Take Up Your Cross - Part 1 — K.P. Yohannan

Get as much as you can as fast as you can now. There are those that would say that that is living but according to Christ real living is all about laying down our lives and following Him. Get on the road to reality.

Next how would you be described as a worldly Christian or as a world Christian? Today on the road to reality KP O 'Hanlon will explain the difference between the two. Welcome once again to the radio ministry from Gospel for Asia.

Judging by the way people live It's not hard to see that most people prefer a brand of Christianity that Demands very little if anything from them. However, true Christianity as we'll see today is about giving up everything including our lives.

Here now to encourage us to move away from self-centered living and toward a life that is pleasing to God is brother. KP.

Living for Christ Rather Than Self

I prayed and asked the Lord What I must speak on his behalf today. And I sense Very deeply what the Lord will have me to say to you and So on behalf of my king and the kingdom As my brothers and sisters I speak to you What the Lord placed upon my heart one of my greatest concern for the body of Christ Especially North America It is that we'll become doers of what the Lord tells us.

One year I traveled over two hundred thousand air miles Speaking to God's people in this nation the end of the time I Was fairly discouraged in myself and time to seek the Lord's face also. The reason for the discredient was I saw a nation with abundance of opportunity information Incredible amount of blessing yet as we read of the people of Israel they feared the Lord and served idols.

What a paradox. I love you dearly and I care about you very much knowing that in a few years. None of us are going to be here we are going to see our Lord face to face and For eternity, we will have time To look back and reflect over the time we spent on planet earth so I am Concerned that we walk with him today knowing that Nothing here is permanent.

But something out there eternity is the real thing. Let me read a few verses to you from the Word of God beginning with the portion in first Peter chapter 2 verse 21. To this you were called because Christ suffered for you.

Leaving you an example That you should follow in his footsteps. He committed no sin and No deceit was found in his mouth. When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate. When he suffered he made no threats.

Instead he entrusted himself to him who judged justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree. So that we might die to sins and live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. Then in Second Peter chapter 3 verse 10.

Second Peter 3 10, but the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar the elements will be destroyed by fire and The earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way.

What kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed it's coming. The day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by a fire and the elements will melt in the heat.

But in keeping with his promise We are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth the home of Righteousness. Then the next page. 1st John chapter 2 verse 6. Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did just one more verse right in the middle of your Bible.

Psalms 103 verse 15 and 16 for several months. I Don't think there's a day go by when I don't think about this words. I talked to somebody when I talk on a telephone or whatever. Very meaningful words to me.

Psalm 103 verse 15 and 16 asked for man. His days are like grass. He flourished like a flower of the field the wind blows over it and it is gone and Its place Remembers it no more. On August 27 1990 I was supposed to be in South Korea To speak at a mission conference, but I didn't make it.

A Mother's Sacrifice for the Gospel

The reason was on the way I stopped in India, and I learned that my mother was taken ill and she was 84 and Admitted in the hospital. So that week I will go every day morning and afternoon evening and sit by her Side and read Bible verses and of course by the time I read half of the word She will recite the rest of it.

So I didn't have a chance to tell her anything new so that particular night the 26th late night I went home and The following morning about 6 o 'clock. I got a telephone call from my brother and he said Our mother passed away.

I Was very close to my mother because for three and a few years She prayed every Friday fasting that one of her sons would become a missionary and I'm the youngest in the family and It was her commitment and prayers.

The Lord answered in calling me the least and the last one to serve him and According to our customs When the funeral service take place the youngest one supposed to be the one that goes to the graveside and Having the coffin open Pulled the whale over the face of the mother.

So I was to do that and my brother was oldest brother was on the other end of the coffin large number of people there the saddest day of my life and as I looked into the face of my mother for the last time for now, I Took the whale and I was about to put it over her face and I stopped for just a split second and I realized something was missing.

Her earring. I never ever saw my mother without her earring and that was gone then I remember the gold chain that she wore with the Symbol of the marriage that took place between her and my father and her wedding ring.

None of those things it's all missing. I Put the whale over and With my tears and I walked away. And the next day I was to leave home To come back to the United States because I didn't had to go on to South Korea.

