The Lord's Work Done the Lord's Way, Part Two — K.P. Yohannan

Hi, this is KP Yohannan, President of Gospel for Asia. If I could, I would love to take you with me to the mission fields of Asia. There you would see first hand how God is moving in unbelievable ways to bring thousands of lost people into His kingdom.

But since that is not possible, I want to do the next best thing. I want to bring the mission fields to you. That is why we are hosting our 2nd Annual Renewing Your Passion Conference it is in Texas this summer, close to the Dallas Fort Worth Airport.

I encourage you to set aside June 30th to July 2nd for an experience that can change your life. So, mark your calendar and join me, the GFS staff, native missionary leaders from Asia and hundreds of believers from around the world for our Renewing Your Passion Conference June 30th through July 2nd.

It will be an experience you will never forget. And it could be a turning point in your walk with Jesus.

I look forward to seeing you there. The conference takes place June 30th through July 2nd in the Dallas Fort Worth area. If you desire to renew your passion for the Lord and missions, then call or visit our website today for complete information.

The web address? GospelForAsia .org. That's GospelForAsia .org. And click on the conference link or call us toll free 866-WIN-ASIA. That's 866-WIN-ASIA. Hello. Welcome to The Road to Reality with Brother K .P. Ohannon, the founder and director of Gospel for Asia.

Today, we're going to bring you a message delivered by Brother K .P. during the 2005 Gospel for Asia Missions Conference. And this message will help bring perspective and balance into your life. We'll consider how our activities can be guided with an eternal outlook.

We're going to be in Psalm 103, starting at verse 15. Here's Brother K .P. Ohannon with a message entitled, Doing the Lord's Work the Lord's Way.

The Brevity of Life and the Coming Judgment

I share this with you as a pilgrim on this journey, knowing that you are also on this journey. And when it is all said and done, my brothers and sisters, when you look into the eyes of the Lord, when that day comes, you will not have your wife stand with you.

You will not have your husband. You don't have your children. You don't have your pastor. You will have no one that said you are the best person in the whole world. You build the greatest mission in the world.

None of those things. It's a very sobering thing to know. 100 years from now, you are not going to be sitting where you sit or live in the house you live or drive the car you drive. Nor you will have anyone say one thing to you.

As a matter of fact, you go to any large library, like the one we have in India in our seminary with 150 ,000 volumes and more. You look at the names of these authors. This new generation, as Ecclesiastes says, they don't even remember them anymore.

They're forgotten. As he says in the book of Psalms, what is life? What's my life? Your life like grass, little flower that comes up in the morning and the evening, the wind blows upon it and is gone.

The last sentence and the place of it remembers it no more. In the end, the most important thing before God and eternity is not what I have done for him. Many people make a mistake that the whole world is going to hell and I had to do something about it.

The Flesh Versus God's Work

Unless I do something, it's going to be in a big mess. That God has huge plans for my life and I must do the best in the world to do what God want me to do. And then they keep on moving so restless. And in the end, if they can sit down for an hour, they realize and think deep, the Lord has nothing to do with any of those stuff.

And the Lord said often, I didn't tell these people these things. They see visions and dreams and speak saying, thus saith the Lord. I never talked to them. They never stood before me. I have no clue what they're talking about.

And the reason I'm saying that to you, it says in Corinthians 11, first Corinthians, let each one judge themselves. If that is, we shall not be judged. You see, if the tree is good, the fruit is good.

And God is ever more concerned about my inner life, who I am. Because what he wants to do, that survive time and last through eternity, has everything to do with his life in me and through me. Not his work done in my flesh.

And God will make sure all Ishmael's will be rejected. It is true. God wanted Abraham to fulfill his plan. I will give you a son. But how long must you wait? I have to do something to help God out of this tight spot.

It says, and Abraham listened to his wife. Now, dear sisters, don't get mad at me. And I think she must have asked him, Abraham, you're talking about a son God is going to give. And, you know, I'm getting old and you are getting old.

And, you know, this is getting too late. And I imagine she must have come with a clever question. Did God say anything about me? Well, think of it, no. He said, Abraham, well, you see, that's what I'm telling you.

