To Live Is Christ — K.P. Yohannan

Gospel for Asia presents To live is Christ with KP Yohannan president and founder of Gospel for Asia international speaker and author of over 150 books. We now join KP as he shares the Word of God with a local congregation.

I.

Want us to read a Bible verse from 1st John Chapter 1 verse 6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did and That scripture in the Living Bible reads like this. Anyone who says he's a Christian Should live as Christ did.

It's a symbol if I say and I know I say this I Believe in Jesus. I am his follower. Then I Am told okay, wonderful. You are saying that but would you make this decision and choose to live us? My son lived it says in 1 John 4.

As he was in the world, so are we now in this world? You know, there's a lot of talk about predestination. The only predestination that I can find is in Romans 8. It says we are predestined that we may be Conformed to the image of his son that is true predestination.

So next time somebody fight about it you tell them that I heard a little chorus. Long ago now when I say long ago, don't think I'm an old old man. Although I'm old I was 18 or 19 years old. That is a long time ago.

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me. All his wonders compassion and purity. O thou the spirit divine all my nature refined. Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me. All that sound very nice and spiritual, huh?

But I asked the question, but how am I going to become like Jesus what is Jesus like. And I think It's very plain and simple. Jesus lived his life Constantly always perpetually with eternal perspective in mind.

He said I'm not trying to be the king here. And this is not my Kingdom this is not what I'm about. I'm here for a short time and and I'm here for a purpose that is to accomplish the plan of my father and He had always that on his mind a friend of mine.

When he was a young Christian. See the carnality in the older Christians preachers and Bible teachers who were loving money and position power and jealousy and strive and unforgiveness and and Living for the things of the world and he went to God and cried out said father.

Why is it that people that know the Bible so much. They memorize it. They can quote the scripture. Then all the doctrines father. Why is it their life is so like this full of Strife and jealousy and all these other things he says the Lord spoke to his heart and said son.

They spent time with the Bible. They don't spend time with me then he made a statement to me in all the brother. He said my brother. I have an advice for you if you want to know God you Love Jesus and study him and imitate him and if you want to be smart and famous and so full of knowledge.

Then you study the Bible. Weird. Yet how true it is. Yes, the Bible the learning the knowledge should help me to love him more Intimately and follow him with all my heart, but often it don't happen. So what is Jesus like?

Son of man came not to be ministered unto But to minister and give his life For others I came. He said not to seek nothing for myself. Some of man came to seek and to save that which was lost. Christ life was always continually a Life that lived out for others and not for himself.

So all day working. But then night in so sleeping he will pray all night because next day he must touch the lepers and heal the sick and preach the gospel and Help those who are lost and fine. So he said as a father send me I am Sending you also some of you may remember the Name Keith green anyone remember his name.

He was a strange character. Some people think a dear friend who went to be with the Lord. He he wrote many songs and he sang and I don't do that but in one of his songs. These words are very powerful.

Do you see do you see all the people singing down? Don't you care? Don't you care? Are you going to let them drown? How can you be so numb not to care if they come you close your eyes and pretend the job is done.

Oh, bless me Lord. Bless me Lord. You know, it is all I ever hear. No one hurt. No one ate. No one even sheds one tear it is blessed me bless me. In one of my meetings some years ago somewhere in the United States a lady came to me after the meeting.

I said, would you please pray for me? I said may I know madam? What you want me to pray about? She said I got a demon of smoke. Would you lay your hand on me and cast out the demon of smoke? I? I mean, that's the first time in my life ever heard anything like that.

So I kind of got shocked. So I said madam Demons, yes, he can cast out but not the flesh you crucify the flesh and the desires of the flesh. She got confused. We blame the devil for all kind of things devil is bad.

Okay, I understand that but the poor devil get blamed for everything under the Sun. Yes, the church is so totally disobedient In picking up the cross and Willing to lay down their life like Amy Carmichael Jetson and Thousands who marched the way of the cross and were martyred In so committing of life or sacrifice and death.

We blame the devil for the whole world going to hell. Devil is bad. I admit. But I'm telling you something. Your enemy my enemy More than you realize is not the devil. It is our own self-centeredness and Jesus came not only to save me from my sin and hell But during my life in this pilgrimage to set me free from my own Self-centeredness, but in the measure in which I allow him he can do the job and there's a world out there That Jesus He's saying as the father send me You go and you be my hands my ears my nose my heart my feelings my tears.

