Be a Kingdom Addict

19 Jul Be a Kingdom Addict

Today, I feel constrained in my spirit to challenge you to be an addict for the Kingdom. Beloved, when you are addicted to the things of the Kingdom, you simply make the devil mad. He cannot understand why you have chosen to serve God even when some things have not worked out yet for you. The reason why he fights you is to make you lose focus and become ineffective as a kingdom person. That would not be your portion in Jesus name. Let’s look at Apostle Paul’s admonition to the church at Corinth and draw some lessons from it.

1 CORINTHIANS 16:15 {KJV}
‘’I beseech you brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achai, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints)’’

 The Apostle Paul in his letter to the church at Corinth made reference to the household of Stephanas, his first converts in Achai as those who were addicted to the work of the ministry. Why did he give them so much attention? Paul was obviously making reference to the fact that the family must have experienced many unpleasant issues in the course of service but they refused to quit. That means they were not just comers and goers or just Sunday Service Christians. They were people who were ready to put commitment above convenience. They were addicts.

No doubt, you know the word ‘addict’ connotes devotion or surrendering oneself to something habitually or obsessively. That means that whatever you are addicted to becomes a habit in your life. An addicted person sees life not worth living if he is unable to indulge in that habit. An addict can sell anything to meet his or her desire just to keep the addiction in place. In other words, someone can be faithful even in a negative sense to what he is addicted to. Beloved, on the other hand, Kingdom addiction is healthy and helpful. It means being committed to the things of the kingdom. It also means paying price just to ensure that things work well. It also involves making up your mind to serve God in season and out of season.

Beloved, becoming addicted also entails that you are a blessing to the people that come along your way whether you feel like it or not. They don’t have to be your friends or belong to your immediate group or fellowship arm. This means you are ready to identify with needs in the church and fill the gaps once spotted. In other words, you are addicted to the point where you meet needs without making noise about it. It is no longer about you but about the Kingdom. When you are a kingdom addict, serving God and obeying Him comes by default.

As an addict, you derive joy in getting involved in follow-up and soul winning activities. You are ready to go the extra mile to ensure that you extend a warm hand of fellowship to new people in church. You are ready to follow-up those who give their hearts to the Lord and ensure that they are grounded. New converts and first timers feel comfortable around you because you are concerned about their welfare. You are quick to introduce the various activities of the church to them in love. Being addicted means that you are not coerced or forced, but you are glad and willingly to offer your services even in your G-12 centre or group. This is the kind of household God is looking for today. The church has gone beyond being a group of people who ask what the Lord can do for them; but rather ask what they can do for the Lord.

Beloved, it is never too late to start.  If you have just been a bench warmer in church, you can start today. I encourage you to go all out and be a blessing to your church and to the person next to you. Let your commitment be above convenience. Beloved, some things may not be convenient as you serve, but understand that you serve a God who rewards, so keep serving. Like those in the house of Stephanas, dare to become a kingdom addict. Dare to go all out. Dare to go all the way in your tithes and offerings. Dare to go out of your way to bring at least one soul to church. Yes, it may be tough but it is not impossible. Dare to serve God without reservation and watch Him throw His weight around on your behalf. Remember that this is the season for God to make a distinction between sideliners and those that are truly serving Him. I can assure you without any shadow of doubt that if you truly serve and stand for this God, He will surely fight your battles and bring you out.

As you go into this week, as always, I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. As a father in the house, I bless you. Maranatha!

In His Royal Service,

Dr. Mike Okonkwo, The Presiding Bishop