Road to Reality - Christ's Call - Part 1 — K.P. Yohannan

Welcome to Road to Reality, the radio ministry of Gospel for Asia. Today, Brother K .P. Yohannan asks, Is it possible to live in the abundant life Jesus promises? And how can I overcome sin that continually hinders my walk with the Lord?

Well, listen in as Brother K .P. shares his secrets to living the victorious life in this compelling message entitled, Christ's Call.

The Global Opportunity to Serve Christ

When I first came to America, nobody knew what I said. I didn't know what they said in dialects. And then I figured out, I spoke English, they spoke Texan. But you know, here, the amazing thing is the opportunity you have as a fellowship.

And I have an illusion. I know you people, some of you drive from the end of the world to get to this church. And the reason you do that is because the Word of God is taught here. When you realize in America, we are one ordained minister for every 200 people.

In Northern Bihar, 22 million people without one missionary, one Christian. That many people that never heard the name Jesus. In Afghanistan, 17 million people, the entire nation, not one church in the entire nation of Afghanistan.

Turkey, with some 44 million people, maybe less than 200 Christians in the entire country. India, where I come from, we have 1 billion people population. What is the population of America you have? 250 million, that's right.

I mean, just imagine how many times big the nation of India is. And half of India, about 500 million people, still waits to hear the message of salvation for the first time. By the way, unless you listen to me today and think deep, this is going to be...

If you are looking for some emotional high and some fantastic experience, forget it, it's not going to come. You got enough teaching, but I am here to tell you that the call of Christ is not just to be informed, but do something about it.

I mean, one year I traveled 200 ,000 air miles speaking to God's people in America. At the end of my trip, I decided I will never again travel and speak. Because I saw that Christianity is so filled with shallowness and plastic and lukewarm.

Information Versus Obedient Christian Action

It was just feed me, help me, take care of my religion. And information has become spirituality for more people. Just think about the number of Christian books you have. Think about the number of tapes you purchase.

I mean, by the time I finish speaking, they will have cooked out 200 audio tapes that you will be getting. You pay for it, I don't know what you do with it. I mean, just look at your church, just one little church here.

I mean, it's not little, but it's big enough. The bookstore, the tapes, the program, the ladies meeting, men's meeting, kids meeting, all kind of... I mean, you are bombarded with information. You get enough spiritual information in one week that over in China and India, people don't get in five years.

When I was in mainland China some time ago, the Chinese brothers showed me photographs of baptism service taking place in the middle of the night in the icy waters. Because if they are caught publicly, they will go to prison and be killed.

And something more shocking they told me was that, Brother KP, we have thousands of churches all over mainland China and those congregations are lucky if they have two Bibles to the name of the entire congregations.

I said, repeat that please. They would say the same thing. I said, what do you guys do? Oh, they said, we get a Bible and we are so glad we tear the pages, 10 pages to one family, 20 pages next family, 20 pages next family.

They take it home, they copy it, they bring back, then they swap it. Keep on circling and they hear the shortwave radio, Bible read through transfer radio broadcast, they copy the Bible. You realize 1 .3 billion people in the entire nation, there is not one Christian bookstore.

In Dallas where we are, there are over 12 full time Christian radio stations every day bombarding the gospel of all kinds. And here you got 7 or 8 of them, one you got plugged in your church here. But I'm telling you, do you realize that if you came to the church for 6 months, you are qualified to be a theologian, a Bible school teacher overseas, average Christian here.

You know so much, how blessed we are. But let's not fool ourselves because you got people coming here, large numbers, you got nice building. Let's not fool ourselves, that don't mean we are impacting the world.

Nearly 3 billion people live on planet earth that never heard the name Jesus. Yesterday I went through your catalogue of your pastor's teaching because I was so glad to see in the entire catalogue, there are 2 -3 messages he spoke about hell.

That is a change. Average American congregation never hear a message on hell because we don't believe in it anymore. I tell you what, many years ago I went through a crisis in my life. The crisis was this, I wish I could believe there is no hell.

The Reality and Permanence of Hell

You say, Brother KP, that sounds strange. Why is that? Because I was so getting desperate. If hell is real, I must do something more than what I was doing with my life. And I want to believe there is some other way to heaven than through Jesus.

