The Fear of the Lord - Part 2 — K.P. Yohannan

KP Yohannan offers this question as we begin this edition of the road to reality. Do you realize?

God's call on your life He has blessed you. He has blessed you and He won now to make you a blessing to millions in this generation.

Coming to you from Gospel for Asia. This is the road to reality. Welcome to our program today. This week brother KP Yohannan has us consider what it means to fear the Lord and how this will impact our lives.

I think you'll be encouraged and challenged by what he has to say today. So let's join brother KP as he shares stories from his own life in this the second part of his message called the fear of the Lord.

The Limits of Knowledge Without Obedient Living

Did you know? In the United States America.

You can buy or 1 ,000 Different commentaries in English language on the book of Acts alone. You fellows how many Christian concerts you been to how many seminars on how to do things? How many dozens of books you purchased?

How many churches you hoped? How many study Bibles you purchased. I plead with you listen to me. You may get 10 PhD in all the knowledge of theology and the word. You will never find a change in your heart nor in your family.

You know generations because it is not knowledge that changes things, but is radical lifestyle and our problem is I would go one step further as Followers of Christ it is not the quantity or quality time.

It is not the books. It's not the church. It is not what you know what you don't know it is Your life not Information that make the difference in your family and the work of the kingdom in your generation.

KP Yohannan's Conversion From Materialism to Sacrifice

I came to America and I say this not with smile and lot of joy and after a while here I just want to become like any American. When I first came to America, I thought a hot dog was dog meat. Honest honest I really believe it that way.

I Took me a while to figure out no hot dog was not dog meat. I was in a seminary and and and start Living my life and called the pastor church there and all those things and I don't know I will not go and go into all the details, but All the Sun I got into the life of materialism.

Quite a bit of money was given to us through my wife's people in Germany, so I did not buy nothing on credit. Only I will buy the most expensive Rolex watch my suits Neiman Marcus 17 neckties brand-new cars a house a library of my own Seven or so most expensive leather-bound Bibles.

Nothing wrong with having nice things in life. Newsweek time acts and sports stuff that I don't care nothing sports. What is this? I don't know. But I had them in my house people walk. It's like wow this guy is really oh I was sound fundamental born-again evangelical Preaching teaching what what else you want in America.

Two years went by I Found I couldn't cry anymore. I did everything right I said everything right for me and One day the Lord began to say to me son This is all about. Some 60 ,000 people in India die every day and punch into hell and what are you doing with your life?

Is this is what I called you about and? First time he hit me like a rock would fall on my head hell and I realized Jesus died. For this whole world and people that do not know him. They are going to hell and not for two days not for 1 million years not for 10 million years.

But for billions or trillions of years no never to end. Weeping and crying out just for one drop of water. Do I really believe in this thing. Do I really believe in this thing? Oh I? Wish I wish before God I could convince myself that there was no hell.

So I could escape from the storm and but in the end just like you who say We are the people of the world. I said I am a preacher a follower of the word Romans 1 2 3 convinced me. There's no other way only Jesus and that began to alter my thinking.

And I said Lord This is I can't believe I did this. Don't misunderstand. Don't write me off. I am NOT against your Boat your nice house or your Rolls Royce or whatever else he got that's none of my business.

But for me to us something else and I realized that I'm a follower of Christ. I must obey him. I must commit my life to him. It's a grace of God. It is the grace of God that he allowed me to come before him, and I prayed a simple prayer I said Lord take Eternity and stamp on my eyes.

I No more want to separate my life from ministry. Ministry is my very life, and I began to weep my heart began to break and I said to my wife Gisela I just want to keep couple of ties and couple of jackets and couple of shoes and and Sell all the rest give it away.

And I looked at my seven expensive leather-bound Bibles on my shelf and I remember as of today I was right there on the carpet tears running down saying Jesus Forgive me for doing this. When I was in China some time ago met Chinese brothers who said to me Thousands and thousands of congregations all over mainland China, and they said to me brother KP We are lucky if you have two Bibles to the name of each congregation.

Teaching Children Through Sacrificial Example

When they were very young they gave their life to the Lord and when my son was seven years old a Christmas time he came to me and said daddy. I want to buy a gun. I said Danny. He said I said You want a gun is that my front daddy is next door you know friend.

