He also said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.” He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” One day, I left my little prayer room to find a friend waiting to meet me Her name was Carmalin Francis and she asked me why I didn’t think of starting a prayer group. The idea had crossed my mind, but I didn’t really give it any serious thought because I always believed that if God wanted me to do something, he would find a way of letting me know. Was this it? I briefly consulted with God, then said, “Let’s do it.” We decided to meet every Monday and see what happened. The first Monday there were five people present. My wife, our two kids, and Carmalin. We sang a few hymns - I was a terrible singer then - then I gave a short talk for about fifteen minutes on something - we sang a little more and ended it. It was very raw, but I really feel the presence of God there, so I said, let’s continue. I invited a few people to come over the following Monday. Two people showed up, didn’t seem too impressed that there was only me and my family there, and said they wouldn’t be back. I told God I didn’t care. Even if nobody showed up, I’d continue the meeting, even if I had to preach to myself. I don’t think I should have made that prayer because the following Monday there was nobody. Everybody had to be somewhere and I was alone. So, what did I do? I preached to myself. I believe it was a test, and I think I passed it because the following week, two people came. And stayed. The following week two more came. And they too stayed. In two months there were about forty people coming for the meetings regularly. That was about fifteen years ago. Today, this ministry has a global presence, and has reached out to millions of people worldwide. Why am I tell you this story? Because this is what Jesus was talking about today. The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed. It is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes a mighty tree. We are like that mustard seed. Pretty insignificant to look at. Most of us can’t even imagine we can do anything. Yet, pay heed to what Jesus says. So, what does it need to take for us to grow and become that big tree? Ahh, therein lies the rub. The seed first needs to be buried, no? Jesus said, "Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (John 12:24). That means we have to die. Not literally, but to our self. We have to die to the world. But, paradoxically, in death is life. Jesus said, "Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (John 12:25). So, let’s die to live!
