Welcome to the sixteenth week of the year. Week 16 is the second week in the third seven weeks (third 49 days) of the year. The Bible patterns for understanding the 16th week are 1) the second day of creation narrative, 2) the 16th book of the Bible, 3) the 16th chapters of the Bible, 4) the second ten books of the Bible.
Week 16 is a second-day-of-creation week. On the second day of creation, God created the firmament to DIVIDE the waters and thwart the monopoly of the waters. The firmament God created on the second day, made room (space) for everything else. The second season is when way is made where there is no way. The same happens in the sixteenth season. It is a season of door-opening supernatural encounters. The 16th week is for thwarting monopolies and breaking controlling powers. This could happen in a positive to remove or dismantle evil barriers or powers. It could also happen in a negative sense through rebellious revolutions. The righteous should expect the collapse of evil powers; and also watch against rebellious and wicked uprisings.
Week 16 is a book-of-Exodus week in the third 49 days of the year; a 49-day season that expresses the book of Leviticus. Israel was delivered from slavery and bondage in the book of Exodus and began to learn commitment to their Deliverer-God. Week 16 is a season of quest for freedom and space and territory. It is a season to declare freedom for the oppressed.
Week 16 is Leviticus 5-8 day. This section of Leviticus is about trespass offering – compensation for unwitting infringement or certain intentional transgressions (peripheral sins). Week 16 is for outward or peripheral boundaries. It s a week to draw the outermost boundaries of behavior. Trespass offerings are about refusing to protect others and yourself. It is about allowing others to take advantage of others or about allowing things that should not come near you to touch you. Touching an unclean thing is opening your life to trespass and you are guilty. Refusing to witness or testify where and when you should exposes someone else and makes you guilty. Speaking thoughtlessly is allowing vanity to trespass into your mind and mouth and makes you guilty because you did not protect yourself from that trespass. This is a week to defend or stand up for your ground and right. It is not a week to throw yourself open to invaders, intruders, and ‘defilers’.
Week 16 is a book-of-Nehemiah week. Nehemiah is the 16th book of the Bible. The burden of Nehemiah, in this book, was to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem – “that we no longer be a reproach”. He was in a spiritual fight to restore the glory of Judah. An unwalled city will have problems with trespassers. It is easier to check trespassers when a wall is in place. Week 16 is a day to protect yourself from unlawful intrusion and invasion. This week, protect your life from unlawful mind-invaders, time-invaders, faith-invaders, and privacy-invaders. Build a wall of faith and responsibility around your life this week. The 16th season is for rebuilding ruined people and places. It is for confronting challenges and breaking the norm and status quo. This week, also, may the Lord make a way for you to repair things that had broken down in your life, family, nation and in the nations.
Week 16 is a sixteenth-chapters-of-the-Bible week. The 16th chapters of the Bible reveal three things about the sixteenth season:
1). The sixteenth season is a season of demons working deception through pressures or pleasures. Evil spirits of deception are deployed to cause havoc in this season. 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 Second Samuel 16, Zuba 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 Jerich 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, sign-seekers came to Jesus to ask for a sign. Jesus exposed them. In Mark 16, Jesus said those who believe in Him would cast out demons. In Luke 16, the rich man was deceived by his wealth untitling 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. There is a strong spirit of delusion that comes upon people in 16th seasons. Watch out against deception in this 16th week.
2). The 16th chapters also reveal that the season is a season of both rebellion and war against rebellion. As God makes a way against unjustified slavery, in the 16th season, He also shuts doors against those who rebel against just causes. In Genesis 16, God stood against Hagar’s rebellion against 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 sixteenth 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. 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.
3). The 16th season is a tough season in which God makes a way where there is no way. In Genesis 16, a way was made for Hagar to become wife to her blessed master. In Exodus 16, God gave Israel bread from heaven. In First Samuel 16, God made a way for David to be anointed king. In Second Samuel 16, God made way for David’s friend, Hushai, to join Absalom’s cabinet to counter Ahitophel. 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. Obedience, repentance, prayer, and singing praises to God, are keys that open doors in the sixteenth season.
Week 16 is First Kings – Proverbs week in the third 49 days of the year. The second ten books of the Bible are applicable to the second week in the third 49 days of the year. Going through every seven-week season is like going through the Bible – from the Old Testament to the New Testament. The first four weeks in the season is the Old Testament side of the season and has it guiding light in the 39 books of the Old Testament. The last three weeks is the New Testament side of the season; and has its guiding light in the 27 books of the New Testament – each week expressing nine books. On the Old Testament side, the first three weeks have, each, their guiding lights in ten books of the Bible. The fourth week has its guiding light in the last nine books of the Old Testament. The second week in the seven-week (49-day) season expresses the second ten books of the Bible (1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, and Proverbs). These books are full of stories of deception (from pleasures and pressures); they are books of deliverance from enemies and troubles; and they also speak of defections and destructions. The second ten books of the Bible show that the 16th week is a season to handle life through dependence on God’s wisdom and power. It is a season to draw divine strength into circumstances in the earth realm – through prayer, praise, proclamations, and pleasing God.
Week 16 is a week of singing and making music. David was first called to the Palace in First Samuel 16 to serve King Saul because of his ability to play harp and sing. He 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. 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.
This is a week of freedom from oppression. It is also a week of rebellion and war against rebellion. It is the longing for freedom that drives people to rebellion in the sixteenth season. Do not restrain things that should be free; and do not release things that should be restrained. This is a week to restrain the flesh and release the spirit. May this week be a week of boundaries for yourself and others. Happy 16th week.
PRAYING INTO THE 16TH WEEK OF THE YEAR (APRIL 16-22)
This is a week of exploits and breakthroughs. Closed doors are opening. As we pray into this week, we call time to align with the Word of God – that His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. I’ll show numeric biblical patterns for this week from the 16th book and chapters of the Bible, outline few prayer points and share a promise.
A. PATTERNS
The 16th chapters of the Bible reveal 5 things we can apply to the 16th week:
- 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 grace us to experience victories and breakthroughs as we sing to Him this week.
- The sixteenth season is a season 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. 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. 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
- The 16th season is a season of both rebellion and war against rebellion. As God makes a way against unjustified slavery, in the 16th season, He also shuts doors against those who rebel against just causes. 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 sixteenth 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.
- In the 16th season, God makes a way where there is no way. In Exodus 16, God gave Israel bread from heaven. That’s when Manna began to fall for them. In First Samuel 16, God made a way for David to be anointed king. In Second Samuel 16, God made way for David’s friend, Hushai, to join Absalom’s cabinet to counter Ahitophel. 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. Obedience, repentance, prayer, and singing praises to God, are keys that open doors in the sixteenth season.
- 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 with her. In Second Samuel 16, Absalom sexually 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 Chris; 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. Women are great movers in the 16th season – for both good and evil. Pray for all women in strategic places at home, community, work, or church to courageously rise to do the Lord’s bidding this week.
B. PRAYER POINTS
- 1. 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.
- 2. Pray against spirits of rebellion working through sin and disobedience, ill-advised protests, or blatant violation of positive orders.
- 3. 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.
C. PROMISE
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.”
BIBLE READING: Nehemiah 1-13; Psalm 106-112.
