Christ's Call - Part 2 — K.P. Yohannan

The Shallowness of Christianity Without the Cross

This I will 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 are not pleasing God, and the struggle of raising your children in a godly way, and the lack of victory in your life, lack of authority of God in your life.

Seeking to please men rather than God. Ever so busy, we cannot 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 we plug into reality, you know, this all what I'm telling you can be just words. But let me tell you, 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 India.

A Missionary's Sacrifice Among the Slum Communities

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's 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 stuck up on these 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. This one missionary 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 have 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 5 ,000 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.

The Responsibility of Those Who Have Received Much

And that is the call of Christ that he put upon our life. 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 10 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.

Where will we learn? 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. 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.

The Call to Die Rather Than Merely Improve

If pastors keep 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. You know, there was a time. I say this not out of great pride or joy. I am broken over this thing when I think about it. There was a time. I was living by the lake. Ten acres of property.

Three thousand two hundred square feet house. A grade lumber I bought from Arkansas just to build a house. Best, most expensive carpet. The most expensive items you can buy in America. Money was sent through my father-in-law and all that Germany so I can buy all this stuff.

And clothes for Neiman Marcus. I mean, that is no fun. And I lived like that for two years of my life. But finally when Jesus said to me, son, how can you live like this with the dry eyes and a strong heart when the world is going to hell?

He didn't condemn me. He didn't beat me up on my head. It was His love. And I said, Lord, stamp eternity on my eyes. My life immediately began to change. Not that selling my property and my house, my cars, my clothes made me any spiritual nonsense.

If poverty and having no money means you are spiritual, Bangladesh, Africa, India, more spiritual people. You know, we give here out of abundance. In India, in Burma, in Pakistan, other places, they give their little rice they have to cook for their children.

Simplifying Life for Eternal Priorities

One meal a day, that's all they may have. They take out one handful of rice and put it aside for mission work. They give out of nothing and sacrifice. Hey, live simple. You don't need another diamond ring, a new car, a new house.

Hey, listen. How much you need? Trim down your life. Simplify your life. Let no one dictate to you what you should do. Let Jesus tell you and you follow His instructions. Remember I told you about art of following the Lord, learning to walk on a narrow road, the cross.

Seeking the Cross Through Prayer and Fasting

Hey, the cross is not somebody saying, hey, here is a man, take your cross. Nobody dump cross on you. You go after it. You wake you up in the middle of the night to pray for the lost world. You decide to fast, not to lose weight, but for Afghanistan, India, whatever God put upon your heart.

You know what? We are trying to save America by marching to Washington instead of fasting and praying for two months. I'm challenging you to find a way to spend one day of the week to fast and pray. Let's pray.

Father, thank you for the opportunity to share with my brothers and sisters. My feeble words, oh Lord, take what is of you and change us. Jesus, would you please remember your servants, their wives and children on the field, some of them going hungry, the suffering they go through.

Speak to hearts, Lord, that not only we commit our life to you without any reservation, but we will love them, pray for them and help them. Jesus, we love you so much. We love you.