Monthly Manna Revelation: Jan 2025

Apostle Dr. James Brewton

The Times and Seasons for

Kingdom Mastery Has Begun 

Two distinct verses of Scripture, one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament, use the words time and season. In the Old Testament each word is used in singular form, while in the New Testament each word is used in the plural form. However, in each verse these two words are extremely important, especially in light of our current world of perverse darkness and ungodly lifestyles.

Let’s read from the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes chapter 3, verse 1 (NKJV):

            “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.”

Now, let’s read from The Book of Acts chapter 1, verse 7 (NKJV):

“And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.”

In both verses of scripture, the word season or seasons is the key to unlocking the revelation contained in each verse, because time or times is a component of season or seasons.

The Hebrew word eth (ayth) is used to denote time in Ecclesiastes 3:1. It carries the meaning of time now, when, always, continually and due season. It is taken from another Hebrew word, ad (ad) which means duration, advance or perpetuity, eternity, everlasting, perpetually, and world without end. (Strong’s O.T. #6256 and #5703)

The Hebrew word used to denote season in Ecclesiastes 3:1 is z^eman (zem-awn), which means an appointed occasion: season, time, to fix a time. (Strong’s O.T. #2165)

In the New Testament, the word seasons, as used in Acts chapter 1, verse 7, encompasses times. The Greek words used to denote seasons are kairos (kahee-ros) and chromos.

Kairos primarily means due measure, fitness, proportion, and is used in the New Testament to signify a season, a time, a period possessed of certain characteristics, frequently rendered “time” or “times.” The characteristics of a period are exemplified in the use of the term with regard to harvest, reaping, an opportunity for doing anything, whether good or evil, the fulfillment of a prophecy, and a time suitable for a purpose. (Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words #2540)

Chronos denotes a space of time, whether long or short; it implies duration, whether longer, as in “all the time,” or “at all seasons,” or shorter. It sometimes refers to the date of an occurrence, whether past or future. (Vine’s #5550)

Broadly speaking, chromos expresses the duration of a period while kairos stresses it as marked by certain features; And so, in Acts chapter 1, verse 7, “the Father has put in His own authority” both the times (chromos), the lengths of the periods, and the seasons (kairos) the periods characterized by certain events. Chronos relates to quantity while kairos relates to quality.

How does all this relate to the current times and seasons of the world and mastery of the Kingdom of God—the Kingdom of Heaven? Times and seasons relate to the Kingdom because mastery is your greatest gift to yourself. For the Believer, this is strongly related to your understanding and application of “I AM!”

The Hebrew word used in the Old Testament for mastery is g^ebuwrah (gheb-oo-raw). It is the past participle of the Hebrew word gibbowr (ghib-bore). Together, mastery denotes force, valor, victory, power and strength. It also means to be powerful; by implication, a warrior, a tyrant: champion, chief, to excel, giant man, might man, strong man, and valiant man. (Strong’s O.T. #1369, #1368)

The Oxford Dictionary says that mastery is comprehensive knowledge or skill in a subject or accomplishment.

1 Corinthians chapter 9, verse 25 (from the KJV, emphasis added) says, “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.”

Agonizomai (ag-o-nid-zom-ahee) is the Greek word used to denote mastery in that verse. And it means to struggle, to compete for a prize, to contend with an adversary, to endeavor to accomplish something, and to fight, labor fervently and to strive or endeavor with strenuous zeal to obtain something. (Strong’s N.T. #75)

Another scripture text which highlights mastery, as it relates to mastery of the Kingdom, is 2 Timothy chapter 2, verses 4-5 (NKJV):

4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

This is the perfect scripture to describe what mastery of the Kingdom of Heaven is. Mastery of the Kingdom of Heaven is simply prioritizing God, His purpose for your life, and being and doing things God’s righteous way on earth. It is about living a godly lifestyle in compliance with the rules, laws and principles of the Kingdom of Heaven. And it begins with faith in Christ Jesus and His finished work.

Hopefully you understand that mastery is no mistake; that you must have a mentality for mastery. You must make a conscious decision for the King and His rules. Mastery is complete, absolute, uncompromising trust in God.