Get a son through our servant girl. And then you read, God had to talk to Abraham. Because Abraham comes to God and prays a prayer, paraphrasing, dear God, I wish you would bless my son Ishmael that he will live before you.

And the Lord turns around and simply speaks, says, Abraham, you can stand there for a thousand years and pray all the prayers you want. I cannot bless the fruit of the flesh. 25 years will go by. Romans 4, his body is important.

During today's language, he went to London, he went to Paddy's, he went to New York, he went to Dallas, Texas, and he went to the best doctors he can find and said, old man, it's all over. There's nothing that's going to help you.

And plus, your wife, it's no chance. Then God says, Abraham, be circumcised. What a terrible thing to do. In Philippians chapter 3, Paul says, and we are the true circumcision, those who place no confidence in the flesh.

So what is the meaning of circumcision? Come into the place saying, Lord, I am zero. Whatever you want, I know there's nothing good in me. There's nothing I can do, Lord. And I give up. If anything, it's going to be an absolute dependence on you.

You want me to sit here forever? That's fine. If you want me to stay in Tibet and give me TB and let me die there the rest of my life in a few days and finish, that's fine with me. You want me to make a cup of tea and give it to someone?

It's fine. You want me to go and turn the world around, upside down 10 times? Fine, no problem, whatever. It's all you and you alone. And after that, Abraham get his son of promise. The kingdom of God, Jesus said, is like a mustard, a seed that is sown.

The Mustard Seed and the Temptation of Institutional Growth

It grows up and become a mighty tree. And birds of the air find nest in it. Have you ever looked into an encyclopedia, which I did, to see mustard? Have you ever known a mustard becoming a mighty tree?

It's a bush. It's a stupid little bush. There's nothing mighty and big tree about it. But how come this little bush that nobody cares about can become huge as Himalaya-size tree that birds of the air will come and build a nest in it?

It's not talking about wicked, stupid people out there. No, it's talking about the kingdom. That means like these little skinny, scroungy little boys, you know, who take this stuff, you make your muscles grow.

What are you, steroids? You see them 10 years ago, they are walking matchsticks. But after 10 years with all this stuff, you know, they are huge, these restless looking guys. You can, and there's plenty around us, mission organizations, churches, megachurches, Christian work.

They have gone after the steroids, the system, the methods, the principles, the computer printouts, the manipulations, the fundraising techniques and agencies. And they have done very well, build huge empires.

Appears to be so wonderful, reaching the world, revolutionizing the continents and all this stuff going on, impact the community on television, this and everything. But all there is a full of birds. Birds in the Bible always talks about demons, if you want to know.

This is the reason why the work of God is hindered so much. And we can stand here and sit there and read and write and talk all the bad stuff going on all over the world in Christianity. But our problem is, Lord, it is not my brother, my sister, somebody else, Lord, it is me.

And you and I, as followers of Christ, we want to make sure this little life of ours, let it be so spend the day so carefully that what we do will count for eternity. Outside external science and growth and buildings and accomplishment, let's never misunderstand that is never going to be the way God measures success.

And he is looking for people, those whose hearts are completely his, for him to show himself mighty on their behalf. For this treasure, Paul says, we have in this earthen vessel. So the glory, the value is no more for the earthen vessel, but it is the one who does the work.

Radical Commitment to Gospel Mission

And as a ministry, you know, as I serve the Lord with the gospel of Asia that I'm part of, we are a bunch of crazy people. In every way, I think we have one thing on our mind to see people come to know the Lord.

Because I'm absolutely convinced hell is a real place. If you have any doubt about it, I recommend you to get the book by Ajit Fernando about questions answered about hell. And I believe man is lost without Christ.

And I believe heaven is a real place. I believe Jesus is coming back. But all those things make me as a rational human being absolutely desperate to get the gospel out. For I see Jesus doing that. All night praying, all day laboring, going from village to village, walking nearly a hundred kilometers just to minister to one woman, weeping.

