Thanks be to God for leading us through the 15th week and for giving us triumph in troubles. As He led us through the past weeks, He will take us through this week also.
BIBLICAL PATTERNS FOR THE WEEK
All seasons have their root and foundation in the word of God. So, in honor to the Word of God by Whom all things were made, let us begin by considering the patterns for the 16th week in the Bible.
The 16th week is a second day of creation season. This is the second week in the game-changing third seven weeks of the year. This is a season to dislodge hindering monopolies and make room and space where there is none – as God did on the second day of creation (Genesis 1: 6-8).
The 16th week is a Leviticus 5-8 week. The third 7 weeks of the year is a book of Leviticus season in the year. The third seven weeks of the year is a season to connect heaven and earth via priestly labors and sacrifices. As the second week in this season, the 16th week expresses the second four chapters of the third book of the Bible (Leviticus).
The 16th week is a Book of Nehemiah week in the year. Nehemiah is the 16th book of the Bible and gives us heavenly light into 16th season. This is a week to bring our burdens and troubles before the God of heaven so He can give us every help we need. In the 16th book of the Bible, Nehemiah mourned, prayed and fasted when he received the disturbing report about the state of Jerusalem. God gave him favor before the king to go rebuild the broken wall. By the hand of God, the work was done in 52 days amid opposition and resistance.
The 16th week is a 16th chapters of the Bible season. There are twenty-seven 16th chapters in the Bible. As you go through the week and encounter situations, the 16th chapters of the Bible will come alive to you. The Holy Spirit will use them to show you how to pray, what to do and what you must not do.
The 16th week is a Psalm 106-112 week. Psalm 106 – 112 are the 16th seven psalms and are a guide to prayer and worship in the 16th season.
BIBLE READING SUGGESTIONS FOR THE 16TH WEEK:
Going through the 16th week (Days 106-112) of the year is like taking a prophetic journey through the 16th seven Psalms (106-112) and the 16th book of the Bible (Nehemiah). Psalms 106-112 and Nehemiah 1-10 are great guiding lights for the week. You may want to read the suggested passages as follows:
April 16: Psalm 106 & Nehemiah 1-2
April 17: Psalm 107 & Nehemiah 3-4
April 18: Psalm 108 & Nehemiah 5-6
April 19: Psalm 109 & Nehemiah 7-8
April 20: Psalm 110 & Nehemiah 9-10
April 21: Psalm 111 & Nehemiah 11-12
April 22: Psalm 112 & Nehemiah 13
SUMMARY: This is a week when God makes a way for His people where there is no way.
VERSE OF THE WEEK:
Matthew 16:19: “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK
The 16th book and chapters of the Bible reveal 5 things we can apply to the 16th week:
1. God makes a way where there is no way in the sixteenth season. In Exodus 16, God gave Israel bread from heaven. That’s when Manna began to fall for Israel in the wilderness. In First Samuel 16, God made a way for David to be anointed king. In the same chapter, he was recruited as musician to help king Saul in his depression. In Second Samuel 16, God made way for David’s friend, Hushai, to join Absalom’s cabinet to counter Ahitophel. Psalm 16:10 says, “For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption”. In Mark 16, Jesus rose from the dead. In Acts 16, God made a way for the Macedonians to hear the gospel; made a way for a slave girl to be delivered from demon-possession. and also opened prison doors for Paul and Silas. In the sixteenth century, God made way for the Protestant Reformation to kick off. Under the 16th President of the United States (Abraham Lincoln), God made a way for slaves to gain freedom. In the 16th book of the Bible, God made a way for Nehemiah to go and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. In the 16th season, God shows Himself strong on behalf of those who trust Him. That’s the reason God rebuked king Asa for seeking the help of an ungodly king in 2 Chronicles 16 . This week, the Lord will do amazing wonders for His people in the nations.
PRAYERS: Pray that the Lord will work wonders and grant help to His people who are desperately looking to him m the nations. Pray that help will reach refuges in need in different parts of the world; and that a way be made where there is no way – for them, for your family, for the church, and for nations.
2. The 16th season is a season of war against rebellion. Spirits working pride and rebellion are very active in this season. In Genesis 16, God stood against Hagar’s rebellion to Sarah. In Numbers 16, He stood against the rebellion of Korah and his company against Moses’ leadership. In Second Samuel 16, King David came under judgment for his sin against Uriah. In First Kings 16, God brought judgment on kings rebelling against His will – Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Tibni, and Omri. In the same chapter, a man rebuilt the Jericho, which Joshua cursed and said should not be rebuilt. In Revelation 16, God released the seven vials of judgement against rebellious humanity. The 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, stood against, and defeated, the Confederate States Army seeking secession from the Union. In the 16th year of Nigeria, B.S Dinka led a failed coup against the Murtala Mohammed regime. He and 41 others indicted in the coup were executed by firing squad. The 16th season is a season of wrath leading to mass destruction and death of rebels. The 16th chapters of Numbers, Judges, and Revelation, bear witness to this. This week, go before the Lord and intercede against the wasting of lives through disease, war, terrorism, violent protests, and all manner of disasters. War against (unjust) rebellion against legitimate authorities making right policies.