And and my brother said before you leave you may want to know how much money That is left in our mother's account and I imagined a whole bunch because all our six sons would give her money and She must have saved it up all this and I thought well, yeah, I'd like to know I'll get my share.

Since my father died in 1974 my oldest brother becomes the head of the family. That's how it works so he called all his younger brothers and I was the least and the last and And he said There is about two and a half dollars or three dollars left in the bank Indian money that much.

I said what? He said yeah, I am surprised too. Then he pulled out a bunch of little Scribbled papers that my mother had stuck under her pillow in a Plastic bag and he pulled it out the record of years.

That she was sending her money privately without telling anyone to support Bible school students missionaries in different parts of North India and Then my brother said oh one more thing. She left her Note her desire Saying that when she is dead her earring Her wedding ring and a gold chain should be sold and Give it to print the gospel tracts to reach the lost souls but I thought about my mother last night and thought about her today and I think about her now in terms of What is she thinking?

Looking back over the 84 years. She spent on planet Earth. I was sometime Surprised a couple of times has cobbled with my mother. I really did when I would go back to India and see her what is wrong with you.

Can't you get some better clothes? I'm gonna look at other mothers. I want to be proud of you. I mean you have the money. Why don't you do it? Don't we give you enough and a reply. Nothing won't say a word.

And I realized Now How she lived her life and I learned One more time a lesson what it means to walk with the Lord day by day living with reality. My brothers and sisters this is not peacetime. This is war.

The Urgency of Holy Living

If your house is on fire, would you sit and watch your favorite television program? Read the newest magazine came what the news is. So what's going on? What do you think about bunch of normal things you are planning to do?

No, sir. You will make a door to a concrete wall Because the house is on fire. You are not going to look for your clothes. You are going to look for your little children sleeping somewhere maybe. This is urgent.

Desperate our like God told Lord Don't look back flee for your life. This is urgent our. And I think one of the saddest thing about the body of Christ. We don't realize it and you know what when Peter wrote this scripture portions.

It is not yesterday a bunch of time long time ago he says The day of the Lord it's going to come like a thief and heavens will melt and disappear all that we have on earth the house the car the clothes the Diamond rings and the jewelry and the car.

I mean everything that you have and people live for it's all Going to be burnt up and be gone in a split second be gone seeing. Knowing this is going to be so what kind of people you ought to be. Like you must be live a holy life your life Must be such it will Speed up it will hasten coming.

Time is short and the need for holy living is great. Today on the road to reality We're being reminded of what really matters in life. You know it's so easy to get off track and distracted from that isn't it?

KP O 'Hanlon will return in just a moment with more brother. KP has written quite a number of books one of them being revolution in world missions. How. Just as we're encouraged in today's message to move away from self-centeredness to be more eternally minded.

This book will challenge you with more of the same. It's our free gift to you as a way of thanking you for listening in today. Just stop by win Asia org and receive your copy of revolution in world missions.

Once again that web address is win Asia org here. Once again is KP with more biblical encouragement to live for what really matters in Matthew 24.

The Great Commission and the Return of Christ

Verse 14 Jesus said and this gospel Shall be preached as a witness To the whole world to all nations. Yet the nose and then the end will come. When was the last time you prayed? Saying Jesus. Just tired of Waiting would you please come back?

I want to see you so bad. It's not my choice that I spend a lot of time away from my home. And I have wife and two children my son Daniel and my daughter Sarah, but as a family We made a decision. That's not a joke.

It's a real serious. We sat down talked about it and the time I get to the airport and board another Lufthansa or British Airways somewhere going somewhere and I see my children and in my heart I say.

A few times I said to my wife It's just it's a bummer. Why I have to do it more than once. I complained murmured self-pity and Just got disgraced. My wife more than one said Look at me and I look at her.

Her eyes are wet. These are the words she says. When I see you off at the airport with our children Sarah cries. You don't see much tears nice. But I weep when I come back home but remember. Remember it is only for a short time.

It is what? Paying the price or two billion people never heard the name Jesus. There's a hell they're heading for. Unless you go who will go unless we pay the price. Who will pay the price unless we die.