You be the one to call them to the father, but do we listen to that? I have take care of myself I want to be blessed and after this that that and we kind of shove it off Not taking the pain the anguish of the cross to touch the lost world.

A letter came to me some years ago from the mission field and My wife brought it to me and said would you please read this and I was sitting in my office in Dallas In a comfortable chair. I Finished reading the letter.

I was weeping on my knees. Letter came from a dear brother a native missionary the work in hard war by River Ganges. During that couple of weeks time 35 million Hindus walk and travel by train and bullock carts and buses From all over the country to go in this dirty polluted waters of River Ganges washing themselves for the forgiveness of sins this one missionary Working among these people telling about Jesus one evening.

He was coming home and now in the letter He writes the experience what happened that evening. He said I saw this young woman sitting by the bank of the river Weeping uncontrollably and pounding upon a chest.

Knowing something so terrible happened. I went to her and asked why are you weeping what happened? She replied My husband is sick. He can't work anymore. My sins are so many that nobody knows about to find forgiveness for my sins and Solution to the problems of my home.

I have given the best offering I can give to God of Ganges my only son. My six-month-old baby boy. I just threw him into the river. Next paragraph. I Sat beside her Explained her the gospel. Her sins are forgiven.

2 ,000 years ago explained to her that God is not angry with her. God didn't make me a poor. He writes as explained the gospel to her. All the sudden she wiped her tears and looked straight into my eyes and Said these words didn't you come to me?

Half hour sooner. I didn't have to kill my child. I never heard this before. But why didn't you come to me half hour sooner? She went back crying again. Now I was on my knees Saying Jesus I surrender.

Every drop of my blood every fiber of my being my wife my children all that I am. For two billion people like her crying out. Why why? And Lord. Till the last second of my journey. I will want to give myself to see those people reached.

I find My own self-centeredness. Becoming the hindrance from doing what Jesus asked me to do and to be like him. One of the first place I went to serve God when I was a youngster Was a place called Boondi in the northwest of India.

Hard staunch difficult Hindus. Seven brothers and myself with Bibles and tracts and Gospels with our old beat-up Vehicle we went to this place. We got beaten up very bad. Without mercy we were beaten one brother.

Blood began to ooze down from the beating. We had to leave the place. Some years went by a young brother from one of the Bible schools. A 19 year old young brother. After finishing his studies said to our leaders Jesus want me to go to Boondi.

They said you You are little fellow. You're only 19 years old. Boondi is a dangerous place. You don't go He said but I prayed the whole year. Jesus want me to go to Boondi. The senior brother said son Are you sure Jesus told you to go to Boondi?

He said yes, then you please go. He went to Boondi rented a place for about five dollars a month after a few nights in the middle of the night. Someone came and busted the door open and he found himself.

Surrounded by six seven men. One tall Rajput with carbon on his head pulled this brother up by his leg. The skinny brother and said you young fellow. Tomorrow you leave this place. If you stay here, we can tear you apart like we do with the chicken.

We don't want your God. We got plenty of gods and goddesses here. Tonight we will not kill you, but tomorrow you leave this place. He got scared and I would do and you would do. Next morning you should have took the first bus on the train.

I ran back to the mission station and told our brothers. Trembling with fear they came last night. They said they will kill me and it was easy to believe because some years prior to that and the brother who went to the Region for preaching the gospel.

He was martyred. So they said what are you gonna do? I don't know what to do. They're going to kill me. Again, the senior most brother said son. I want to ask you one question. Did Jesus ask you to go to good Boondi?

He said I know he told me to go to Boondi that is only burden I have. Are you sure he said I know. But they're going to kill me. He said son. You go back to Boondi. Most probably they will come back to you again.

Yes, maybe. There's a possibility you may get killed but remember Heaven is a much better place than Boondi anyway. You wait there for us and we will come later. And the senior most brother who told him that Has a scar on his forehead as Paul said the mark of the cross.

Persecution that he faced for preaching the gospel. The young brother knelt down and Then laid hand on him. Prayed for him and sent him back to Boondi. He got in the bus weeping believing that he will never see them again alive.

