“Pastor, my family members think I’m wasting my time being a Christian. Even though I know the conviction I feel inside me, they don’t believe anything good will come out of it. What do I do?”

I’m happy that you have a conviction inside you, this means that the kingdom of heaven is already working in you. But just so that the persecutions don’t make you fall off, it’s important that I explain to you what the kingdom of heaven is like. Let’s see how Mark puts it:

Mark 4:
26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground
27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
30 And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?
31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:
32 But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.

According to verses 31 and 32, the kingdom of heaven is like a seed, and not just any seed, a mustard seed, a seed that is almost insignificant among seeds. But when it is sown into a person, and it is allowed to grow, it will eventually influence the person’s life to a point that he’d become the most sought after, and then he who was alone would suddenly have birds or people lodging or needing his services.

Verses 26 to 30 reveals a process by which the seed of the kingdom grows. First the blade; it might interest you to know that the main light-collecting structure on a leaf is a large, broad, flat surface called the leaf blade. The blade has many layers that not only help the plant move but also help it store materials and byproducts of photosynthesis. If we’re to relate the word “blade” to scriptures, then we can simply call it persecution and tribulation. We all know that every matured believer is formed when he succeeds diverse temptations. After the blade, then comes the ear – which is the beginning or the covering of the corn. Right after that, the corn would come. It’s just amazing how a believer can only master his relationship with God through trials.

Please note that trials doesn’t necessarily mean an attack of the enemy, it could as well be the discipline you place upon yourself to get closer to God. The fastings, the nightly prayers, the study times, and so on. From experience, the devil won’t even attack you if you’re not engaging. He attacks only those who are a threat to his kingdom.

A simple way to define the kingdom of heaven is a process whereby God extends His dominion in Heaven and begins to govern or act as king or Lord over one’s life on Earth . Which means everything you do from the time you receive His Kingdom must be to manifest the fullness of His kingdom.

The more you study and learn His word, the closer He gets to you. The more you pray, the more He comes. The more you fast, the more attentive you become. The more you walk in obedience, the more He unveils His agenda. This kingdom begins by receiving Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Afterwards, engage in a process of mind renewal by the word of God until it begins to influence your character to look like Him.

The prophets of old didn’t have the kingdom, they only had the privilege to host a dimension of God. Yet, their existence was a wonder to behold. Gideon was nothing, but his walk with God made him a force to reckon with. Moses was a runaway, but his walk with God made him a deliverer. Abraham was a weakling, but his walk with God made him the father of many nations. If these men became so powerful just by hosting a dimension of God, then eyes have not seen what we can do by hosting the very kingdom of heaven here on earth.

I was only 13 years old when I began hawking “Pure Water” across several streets in Lagos. Pure water was the name we called “sachet water” until westerners invaded our space😂. I mean, it was easier to say “buy cold pure water” than “buy cold sachet water”. Who the grammar even help? Chances are that your grammar would even stop people from patronizing you🤣.

Some of those times when the weather was too cold to sell sachet water, I’d look for any place where a building construction was going on and offer to labour with them for a wage. I’d wake up the next day with excruciating pain, but hey, I’d just use a pain killer and move on with that pain. My parents were very much alive and thank God they still are, but things were hard. So my little contribution from selling “pure water” went a long way.

Yeah, pitiable right? But that’s how humble my beginning was. But see what the kingdom has done. Some people mocked me for deleting all the secular songs on my phone, how I no longer went to street jamz and shunned vain conversations, they wondered how I suddenly carried bible about, how I wear my coat when I go to church, how I share church handbills around like I didn’t have a job, how I prayed aloud too. But hey, who’s benefitting now? While some of them are not ashamed to admit that God has transformed me, others just follow me secretly😂.

Nobody knew me back then. I typed my name on Google one of those days and it further proved that nobody really knew me. I mean, if Google doesn’t know you, who will? 😂. But today, people go as far as searching for “Emeka Anslem’s Wife” on Google🤣. This God!

Don’t let anybody try to deceive you that you’re wasting your time praying, studying the word, fasting, winning souls, and living for Jesus. No, you’re not wasting your time; you’re growing that mustard seed called “The kingdom of heaven” within you. They may not see it now because it’s still buried within, but as you continue to water it through various kingdom mysteries, it’s only a matter of time before they’d all see that indeed, God rules in the affairs of man.

So don’t get tired. Be stedfast, unmovable, always abounding, for as much as you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.

I pray that soon, you’d begin to see the full manifestation of the God whom you’ve permitted to be Lord over your life, in Jesus name!

I hope this has bought enlightenment to someone.

Remain ever blessed, in Jesus precious name!

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