His followers never stopped. I get in the jet right now and fly over to Thailand, India, anywhere within hours, I land over there. But what about Thomas when he came to India? The endless months of walk and travels and the burdens.

You ask the question, what would happen to the wives and children of these fellows, the disciples of Christ? For Peter was married. What kind of radical commitment, abandonment they had? So our life being a little weird about day and night running around, preaching, traveling, never taking a vacation, all those things, they're not unusual, they're normal.

So it appears to be we are on the side of Jesus for we follow him and Apostle Paul and his disciples. But now and then the Lord stops us.

We're gonna stop here for just a moment. We'll get back to Brother K .P. Johanan for more on this edition of Road to Reality. You're listening to a message that Brother K .P. delivered at the Gospel for Asia 2005 Missions Conference.

It's called The Lord's Work, The Lord's Way. Now, the 2006 Missions Conference is just around the corner. It takes place June 30th through July 2nd at the Gaylord Texas Hotel near the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport.

Come and get a life-changing perspective. As Brother K .P. and other missionary leaders bring the mission field to you. Again, the 2006 Renewing Your Passion Missions Conference takes place June 30th through July 2nd.

You can get complete information about the Renewing Your Passion Conference. Simply visit the Gospel for Asia website at gospelforasia .org and click on the conference link. That's gospelforasia .org or call us toll free.

800-WIN-ASIA. That's 800-WIN-ASIA. Now, let's return to Brother K .P. and his message, The Lord's Work, The Lord's Way.

Repentance When Ministry Replaces Communion With God

In 2002, some of our senior most leaders had a meeting in Nagpur, central part of India, July 2002. These are our executive leaders who make decisions for the ministry. Now, when you have a ministry of this size, no one person can run anything.

So actually, they met for another consultation. You ever heard that word? Talking, agonizing, writing notes. Everybody got their laptop sitting right on there, you know, in front of them. And in the end, they come up with 200 pages of report, what to do, all the decisions.

And of course, you know, you start those consultations with prayer. You know, I mean, you have to be spiritual, you know? But as they began to talk to the Lord, and one of the leaders sharing from the word in the devotion time, the Lord just took over.

It's interesting, and it's good, and surprising, and funny also. And the Lord began to speak through this brother and said, you know, I'm really grieved. You are so busy in doing my work that you're forgetting me.

Isn't it interesting that we can be meeting for a week, discussing about world evangelism? The Lord says, would you just let me in? And the discussions they did have, but the prayer meeting continued where the Lord began to speak to individuals then.

Things they didn't tell anybody else, except they themselves only knew in their heart. It was not condemnation, and guilt, and fear. No, it was his mercy saying, you know, I care about you so much. How come you do all this stuff that you don't even ask me about it?

And there was much repentance, and tears, and brokenness. From U .S. Center for World Missions, Ralph Winder, his last magazine, had a very interesting article about churches and mission organizations, the conflict and the struggle that American church is going through.

He talked about nearly half a million teenagers, young people being sent out in the name of short-term mission around the world, and the billions of dollars invested. And he talked about how this is hurting disastrously for the world missions.

Is it a bad thing to do that? No, we are sending kids out. And just an illustration of you as a pastor, and a missions leader, we can be so blind to the realities that we think that by us doing certain things, certain ways, going with the answer, and don't even ask the Lord what he's trying to do, and what he's saying us to do, and how to do it.

Not that we should not do these things, but what is he saying? And he cannot be our slave, our servant, unless we wait and listen from him. And my brothers and sisters, our service of the Lord, no matter where you are, you may be just a school teacher, raising your children as a mother, a pastor of a congregation, or working in some mission agency, or whatever you are, we need to be deeply concerned about this one thing, that we do not make up decisions, and plans, and run off.

Rather, there'll be a constant awareness that what I do has to be in dependence on the Lord, and I must hear from him. Now, there's no way I'm going to be able to cover this subject unless I have three hours.

The Local Church Sends Workers Under the Spirit's Direction

Therefore, so that things may make more sense, let me read some verses for you. Acts chapter 13, verse 213. It talks about the local church. As they ministered to the Lord, notice those words as you read carefully, as they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, now, separate to me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.