He has a gun and. And I said Danny. He's like how much I cost is that seventy six dollars. I said Danny that's more than a real gun to kill someone with. And of course it's a very fancy nice toy gun I guess and we made it a point my wife and I we will never impose our values on our children.

But just walk before them. We never make demand on them. So I said son That's fine. You want a gun you can buy it you got the money and I prayed within that night and next morning He came to me kind of you know seven a little kid.

He said daddy. I won't talk to you. You know daddy After you went away from the room. I kind of was thinking about it. I Buy a gun and it will be gone in a short time, but daddy I thought about uncle Paulo's the island of Rameshwaram.

Where millions of Hindus come to bathe themselves in the river and the ocean for forgiveness of sin they do not know Jesus daddy I want to give all my money this Christmas to buy Bibles for that missionary who is working in Rameshwaram.

When he finishes high school I Said to him Danny. You are a very bright student one of the best in your school. There are some places you can get full scholarship. Whatever you want to be. Doctor lawyer teacher anything you want.

I have my commitment to you to let you do that with all my heart. You pray and tell me what you want to do. It took him two months. When they came here said daddy I won't talk to you. I said yes, and daddy Jesus has called me to serve him on the mission field.

I want to go to India to study in our Bible school. What I'm telling you is this. You cannot live for materialism. Still live in all of the Chaldeans still hold on to your ambitions of that sport or this thing or that Thing and that long list of nice things you want to buy the fancy car or what ever stuff.

You are living for no, sir. You will live like any other Americans and die and lose it all. The only way to make it I challenge you and plead with you is to Commit your life that is your service. And because blood was the price He paid to purchase you and your children will see that and without you beating upon them.

They will follow in your footsteps. Just day before I left for this meeting Rather day for us today this letter came from Burma. From our leader there now Jim a court from this letter many times We were stoned while preaching.

Forced to leave the place that we ministered and the villages were lived in threatened not to win any more souls. Denied to sleep in their houses or eat food commanded and forced by the army to public labor like building railroad tracks high inflation sickness lack of Transportation and the hot climate our constant hardship we face on the mission field.

But we are assured by the Holy Spirit that the more we suffer for him the more rewards would be arranged for us in heaven. Three of my co-workers lost their lives with the last one and a half years while serving the Lord in their mission stations.

Among them but the kawang wa our most effective worker though gone to be with the Lord the seed. They have sown will bring forth good and plenty of fruit souls for his kingdom. Amazing. In a short time these brothers established 25 churches and baptized 345 new converts in these villages.

Missionary Sacrifice and the Moravian Example

You listen to those words of what they're saying. Reminds me of the Moravian brothers 200 years ago one of the greatest group of men a Church that was born on planet Earth. Two of the members heard about a slave colony in West Indies and They sold themselves as slaves.

Never to come back. So they can win those slaves to Jesus Christ to Moravian brothers heard about a call in Africa. When no one was allowed to enter I return. Because they are all Lepers living there they volunteer to go into those colonies to become lepers.

So they can win Those that do not know Jesus. How shallow is our commitment story of sacrifice and commitment?

May their all-out commitment to Christ encourage us to abandon all and follow the Lord ourselves. KP O 'Hanlon will be back in just a moment to elaborate on that. Hey, thank you for listening to the road to reality the radio ministry of gospel for Asia.

Have you heard about or been to our renewing your passion conference? This is a refreshing and encouraging time as we together here how God is Transforming the hearts of people all across Asia as some of you know and pray for us.

Still we are living under martial law. The army are ruling over the country. No freedom a lot of hindrance for the gospel walk. But today because of your prayer and suppose our missionary are able to plan more than 500 churches with 25 ,000 members.

You'll hear from leaders from the mission field as well as from KP himself at this year's renewing your passion conference. That's coming up July 11th through the 13th in Dallas, Texas. Now is the time to register and get more information.

So to do that either go to our website win Asia org or simply call us toll-free 866 win Asia, that's 866 win Asia or Win Asia org. Let's get back to the message. Now. Here's KP with more about the fear of God when God said to Abraham.

The Fear of God and Total Surrender

Take your son the only son. Offer him up as a sacrifice. He didn't say that to anyone didn't make a big deal out of it hurt deeply accepted the pain and Followed the instruction and God said Abraham. That's it.