After all, hell is not real. But I tell you what, I went through the Bible, just like you read, and came to the conclusion, hell is real. There is a place, and hell is not for a vacation for 2 years, 10 years, like you put prisoners for murdering for 10 years, 20 years.

No sir, hell is forever. After 10 years, those in hell will scream, saying, I want to die, I want to die. That's all, not even for a drop of water, they just want to die. And the answer comes again, and again, and again.

You shall never die, you will never die. That is the fate of multiplied billions on planet earth. And you and I say, Jesus, I love you. And I tell you what, if we can believe what we say we believe with our lips, it will revolutionize our life, it will turn our lives upside down.

When I was in Sri Lanka, just a while ago, in Colombo, a man told me, Brother KP, I tell you a story that you may want to remember. I said, I want to hear stories. How many of you heard about the tens of thousands die in Sri Lanka over the Tamil Eelam?

Or the fight between the Sinhalese and Tamil, two people groups. Like you had in America long time ago, the civil war, north and south. That is going on, and blood is flowing on the streets. The Tamils, this particular ethnic people, they want freedom for their own.

And they train gurulas, freedom fighters, you know how they do that? They recruit people to strap bombs on them, human bombs. And they go and kill themselves while trying to get more rights for their cause.

There is a lady sitting at that time in Colombo government prison. A 28 year old young girl, young woman. She was a medical doctor, trained in England. Practicing as a doctor. Her parents were killed by the opposition party, the Sinhalese.

She gave up her profession, her job, everything. She went to the jungles and learned to shoot and kill. And she carries around her neck, on a necklace, cyanide capsule. Thousands of these Tamil tigers, they call, killed themselves, suicide.

That is a part of their life, when they are caught by the soldiers. Before she could take the cyanide, she was captured and she was in prison. That is the time when I was there. And somebody went to visit her and talked to her.

You know, knowing that she is going to be killed the next day, this is what that young doctor said. I am so glad that I am in prison. Even through my death, if our party, our cause can be furthered even one step, I am grateful for that.

If that is the commitment, for something that is so hopeless, what kind of commitment I have? When I went through this crisis of faith in my life, that is not a joke. And finally I said to myself, this is serious.

Life's Brevity and the Example of Christ

And then with that, something else happened. I realized, I ain't going to be here for a very long time. That is American talk. So that you will not think this guy is telling stories, he didn't teach or preach.

Let's look at the Bible verse. Book of Psalms 103 verse 15. And as I read this thing, I want you to look at it closely and seriously. Psalm 103 verse 15. As for man, his days are like grass. He flourished like a flower of the field.

And the wind blows over it and it is gone. And its place remembers it no more. That means, your life. He is not talking about some other guys living in England or Germany or India or Dalast. I am talking about you.

Your life is like grass. That you see out there. It comes up in the morning, your life. And flourished like a flower. You look wonderfully pretty, nice makeup on you. And go to the special place, get your hair cut.

Cost you $25, $30 or $30 ,000. And you make your nose big or small. I mean you are 100 years old, but you look 20. You know the so called American midlife crisis. I don't know what that is. Get a new car, new fashions, all these things, new house, everything.

I mean you are never satisfied with stuff to make you look nice and acceptable. And all the stuff. I mean it all looks nice. But you know what? The wind. And says, it is gone. Well, ok, ok, it is gone.

But the sad thing is this man. And it's place remembers it no more. The house you lived in, the car you drive. All the clothes you purchase, all the diamond ring, all the fancy stuff. And I mean the antiques you collect.

And the house, the business. And the bank account. And none of that stuff will remember you. You are gone. And life goes on. And the trees still live on. The buildings still be there. But you are not here.

But how we need to realize we are headed toward eternity. And that is not thousand miles away from now. It is next minute. And Jesus lived like that. You want proof? In the New Testament, 1 Peter 2 .21 I can read it for you, don't turn to that.

1 Peter 2 .21. To this you were called. Because Christ suffered for you. Leaving you an example that you should follow in His footsteps. Just this example. He suffered for you. Leaving you an example that we should follow in His footsteps.

Thank you for listening to Road to Reality. The radio ministry of Gospel for Asia. Today's broadcast entitled Christ's Call. Is a message by K .P. Yohannan. Founder and President of Gospel for Asia. In a moment we'll rejoin Brother K .P.

