And into the crags of the rugged rocks, From the terror of the LORD And the glory of His majesty, When He arises to shake the earth mightily. [22] Sever yourselves from such a man, Whose breath is in his nostrils; For of what account is he?

Isaiah 10:10-11: As my hand has found the kingdoms of the idols, Whose carved images excelled those of Jerusalem and Samaria, [11] As I have done to Samaria and her idols, Shall I not do also to Jerusalem and her idols?’”

Isaiah 19:1: The burden against Egypt. Behold, the LORD rides on a swift cloud, And will come into Egypt; The idols of Egypt will totter at His presence, And the heart of Egypt will melt in its midst.

Isaiah 19:3: The spirit of Egypt will fail in its midst; I will destroy their counsel, And they will consult the idols and the charmers, The mediums and the sorcerers.

Isaiah 31:7: For in that day every man shall throw away his idols of silver and his idols of gold-sin, which your own hands have made for yourselves.

Isaiah 45:16: They shall be ashamed And also disgraced, all of them; They shall go in confusion together, Who are makers of idols.

Isaiah 46:1: Bel bows down, Nebo stoops; Their idols were on the beasts and on the cattle. Your carriages were heavily loaded, A burden to the weary beast.

Isaiah 48:5: Even from the beginning I have declared it to you; Before it came to pass I proclaimed it to you, Lest you should say, ‘My idol has done them, And my carved image and my molded image Have commanded them.’

Isaiah 57:13: When you cry out, Let your collection of idols deliver you. But the wind will carry them all away, A breath will take them. But he who puts his trust in Me shall possess the land, And shall inherit My holy mountain.”

Isaiah 65:2-4: I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, Who walk in a way that is not good, According to their own thoughts; [3] A people who provoke Me to anger continually to My face; Who sacrifice in gardens, And burn incense on altars of brick; [4] Who sit among the graves, And spend the night in the tombs; Who eat swine’s flesh, And the broth of abominable things is in their vessels;

Isaiah 66:17: “Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves, To go to the gardens After an idol in the midst, Eating swine’s flesh and the abomination and the mouse, Shall be consumed together,” says the LORD.

4. GIVE UP HYPOCRISY AND SUPERFICIALITY. PRACTICE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRUTH

The Lord will be reacting against hypocrisy and superficiality in the in 2023. The Lord is fed up with superficial faith that has no life or power. Read God’s reaction to superficial religion in Isaiah 1:11-20: ”To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?” Says the LORD. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, Or of lambs or goats. [12] “When you come to appear before Me, Who has required this from your hand, To trample My courts? [13] Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies- I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. [14] Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. [15] When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood. [16] “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, [17] Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow. [18] “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. [19] If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land; [20] But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword”; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

The Lord Jesus denounced the Scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23. He called them hypocrites, blind guides and whitewashed tombs. He told the disciples to not emulate them. In Acts 23, Paul also called the High Priest a whitewashed tomb.

5. BE OPEN TO NEW THINGS GOD WANTS TO DO IN 2023

The 23rd year (of the 21st century) is a year of new things. The Angel of God’s presence will go with those who are ready to go all the way with God. If God moves and you do not move with Him, you will be left behind.

(a). HE IS MAKING YOU AN INSTRUMENT OF WAR (THRESHING SLEDGE)

Isaiah 41:15: “Behold, I will make you into a new threshing sledge with sharp teeth; You shall thresh the mountains and beat them small, And make the hills like chaff.

(b). GET READY FOR NEW PROCLAMATIONS

Isaiah 42:9: Behold, the former things have come to pass, And new things I declare; Before they spring forth I tell you of them.”

(c). PREPARE TO SING NEW SONGS TO GOD

Isaiah 42:10-13: Sing to the LORD a new song, And His praise from the ends of the earth, You who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, You coastlands and you inhabitants of them! [11] Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voice, The villages that Kedar inhabits. Let the inhabitants of Sela sing, Let them shout from the top of the mountains. [12] Let them give glory to the LORD, And declare His praise in the coastlands. [13] The LORD shall go forth like a mighty man; He shall stir up His zeal like a man of war. He shall cry out, yes, shout aloud; He shall prevail against His enemies.

(d). EXPECT TO SEE NEW THINGS IN OLD PLACES

Isaiah 43:19-21: Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert. [20] The beast of the field will honor Me, The jackals and the ostriches, Because I give waters in the wilderness And rivers in the desert, To give drink to My people, My chosen. [21] This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise.

(e). BE READY FOR NEW REVELATIONS

Isaiah 48:6-7: “You have heard; See all this. And will you not declare it? I have made you hear new things from this time, Even hidden things, and you did not know them. [7] They are created now and not from the beginning; And before this day you have not heard them, Lest you should say, ‘Of course I knew them.’

(f). EXPECT CHANGES THAT COME WITH NEW NAMES

Isaiah 62:2-4: The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, And all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, Which the mouth of the LORD will name. [3] You shall also be a crown of glory In the hand of the LORD, And a royal diadem In the hand of your God. [4] You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, Nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate; But you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; For the LORD delights in you, And your land shall be married.

g. PREPARE TO HARVEST YOUR NEW WINE:

Isaiah 62:8: The LORD has sworn by His right hand And by the arm of His strength: “Surely I will no longer give your grain As food for your enemies; And the sons of the foreigner shall not drink your new wine, For which you have labored.