As I said earlier, mastery of the Kingdom is strongly related to your understanding and application of “I AM!” Whenever you say, “I AM,” you are making a statement which involves your eternal identity, because I AM is God’s Name forever.

You and I are created in His image and His likeness. When we were born-again through faith in Christ Jesus, we became a new creation. In other words, we took on a new identity. We now possess the spiritual DNA of our Savior and Lord, Christ Jesus. We are now of the family of God; and as such, we elohims or gods on earth (see Psalm 82:6 and John 10:34) who represent the King and His Kingdom in Heaven. And as the King is, so are we in this world (see 1 John 4:17). That means also that since God’s Name is I AM—The Existing One—so is our Name, “I AM.” When you profess that you are “I AM” by faith, you become whatever you attach to I AM, whether for good or for evil.

To quote from William Ernest Henley poem, Invictus, “I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.”

The Orergon State Blog says, “The central theme of 'Invictus' revolves around resilience and inner strength. Henley's portrayal of a defiant spirit refusing to be defeated by life's challenges resonates with readers. Henley employs powerful and evocative imagery to convey his message effectively.”

Several biblical characters comes to mind as having mastered the times and seasons for Kingdom mastery, including King David of the Old Testament and Apostle Paul of the New Testament.

David, despite his misfires and the range of twists and turns reflected in his amazing yet turbulent life, was described by God in Acts chapter 13, verse 22 as “a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.” This was the key thread defining this incredible, overachieving leader of God’s people. God’s description of David easily describes him as a man for all seasons. Why? Because David navigated the extremes in the change of seasons that he encountered.

Not unrelated to these change-of-seasons, the life of David was characterized by being a change-artist. In the course of it all, David changed. But the central, overriding consistency throughout David’s life was his passion for God’s presence and heart, from which he acquired the passion for mastery, not only of his own kingdom, but more importantly for the Kingdom of God.

For me, one of Jesus’ most powerful sayings taps the foundational perspective to this very thing, because what Jesus taught concerns managing the change in life around those who believe on Him. Matthew chapter 6, verses 33-34 from The Passion translation uniquely captures this truth. 

33 So above all, constantly chase after the realm of God’s kingdom and the righteousness that proceeds from him. Then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly. 34 Refuse to worry about tomorrow, but deal with each challenge that comes your way, one day at a time. Tomorrow will take care of itself. 

Mastery of the Kingdom of Heaven, then, has a lot to do with our response to change. David understood and consistently pursued God’s heart and His priorities. The result was a life filled with change. Indeed, a life poised to embrace change.

When the seasons change, the focus should be more than simply adjusting. With our identities and destinies linked to God, it behooves us to reach to better understand our response to the priorities of the King’s heart for the emerging season-changes.

With all the change David faced, from shepherd boy to giant slayer; minstrel to King Saul, to being targeted by the Saul’s wrath; leader of a band of outlaws to garnering the unity in bringing together all of God’s people. After years of being chased, David organized the military might to conquer the evil nations around him. Yet, at the height of all the exploits in establishing God’s kingdom, David yielded to complacency and became prey to passions that led to his fatal betrayal of one of his most loyal lieutenants.

With his agility in responding to change, David held a formidable grasp of God’s heart and was quick to humble himself with repentance. Nevertheless, as he navigated the peak of his life, he became the target of betrayal by his own flesh and blood.

Yet, in all this David’s faults, his reach was for God’s heart and priorities, chasing the realm of God’s kingdom and the righteousness that proceeds from Him. So, as he faced the sequence of challenges, some the result of his own making and some the result of his kingly mantle, David reached for those God-breathed priorities and more of Him. A man after God’s heart, who ultimately accomplished what the Lord wanted him to do.

Now is the time for Believers to discern times and seasons and embrace God’s opportunity and change for Kingdom mastery—for mastering “I AM” as God on earth. You see, times and seasons of change require decisive responses, not hesitations.

It takes “out of the box” thinking to discern and embrace God’s opportunity. Change requires a consistency in thinking, not stymied by the patterns and expectations of a past season. So is the perspective needed to face a new season. Believers—the Body of Christ—must now shift into overdrive as an unfolding of both fresh opportunity and challenge mount across the globe.