We'd like to send you a free copy of Brother K .P.'s most popular book. Revolution in World Missions. Simply visit our website at gospelforasia .org. Or call us 1 -866-WIN-ASIA. We'd love to send you a copy.

The Cross, Self-Denial, and Victory Over Sin

And now back to Brother K .P. How we need to realize we are headed toward eternity. And that is not thousand miles away from now. It is next minute. And Jesus lived like that. Beyond proof. In the New Testament.

1 Peter 2 .21 I can read it for you. Don't turn to that. 1 Peter 2 .21. To this you were called. Because Christ suffered for you. Leaving you an example that you should follow in His footsteps. He left this example.

He suffered for you. Leaving you an example that we should follow in His footsteps. This I'll share with you. Very candidly. The reason why we in America with all the teaching. All the music. All the stuff going on.

Our lives are shallow. Still struggling with sin. And struggle in our private thought life. With things that you know not pleasing God. And this struggle raising children in godly way. And lack of victory in your life.

Lack of authority of God in your life. Seeking a policeman rather than God. Ever so busy we can't be quiet. In the car, in the shower, in the room. Everywhere we go we have to be kept busy. Because we are restless people.

Why is it? Why is it? It is simply because we do not want to accept the cross of Christ into our life. Cross means self-denial. Giving up our own wishes and dreams for the sake of the cross. For the sake of Calvary.

And that's what we are missing here. That's the reason with all the stuff we miss so much of reality. But how do you plug into reality? These all what I'm telling you can be just words. But let me tell you.

Compassion for the Poor and Forgotten

My wife just came back from North India. And I was there visiting the mission field. And she met with one of our leaders who coordinates the work in north of India. And she was telling about the Faridabad slum.

The largest slum of the world is in Bombay. Five million people live there. Slum, how can I explain it? There is no dirty place in America that can be compared with the slum. The water from the sewage flow through this muddied wetland.

Millions of people live there. Their house is made of little plastic pieces that stack up on the sticks they collect from the street. They sleep on the damp mud floor. That's their home. And the kids are playing in the sewage.

And they die there. Hundred thousand children on the streets of Bombay alone not knowing who their parents are. And don't alienate that from you. I never forget when I was coming back from Bombay looking at the newspaper.

On the front page a black and white picture of a boy. About four or five years old boy laying on the sidewalk. Beside him a female dog. And you look close. The boy is drinking from this dog. It's milk.

And the caption reads like this. This dog is his mother. And explain about the hundred thousand children on the Bombay street not knowing who their parents are. I tell you what. I speak your language.

I learned English. I am not a snake or a rat or an elephant or a donkey or a monkey. No sir, I am a human being. You are more educated lawyers and doctors from India and China and America than you can imagine.

But these kids, these people on the Bombay streets or Calcutta or Hyderabad are not animals. They are human beings just like you. It is by the grace of God you are born in this country. That I was born in a Christian home.

You didn't ask to be born here. To those much is given, much shall be required. I am telling you. You are not satisfied with all the beautiful full stereo music coming through the radio. From ten stations here.

You have to buy that new CD just for yourself. You are not satisfied with the library books. You must get books for yourself. Because it is a private individualistic society. You are never satisfied with all the teachings.

But not realizing half of the world never heard the name Jesus. They have never seen one page of the Bible. When will we learn? What does it take for us to learn? Call of Christ for us is as the Father hath sent me, so send I you.

Christ's Call to Sacrificial Mission

You are my hand. You are my leg. You are my eyes. You are my ears. You are my tears. You are mine. Go into the world and touch the poor, the needy, the lepers, the dying and the hurting, and the ones going to hell and grab them and rescue them.

That is the call of Christ. If pastors keep side-side teaching and this church is only making you a better Christian, a better family man, a better father, a better mother, I am sorry for you, that is only the beginning.

The call of Christ is to die, not to live. I can assure you that. This one missionary who was employed by the government of India, making big money, a beautiful wife, two beautiful children, living in Delhi in the capital city.

He heard the call of God for the slum people. He took his wife and kids, went to the slum. Our leader said to my wife, Andy, if you just walk on the edge of the slum, you are to close your nose. You cannot breathe.

