Encouragement to Have a Heart for the Lost — K.P. Yohannan

Intercession for the Land and the Lost

Two Bible verses I want to point out. One is in the book of Ezekiel, chapter 22, verse 30. It's one of my favorite Bible verses. Then Jeremiah, chapter 8, verse 20. This I share actually in the context of our gathering for prayer tonight.

And those of you who are with us, you know, you can turn your Bibles and see the scripture portions. Jeremiah 8, verse 20, it says, Since the harvest is past, the summer has ended and we are not saved.

And the verse in Ezekiel, chapter 22, verse 30. I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on the behalf of the land, so I would not have to destroy it. But I found none.

I think here you have the cry, the wailing of two different hearts. One is God saying, I'm looking. It's not an 8 to 5 job. Perpetual, nonstop, constantly, I'm searching for someone to stand before me on the behalf of the land.

That's just going to be destroyed. But then he says with a sigh and sadness, but I found none. But if you read the context of it and the biblical history, if you know, the land is filled with prophets and preachers and who are getting up every morning and say, oh yeah, I just had a vision from God and God talked to me and this and that.

Religious Activity Without a Heart for the Lost

And all you need to do is turn the TV on, the so-called Christian TV or some radio, and you'll find people saying all kinds of things today. You know, thus saith the Lord, this is going to happen, that's going to happen.

And go to the bookstores, you'll be surprised. Massive building filled with books that are called so-called Christian self-help books. I'm not against all these writers and books, but I'm telling you, almost every week we have a new Bible coming out in English language.

A new study Bible. You wouldn't believe it when somebody asked me, maybe jokingly, if I was interested in doing a study Bible. And I'm trying to read my Bible, trying to figure out what it is, and forget about creating a study on this thing for someone.

The Urgency of the Unreached and the Reality of Judgment

But to realize that over two billion people wait to hear the name Jesus. I just read about Nepal, I'll tell you something to pray for it. 30 million people living in the country, more than 50 of the country said never heard the name Christ.

And I was talking to an evangelical preacher recently who is a pastor of a very large congregation. We are dialoguing about what is going on in the evangelical world. And I said to him, you know what?

I'm of the opinion, if you ask the evangelical pastors, do you really believe in hell, that there is a place called heaven and hell, and that Jesus Christ is the only hope for mankind, whether they have the law or they do not have the law, according to Romans early chapters.

I said, most probably you'll be shocked what percentage of them would say Jesus is unique. There's no other name given for us to be saved. It's exclusive, and there is really a hell. And when we know multiplied millions are dying and going toward eternity without Christ, I think it should kind of bother us.

God’s Agony for a Lost Creation

You know, summertime in Texas is not the best time for vacation, for people to come here to Texas. I'm not against Texas, please. But I have my little 62 Volkswagen bug, and I sometimes think if I want to bake a cake, all I need to do is to put it in my car and drive from where I live to the office, and it will be baked.

And, you know, the best thing is to get in the shower. And have a shower after riding in that little car. But how many times I said to myself, oh man, what is hell is going to be like? Forget about taking a shower.

The reason I'm saying, I don't need to impress you, my brothers and sisters, but what I'm trying to tell this to you is that for God, past, present, future, it's the same. And he looks upon the creation, and he sees the creation, the trees, and the rivers, and the grass, and the mountains, and the valleys, and the ocean.

They're groaning, they're hurting, they're saying, God, when will this end? This abuse, this destruction. But then his heart is ever more in desperate agony for a world of people that he created. And he gave himself, but they are still lost.

And whose fault is this? Either it is God's fault or mine. And this is something I don't want to get into because of time sake also, but it is good for us to remind ourselves, God is still looking for us to participate in the agony and the hurt of his heart.

Seeing the Father Through Christ’s Life

And Jesus, when disciples ask, Lord, all we want is just, if you can please help us to see your father, you talk about all the time. And he said, I'm surprised you ask this. I've been with you all this time.

