Lifting Up Our Eyes (Full) — K.P. Yohannan

What a joy to be here with you today and I always Look forward to coming to California. I suppose the main reason is the In and out hamburger shop. I Honestly believe that's the best thing happened for California.

We have emailed them a whole bunch of times asking them to come to Dallas, Texas And threatened them and now they are willing to think about it. I heard I said Tim was very gracious and kind to take us to in and out burger place last night and Really it happened.

May the Lord bless him. John beers my colleague and co-worker we left Dallas yesterday to be here and of course, you know before Coming to States day for us today as a matter of fact had landed Here before that I was in Newfoundland and Australia for two weeks of intense travel and during a prayer meeting I was sharing about Nepal what God is doing?

Persecution and Gospel Advance in Nepal

They are a Hindu nation on the law is still there have this if you baptize a Hindu. The punishment is six years imprisonment and many of our missionaries suffered a whole lot right now we are one in person for many many years and The country went through a huge revolution as you know, the king and the entire family got butchered and then of course things changed.

And now the red-hot communist Maoist Became a huge threat to the country the new king resigned and stepped down and they declared the country is going to be a secular government and Rewriting the Constitution and I told the people in New Zealand our office there and the staff We need to be really praying that God will intervene that they will change the law on the book.

Meanwhile from India the Hindu radical fundamentalists are going to Nepal trying to persuade the lawmakers to make it more tougher for Christian work in Nepal and We've been working there for years think about it in the mist of huge persecution problems we have over 200 churches planted among the most unreached and One of the key is that since the Maoist began to cause so much trouble for the government and the king they left us alone and Our missionaries had more freedom to preach the gospel and then the huge miracle I was telling during the prayer meeting time is that we are able to broadcast the gospel on 16 FM radio stations nothing about it that belong to the government.

India with 1 .2 billion people. So far, we don't have the freedom to air the gospel over the radio. They won't allow us. So we are airing the gospel from outside of India and these nations in 92 languages and Over a million people write to us a year asking for more information about the Lord.

So I was so excited about what's going on Nepal and then we are going to add more radio stations. We they're willing to let us do. You know It was so wonderful and I said now we're gonna divide into small groups and we're gonna pray you know and then I stepped down.

A Call to Recover Spiritual Vision

I missed one step and I I just fell down and Twisted my angle and and the whole church could hear the sound. I'm in the woman and and I just horrible pain and but the Lord was gracious and I survived with the wheelchairs and all those things and I didn't want to cancel coming here and.

And Tonight I'll be back in Dallas and tomorrow catching another flight to Sri Lanka and India. For a week before coming back to go to Florida, of course, you know our in you know US headquarters for a mission is in Dallas, Texas some 120 people work behind the scene like John beers he's in leadership and My wife is in Dallas at the time.

That's where our home my two children born in Dallas, by the way. And finish their studies here and the Lord called them to leave America and they are on the mission field for last ten years and what a blessing it is.

And Somebody asked me where is my home? I said the suitcase, you know. Because kids are gone so my wife also travels, you know a little bit here and there with us, you know, what? Gisela and I that's her name.

We talked about this. We miss each other quite a bit. But we made a Calculated decision as Emmy Carmichael said we have moments only few seconds to work but eternity to rejoice and it's a Calculated decision and I I told my wife if you feel this is too much.

What we are doing, please let me know but she's more crazy than I am. But I tell you something when when you recognize the time is so brief and then you know In 1974 I came to America to Dallas. To go to seminary and within a few years time.

I was becoming like an American, you know. That means when I first came to America, I thought Hot dog was dog meat. Literally, I'm touched but then I learned my lessons well and In a few years time, you know library to my name and thousands of books I may never read.

But look wonderful 70 neckties all from Europe. Because I spent some time there and then you know clothes I bought from most expensive places. Which is a bad thing by the way. But it took me about half hour to get dressed often because I read a book color me beautiful.

Some of you men look you're lost ask your wife Indian from the streets of India eight years of weeping over the lost and perishing millions. Seen the poverty and the struggle having come to this nation.