Who will die. I weep I agonize I am sad. But it's what pain the price you must go. This time is very short. Eternity is ahead of us. It's what? Getting into that next flight. You can go. Telephone calls are expensive so I leave and Every day I call back.

Thank God for people like MCI people I can call back. You still have to pay the bill. And I call hello. Yes, Gisela. It's me. How are you doing? I'm doing great as the conversation comes to an end. Always the same words.

I miss you terrible. I Miss you bad. I Want to see you. Then I say oh. The dream the longing the emotion the feelings That rises up. Thinking about oh the ticket is reconfirmed and I go and be heading back to See my wife my son my daughter ah.

What a feeling how satisfying. When was the last time you said Lord? I'm so sorry for crying ladies, but how long must I wait I? Want to see you. You gave your life your blood was the price you paid to purchase me.

I'm just lonely here as a stranger and pilgrim. I want to see you. When was the last time you prayed that prayer. There is such an incredible sinful Dichotomy in the life of American Christianity that we say we love him.

But we never want to pay the price. Laying down our life and picking up the cross for the sake of him who left heaven and came here and now he's lonely and waiting for us to Say Jesus come back, but he said I will come back.

But one thing has to be done. You live a life you live a life such a way you will speed up my coming you I mean I Agree, I don't like when people say you know what God is in big trouble unless you send your money.

We are going to be in trouble. We go off the air. I say go off the air don't bother me. God is not in trouble. He is not waiting. You know see you unless you do something. I went in because no no no. But There's also something we must understand.

Responsibility, Grace, and Hastening the Harvest

Those who want live by grace and say grace alone, but you know what what do you do with scripture like this? I sought for a man to stand in the gap to make up the difference. So that I will not destroy the land and I found none and they are destroyed.

Our responsibility. We must live our life such a way that will bring the coming of the Lord closer and there's a Serious responsibility and that's what I won't tell you about the serious responsibility is it is like the harvest time.

You know my people I am from a home where our people are rice farmers harvest time. Once a year in our place, and you know what happens when the harvest time comes in American language. My people are like the chicken with the head cut off panic time.

They are talking about a vacation or breakfast or lunch or long sleeping hours or going here and there seeing friends or visiting relatives none of those things it is 24 hours on the go. We had to get the job done.

It is panic time for harvest is a fixed time. You wait for two weeks. It is destroyed. You know when I say this wartime. It is not peacetime. I'm thinking about the verse in Acts 17 verse 6 about those people the early Christians.

Becoming World-Changing Disciples

They said wow. They are here. Also. What a crazy bunch of people. Those who turn the world upside down. Have come here. Also, these who turn the world upside down. Philip says the world Revolutionaries have come here.

Also you and I ought to be such people they will say what's wrong with his head. He has gone bananas. He's nuts. He's crazy. Yes. When you and I follow Christ when people see us, they will say oh he's coming.

I'm gonna take off. Because they know you're going to Confront him with your life with your commitment with your fasting with your prayer. When I was the last time mom. Your son or your daughter asked mom.

I want to ask you something. How come you don't eat food? Then this particular day every week. It's like you pick Tuesday or Wednesday just one week. He just don't eat. Nothing. Are you sick by lose weight?

No, son. It is so that in Afghanistan 19 million people live there without one church one missionary the whole nation on the way to hell. My dear boy the Lord put upon my heart to pray and fast this day or the week.

For the sake of those people in Afghanistan. Dad, when was the last time your son said dad? Why are you like this?

Well, let's allow that to probe our hearts. Shall we and encourage us away from selfishness and toward Christlike living. Oh, this has been road to reality with brother KP Ohannon founder and director of gospel for Asia.

Maybe after listening in today The Lord has moved in your heart and encouraged you to get involved in reaching those that need to hear his good news. One way that you can do that is to support a native missionary through gospel for Asia for just $30 a month.

You can support a missionary in Asia to help lead others to Christ. And when you sponsor we'll send you a picture and testimony of your missionary so that you can pray for them. Learn more by visiting our website at win asia .org or simply call us toll-free one eight six six win asia, that's 866 win asia and our web address again win asia .org.

Next week on the road to reality We'll hear the rest of today's message on taking up our cross and following Christ. Be challenged and refreshed as you join brother KP Ohannon for that next time until then.

God bless.