Isaiah 65:8: Thus says the LORD: “As the new wine is found in the cluster, And one says, ‘Do not destroy it, For a blessing is in it,’ So will I do for My servants’ sake, That I may not destroy them all.

h). EXPECT A NEW WORLD. GOD CAN FIX CLIMATE CHANGE

Isaiah 65:17-18: “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. [18] But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, And her people a joy.

Isaiah 66:22: “For as the new heavens and the new earth Which I will make shall remain before Me,” says the LORD, “So shall your descendants and your name remain.

6. SEEK GODS PRESENCE WITH PRAYER AND REPENTANCE

Isaiah 9:13: For the people do not turn to Him who strikes them, Nor do they seek the LORD of hosts.Isaiah 11:10: “And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, And His resting place shall be glorious.”

Isaiah 26:9: With my soul I have desired You in the night, Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early; For when Your judgments are in the earth, The inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

Isaiah 31:1: Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, And rely on horses, Who trust in chariots because they are many, And in horsemen because they are very strong, But who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, Nor seek the LORD!

Isaiah 41:17: “The poor and needy seek water, but there is none, Their tongues fail for thirst. I, the LORD, will hear them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.Isaiah 45:19: I have not spoken in secret, In a dark place of the earth; I did not say to the seed of Jacob, ‘Seek Me in vain’; I, the LORD, speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.

Isaiah 51:1-2: “Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness, You who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were hewn, And to the hole of the pit from which you were dug. [2] Look to Abraham your father, And to Sarah who bore you; For I called him alone, And blessed him and increased him.”

Isaiah 55:6-7: Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. [7] Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.

Isaiah 56:4-7: For thus says the LORD: “To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, And choose what pleases Me, And hold fast My covenant, [5] Even to them I will give in My house And within My walls a place and a name Better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name That shall not be cut off. [6] “Also the sons of the foreigner Who join themselves to the LORD, to serve Him, And to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants- Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And holds fast My covenant- [7] Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices Will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.“

Isaiah 58:2: Yet they seek Me daily, And delight to know My ways, As a nation that did righteousness, And did not forsake the ordinance of their God. They ask of Me the ordinances of justice; They take delight in approaching God.

7. WALK IN HUMILITY.

1 Peter 5:5-6: Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” [6] Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,

Isaiah 2:11-17: The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, The haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, And the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. [12] For the day of the LORD of hosts Shall come upon everything proud and lofty, Upon everything lifted up- And it shall be brought low- [13] Upon all the cedars of Lebanon that are high and lifted up, And upon all the oaks of Bashan; [14] Upon all the high mountains, And upon all the hills that are lifted up; [15] Upon every high tower, And upon every fortified wall; [16] Upon all the ships of Tarshish, And upon all the beautiful sloops. [17] The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, And the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; The LORD alone will be exalted in that day,Isaiah 5:15-16: People shall be brought down, Each man shall be humbled, And the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled. [16] But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, And God who is holy shall be hallowed in righteousness.

Isaiah 10:33-34: Behold, the Lord, The LORD of hosts, Will lop off the bough with terror; Those of high stature will be hewn down, And the haughty will be humbled. [34] He will cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, And Lebanon will fall by the Mighty One.

Isaiah 13:11: “I will punish the world for its evil, And the wicked for their iniquity; I will halt the arrogance of the proud, And will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.

Isaiah 29:19-20: The humble also shall increase their joy in the LORD, And the poor among men shall rejoice In the Holy One of Israel. [20] For the terrible one is brought to nothing, The scornful one is consumed, And all who watch for iniquity are cut off-

Isaiah 57:15: For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.

LEADERS WHO WENT DOWN IN 1923

March 9 – Vladimir Lenin suffered his third stroke, which rendered him bedridden and unable to speak; consequently he retired from his position as Chairman of the Soviet government.

Hjalmar Branting leaves office as Prime Minister of Sweden, after the Swedish Riksdag has rejected a government proposal regarding unemployment benefits. Right-wing academic and jurist Ernst Trygger succeeds him.

May 20 – British Prime Minister Bonar Law resigns, due to ill health.

June 9 – A military coup in Bulgaria ousts prime minister Aleksandar Stamboliyski (he is killed June 14).

June 13 – President Li Yuanhong of China abandons his residence because a warlord has commanded forces to surround the mansion and cut off its water and electric supplies in order to force him to abandon his post.

July 20 – Pancho Villa is assassinated at Hidalgo del Parral, Chihuahua.

July 24 – The Treaty of Lausanne (1923), settling the boundaries of the modern Republic of Turkey, is signed in Switzerland by Greece, Bulgaria and other countries that fought in the First World War, bringing an end to the Ottoman Empire after 624 years.

August 3 – President Warren Harding suddenly dies. Vice President Calvin Coolidge is sworn in as the 30th President of the United States as a result of the sudden death of President Warren G. Harding in San Francisco a day earlier.

September 13 – Military coup in Spain: Miguel Primo de Rivera takes over, setting up a dictatorship. Trade unions are prohibited for 10 years.

November 8 – Beer Hall Putsch: In Munich, Adolf Hitler leads the Nazis in an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the Bavarian government; police and troops crush the attempt the next day. 20 people die as a result of associated violence

November 23 – Gustav Stresemann’s coalition government collapsed in Germany.

SCRIPTURE FOR 2023: “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19).

The Lord will do it and make it good for you in 2023!

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