BOLD Ministry

Kingdom Access: Part 2
Last week at BOLD we saw how the scripture teaches us two ways to gain access to the Kingdom of God: Repentance and Innocence (purity). It also demonstrated four ways which block our access to the Kingdom: our Focus (vision), the love of Money, Tradition and Tribulation.

Times and Seasons
Now if I told you to repent, it isn’t like ordering a burger medium rare. Repentance often involves taking spiritual inventory of our lives. Going a little deeper, we can discover specific items on the ‘spiritual inventory’ list on the Jewish calendar which can help us honestly approach God. Repentance is rarely an instantaneous process or snap judgment. The older we are in Christ, the more subtle toxic behavior patterns become.

A book that we are presently reading, Victory at the Gates, by Vance D. Russell, states that we would do well to be attentive to the spiritual seasons, and according to his writing, we are currently in the month, Tammuz, (the 4th month, which begins in June and ends in July). Tammuz represents the Gate of Righteousness. On a symbolic basis, the number ‘four’ often represents testing and trial (40 years in the desert, 40 days tempted of satan, etc.). Russell writes:

■ “This is the month of the crab so during this time, remove the hard outer shell (bondages that separate you from God) and that restricts your relationship with the Lord, so that you can enter the next month with victory.
■ You must ask God to place a guard around your heart and eyes because satan is out to deceive you , so it is a time when you can easily be thrown off guard.
■ The word Tammuz reads in Hebrew: ‘tam’ meaning connect together or consummate. Be careful with whom you enter into covenant with, because the results of unwise decisions will be exposed in later months.” P.73-74.

Seasons of repentance precede seasons of power, anointing and fruitfulness. Another great tool to assist you in examining our walk and lives is a list that I found in Chris Harvey’s book, Insights to the Anointing, he calls us to repent of:

■ Greed replace with Generosity
■ Fear replace with Boldness
■ Manipulation replace with Loyalty
■ Bitterness replace with Submission
■ Exclusiveness replace with Kindness
■ Stinginess replace with Hospitality
■ Gossip replace with Grace
■ Giving-up replace with Patience
■ Unbelief replace with Faith
■ Unforgiveness replace with Forgiveness