Materialism began to kill me. I was in seminary pastoring a church. Spoke the right language. But all the sudden I found my eyes were dry. I could cry anymore my heart was cold. I Was deep in the theology and preaching and teaching and then I realized I'm no more becoming like Christ.

I'm becoming what I want to be and That's when I prayed nearly 30 years ago Kneeling down in my study and said Lord. My heart is gone. I don't know what to do. Take eternity and stamp on my eyes and that was before gospel for Asia.

The Compassion of Christ for the Perishing

You know my brothers and sisters I'm here With you knowing this is one of the finest church with someone most godly leadership and a teaching pastor why should I pretend to be here to teach or preach because you have it all and The truth of the matter is the Lord allowed me to come here with the kindness of the leadership to share with you some practical Things that should help us to understand ways of the Lord.

You know What we don't understand you can see all the pictures in the world. You can hear all the stories in the world read all the books in the world and be brainwashed With information about the lost world such as two billion people.

Still wait to hear the name Jesus. 80 ,000 people die every single day and plunge into hell and forever. And all this stuff you can hear but you will continue to live your life the same way and spend your money the same way and for the sake of Soothing your guilty conscious.

Maybe you may give you money or go to Mexico or different things. But that is not the way Christ is. The way Christ is when he saw the multitude he was broken up with Such pain in John's gospel chapter 4.

He lost his very appetite by the Confrontation he had with one woman That is lost without the father and that woman's life became the window for him to see the Multitudes that are perishing and then he cries out saying lift up your eyes disciples and see what I see.

Because they are worried about hamburger and french fries and food and all kind of stuff. They are worried about eating their food. They were about Christ eating his food, but he said I lost my appetite.

Think about it. When was the last time your wife or your husband or your children said to you? You are you're hungry you're eating. I mean you've been missing me so many times something wrong. Then you respond.

Well, the truth of the matter is remember a few days ago we were watching what happened in Bangladesh. Hundred thousand people died overnight and Thousands of kids on the streets and millions Displaced and it just breaks my heart.

I made a decision to fast for three four days and Pray for these people and experience the pain Christ experienced for the lost and dying millions. Please for kindness sake understand me. I am NOT here to get anything from you or put you on any kind of guilt trip.

Loving Christ Above Family and Self

We have come to the place in church that obedience has come to the place of being misunderstood as legalism. But Jesus said unless you love me more than father son daughter. Even your own very life. You cannot be mine.

These are verses we don't want to talk about. Maybe I didn't want to talk about it but when the Lord dealt with my heart I Realized he was asking me for surgery with anesthesia. He said you raised the dragon you better slayed.

I will force you you can choose. And I tell you it was not easy my brothers and sisters what the Lord did in my own. This brief walk. I remember sitting in my study. Writing some not with my mom one blank a pen that who want to spend three hundred fifty thousand three hundred fifty dollars for a stupid little fountain pen.

Because I was in Germany that was my great joy because I always loved fountain pen. I remember writing with this thing something and the Lord just spoke to my son. Hundred years now who's gonna use this pen?

I? Say what I? Just asked you a question. Then he let me think about everything I was living for. And I added hundred years of my age and found out I'm dead. I'm gone. Nothing I take with me it just scared me to death and I realized I better Commit my life and every fiber of my being so radical that nothing in the world should hold me back.

From giving all to him and loving him and living for the cause. And I won't recommend you to sell your house and car and wife and kids and all those stuff. I'm not promoting any of that. But this is what I'm telling you.

Servanthood and Freedom from Self-Centeredness

We we got a problem of information beginning godliness information will never make it godly as a matter of fact I tell you what Christ died on the cross not to forgive our sin alone and take his heaven.

But to set us free from our own self-centeredness because only then we can see Christ using our earthen vessels to change this lost world and I so bad wanted to do my own way things for God and the Lord said to me listen.

Why don't you become a servant? A slave. So that instead of you just go into some mission field on your own trying to do something. Let your life become the reason for thousands of my servants go to the mission field.

It was a whole new revelation new understanding. You say what are you talking about you see? Countries like India with over a million people they will not allow Americans to come or Europeans to be missionaries there to preach Baptize and plant churches as a matter of fact the 1040 window region.