He reached Boondi sure enough. After a few days the same people came back and said why? Are you now going to make us murderers? Didn't we tell you not to come here? He listened to all the mighty speech and very calm sober.

He said you know what the sooner you do your job. It is better for me. Heaven is a much better place than your Boondi anyway. What do you do with a fellow who want to get killed? Yes, he faced some persecution some problems.

Some years goes by. I get a telephone call the middle of the night. Hello. I said yes, but I say I escape. Speaking brother we want you to come to Boondi. I Want put the phone down? He said no no brother.

We want you to inaugurate the church that is in the story changes. Next month I flew to Delhi took a train and went to Boondi. You want to see Face glow with love of Jesus come to Boondi and see the first-generation converts 150 some adults and wives and children.

Worshipping Jesus so intense not for two hours. But goes on three four five hours, and I started weeping through the whole service and taught God's Word. Where it was over this brother said? This is a man who said he will tear me like a chicken.

How is it possible? Paul. Please Paul. You are the best teacher theology and pastor leader. We have don't you go there and get killed. Please Paul don't You reenact. Paul said ah Thank you. I know you're telling the truth the Holy Spirit spoke clearly.

That's true, but I Do not regard my life dear unto myself. All I want is to give it away Jesus. I want to be like you. Hey My brother my sister. I am NOT here to put you on a guilt trip. Intimidate you get something out of you and run to the next place.

That's not my purpose here. But I want to ask you one simple question. When you heard over hundred thousand people died in Rwanda. In a few days time when you heard in a week over hundred thousand swept away from Bangladesh into the oceans.

And millions left homeless when you heard. Every church in Afghanistan was demolished. Not one Christian living in the country. Where were you? What happened to you the following day? Did your son ask you mama?

Why are you not eating today? After three days your son said daddy. It seems that you are not eating any food. What happened. Are you sick and you say? My son. You remember we watched the news and so what happened?

Yes, daddy. Son, I'm so brokenhearted over the millions that are patient that I decided to fast and pray and stand in the gap on the behalf of a. That is going to hell and forever without Jesus. That's only reason when was the last time.

You as a family sat down and said let's talk about it. Half of the world go to bed with empty stomach and naked bodies. Some 80 ,000 die every day and slip into hell. You and your wife and kids set us a family.

When was the last time you made a pack a discussion and say we will live as strangers and pilgrims on this earth with sacrifice and commitment and tears and fasting and touch the lost world with our Lifestyle.

Two brothers who trained in one of our schools and send them out to work among the Muslims the people of Islam. Hussein and Salsal their names. Hussein was married with the two little kids. Salsal was not married.

During the day they preach the gospel in this community and lead people to Christ and quite a few came to know the Lord. During the night they teach the Bible for this new believers. One morning as they were going about their ministry a group of men met them.

They greeted them with Kindness it's namaste. Said yeah namaste. Oh, so you are Hussein and you are Salsal you came to tell us about your Jesus. Our brothers thought they were very friendly nice people said yes.

We are so happy to be here to tell you about Jesus. No more exchange no more conversation. The leader pulled out a dragger and Stabbed into the heart of brother Hussein. He fell in a pool of blood. Well Salsal grabbing hold of him weeping.

They stabbed him six times. Believing that both are dead these men fled Salsal it took months to recover, but Hussein died on the spot. Leaving his wife and two young kids behind. Hearing about the news after a few weeks her father a Muslim who is not a Christian.

Traveling from his distant village came to see his daughter, and this is what he said my daughter. Thank God the devil is dead. Now you come home with me with my grandchildren. Now you my wonderful sisters wives.

Young girls you listen to the answer. This young wife in a strange place. No relatives. No one do show any kindness. Reply to her father. Said my father you don't understand The Jesus my husband loved.

I love him dearly. The people that he loved. I loved them. I cannot come home. I had to stay here and continue the ministry my husband started and died for loving Jesus more than life itself the man had.

Hundred sheep remember that parable. How many got away. One. And what did the shepherd do did you say ah? One I got 99 oh. That one is a stupid one. It is really crazy all the time anyway. Let it go we go and jump and die okay?

Well, I'm going to have a nice wonderful sleep. You know My wife says I snore. But I tell my wife. I never snore. She's how do you know I never heard me snore? So the shepherd Gave up that one sheep did he?