You're asking me to show you the father. You see me. You understand God. You see him. Look at the four Gospels. All night long, he's on his face before he go out all day doing the father's will. You find him in John's Gospel, chapter four, where the disciples are going off to get some food, and he's hungry and thirsty, just waiting there for one individual.

You will see Christ's life never, never focused on himself. When I get in the morning, I brush my teeth and look into the mirror so I can see your face. No, I'm looking for my face. And I think the more we understand the heart of God, I think the more we become concerned about others.

Sharing in the Divine Nature Through Surrender

But here is a problem. We are called to be partakers of his nature. If we are trying to live for him and do what he wants without being embraced by him and embracing him and his life in us through yielding and surrender and dying to self, we actually come under the old covenant.

Struggling and fighting and trying to do things, get frustrated, and we give up. This is the reason why I continue to insist on meditation and participation. And I've been doing some reading by A. W. Tauss today, which really convicted me so much.

He said something very interesting again. He said, majority of Christians do not have any clue about God simply because they do not spend time with him. They spend time with the Bible, not with God. That's a big difference.

And my brothers and sisters, even tonight as we spend these hours in prayer, I think it is good that we don't become workers and people who do things for God, but rather sharing in his heart's agony. And I don't think we can, you know there's a chorus that says, change my heart, oh God, you know that?

Asking God for a Burden for the Lost

No, I'm going to sing. But you know, there are times in our life we know what is the right thing, but our hearts are still cold and we know it. And we want to cry, but there's no tears. And we want to feel the pain of God's heart for people dying and being lost.

You can manufacture it, but that's not the real thing. But the Lord has to do that. And the request then should be, Lord, please change my heart. I am willing to be made willing, and here I am. And when we do that, something amazing happens.

Maybe not instantly, but he begins to answer our prayers. And I think hearing that will change us and we'll hear the words in Jeremiah. People say the harvest is past and the summer has come to an end, but we are lost.

And one of the earlier prayers of my life in the beginning of the ministry was this, Lord, baptize me with a passion for the lost world. Another prayer was, Lord, help me cry. I'm not an emotional person to cry easily, but please give me tears.

Your tears and burden for the lost world. And I must confess this to you. There were times I was tempted to pray the opposite. I can't handle it anymore, and I don't want to feel this pain. I want some peace, but thank God and I'm grateful that I never prayed like that.

And the older I get, the more difficult it is becoming to continue to walk on this narrow road and be unselfish and be caring. And I realize this is a lifelong battle. So may we, as we pray tonight, the Lord will help us to know this.

Prayer-Fueled Mission and the Power of Perseverance

And I will end this discussion by saying, recently I was talking to Bishop Simon John about what's going on in one of the regions which we pray for. And I was so encouraged to hear him just tell me about what's going on.

And then he talked about one particular brother, which I mentioned earlier for us here. How, wherever you go, people are coming to Christ and some five congregations came up. And I'm terribly curious about those kind of stories.

So I said, tell me about it. So his first description was, oh, he's a little brother from the tribe we come from. And he's not that educated and went to our minor seminary for two, three years and all that.

But he said something special about him. Again, like some of our brothers, he spent two or three hours every single day on his face in prayer. And the first mission field he went to, nothing seems to happen.

And he took 21 days, the first time, to fast and pray. And he said, I mean, just normal, ordinary, you know, nothing special about him. But as he go and talk to people, and in places, some place, people start manifesting demons.

And then sick people and all these people. And all of a sudden, people come after him to come and talk to him about the Lord and pray for them. And demon possessed people got freed and sick people got healed.

And people by dozens began to come to Christ. And again, I realized the need for us to be more with the Lord and have him go before us. Which is the shortest route to get things done, I think. And in our own journey, I think we know this.

Practicing Prayer and Personal Transformation

And so, to you, my brothers and sisters who are watching, may I encourage you to please get a hold of E .M. Bound's little book on power through prayer. Or the Wallace, there's a book that changed my life in the early days, God's choice and fast.

And, you know, when our personal lives are impacted, things changes. And the Lord give you grace to translate this into your own life. And thank you for being part of this journey.