Restricted mostly closed. I we take people overseas by the way. We do we challenge them to do that for a few months or what about but I'm talking about. How do you reach half of the country that never heard the name Jesus.

I Remember the early days we go from village to village and ask people if they heard the name Jesus the most common answer. You know very polite nice people. They're scratched. I can say you know I've been living here for 20 30 40 years.

No one by that name live here. You go to the next to village you may find him there. Literally, this is actually true and How do you reach these people. This is where the Lord began to show us the very beginning or the beginning of gospel for Asia that the body of Christ here.

We can link our lives with brothers and sisters on the mission field Indians and Nepalese and Bhutanese and Burmese and you know Thailand people and Chinese and Pray for them and help them to get the job done as a matter of fact today.

We have Sixteen thousand full-time well-trained missionaries on the field over these Years we have seen 24 ,000 churches planet among people that didn't have a church before. Every day close to 60 new fellowships churches born on the mission field you say that's unbelievable.

You better believe it. You want to go with me? Please will buy ticket and go and you would be surprised to see what God is doing. Such as this man wrote from Nepal listen to a radio broadcast. Sir, I hear if I believe in your Jesus my sins can be forgiven then can we all join you?

12 people sign the name under that. The missionary was sent a beautiful church now in the community from the end of Bhutan a place that is not even on the map. Literally we looked for it this guy wrote.

I Heard about Jesus over the radio. And I was laying on my mat in my hut as paralyzed for years. I Prayed to Jesus. I don't know what happened. I got up This book you talk about. I don't know what this is.

Can you give me a book? Two missionaries walked seven days to get to the community now. We can't build churches in Bhutan, but how was we build and inside the worship. This is unbelievable. What is happening today?

The Image of God and Human Dignity

Did you know in India nearly 300 million people of the population the untouchables the Dalits? You heard about them the worst slavery in human history. It is not what was in America or England it is in India.

Hundred and sixty two million child laborers little kids four or five six-year-old kids starting to work. From morning till night making eight nine cents for the whole day's labor. Do you have kids?

I have to Think about your little boy and girl half naked a few cents. You know, who are these kids the children or the untouchables? You see. What is it that I'm so consumed about my children their welfare their health and wealth and education.

Is God so partial? That he has no feeling for hundred thousand children. Wandering on the streets of Bombay not knowing who their parents are. He cares he weeps. But the problem is not his the problem is mine that I cannot become like him because I'm consumed with my own affair even in spiritual things and I remember the Lord speaking in my heart.

Son seven. Expensive leather-bound Bible sitting on your shelf when half of the world have never seen one page of the Bible. What is it all about? Is this not the radical Christianity Jesus called us for and I tell you mission failed.

Missionary Sacrifice and Persecution

Literally thousands are coming to Christ almost every hour, but there's a price paid. You go to the website and simply take some time. Don't look for your movies to rent look at the websites like GFA org or any and see.

Everyday thousands are butchered murdered for the sake of Christ in many nations. There's not a week to go by. I don't hear about 10 12 of our missionaries beaten abused bones broken. One of our missionary who baptized over hundred people.

Early morning. He was going on his bicycle to ministry. A group of men caught them in Bihar. You know what they did they stripped him naked and took a razor blade went all over his body left him to die on the roadside.

Two missionaries went in northeast to welcome the Muslims. They won 18 or 19 people to the Lord baptized and one morning these two brothers were going about their evangelism ministry. When they met a group of men and the leader of the gang stepped forward took a long dragon stabbed in the heart of Hussain and He fell in a pool of blood.

Leaving his wife and two kids behind and salsa his coworker. They stabbed him six times. He recovered after many months. You know my sisters listen to this this young wife the wife of this missionary who was murdered.

She's a Muslim convert. Her parents are not Christians. She was alone with her husband and two kids in a strange mission field. Hearing about the news about her husband being murdered. Her father came from distant village and said my daughter.

Thank God the devil is dead. Now you come home with me with my grandchildren now the answer this anger gave my father I can't. I love these people. I love Jesus. I will raise my children to take the place of my husband and they must serve the Lord.