Don't do it. Don't kill him. Now. I know you are the fear of God. Is your knowledge of the Lord? Motivates you to offer your life and everything you have or you're holding something back. I Want to ask a few questions and pray with you here.

One have you given up the right to run your own life? You have to think for yourself and answer that. Who makes the decisions for you? When was the last time you said Lord this vacation we are planning but what do you think about it?

When it's the last time you said Lord. My car is getting old and look terrible. I'm going to buy a new car. What do you think about it? Maybe he will tell you lay your hand on it and rebuke it and run again.

It's so funny. I don't do that anymore. I confess those early days when I was so incredibly changed by the Lord. I walked around for months without getting a haircut because I was saying Lord can. I couldn't get a haircut and I didn't hear no voices.

Then I realized His voice is barbershop. They're going get a haircut, but you know what? The strategies we Are giving left service to the Lord, but not acknowledging Lordship over every decision you make.

Listen. Become a friend of God. John 15 Jesus said you are now my friend and you will go forth and bear Much much fruit that is Ministry not the money you give not bunch of stuff you do. No, sir. It's deep Walk and understanding of the Lord in your personal life.

Do you hear from him? Is he able to tell you come here go there sit here. Don't do this. Do you know him? In your heart. Think about it. Secondly is Selfishness holding you back from serving him to those much is given much shall be required.

We don't like to talk about accountability in the sense God is a consuming fire. He's going to hold you responsible here. Their judgment is coming. You are standing for him. I start talking that they say this guy's a Baptist.

Come from. Yeah, listen, it's all in the Bible. It's all in the Bible. Even for every word that we speak we shall get account. Matthew 12 36 Paul's and Romans according to my gospel that day in which every imagination of the heart shall be revealed and judged.

God is a consuming fire. He's love he's merciful, but don't fool yourself. You are an all-american macho man. Listen, it means nothing to God. It means nothing to God. Fear him and that's admonition.

But I'm asking you are you more important than the call of the lost world that do not know? Jesus and perishing. What is holding you back. Third. Do you realize God's call on your life. He has blessed you.

He has blessed you and he won now to make you a blessing to millions in this generation. A man called me up while ago and said them but KP I just finished reading a book revolution world missions and he start crying and He said in the end for KP I'm 65 years old.

I'm getting older and soon. I'd like to say goodbye to everything and when I stand before the Lord I want to take all these people with me. I just want to stand before him with millions of people from all these people groups.

He talked about can you tell me how I may do it? I said I would yes I'll tell you. I told him about the mission projects and all the wonderful thing God is doing on the mission field and told about a project on the life of Jesus film thing We are doing and he said how much will that cost?

I said well, but quarter of a million dollars for that particular project. He said oh, okay. I'll pray buddy. Call you back. I said You don't have to pray about send me money. No, I didn't. I Said fine a couple of weeks later.

He called me and said the KPS. Yes, sir. We just send you a check for two hundred thirty-five thousand dollars. Can you get those? I said, yeah. We will within three four months time. We had the films in the hands of the missionaries a year later.

We did a study from the mission field. One year later what happened those films now listen to this every month. No less than hundred thousand people come to Jesus in India in the tribals and the unknown Regions and coming to know Jesus Christ.

Hallelujah. When I came to America I used to buy a deodorant soap my funniest story. Because I learned from England before coming to America a deodorant soap, you know, so we take bath with English and America cost a dollar fifty cents every time you buy that particular deodorant bar soap and I was buying it.

Nope. No problem piece of cake. There's American. And when the Lord convicted my heart about the lost and dying millions how I must rearrange my lifestyle next time you went to the store I Switched from that most loved Wonderful soap to mr. Ivory.

35 cents. So you say wow, that's very spiritual nonsense. Hey having no car. No house. No soap. No close. It's not spiritual. Don't don't listen to this. That's just that's legalism. That is falsehood, but this my little story.

I'm telling you, you know, why? In Rajasthan Kota a Hindu man in his late 50s. Just a while ago. He was on the way with a bottle of poison in his pocket to drink and commit suicide. A Hindu Brahman. He had cancer in his body he didn't want to bring shame to his family.