All of which requires us to embrace the realities now being faced by today’s generation. It begins by being at peace with the tasks at hand, without being overwhelmed or seduced by the force and accomplishments of times and seasons past.

So then, the response to when times and seasons change reflects the spirit of Issachar to understand the times and seasons and their developments, in order to know the needed perspective and how to proceed.

Proverbs 11:2 indicates when pride comes, then comes disgrace. What distinguishes the confidence of acting in faith and the pride tied to the need to show-off one’s gift is indeed a subtle one, marking those being diverted and spinning wheels from those who finish well.

Such spiritual traps are avoided by a mix of abiding and recognizing a key dimension of the season now emerging, that being the mastery of the Kingdom of Heaven that results from the unity of Believers in the faith—the combined anointing of the spiritually mature. Iron sharpens iron conveys a balance that embraces the principles of the Kingdom of Heaven and avoids presumption by adding to or taking away from the Word of the King. So it is that we need one another as we submit to one another in humility and holiness, in carefully discerning what is to be acted on.

Where this spiritual maturity is demonstrated, the times and seasons will be defined by unusual spiritual authority being imparted. Yet it is going to require the exercise of that seasoning and maturity to avoid the religious spirits designed to create diversions from a straight path.

More than in any recent time in history, the issues we face involves maximizing the opportunity and the timing; unequivocally holding fast to key values and foundations of righteousness and holiness.

Having embraced the times and seasons for Kingdom mastery, Apostle Paul had this to say in 2 Corinthians chapter 7, verse 1 (NKJV):

“Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

As Believers, we must face the times and seasons and value the spiritual atmosphere of the Kingdom of Heaven. While it should always be this way, time and the shifts in seasons should have their mark linked to truth and those who can be trusted with truth.

We must embrace and latch-on to God-breathed values rather than the lure of subtle counterfeits. We must represent defining factors regarding responses to season-changes by remaining compliant with the principles of the Kingdom of Heaven.

The ensuing times and seasons will be the Church’s greatest hour to embrace the realities of the coming times and seasons head-on. We must faithfully and successfully traverse the toxic nature of the spiritual atmosphere that can be both seen and unseen.

It is not without significance that scripture reveals that it is God’s peace that is required to guard and rule hearts and minds. Similarly related, is John’s revelation of the time in which Satan, the accuser of the brethren, will target Believers for their faith by the intentional agendas of evil spirits.

This is why Believers must master the “I AM” of who we really are both individually and corporately as the Body of Christ. When we master ourselves as “I AM,” we master the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.

The conflict between good and evil has reached a crescendo previously not seen in recent generations. Yet indicators in the spiritual atmosphere point more in the direction of one of the Hebrew definitions of shalom-peace, that being God’s order. Kingdom order is the needle that the spiritually mature will gauge to reflect the cosmic conflict of the ages. However, if we master the times and seasons, even in the midst of blatant global perversity and conflict, Shalom—the peace of God—will always be a subtle, moving target for advancing God’s order.

Arising from the filthiness of his flesh and spirit, David’s finest thrust was in preparing his chosen son for the generation to follow, who despite his great wisdom failed to follow his father’s legacy-example. Yet, it was this legacy that the council of elders of the early church restored with the tabernacle of David, following the resurrection of Jesus, which imparted the fire of the Spirit with the resulting explosion of those drawn to the Faith, while simultaneously triggering the fire of persecution from both the religious and political spheres.

God’s people have always been anointed and equipped to be His voice in the earth as change-agents. So, when the times and seasons change, genuine leadership will strengthen our Kingdom foundation and spiritual values, articulating and inspiring people, globally, as the King’s representatives on earth who understand the times and seasons and master them for the advancement of God’s Kingdom on earth. This is the standard of the King’s holiness of which we display by putting them into practice every day.

Remember Ecclesiastes chapter 3, verse 1 (NKJV): “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.”

And also remember Acts chapter 1, verse 7 (NKJV): “And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.”

It may not be for you and me to know the times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority, but it is for you and me to know the times and seasons which the Father has put in our own authority. That authority is “I AM.” Master your “I AM” nature and identity and you automatically master times and seasons for Kingdom advancement.