He left the 99 and went after the one until He found it and took it up and or he's not one outside the fold one inside and 99 out there. One billion people in the land of India half of them never heard the name Jesus even one time in their life.

Forget about redemption sanctification and All the doctrines we fight and squabble. About 22 million people in North and Bihar without one church one missionary. 17 million in Afghanistan without one known Christian who must Begin to feel the burden and commit our life to touch people.

Ask me brother KP. Where do you come from. I said can't you see on my face? India, but where in India oh? You want to know where in India I come from the extreme southern part of India the state of Kerala.

That is where Christ disciple Thomas came in AD 52 believe it or not true. I Gave my life to the Lord when I was eight years old through my mother's influence. The place I come from you want to know go and find all the stars on movie.

You can find all black and white. That's the kind of place. I grew up. You know these clothes you see I'm wearing. This is not mine. I Barefooted and my rapper I close and all this stuff. I do it for you, and I have five brothers.

I'm the youngest in our family. And my mother a devout follower of Christ. My father died in 74 he knew the Lord just before he died, but my mother all her life I Remember she followed him very close.

The memory of my mother every morning about four o 'clock. She will get up and read her Bible and pray for a couple hours. Then she wake up the whole family for family prayer. I didn't want to wake up, but I had to and After she finished the cooking and washing everything she'll take her Bible and go from house to house and tell people about Jesus in my village when I was just after 16 years of age I Felt the Lord was calling me to give my life for mission work.

So I came home one afternoon. I told my mother and father If you allow me, I want to be a missionary before I could finish my sentence my mother said you please go. I said Oh, I. Now I know she never liked me, so I took off when in North India for two years working with operation mobilization and Came back to see my parents skin and bones tired worn out the first time she saw me she began to weep.

The Following day nobody in the house. She was cooking in the kitchen with a firewood. You know the typical the old way we do things. She says son come and sit here, and I want to tell you something that you did not know about.

And I sat beside her this five feet two inches tall Skin and bones little fragile village woman with a glow on her face the love of Jesus in her own native language. She began tell me the story said son.

I have six boys, and you are the youngest. I said mother. Obviously that is true. She said all my life my dream was one of my sons to become a missionary and I prayed For all my sons. But one by one they went to business and farming and all these different things and when you were born growing up I lost all my hope.

You were shy and timid and I thought God will never answer my prayer. But then I decided as a last attempt I would fast and pray and my son for three and a half years every Friday I Only drank water and fasted all three meals crying out to God.

Jesus called one of my sons to become a missionary and The day you came and said you want to go as a missionary. I knew God answered my prayer. In 1990 I was flying from the United States to South Korea To speak in a mission conference and when I reached Bombay, India I got the message my mother was sick at the age of 84.

She never been sick like that with a heart problem taken to hospital. I Cancelled my trip went to the hospital spent a week with her that weekend my mother died. Funeral took place now. I must go back to America.

My oldest brother called Younger brothers including me to talk about our mother. One of my brother had a question How much money did our mother leave in the bank? All her sons would give her money every month to do whatever she want to and so we imagine she must have a Huge amount of money sitting somewhere in the bank.

Answering the question my brother pulled out his old worn-out little booklet or Piece of papers and and he said There's nothing in the bank. He said what happened all the money. He said I found this Under the pillow of our mother's bed in it she had scribblings of Names or decents of young people some studying in the Bible school to go to the mission field.

Some already on the mission field and against their names 200 rupees 500 rupees and all the different money She was sending every month without telling one human being on earth. And I began to weep. The reason being I remember one time when I was back home visiting my people and I saw my mother Wearing blouse with stitches from here to here.

You know the needle stitch, and I was so angry I said mother what is wrong with you? What happened your head? Don't you have any feeling for your sons? The whole world will think that we don't take care of you.

You are putting cow dung on our face you put shame upon our head mother. Don't you have any feelings about us? You can buy a new dress every month if you want. Why you do this to us. She smiled and Said you little fellow don't understand nothing someday.

You'll understand and now I sit in the room as though My mother speaking to me again my son. All my life I lived for the eternal purposes of God. Yes, I could have purchased a new dress every month. But I chose to wear old clothes and stitch it when it's torn.