And that shocked this father who is a Muslim in two weeks time. She led into the Lord Jesus Christ and he was baptized. Hallelujah. Here's the thing. If I can tell you all the events and stories that's going on unbelievable.

But please understand it is not Because some magical powers or some super brains. It is because behind it are Individuals who made a choice my life is not my own it is his and that's what it's all about however that Interpreted in your personal life if you do that I tell you when we stand before the Lord it is not going to just you and me and our little families.

But millions that no man can number multitudes and we'll dance for ever. And I tell you that is what our destiny is. And I pray that this earth the things of the world and friendships and whatever else the pull of the flesh Will not stop us from going forward to take the world with us to heaven.

Training Native Missionaries

Whether we go or stay whatever let us be radicals now. For me when the Lord told us to do this one the greatest joy was saying Lord. I will do that. Little did I know When I made that surrender. That what it meant was I was linking my life with brothers and sisters.

That the Lord used to see so many come to know the Lord one of the mission field I was in early days of my life. With operation mobilization is in Punjab people who wear this turban thing and we have a Bible college there.

We are 54 Bible colleges with over 7 ,000 students in all these 10 countries. By the way, we graduate over 2 ,000. These are not Americans. These are people from their own countries who go to the unreached people groups in their country or the near country.

Whatever is unbelievable and this one young man went to the place this particular mission feels so difficult. Usually they fast and pray for God to go before them. Because you're dealing with huge amount of demon possessed people and sick people and opposition all that.

This dear brother was going about ministering and one day he saw this family Sitting so sad and gloomy like somebody died in their home and he said what happened. They said well our buffalo. We milk the buffalo and sell the milk and make a living but our buffalo is dying.

We don't know what to do. Then he looked over and saw the animal there and He said well, I'll pray to Jesus for your buffalo and he quietly said Lord. This is the only chance. Please do something about it.

And and he laid a hand on his dying buffalo and he prayed before he could finish the prayer that buffalo jumped up. And he shocked the family end up giving all their lives to the Lord. More people came to the Lord.

And he baptized over a period of many months of over hundred twenty hundred forty people and the church was built. First church in the community so that we would not forget what God did we named the church the Buffalo Church.

It's a cool idea. How do we translate all this? You know There are several things I would recommend to you one. We all pray. But did you know There's a study being released about our country. Christians in America average believer pray less than eight minutes a day and ministers pray.

Fasting and Prayer for the Nations

Less than 12 minutes a day. I am not talking about this church, obviously. But I just ask you When was the last time you spent an hour or two with the Lord? When was the last time? The burden he shared with you because intimacy with him so much you called Into the workplace and said I can't come home today.

I am sick. You are sick. Well, I can tell you I just I just can't work. I'm I'm sick. You are sick and Broken up like Christ. When he walked on earth now you are his but you will never never never know this with all the theology and preaching and consultations and counsels.

Unless you be his to be with him. Let him tell you his burdens. My recommendation to you which I make to our people everywhere. Make one day of the week for fasting and prayer and get a world map. What do you mean world map become a world ?alties.

Become a world Christian someone said not a worldly Christian when my kids were growing up in Dallas. We had the world map by our dining table and every day We looked at this talk about different countries and pray for the different countries because operation world book.

You know what the kids did we never told them go to the mission field, but when they finished their Studies they ran off. One to Nepal one to India and they never want to come back. You know what happened.

They understood the heart of God. I'm not saying you had to run off to some country but Prayer he said what I'm a pretty good pray for go to our website. We can bury you with prayer request. You won't believe it.

Fantastic exercise and Just fasting one day of the week. You will not die if you die, please let me know. Second application. You know for me Everything in me died. I Couldn't touch godliness anymore while I was in the ministry because of materialism and The Lord had to set me free.

Simplicity, Sacrifice, and Material Possessions

That means different thing to different people. I have friends of multi-millionaires who are intense in their walk with God touching the lost world. But there are poor people who got nothing but greedy like the devil.

I'm not promoting. Selling your stuff and house and cars. That's not what I'm saying. But when half of the world go to bed with empty stomach and naked bodies, let's not fool ourself. And be superficial about it.

