All we are and have, we owe to our Maker, God and Saviour. Both life and strength come from Him. Without Him, we are nothing and can do nothing. We ought to begin the new week with thanksgiving and praise to our God. Declare Psalm 127.
This week, the Holy Spirit is drawing our hearts and attention to the sufficiency of God in, and for, all situations. He is our Refuge, our Strength, and our All. This week, He is the One to look to; while pressures mount and the wicked prowl on every side. In 19th seasons, the wicked are loud, seem to be everywhere and in control, but the Word and Counsel of God will prevail mightily. In the 19th season, there is no need to think of, or seek, alternatives to God because there are none. Let us be strong in faith and magnify God this week – by our thoughts, words, decisions and actions.
As we get ready to pray into this week, we shall consider the patterns for this week in the Bible.
BIBLICAL PATTERNS FOR THE WEEK
There are five patterns for this week in the Bible:
1. The nineteenth week is a fifth day of creation week in the third seven weeks of the year. It is the 5th week in the third seven weeks of the year. On the fifth day of creation, God filled the waters with abundance of sea creatures. He made the birds of the air on the same day. The fifth day was the beginning of movement on earth. It was the beginning of flesh and blood, voice-sounds, and also the beginning of blessings. God did not bless His creatures until the fifth day. On that day, He blessed the swimming and flying creatures with fruitfulness and multiplication. The fifth day also marked the beginning of the sound-producing creatures. As a fifth season week, the 19th week is a season of warring against, and triumphing over, things that resist of hinder freedom and full expression of life – scarcity, poverty, disease, death, barrenness and wickedness.
2. The nineteenth week is a Leviticus 17-20 week. The fifth four chapters of the third book of the Bible are applicable to the fifth week in third 7 weeks of the year. This fifth section of Leviticus is about the sanctity of blood, laws of sexual morality, moral and ceremonial laws, and penalties for breaking the law. It is interesting that this fifth section discusses the sanctity of blood because flesh and blood came into existence on the fifth day of creation. Life is in the blood. Men tend to become lawless in nineteenth seasons. The 19th week is for guarding the flesh and holding it in check. It is a season to protect flesh and blood; and eschew sexual morality.
The nineteenth chapters of Genesis and judges make references to homosexuality. There is a rampant growth of wickedness and aggression in this season too. Saul wanted to kill David in the 19th chapter of First Samuel; and Jezebel wanted to kill Elijah in the nineteenth chapter of First Kings. The nineteenth chapter of John is about the crucifixion of Jesus. God began to give laws to Israel in the nineteenth chapter of Exodus. Other nineteenth chapters, like Genesis and Revelation, reveal that the nineteenth season is a time to punish law-breakers.
3. The 19th week is a Book of Psalms week in the year. Psalms is the nineteenth book of the Bible. From the book of Psalms, we learn that the nineteenth season is a time to express faith in God through meditation on the Word, prayers, songs, confessions and declarations of confidence in God, expressions of gratitude, praises, worship to God, acknowledgements of the greatness and awesomeness of God. In this book, the Psalmist trusted in God absolutely and boasted in Him. God was Everything to him; and he cried to Him when he felt threatened by the wicked and problems of life. The 19th Week is a season of magnifying God through prayers, declarations of faith, and of songs of thanksgiving and praises to God. The three major ‘P’ words of this season are pressures, prayers, and praises. The nineteenth season is a time of triumphs, victories, interventions, revivals, deliverances, and testimonies. It is a season to tap into the sufficiency of God for all needs and desires. It is a season to be preoccupied with God – regardless of circumstances. It is also a season of punitive reactions to man’s rebellion. This is the season of the Word! This is the season of songs. This week, you will triumph in battles like the Psalmist. Banish fear from your heart and keep the Word in your mouth like the Psalmist. Do not allow circumstances mute your voice. This week will end with praises to God like the book of Psalms. This is a week of the supremacy of God and His Word! In this season, God must dominate our hearts, thoughts, and words.
4. The 19th week is a Psalm 127-133 week. The 19th seven psalms are a great guiding light for the 19th week. This is a week to declare the 19th seven psalms (Psalms 127-133):
a). This week, I will not labor in vain. I will not keep awake in vain. My efforts shall not be wasted. I will not go in my own strength but in the strength of the Lord. This is a week of fruitfulness and multiplication. Our children shall live and not die (Psalm 127).
b). This week, my families shall be safe. We shall not lose any parent or child. My children shall live and grow up to become adults and parents. Our parents shall live to see their children’s children. I shall eat the fruit of my labours (Psalm 128).
c). I will not be afflicted this week. The Lord shall cut the cords of the wicked in pieces. Those who hate me unjustly shall be put to shame and turned back (Psalm 129).
d). This week, the Lord will show me His fearful mercy and abundant redemption. The Lord will hear my voice and show me His grace (Psalm 130).
e). This week, my spirit and soul shall be calm and quiet like a weaned child with his mother. My heart shall not be haughty. I shall not set my eyes on lofty things. I shall not concern myself with great matters or with things too profound for me (Psalm 131).
f). This week, I shall see the fulfillment of promises. I can never be forgotten or forsaken (Psalm 132).
g). This week, discord, disunity, division, and quarreling among brethren shall not be my portion. I shall not be isolated from the brethren. I shall experience both the oil and the dew on my head (Psalm 133).
