The Kingdom in You

 

We are now in the second quarter of 2024. How has it been so far? Has the year started the way you hoped? If not, don’t take your eyes off God. He will still come through for you, have faith, and ask Him for help (Jer. 1:12, Heb.4:16). In my church, the theme for April is “Unleash your potential”, and the anchor text is Phil. 4:13. May your potential be unleashed in Jesus' name.

The beauty of the Bible is that we can never finish reading it. Unlike novels or historical books that give no new knowledge, each time we read the Bible, there is always some new knowledge or revelation. During our Thanksgiving service, my pastor read the parable of the mustard seed, Mark 4:30 – 32 (NLT):

³⁰ Jesus said, “How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it? ³¹ It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds, ³² but it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade.”

As it was read, it got me thinking, about how the Kingdom of God can be illustrated as a mustard seed. I even googled a mustard seed as I wanted to visualize the illustration. The answer came to me as my pastor went on to quote Luke 17:20-21 (NKJV); in this verse, Jesus tells us that the Kingdom of God is within each one of us. We are all walking kingdoms!

Now the parable of the mustard seed made sense to me. From my detailed research (I googled it lol), the mustard seed plant can grow up to 15 feet high. When you see a seed that’s ~2mm in size, would you expect it to have that sort of potential in it? That is what is in each of us. A tiny seed that can grow into a large plant. But for it to grow into that large plant, it needs to have the right conditions. So it is with the Kingdom in each of us. For the Kingdom to grow, we have to cultivate it in the right conditions. Here are some pointers for the right conditions: 

• Live a life of constant fellowship with God. God desires a relationship with us, not a transaction (John 15:4-6).
• Stay yoked to God, and submit to His will and supremacy (Matt. 11:28 – 30, Prov. 19:21).
• Live a life of faith (Heb. 11:6).

We also have a duty, like the mustard seed that grows long branches, to spread the branches of God’s Kingdom by winning souls. God’s desire is for His Kingdom to grow, that’s why in Mark 16:15 (NLT), we are told to “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone”. One of my favorite verses that stuck with me when I learned I couldn’t command people to live a life of holiness is I Cor. 3:6-7. In this verse, Paul reminds us of our role as children of God, to either plant or water the seed; in some cases, we may even play both roles but remember that it is God who gives the increase. We are asked to share, it is the Holy Spirit that convicts (John 16:8).

Within each of us is a mustard seed, which we have to cultivate for it to grow into the mighty plant it should be, and as it grows, we also need to share it with the world. Nobody lights a lamp to hide it under a bucket, so shine your light that men may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven (Matt. 5:14 – 16). That is the charge for each of us. You have a Kingdom in you, and I pray that God gives you the grace to unleash your potential so that others can be drawn into its shade and nest. You are the light of the world because God’s Kingdom is within you!

P.S & image cred: The mustard seed

Write Your Vision

A few days ago, I was listening to a message from Pst. Joel Osteen titled Write Your Vision. His message made me reflect on the times I had written down a vision without knowing how I would achieve it. One thing I recall him saying was that one way you know your vision is from God when you have no clue how to go about it.

In July 2020, I had a vision to embark on an MBA. In a random conversation with my colleague at the time, Sikemi, and as I think about it, I have no idea how the topic of my MBA came up, she reminded me of Hab. 2:2-3. Thank God I listened! I didn’t have the funds and applied for student loans to the point that I remember one emailing me to say I should stop applying. As Joel Osteen said, when God gives you a vision He gives you the provision. Jan. 2022, I started the MBA, and all through, God provided the funds for my MBA without any student loan! Imagine if I hadn’t written it down, I would have given up after a while. But because I did, when my faith was re-ignited thanks to a message that told me to do it afraid (wrote a post about it here), I was able to read it and run with it.

As we are wont to do at the start of a year, we write down our goals. In Jan. 2022, before I started my MBA program, I wrote down that I’d finish my MBA with a distinction. There were times when it seemed like it wouldn’t happen, but because I had obeyed Hab. 2:2 and written down the vision, I could read it as I ran. In March 2023, my results came out and I finished with a distinction! Glory to God. No matter how impossible your vision may seem, I charge you to write it down! “God will do amazing things if you simply write the vision”- Joel Osteen. That way, you can refer back to it even when it seems to be moving farther away.

During service, my pastor reminded me of Ps. 18:29 (NKJV), a lovely verse that stuck with me from the moment I read it: “For by You I can run against a troop, by my God I can leap over a wall”. Another verse you can hold to heart is Zech. 4:7 (NKJV): Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”. Insert your name in place of Zerubbabel’s. God is faithful to His word, find a word and stand on it, till your vision becomes a reality (Is. 55:11, I Cor. 1:9 AMPC)! As Hab. 2:3 assures us, it will come to pass.

Photo cred: khm_usa