Then having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they send them. Then back in the Old Testament, book of Ezekiel chapter 44, verse 15 through 19. Ezekiel chapter 44, verse 15 through 19. But the priest, the Levites, the son of Saddub, who kept charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near me to minister to me, and they shall stand before me to offer to me the fat and the blood, says the Lord God.

They shall enter my sanctuary, and they shall come near my table to minister to me, and they shall keep my charge. And it shall be, whenever they enter the gates of the inner court, that they shall put on linen garments.

No wool shall come upon them while they minister within the gates of the inner court or within the house. They shall have linen turbans on their heads and linen trousers on their bodies. They shall not clothe themselves with anything that causes sweat.

When they go out to the outer court of the people, they shall take off their garments in which they have ministered, leave them in the holy chambers, and put on other garments. And in their holy garments, they shall not sanctify the people.

In that very passage, in the early part, you read about God saying, certain people, they are not allowed to come before him and stand before him to minister to him, but they shall minister unto the people.

Isaiah's Vision and Receiving Ministry From the Lord

I'm skipping a bunch of verses for the sake of time. Then you have the story in Isaiah chapter six of the man Isaiah that we all know about, chapter one to five, he's screaming to the whole world, you know, bloody murder, you are wicked, you are a sinner, this, that, all the way.

And finally, you know, he's saying, I'm the worst of all. And it happened when he saw the Lord. In second Corinthians chapter four, verse one and two, again, Paul says, therefore, having received this ministry from the Lord, we don't lose heart.

And then he goes on to explain the incredible pain, suffering, sacrifice, and the journey of dying daily. He says, we don't give it up. Why? You go back. The Lord is the one who gave this to me. I didn't cook up this ministry.

I didn't use any tricks to make a ministry work for me because some need is out there. It's him. There's a principle that we cannot violate. That is found throughout the scripture. That is the principle of the spirit and the flesh.

That is, God is seeking and searching for his people to live and do his work.

In dependence on him. His brother K .P. Ohanian said, if we're going to do the Lord's work the Lord's way, we need to constantly seek the Lord for direction and guidance. You're listening to The Road to Reality with Brother K .P. Ohanian, founder and director of Gospel for Asia.

We'll get back to Brother K .P. in just a moment. Today's message was recorded during the 2005 Gospel for Asia Missions Conference. If you're not familiar with the missions work the Lord is doing through Gospel for Asia, please stop by our website.

It's found at gospelforasia .org. You can view videos, get a free book, get an update on current events in the mission field. Again, that's gospelforasia .org. Or call us toll free 866-WIN-ASIA. That's 866-WIN-ASIA.

And once again, here's Brother K .P.

Hi, this is K .P. Ohanian, president of Gospel for Asia. I encourage you to set aside June 30th to July 2nd for an experience that can change your life. You see, that's what happened last summer. Nearly 200 people came to our first conference and they returned home.

Their spiritual lives revolutionized. Some began prayer meetings and mission conferences. Others made renewed commitments to mission and evangelism. Some even reconsidered their entire direction of their life and ministry.

What caused such a transformation in their lives? They heard for Native Missionaries how God is moving in Asia. They fellowshiped and prayed with GFA staff and with each other. They worshipped and opened their hearts to God's leading.

And their passion for mission was renewed. Their passion for prayer was renewed. Their passion for Jesus was renewed. So mark your calendar and join me, the GFA staff, Native Missionary leaders from Asia and hundreds of believers from around the world for our Renewing Your Passion conference June 30th through July 2nd.

It will be an experience you will never forget and it could be a turning point in your walk with Jesus.

I look forward to seeing you there. The conference takes place June 30th through July 2nd in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. If you desire to renew your passion for the Lord and missions, then call or visit our website today for complete information.

The web address, gospelforasia .org. That's gospelforasia .org. And click on the conference link or call us toll free 866-WIN-ASIA. That's 866-WIN-ASIA. The Road to Reality is sponsored by Gospel for Asia.

We'll return next week for the balance of this message, The Lord's Work, The Lord's Way. Until then, may the Lord richly bless you.