He was on the way to kill himself and our brothers in North India. Was preaching the gospel. 120 degree Fahrenheit temperature. This man came up and got a gospel tract. In Hindi language, he read the thing first time in his life.

He reads about a God who came into this world to die for him and save him. And he prayed the prayer right on the street that he read from the booklet to Jesus. Peace came in his heart. He ran back home when the doctors they checked him up down inside out.

They said what did you take nothing wrong with you? He put the booklet out of his pocket as a doctor. They said Dear God, this man had cancer now. He's mentally ill and He went to a mission station said this is what happened to me.

And they explained about Jesus what the Lord did for him. The whole thing he started weeping. Oh This Jesus now is my Lord. And he said I'm a landlord. I could print your money. Can you come and make all my people Christians?

Two of our missionaries went with him preach the gospel. A Glorious church established in that village where Jesus name was never mentioned in the history. All that began with one single gospel tract.

What the price of a chewing gum. Live live your life as a service to God because Hundred years from now you ain't going to be here. Yes. If the Lord didn't come by the tree may be here. This ground may be here, but you know what?

You aren't going to be here the house the cars the ambition of dreams and all the stuff you are. Gathering and reputation and all the you know, phony face you put up an act out. Nothing is going to be here.

It's all over. Blood was the price my Lord paid to purchase me. Ah, I am not my own. Anymore, whatever he wants. That's all. What is holding you back from that kind of a commitment. It's not a one-time commitment but daily commitment.

Ministry Requires the Cross and Daily Commitment

Well, I must end My talk with you by simply saying No authentic ministry apart from the cross. Accept the cross. It will do surgery without anesthesia. You have to make some decisions. To say goodbye to some friendship some habits.

The way you spend your resources your lifestyle your ambitions your plans your dreams. Don't call me Lord Lord. But do what I say to you. Those are words of Jesus. After all, what does it matter when time comes to an end?

Only thing matters you stand before him. Who purchased you. You should be able to just leap up and hug him and said Lord All my life as a stranger and pilgrim on earth. I long to see you face to face.

Finally, I'm home not alone, but with so many that You were able to bring into the kingdom. Because I gave my life you took it as a piece of bread. You broke it and I was hurting it was had. The times of fasting the times of weeping the times of prayer the times of sacrifice.

It was hard, but Lord, it's all worth it. It's all worth it now for throughout eternity. I'm here.

That's brother KP Ohanan and this is the road to reality the radio outreach of gospel for Asia. If you've been challenged by brother KP's practical approach to fearing the Lord, please visit our website at win Asia org.

That's win Asia dot org. And while you're there Be sure to look into our upcoming renewing your passion conference coming up this July. We'd sure love to have you join us as we're encouraged together by what God is doing throughout Asia at the present time.

That's July 11th through the 13th in Dallas. To register get more information Go to win Asia org or call us toll-free. 866 win Asia, that's 866 win Asia. The road of reality is brought to you by gospel for Asia.

Repeated Call to Abandon Materialism

You are living for no, sir. You will live like any other Americans and die and lose it all. The only way to make it I challenge you and plead with you is to Commit your life that is your service. And because blood was the price He paid to purchase you and your children will see that and without you beating upon them They will follow in your footsteps.

Just day before I left for this meeting. Rather day for us today. This letter came from Burma. From our leader there now Chum a court from this letter many times We were stoned while preaching. Forced to leave the place that we ministered and the villages were lived in threatened not to win any more souls.

Denied to sleep in their houses or eat food. Commanded and forced by the army to public labor like building railroad tracks high inflation sickness lack of transportation and The hot climate our constant hardship we face on the mission field.

But we are assured by the Holy Spirit that the more we suffer for him The more rewards would be arranged for us in heaven. Three of my co-workers lost their lives with the last one and a half years while serving the Lord in their mission stations.

Among them but the Kowloon wall our most effective worker though gone to be with the Lord the seed They have sown will bring forth good and plenty of fruit souls for his kingdom. Amazing in a short time these brothers established 25 churches and baptized 345 new converts in these villages.

Moravian Missionary Zeal as a Challenge to the Church

You listen to those words of what they are saying Reminds me of the Moravian brothers 200 years ago one of the greatest group of men a Church that is born on planet earth. Two of the members heard about a slave colony in West Indies and They sold themselves as slaves.