How many more clothes you need to make you look nice? How many more diamonds you need to pull his love for you? How many more new cars and trinkets we need to make us happy. Listen find happiness in Suffering that you accept in the flesh.

Why I say it I still fight this battle. It is not over. Invest invest your life for things that will perish. But please don't do it out of guilt or condemnation or need or whatever you seek the Lord. Don't be careless about it.

Taking the Risk to Serve God

The next recommendation I have the third one if the Lord is calling you to serve him listen take the risk. You will never be abandoned by him. Okay, get a one-way ticket you die. Don't worry. Heaven is a much better place than you know.

What I'm this what we tell our missionaries when they go to the mission field by the way. If you get killed on the mission field you wait there for us and we'll come and see you later. Excitedly we tell them this because the persecution is so severe in many places.

Now you may not be able to go to India or these nations and live there. But you can serve God in all kind of ways and we are even looking for people to work with us in Dallas, Texas. The skill unskilled anyone who want to serve God we will talk to you.

We need people in Canada. We need people in Australia and use in all kind of places and we are looking for people. With skills like television and all these we are trying to launch a television channel in the next two months.

We need people to come and help us people who can. You know work with cameras and editing and all these are skills We cannot find in these places and if you are one that could any kind of skill in this kind of areas media.

Please talk to us. We'll buy a one-way ticket and throw your passport away. And we will we'll take care of you. Please don't worry about that and then it will be a rejoicing wonderful thing and and a fellowship like this.

Water water what a place for people to pray and help you as a matter of fact, we are so happy we have a couple from this church that is going to be joining us this year and Please I think it's Jonathan his name and please pray for the family.

Supporting Native Missionaries

The last recommendation I have for you is that you know My first choice was not to be in America or anywhere. I just want to go to India Nepal somewhere. That's when the Lord said listen do this and You can do more and that's when gospel creation began.

There is a card given to you in the bulletin. Would you please pull it out and it is it is right there with you in the bulletin and be kind enough to look at This if you want to read it on the screen, you can also.

What it is simply this. As I told you we have Thousands of brothers and sisters in all these nations who speak the language. Live it like that people with a passion born for Jesus, but they come from terribly Poor backgrounds and this is where we can become Romans chapter 10 Fulfillers that is how will they go to preach except they be sent what I'm asking you.

Would you pray and ask the Lord he'll give you the grace to help Someone's native missionaries in Nepal India Bhutan any of those countries. As a matter of fact, you're looking at the card this guy here on the card I know him personally when he came to Christ my Sikh family in Punjab his parents literally threw him out of the house.

He came to a Bible college finishes three years study. We sent a mission field. He planets off our five churches in that state. Can you imagine you are given the privilege to be the sponsor of that missionary or Hundreds like this dear brother what I'm asking you.

Do you please help us? We have literally hundreds of missionaries who are ready to go to the mission field. But we need someone to pray for them and help them you say brother KP. What does that mean? My wife and I we began help for missionaries giving $30 a month and each one of these missionaries God used them to establish churches on the mission field and you can do the same.

All you need to do is to fill this card your name and address and see how many missionaries you like to support. We have a medical doctor who helped 50 missionaries a month. He has more money than I have and the Lord blessing for that and At least one or two or three whatever you can help.

Please do that all you need to sign is up and if you want to make the payments through a credit card all that on. The back here the information and you know what we can do when you bring the card to the table.

We are going to give you your missionary or missionaries take home with you today. Start praying for them name and information testimony. They write you a couple of times a year and they Become your family members for you to pray for them and see God's work done On the mission field and every penny you sent for that missionary actually go to the mission field to the missionaries.

We don't take nothing out of that our staff raise their own support and we meet our needs like that. So There are four things. I pray that you consider and Prayer Evaluating our lifestyle. Seeking the Lord's call on your life.

But you can start today by saying Lord at least this I can do and start Helping some of these missionaries Whatever the Lord asked you to do He will give the grace. All I need to say Lord, give me the strength and that is beautiful.

May the Lord speak to us. Amen.