5. The 19th week is a 19th chapters of the Bible week. The 19th chapters give a broad perspective of the season. The reveal God’s intention for this season, what people often do wrong in the season and the results that follow.
BIBLE READING SUGGESTIONS FOR THE 19TH WEEK:
Going through the 19th week (Days 127-133) of the year is like taking a prophetic journey through the 19th seven Psalms (127-133) and the 19th book of the Bible (Psalms). So, Psalms 127-133 and Psalms 1-150 are great guiding lights for the week. This is the season of finding sufficiency in God.
You may want to read the suggested passages as follows:
May 7: Psalm 127 & Psalms 1-22
May 8: Psalm 128 & Psalms 23-44
May 9: Psalm 129 & Psalms 45-66
May 10: Psalm 130 & Psalms 67-87
May 11: Psalm 131 & Psalms 88-108
May 12: Psalm 132 & Psalms 109-129
May 13: Psalm 133 & Psalm 130-150
SUMMARY: This is a week of finding sufficiency in God and expressing it through declarations, prayers, praises and thanksgiving.
THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK
Here are 10 things to note from the 19th book and chapters of the Bible concerning the 19th season:
1. The 19th season is a time of reaction and judgment against vileness and wickedness. The season requires purity and separation from pollution. In Genesis 19, God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah after separating Lot’s family from the land. In Judges 19, vile men assaulted a woman to death. Revelation 19 opens with praise to for the destruction of the evil city by fire.
PRAYER: Prayer that revival and repentance will possess our hearts lands against perversion and vileness. Pray against the spread of the LGBTQ mindset in the nations. Pray that God will open the eyes of the deceived to the truth.
2. The 19th season is for separating men from men. In n this season, God calls men to separate themselves to Him and from pollution. In Genesis 19, God separated Lot from Sodom. In the 19th chapters of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, God called Israel to separate from pollution and be holy to Him. in Deuteronomy 19, God told Moses to separate six cities for the accidental manslayer. In First Kings 19, God called and separated Elisha for the ministry. In Second Chronicles 19, God rebuked Jehoshaphat for aligning with the house of Ahab. The 19th book of the Bible (Psalms) opens with the blessed man who stands out from the ungodly, the sinners, and the scornful. In Matthew 19, Jesus speaks of those who are willing to leave everything and follow Him. In Luke 19, Zacchaeus separated from the crowd and ran ahead to be able to see Jesus. In Acts 19, Paul separated the disciples for special instruction. Magicians who received the gospel at Ephesus separated from their former ways and gave up their books for burning. Revelation 19 mentions the separated bride and those who are called to the wedding supper of the Lamb. What is the Lord saying to you about standing out, in and from, this 19th week?
PRAYER: Pray for courage to separate from places, people and things that should not be part of your life. Pray to be separate, not from pride but, for purpose, purity and progress.
3. The 19th season is a season to run to, and be in, your Refuge. In this season, wicked and evil men seek to destroy their righteous enemies. The evil one wants to see men dead in this season; especially the righteous. For this reason, God makes a preservation plan for His people. In Deuteronomy 19, He commanded Moses to provide cities of refuge in Canaan for those escaping from the avenger of blood. In First Samuel 19, David escaped being killed by Saul by seeking refuge with Samuel at Ramah. In First Kings 19, Elijah ran from Jezebel. In Second Kings 19, Sennacherib went up against Judah to destroy it. God intervened and slew 185, 000 of his troops. He withdrew in shame. The words ‘enemies’ and ‘wicked,’ are used repeatedly in the 19th book of the Bible. That is the reason we should be prayerful in this season; but not be afraid. Do not give in to self-pity in this season. In Job 19, Job lamented his loneliness in distress. He felt like no one, not even God or his friends, was on his side. He stressed his faith in his Redeemer (Job 19:25). Your convictions may make you stand alone in the nineteenth season. This is a season to find company in God. Elijah was alone in First Kings 19.
PRAYER: Declare Psalm 46 and pray protection over Gods people in the nations. Pray that the faith of God’s people will be strong in God as their Refuge.
