Welcome to the eighteenth week of the year! This is the fourth week in the third 49 days of the year. The eighteenth is the fourth of the third seven (15-21). So, the eighteenth week is a fourth-season week. What is the mystery of the eighteenth? The Bible patterns for understanding the eighteenth week are the fourth day of creation narrative, the eighteenth book and chapters of the Bible, and the fourth four chapters of the third book of the Bible, the last 9 chapters of the Old Testament.
Week 18 is a fourth day of creation week in the third 49 days. On the fourth day of creation, God made the luminaries, to give light, divide the darkness and the light, rule the night and the day, before seasons. The luminaries tell us when it is night or day; or when the seasons have changed. They are judges. They give verdicts concerning times and seasons; and the earth submits to their verdicts. This is a week of verdicts and pronouncements. It is a season of dominion over darkness through light. In the eighteenth season, God seeks to preserve life because the enemy seeks to kill and destroy. The enemy is angry with every carrier of light in the eighteenth season; because light obstructs his dark and evil operations in the eighteenth season. Light does not allow him to deceive and destroy. He attacked Job in the eighteenth book of the Bible. He attacked Jesus in John 18. He attacked David in First Samuel 18.
Week 18 is a ‘book of Numbers week’ in a seven-week season expressing the book of Leviticus; because it is the fourth day in a third week. Numbers is the fourth book of the Bible; and Leviticus is the third book of the Bible. In the fourth book of the Bible, Israel went through testing for the Promised Land. God EXAMINED them and PRONOUNCED the judgment that kept Israel wandering in the wilderness for 40 years until the generation of Joshua and Caleb had all perished. Joshua and Caleb passed the examination and were allowed to cross over and inherit the Promised Land.
Week 18 is Leviticus 13-16 week. Leviticus 13-16 is the fourth-four chapters of this 27-chapter book. This section of Leviticus opens with laws about how the priest should handle people with skin diseases, boils, and bodily discharges; and closes with laws about the day of atonement. People with skin issues are to be EXAMINED by the priests and given a PRONOUNCEMENT towards isolation from people or integration. The priests were the judges in matters of skin affliction or infection. They were the light of the season.
Week 18 is a book of Job week. The eighteenth week of the year is an expression of Job; the 18th book of the Bible. Since Job has 42 chapters, each day of the week would express six chapters of the book. In the book of Job, Satan struck the godly man with boils and skin disease after he had lost his children and business. He also went through emotional turmoil as his friends argued with him about his plea of innocence; and rather charged him with guilt. Job’s condition was a test of his faith. After God had EXAMINED Job, He PRONOUNCED Him ‘not guilty’ and turned his situation around for good. This 18th week, may you receive a pronouncement of remarkable PASS before Heaven and whomever you stand.
God is the Controller-General of the Universe! That is the lesson I learnt from the book of Job – the eighteenth book of the Bible; and I think it’s a big one. I didn’t see that Satan is stronger than Job. I saw that God is greater than Job’s adversary. Satan is in God’s cage and cannot do what God had not authorized; or take what God had not given him. Whatever he did to Job was within the limits God allowed. Until God took off the hedge around Job, the enemy was powerless. This is the 18th week of the year! Another good news is that God has given us power to rule in the eighteenth season. Matthew 18:18 says, “…Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven”
There are seven key P-words that are associated with the eighteenth season. They are Pressures, Prayers, Persistence, Perseverance, Partnership, Preservation, and Praise, The eighteenth season is a season of pressures requiring prayers and partnership if we want to experience preservation. Preservation of lives and property is a great need in the eighteenth season. The 18th book and chapters of the Bible reveal this. The eighteenth book (Job) and chapters also reveal that the 18th is a season of pressures. The forces of darkness unleash their powers in the eighteenth season. This makes the season one of distress. This also makes prayer imperative. Luke 18 says men ought to pray always and not faint. Praying according to the Promise of God is the key to preservation in the eighteenth season. Partnership is also key to preservation in the 18th season. Isolation is a killer in the 18th season; so, it’s a season to build or strengthen relationships. Job’s relationships seemed unhelpful in the 18th book of the Bible; but at least they help us to know what relationships should, or shouldn’t, be in the eighteenth season. Whatever pressures you face this week, through God’s promise, prayers and partnership, you will be preserved.
The 18th week of the year is a Psalm 120 – 126 week because the 18th week consists of Days 120-126. The 18th seven psalms are psalms of preservation; and are applicable to this 18th week. As the 18th book of the Bible ends with God turning the captivity of Job, Psalm 126 is about God ending and turning the captivity of Judah. This is a week to stand strong on the word of divine preservation. This week will end with joy!
PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK
In the 18th book of the Bible, Satan received permission from God to try Job’s faith by attacking his business, family, health, and relationships. Suddenly, Job’s world fell apart. He and his friends entered and endless war of words – as their tongues wagged with criticisms and condemnation. Eventually, God stepped in and turned Job’s circumstances around with greater blessings. Job moved from agony to gladness. This 18th week of the year, say the following prayers:
1. O Lord, scatter and frustrate every conspiracy of darkness against Your Church, my nation, my life, my family, my business, my work, my studies, and my ministry. Keep and preserve me from the arrows of the wicked and from any harm this week. Deliver me from people and things that would want to swallow me up. Deliver me, my family, my friends, my organization, and nation, from sudden arrows that bring disease, death, and destruction of property.
2. Father, deliver me from using my mouth wrongly this week. Let my words build what should be built; and not tear them down. Deliver me, also, from those who will use spoken or written words against me unjustly – for lies, deception, insults, or contempt.
3. Bring helpful relationships to me this week; and also make me succor to the weak. Help me to delight strongly in your presence and in the fellowship of the brethren this week. Strengthen my prayer life. Help me and show me your mercy concerning the needs in my life.
4. This week, let tears turn to joy; let good seeds and labors turn to harvests; let mouths be filled with laughter and tongues with singing. Let this week end with joy resulting from recoveries and restoration.
This week, the Lord will preserve you and all yours. He will show Himself greater than your adversaries! Happy 18th week!