I Never told anyone what I was doing, but son. Now you understand the house the dreams the dresses approval of men opinions of other people. My son it means all nothing. It's not now you understand how many times did I hear my mother?

Just during the day. Saying that Bible verse again and again and again and again. Her favorite Bible verse Psalm 73 verse 25. Whom how I in heaven, but you and on earth I desire No one beside you. After having spent a little time in Europe before coming to America I picked up a habit using a certain brand name deodorant soap from England that I Love you can buy it in America dollar 50 cents per bar and that I did for the first several years of my life in America a Bookworm any book that you find on any subject if I could buy it.

I will buy it. It was impressive. Somebody came to my house and saw all the translations and books I had. And I didn't read half of them, but I made a good impression after a few years of living like that.

One day the Lord said to me son half of the world have never seen one page of the Bible. What I'm doing with your life, and I cried out to God on my knees and said Lord Take eternity and stamp on my eyes.

For I cannot change myself, I'm so self-centered in his mercy and grace and Compassion and love. He began to change my heart. Next time he went to the store. I didn't buy the dollar 50 cents deodorant soap.

I switched to ivory 35 cents and I don't like ivory either. I'm not promoting that soap. Some of our brothers. Working in northwest of India on the street preaching the gospel Hindu Brahmin a landlord came by and got a gospel tract in Hindi language.

He was running away from his home to commit suicide. Having cancer in his body first time in his life in the late 50s an older man read with his own eyes. God came to this world. For you Jesus died on the cross to save you from sin and hell and he want to save you if you call upon him and There's a prayer he can pray to Jesus on the street that afternoon this man knelt down.

In his own native language crying out to a God he never prayed to ever in his life. Asking him to come in this life and forgive you sin and save him. He got up something happened peace came into his heart and He didn't come into suicide.

He ran home and and went to the same hospital told the doctors doctor I feel so good. Can you check me what we can do. You are sick. We did everything we can. No no no doctor. You please one more time so he persisted they checked him up down every way inside out is what did you take?

There's no trace of cancer in your body. Completely cured and the man pulled out the booklet in his pocket that he was reading and said doctor this healed me. They thought even cuckoos. With the address on the booklet he went to a mission station told our brothers what happened to him.

They began to explain him the gospel more about Jesus. The man began to weep out loud and said oh Now I know this Jesus is my God. Then he said you know what I'm a landlord. Can you come and make all my people Christians how literally understand how this thing work.

Two of our brothers went with him began to preach the gospel and To date they got at least 150 or more people saved and baptized and the man gave the land the money the whole thing to build the first church in the community.

But the question how did that all happen? One Gospel tract that cost less money than what I pay for chewing gum, and I like chewing gum. I'm not saying don't chew gum. If you want no problem. But out I'm telling you I was crazy enough to Think in those terms saying Lord Everything I do now in my life.

I want to evaluate in the light of eternity. I must conclude with some applications. Those who claim to be Followers of Christ must live like him and I am convinced saddest thing Christ Feels he weeps over so in look upon the land of India Bhutan Burma the Muslim countries.

People that do not know The gospel. Don't know his name. That dying in darkness like the woman at River Ganges, and I want him to break my heart With the things that break his heart. So what do I do I?

Recommend that if the Lord give you the grace Take one day or the week To fast and pray for people that never heard the gospel. Ask God to give you the country's the name of the people groups information we can help you with.

Tremendous information to pray for just one day of the week, and if you're trying to lose few more pounds add one more day. My second recommendation to you is that you will ask the Lord Jesus how do you want me to live my life in the light of the fact that half of the world?

Never heard this gospel, and they are hungry and destitute. Ask him to give you Understanding how to live your life. I cannot tell you the car the house and what you should do what that's not my business nobody's business as a matter of fact.

But let him tell you how you can simplify your life. So that others can hear the gospel, and you know my sister. You don't need on a diamond ring. He loves you anyway. You see my brother this guy here.

Kind of broader if you got one like this to keep it, and it will go narrow and it'll come back again. That is a world of fashion. You can hold a car lay your hand on it in Jesus name it will run again.

But let the Lord guide you. I wrote the whole book about it by the way. Thirdly. Most of you 99 of you will not go to India China Bhutan Burma Bangladesh Pakistan Afghanistan. You will not go there to live.