Never to come back. So they can win those slaves to Jesus Christ to Moravian brothers. Heard about a call in Africa Where no one was allowed to enter. I return. Because they are all Lepers living there they volunteer to go into those colonies to become lepers.

So they can win Those that do not know Jesus. How shallow is our commitment story of sacrifice and commitment?

May their all-out commitment to Christ encourage us to abandon all and follow the Lord ourselves. KP O 'Hanlon will be back in just a moment to elaborate on that. Hey, thank you for listening to the road to reality the radio ministry of gospel for Asia.

Have you heard about or been to our renewing your passion conference? This is a refreshing and encouraging time as we together here. How God is transforming the hearts of people all across Asia as some of you know and pray for us.

Still we are living under martial law. The army are ruling over the country. No freedom a lot of hindrance for the gospel walk. But today because of your prayer and suppose our missionary are able to plan more than 500 churches with 25 ,000 members.

You'll hear from leaders from the mission field as well as from KP himself at this year's renewing your passion conference. That's coming up July 11th through the 13th in Dallas, Texas. Now is the time to register and get more information.

So to do that either go to our website win Asia org or simply call us toll-free 866 win Asia, that's 866 win Asia or win Asia org. Let's get back to the message now. Here's KP with more about the fear of God when God said to Abraham Take your son.

Abraham's Faith and the Fear of God

Only son. Offer him up as a sacrifice. He didn't say that to anyone. Didn't make a big deal out of it. Hurt deeply accepted the pain and Followed the instruction and God said Abraham. That's it. Don't do it.

Don't kill him now. I know you are the fear of God. Is your knowledge of the Lord? Motivates you to offer your life and everything you have or you're holding something back. I Want to ask a few questions and pray with you here.

One have you given up the right to run your own life? You have to think for yourself and answer that. Who makes the decisions for you? When was the last time you said Lord this vacation we are planning, but what do you think about it?

When was the last time you said Lord? My car is getting old and look terrible. I'm going to buy a new car. What do you think about it? Maybe he will tell you lay your hand on it and rebuke it and run again.

It's so funny. I don't do that anymore. Those early days when I was so incredibly changed by the Lord I walked around for months without getting a haircut because I was saying Lord can. I couldn't get a haircut and I didn't hear no voices.

Then I realized his voice is a barbershop. They're going get a haircut, but you know what the tragedies we Are giving lip service to the Lord, but not acknowledging Lordship over every decision you make.

Listen become a friend of God. John 15 Jesus said you are now my friend and you will go forth and bear much much fruit. That is Ministry not the money you give not bunch of stuff you do. No, sir. It's deep Walk and understanding of the Lord in your personal life.

Do you hear from him? Is he able to tell you come here go there sit here. Don't do this. Do you know him? In your heart. Think about it. Secondly is Selfishness holding you back from serving him to those much is given much shall be required.

We don't like to talk about accountability in the sense God is a consuming fire. He's going to hold you responsible here. Their judgment is coming. You are standing for him. I start talking that they said this guy's a Baptist.

Come from. Yeah, listen, it's all in the Bible. It's all in the Bible. Even for every word that we speak we shall get account. Matthew 12 36 Paul's and Romans according to my Gospel that day in which every imagination of the heart shall be revealed and judged.

God is a consuming fire. His love is merciful, but don't fool yourself. You are an all-american macho man. Listen, it means nothing to God. Is me nothing to God? Fear him and that's admonition. But I'm asking you are you more important than the call of the lost world that do not know Jesus and perishing.

What is holding you back third. Do you realize? God's call on your life he has blessed you he has blessed you and He won now to make you a blessing to millions in this generation. A Man called me up while ago and said but KP I just finished reading a book revolution world missions and he started crying and He said in the end for KP I'm 65 years old.

I'm getting older and soon I'd like to say goodbye to everything and when I stand before the Lord, I want to take all these people with me. I just want to stand before him with millions of people from all these people groups.

He talked about Can you tell me how I may do it? I said I would yes I'll tell you I told you about the mission projects and all the wonderful thing God is doing on the mission field and told you about a project on The life of Jesus film thing we are doing and he said how much will that cost?

I said well, but quarter of a million dollars for that particular project. He said, oh, okay. I'll pray buddy. Call you back I said We're going back home you don't have to pray about send me money. No, I didn't.