It is so dirty, so stinking. Pollution, open sores and bodies. Yet, in that one small slum, over 5000 families live. And the missionary took his wife and kids and decided, he will live among those slum people in that little hut, sleeping there, eating their food, and if need be dying there for the sake of him who left all and gave his life to reach the lost and this world, including you and me and our children, our family.

It was not easy. It was deliberate embracing of the cross, not forced upon him. Within a few months time, he was able to baptize quite a lot of people and the church was born right in the middle of that slum.

People coming, half naked, children with a bloated stomach, hungry and dying, but now come and sit on the dirt floor, clapping hands and worshipping Jesus. You know what? They are looking not for a better, healthy future here.

They are looking for something far beyond and glorious beyond all this. And that is the call of Christ that he put upon our life. But you know what? This is of a truth. My wife can tell you this. Ambrose Kip can tell you this too.

Having travelled quite a bit, lived in America quite a bit, it's not my choice to come to America. No sir. I come here because I want to obey my Lord. The two, three weeks I spend here to travel, like to speak, then I jump back to China or India, some other place, then come back again to do the speaking.

So this is one of those little halls I have to be here to speak to you. The reason I come here is this. Soon, very soon, soon, very soon, listen to me. Time shall no more be. You ain't going to be here, but you will face the Lord of Glory face to face.

Investing a Life in Reaching the Unreached

A man called me from Houston, Texas some time ago. I answered to the KP. I read your book. And he started weeping. I thought I told him something terribly bad. Then he would catch himself, he'll keep talking.

He said, by KP I'm over 60 years old. And I'm just a broken hearted. He said, I'm a believer. I know Jesus. But soon my life will be over here. And I stand before the throne. And I realize, if only I could invest my life today, millions of people from China, India, Bhutan, Burma, Mongolia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, all these places, from every tribe, every kindred, from every nation, people that never, never, never heard the name Jesus will be there.

And oh, I just thought about that. And I'm so grieved that I wasted so much of my life. Finally, he said, KP, sorry for weeping like this of you. Sorry for being so emotional. But I'm just calling to ask you.

Is there anything I can do? Anything I can do to become real and touch the lost world? I said, you know, the first thing is, you must, by the grace of God, make a decision that, Lord, I want approval from you and no one else.

So much of Christian work originates in the flesh and carnality. Lord, I only want your approval. I said, make the commitment to the Lord. Walk with Him with purity of heart and integrity and holiness and honesty.

Even if you do nothing in the world, that is more important. Secondly, I said, if God is speaking to you, take your resources. If you cannot go to India or China, the best thing you can do, live a simple life and give your resources to reach the lost world.

And he asked me more questions. Within a couple of weeks time, he sent a check to our office for $235 ,000. That money was to go to buy the life of Jesus film in 8 different languages for illiterate, the tribal, the poor, the suffering people in slums and the un-riched areas.

Our missionaries took this and began to go and preach the gospel. A year went by. I told my people on the mission field, would you please do a study because we have very serious accountability system kept up.

I asked to see what is happening on the mission field. I said, I want to know what is happening with that projector, with that film and what God is doing with that project. They wrote a report back. And I was shocked.

The report said every month, no less than 100 ,000 people come to the Lord Jesus Christ by watching the life of Jesus. And I said to myself, Him in this side of life.

You're listening to Brother K .P. Yohannan from Gospel for Asia in a message entitled, Christ's Call. Well, if you've been challenged by Brother K .P.'s commitment to authentic Christianity, please visit our website at gospelforasia .org.

We'd love to send you a free copy of Brother K .P.'s most popular book, Revolution in World Missions. This is the story of Brother K .P. as a young evangelist in India and his calling to launch a worldwide organization, Gospel for Asia.

Now, in it you'll find stories of God's amazing work in the lives of people here in the West and on the Indian subcontinent. Thousands have written to us over the years with the same testimony. This book can change your life.

Now, for your free copy, simply go to our website, gospelforasia .org. Or call us, 866-WIN-ASIA and request Brother K .P.'s book, Revolution in World Missions. And please listen in next week at the same time to hear Brother K .P. conclude with more stories from the mission field and practical ways that you can follow Christ's call.

Thanks for listening to Road to Reality, the radio ministry of Gospel for Asia.