Please go if he can. But tonight, I want to ask you something. My mother She never left My village in her entire life. But she had missionaries all over India winning people to Christ. People that she will never meet in a lifetime on earth never touched them.

But she knew someday she will meet them in heaven. Would you? Please I fold my hand before you tonight and ask would you ask the Lord what you will? Do as he guides you to link your life with missionaries on the field.

We got 11 ,000 missionaries in India and China and Bhutan and Burma and Bangladesh all these places. Native missionaries living like the people talking their language. Suffering and paying the price of preaching the gospel.

We got thousands now in the schools getting ready to go to the mission field, but they cannot go. No one to help them to go you say brother KP. Why not? The sad thing is they have no one to help them even with the train ticket.

It takes about As little as $30 a month. You can help one of those missionaries get to the place Where no one ever went before and preach the gospel and plan the church. When they plan the church and begin self-supporting you don't need to help them anymore.

They can keep on preaching and doing the work of the Lord and expand the work. My wife and I with our two children began to support for native missionaries. When they were going to school in Dallas. My kids used to go to the streets and pick up beer cans and coca-cola cans aluminum cans and sell them and bring the money.

So we can support for missionaries $30 a month and all those four missionaries began to plant local churches in India and Bhutan India Bangladesh all those places and today my kids are in India serving God.

Would you and your family if the Lord is speaking your heart? Decide to do that you say brother KP. How do I do that? The answer is this on the tables back there. We have a card with the blue stripe on the top in this card.

There is a place for you to say starting now I will help prayerfully sponsor help sponsor one missionary or two whatever number of missionaries you want support $30 a month. Then you write your name and address and you give it to the people.

Manning the table and they will give you your missionary to take home with you today. If you support five missionaries you will get five of these folders their testimony where they work for the Lord where they're going and so.

Authentic real thing every penny you give go to the mission field. No one take nothing out of it. 100 go to the mission field and you will hear from the missionary what God is doing through their life and how they plant the churches.

Every day we see nearly six churches planted on the mission field. Through these missionaries that are on the mission field and if the Lord is leading you. Would you please don't rush home tonight? But go to those tables take these cards and fill it out and get your missionary and take it home with you tonight.

You know sometimes Some TV preachers. I don't watch it anymore. Anyway, they say please send your money. If not, I had to go off there and usually talk back to them. Please go off there. Don't bug me.

It is as though God is in some big trouble than he made some commitment. He cannot keep that we had to pester people tell stories and emotionally stare them up and put them in a corner and listen. Tonight you are free to go home without doing one thing.

But you know what now since I'm 50 years old I remember my 84 year old mother more often than I want to hear it and my son. Someday you will understand it. And I say to you my wonderful brothers and sisters that know Jesus.

This world is not our home nothing We have be brought with us and we will not take nothing with us and every day I wake up and say Jesus. Today I seek your honor. Your approval. I don't seek no one's approval.

I don't care for anything. When I go to bed every night Say Lord, I walk through this day. I love you more than mission work the whole world. Please help me work with you and One more word. I say Jesus.

I have one desire to see you face to face. Please help me remain faithful and tonight I seek Ohm I said to you all the Bible knowledge all the studies all the knowledge in the world Will not help you Unless you choose him about knowledge and Do what he asked you to do the way he asked you to do it and that's all I ask.

Shall we pray? Jesus if only you can open our naked eyes. We will see you standing somewhere in the corner here or sitting one of the stairs or Lord, I don't know where you're standing, but I'm sure If you'd open our eyes, we will see you and Lord you look upon us not with condemnation or hate or dislikeness or Lord, none of us can say we did everything.

Well, we we are bunch of failures and Lord If these people know the way I know myself It'll be horrible. Yet Lord, you love me so much. You love us not because we give you this or that to do this and that it's so unconditional Lord.

That's reason we can fall at thy feet and embrace you and say Jesus you mean to us more than life itself. But Lord, let it not be so that our confession our knowledge will be Spirituality, but Lord let it lead us to obedience embracing the cross paying the price and Walking away from our own self-decide Lord agendas our own egos that we long for Lord to fulfill, please Jesus.

Set us free from our own self-centeredness. Tonight I want to thank you for this wonderful fellowship. These my brothers and sisters that you call from all over to love you to know you to worship you.