I Said fine a couple of weeks later. He called me and said the KPS. Yes, sir. We just send you a check for two hundred thirty four thousand dollars. Can you get those? Yeah. We will within three four months time.

We had the films in the hands of the missionaries a year later. We did a study from the mission field. One year later what happened to those films. Now listen to this every month no less than 100 ,000 people come to Jesus in India in the tribals and the unknown regions and coming to know Jesus Christ.

Hallelujah. When I came to America I used to buy a deodorant soap my funniest story. Because I learned from England before coming to America a deodorant soap, you know. You understand English and America cost a dollar fifty cents every time you buy that particular deodorant bar soap and I was buying it.

Nope. No problem piece of cake. That's American. And when the Lord convicted my heart about the lost and dying millions how I must rearrange my lifestyle next time you went to the store I Switched from that most loved Wonderful soap to mr. Ivory.

35 cents. So you say wow, that's very spiritual nonsense. Hey having no car no house. No soap. No clothes. Not spiritual. Don't don't listen to this. That's this that's legalism. That is falsehood, but this my little story.

I'm telling you, you know, why? In Rajasthan Kota a Hindu man in his late 50s. Just a while ago. He was on the way with a bottle of poison in his pocket to drink and commit suicide. A Hindu Brahman. He had cancer in his body.

He didn't want to bring shame to his family. He was on the way to kill himself and our brothers in North India. Was preaching the gospel. 120 degree Fahrenheit temperature. This man came up and got a gospel tract.

In Hindi language, he read the thing first time in his life. He reads about a God who came into this world to die for him and save him. And he prayed the prayer right on the street that he read from the booklet to Jesus.

Peace came in his heart. He ran back home when the doctors they checked him up down inside out. They said what did you take nothing wrong with you? He put the booklet out of his pocket as a doctor. They said Dear God, this man had cancer now.

He's mentally ill and He went to a mission station said this is what happened to me. And they explained him about Jesus. What the Lord did for him the whole thing. He started weeping. Oh This Jesus now is my Lord.

And he said I'm a landlord. I could print your money. Can you come and make all my people Christians? Two of our missionaries went with him preach the gospel. A Glorious church established in that village where Jesus name was never mentioned in the history.

All that began with one single gospel tract. What the price of a chewing gum. Live live your life as a service to God because. Hundred years from now you ain't going to be here. Yes. If the Lord didn't come by the tree may be here.

This ground may be here, but you know what? You aren't going to be here. The house the cars the ambition the dreams and all the stuff you are. Gathering and reputation and all the you know, phony face you put up an act out.

Nothing is going to be here. It's all over. Blood was the price my Lord paid to purchase me. I am not my own anymore. Whatever he wants. That's all. What is holding you back from that kind of a commitment.

It's not a one-time commitment but daily commitment. Well, I must end My talk with you. I simply saying No authentic ministry apart from the cross. Accept the cross. It will do surgery without anesthesia.

You have to make some decisions. To say goodbye to some friendship some habits. The way you spend your resources your lifestyle your ambitions your plans your dreams. Don't call me Lord Lord. But do what I say to you.

Those are words of Jesus. After all, what does it matter when time comes to an end? Only thing matters you stand before him. Who purchased you. You should be able to just leap up and hug him and said Lord All my life as a stranger and pilgrim on earth.

I long to see you face to face. Finally, I'm home not alone, but with so many that You were able to bring into the kingdom. Because I gave my life you took it as a piece of bread. You broke it and I was hurting it was had.

The times of fasting the times of weeping the times of prayer the times of sacrifice. It was hard, but Lord, it's all worth it. It's all worth it now for God.

That's brother KP Ohanan. And this is the road to reality the radio outreach of gospel for Asia. If you've been challenged by a brother KP's practical approach to fearing the Lord, please visit our website at win asia org.

That's win asia dot org. And while you're there Be sure to look into our upcoming renewing your passion conference coming up this July. We'd sure love to have you join us as we're encouraged together by what God is doing Throughout Asia at the present time.

That's July 11th through the 13th in Dallas. To register get more information Go to win Asia org or call us toll-free. 866 win Asia. That's 866 win Asia. The road of reality is brought to you by gospel for Asia.