PRAYER: Pray against spirits of rebellion sponsoring lawlessness, anarchy, ill-advised protests, or blatant violation of positive orders.
3. The 16th season is a time to cast out demons working deception through pressures or pleasures. Evil spirits are deployed to cause havoc in this season but this also the time to stand against devils. In Mark 16, Jesus said those who believe in Him would cast out demons. In Genesis 16, Sarah was deceived to give Hagar, her maid, to her husband as wife. In Numbers 16, Korah and his company were deceived to question and challenge the authority of Moses and Aaron. In Judges 16, Delilah deceived Samson to his death. In First Samuel 16, an evil spirit took over the life of King Saul. In that chapter, Samuel was almost deceived about who to anoint as the next king. In Second Samuel 16, Ziba deceived David to believe his lies against Mephiboshet. In the same chapter, a deceiving spirit possessed Absalom through the influence of Ahitophel. In First Kings 16, Zimri was deceived into a coup that left him dead after seven days of being in power. In the same chapter, Hiel of Bethel was deceived to rebuild Jericho in the days of Ahab and Jezebel. In Second Kings 16, king of Ahaz was deceived to forsake God and embrace the idols of Syria. In Second Chronicles 16, Asa was deceived to seek the help of an ungodly king. God rebuked him for it. Nehemiah escaped deception in the 16th book of the Bible. A false prophet was hired to prophesy lies to him. He found out God didn’t send him. Proverbs 16 warns against the deception of following the way that seems right but ends in death. In Matthew 16, Jesus said the gates of hell will not prevail against His Church. In Luke 16, the rich man was deceived by his wealth until he woke up in hell. John 16 said deceived people would kill while thinking they are doing service to God. In Acts 16, Paul cast out a spirit of divination from a slave girl making money for his master through fortune-telling. In the same chapter, the master of the delivered slave girl told lies against Paul and Silas; leading to their imprisonment. In Revelation 16, three unclean spirits deceived kings and nations and gathered them to the great battle of Armageddon. In the season of the 16th President of the United States, a section of the nation was deceived to drag the nation into a costly civil war. President Lincoln was assassinated by a well known play actor. Appearance deceives in the 16th season. There is a strong spirit of delusion that comes upon people in 16th seasons. Watch out against deceiving spirits in this 16th week. Be strong to cast them out.
PRAYER: Pray to awaken leaders and nations who have succumbed to deception in various ways. Pray against deceiving spirits behind war, terrorism, shootings, anti-semitism, blatant rejection of truth, and resistance to the gospel. Pray for a heightened spiritual sensitivity to discern between voices.
4. The 16th season is a time of exploits through singing and making music. David was first called to the palace in First Samuel 16 to serve distressed king Saul because of his ability to play harp and sing. David also sang to the Lord in the sixteenth chapter of First Chronicles as he brought the Ark into the tabernacle he erected. He was the great psalmist of Israel. He made singing and singers to be part of temple worship. He must have won battles by singing unto God. Singers are mentioned more in the sixteenth book of the Bible than in any other book of the Bible. The word ‘singers’ appears in about 37 verses in the entire Bible. About sixteen of those is found in Nehemiah; the sixteenth book of the Bible. Paul and Silas overcame imprisonment by singing to God in Acts 16. The Lord will lead us to experience victories and breakthroughs and break the spirit of heaviness as we sing to Him this week.
PRAYER: Pray that the hearts of God’s people will overflow with joy and singing. Pray that this will be a week of new songs to God.
5. Women are key-players in the 16th season. The 16th book and chapters of the Bible indicate that women play strategic roles in this season. Genesis 16 opens with a woman calling the shots. The chapter is about Sarah and Hagar. Judges 16 introduces the seductress, Delilah, as the Philistine’s last hope of gaining victory over Samson. They succeeded through her. In Second Samuel 16, Absalom abused his father’s concubine whom he left to keep the house as he fled Jerusalem. In First Kings 16, Jezebel came to power with her husband, Ahab. In the second chapter of the 16th book of the Bible, the king’s wife sat beside him as Nehemiah sought permission to go and rebuild the wall and gates of Jerusalem. In Mark 16, Mary Magdalena, Mary the mother of James, Salome went to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus on the morning of resurrection. They took the good news of Jesus’ resurrection to His disciples. In Acts 16, Paul and Silas started ministry in a women prayer meeting. There they met Lydia, the prominent seller of purple who became a follower of Christ; and in whose house they lodged. They went to prison because they cast out a spirit of divination from a slave girl that made money for her master through fortune-telling. Abraham Lincoln was in a theater with his wife, Mary, when he was shot. Women are great movers in the 16th season – for good or for evil.
PRAYER: Pray for all women in strategic places – home, community, work, church/ministry to be sensitive and rise courageously to do the Lord’s bidding this week. Pray against the spirit of wickedness working against women in this season. Pray against those that have become tools in the hands of Satan.
Happy 16th week of the year!