4. The 19th season is a time of vindication and triumph in battle. The victories of this season come from divine vindication as a result of trusting Him. In Joshua 19, six tribes received their inheritance in the Promised Land. In Second Samuel 19, David was restored to his throne after winning the war with Absalom in chapter 18. In First Chronicles 19, David defeated the Amorites and the Syrians. In Acts 19, Paul’s ministry at Ephesus triumphed over idols and Idol worshippers. In Revelation 19, the King of kings defeated and captured the beast and the false prophet in the last battle. God overthrows His enemies in the 19th season. The Word is the Warrior in this season (Psalm 19: 7-9; Revelation 19:13). In Isaiah 19, the prophet makes proclamation against Egypt. In Jeremiah 19, God announced judgment against Judah. Ezekiel 19 is the Prophet’s lamentation for the degradation of Israel because of her sins.
PRAYER: Declare that this is a week of Gods triumph in the nations. Pray that God’s people will be victorious in the battles of this week. Pray for the overthrow of the wicked this week.
5. The 19th season is a time to due consideration to the spiritual side of things. In Matthew 19, Jesus taught about marriage, divorce, and celibacy. He gave counsel to the Rich Young Ruler – to sell everything he has and distribute to the poor. The man went away sorrowful – though he had come to Jesus to enquire about eternal life. Materialism is a problem in the nineteenth season. In Luke 19, a rich man, Zacchaeus, sought to see Jesus and was found. In this chapter, also, Jesus told the parable of the minas, wept over Jerusalem and cleansed the temple. The 19th season is a time of intense hunger for the spiritual. It is a season of reckoning and change. John 19 is about the crucifixion, death, and burial of Jesus. The 19th is a season of self-denial. Jesus chose this path of spirituality for the sake of salvation for humanity. The 19th season is not a time to gratify flesh. It is a time to deny self for the benefit of self and others.
PRAYER: Pray for heightened sensitivity to focus on the right things this week – to exalt the Lord and His will above all and to choose self-denial above self-indulgence.
6. This is a season to protect marriages from attacks and disruption. It is a time to protect women from becoming victims or agents of wickedness. In Genesis 19, Lot lost his wife and fathered his grandchildren. In Judges 19, a levite lost his wife or concubine to gang rape. In First Samuel 19, David’s wife (Saul’s daughter) saved her husband from death. In Fist Kings 19, Jezebel, fighting for her husband, wanted to kill Elijah. In Matthew 19, Jesus answered questions about marriage, divorce, and celibacy. In Revelation 19, John was given a revelation of the Bride and Marriage supper.
PRAYER: Pray for the marriages and families of God’s people – that they are protected from satanic attacks. Pray that you are not distracted by pressures or pleasures from intimacy with the Lord.
7. The 19th week is a time to sing praises to God. The 19th book of the Bible is called Psalms and it says a lot about singing songs to God and making music. The word ‘sing’ is used in 166 verses of the Bible but in the book of Psalms, it is used in 59 verses. That is more than one-third. The word ‘song’ is used in 63 verses of the Bible but in Psalms alone, it is used in 18 verses. That’s about 29%. In the 19th century, the Holy Spirit poured out grace on the church to write hymns because the church was taking a prophetic journey through the 19th book of the Bible in that century. Those 19th century hymns are still great blessing to the church today. The garment of praise is God’s answer to the spirit of heaviness.
PRAYER: Sing praises to the Lord. Sing a new song to the Lord. Pray that God’s people in the nations will burst forth with songs and praises to the Lord this week.
8. This is a season of intimate communion with God. The ultimate realm of intimacy is between man and God. The 19th book of the Bible illustrates this intimacy. The psalmist lived in communion with God. Many of the 150 psalms are psalms of communion with God. In them, the psalmist prayed to God, praised Him, sang songs to Him and gave thanks to Him. He took his complaints to Him and found solace in His presence.
PRAYER: Pray that the experience of this week will move you closer in communion with the Lord.
9. This is a season to demonstrate (by thought, word and deed) that “The Lord God Omnipotent reigns”. This the root of the Psalmist’s prayers, proclamations and praises. This is a season to show that power belongs to God (Psalm 62: 11). May this come to heart of King Charles III as he goes through his first week (in 2023) as a crowned king.
PRAYER: Pray that the nations will witness the Dominion of God this week.
10. The 19th Week is Alleluia Week. It is about rejoicing and praising God. The word ‘Alleluia’ is used four times in the Bible and all in Revelation 19 (vs. 1, 3, 4, 6). This week, as we pray, praise and shout, there will righteous thunderings from the awesome presence of God (Exodus 19:17-18; Psalm 18:7-13; First Kings 19: 11-12; Revelation 19:6). This is a week of making godly noise!
PRAYER: Pray that God’s people in the nations will be stirred to take charge for God in the place of prayer. Pray that God will be magnified in situations as Sovereign this week.
Happy 19th week of the year!
