As we begin today's Road to Reality, K
.P. Yohannan speaks of the importance of spending
time alone with God.
What makes us what we are, who we
are, as disciples of the Lord, it is
not activities and work we perform, but His
life flowing through our earthen vessels.
This you will never know unless you spend
time with Him.
Following Christ will cost you something, your very
own life.
And unless you're willing to love Jesus more
than anyone and anything, you cannot be His
disciple.
Sounds like a difficult road, doesn't it?
But it is the Road to Reality, and
there's no better path to be on.
This path of discipleship is what K.P.
Yohannan will speak of today.
Welcome to the Road to Reality.
This is the Radio Ministry of Gospel for
Asia.
We're about to visit Luke 14, verses 25
through 33, to be encouraged to embrace Christ's
call to discipleship.
He wants an all-out commitment from us,
and He's so worthy of our allegiance.
Here's K.P. with more.
The Road to Reality I encourage you to
start spending 10, 15, 20 minutes with the
Lord alone.
And talk to Him, and He will talk
back to you.
Increase that half hour.
I encourage you to get an alarm clock
to wake you up, maybe 2 in the
morning or whenever.
Oh, your flesh will hate it.
I destroyed half a dozen alarm clocks in
my life.
And I found out my flesh is not
my friend.
And I get up and wash my face
in cold water.
And I found myself years ago, I still
like to lay on my bed and pray.
But I drag my body to the living
room or somewhere I can kneel.
And open the scripture and say, Lord, I
embrace suffering in the flesh.
I'm not going to be a friend of
my flesh.
I want to buffet my body.
I want to know You.
Please help me, Lord.
It was a journey.
But still I am the journey.
But you see, my brothers and sisters.
The scripture says, unless you deny yourself and
pick up the cross.
A couple of weeks ago when I was
in India speaking to a group of believers.
And I said, you know, you can pray
all you want.
Do all you want to become godly and
spiritual.
You will not unless you understand the responsibility
of doing spirituality.
Abraham was justified not just by believing.
But also he engaged, he took decision.
And he said, this is what I'm going
to do.
There is a responsibility rest upon us to
make choices, decisions.
And our own personal life and our flesh
will always fight against us.
You know, I'm certain we are all in
the spiritual warfare.
Especially if you seek to follow the Lord.
But there are times we blame the devil
for everything under the sun.
The devil did this to me, did it
to me and all those things.
And the poor devil sometimes says, I have
nothing to do with this thing.
Stop blaming me.
The problem is our self-centeredness.
It's a bigger problem we deal with than
the demons and the devil often.
And I think it is like a little
kid that is given a toy.
And it will grab hold of it.
I don't want to give it up.
But then you give a better toy, a
bigger thing.
And the kid, the child will grab that.
The same way, the more you get to
know the Lord.
The more you spend time with him.
The more you fall in love with him.
You understand the joy that comes from knowing
him.
And his presence.
And trusting him so completely.
And see how he carries you along like
the dry leaf in the wind.
You'll be so surprised.
It's the most beautiful life in the whole
wide world.
And I think this is definitely the call
the Lord gives to us.
But may we choose to embrace this road.
Amy Carmichael, most of you I'm sure read
some of her writings.
Someone who knew the Lord intimately.
And one time she prayed this prayer.
From prayer that asks that I may be.
Sheltered from winds that beat on thee.
From fearing when I should aspire.
From faltering when I should climb higher.
From silken self, oh captain free.
Thy soldier who would follow thee.
From sudden love or softened things.
From easy choices, weakenings.
Nor thus are spirits fortified.
Nor this way when they're crucified.
From all that dims thy calvary.
Oh lamp of God, deliver me.
Give me the love that leads the way.
The faith that nothing can dismay.
The hope, no disappointments tire.
The passion that will burn like fire.
Let me not sink to be cold.
Make me thy fuel, flame of God.
And of course these disciples, the Lord asked
to follow him.
As much as they love him more than
life.
And embrace the cross.
They also will experience the pain, the loneliness.
The difficulties, the misunderstanding.
That comes from following the Lord.
Who want suffering?
Nobody.
This is what I like to share with
you.
I hope you remember this.
You will not be able to understand the
depth.
And the meaning of godliness.
Until you have come to the place of
looking at the present.
Your wealth, your health, your relationship.
And all that you have and you are
about in this life.
From the perspective of eternity.
Now you go to the airport.
And we all do, wherever.
We have to show them our ID.
The driver's license or passport or something.
And there on it you will find your
date of birth.
The time you were born or the year.
Yesterday I was sitting at the airport.
We landed here in Philadelphia.
And I was waiting for John to pick
up the suitcases.
And the three or four people.
These people were rolling them on the wheelchair.
People who could not walk.
And I looked at a couple of these
ladies.
And I sat there imagining.
How these ladies looked and behaved and acted.
When they were 20 years old.
And I just imagined.
How vibrant.
Full of life.
And going after everything they went after.
Whatever.
But now crippled.
Crawled up.
Sitting in those wheelchairs.
And I pray that none of you will
end up like that.
I don't want to end up like that.
But please understand.
We are heading very fast.
To a place.
That we will not.
Be able to have.
What we have today.
Life.
Will soon be over.
100 years from now.
We are not here.
So when you look back.
Into time from that perspective.
You realize.
As Paul said.
These light afflictions are nothing.
Compared to the glory.
That is to be revealed in us.
Paul.
What on earth are you talking about?
When I read 2 Corinthians.
I read about hunger and starvation.
Rejection.
Betrayal.
No money.
No food.
No clothes to wear.
Shipwreck.
Being stoned.
You talk about almost.
You lost your mind.
Narrow breakdown a couple of times.
You talk about these light afflictions.
And difficulties.
And you say nothing.
And he will say.
If you only could see.
What I see.
If only you know.
What I know on the inside.
You will say.
The same thing.
My dear brothers and sisters.
Following the Lord.
Will cost you something.
It will cost you.
Misunderstanding.
Betrayal.
And people think you are stupid.
And crazy.
I never forget one time.
When I came back home to see my
mother.
The way she dressed.
The old clothes she was wearing.
I was so mad and so angry.
And I said.
Mother what madness got into your head.
Don't you see.
People in our community will think.
That we don't take care of you.
You are putting cow dung and shame on
us mother.
And I was really angry with her.
Preachers can get angry.
And I never forget.
This incredible smile.
Her eyes so bright.
This small frame of hers.
She looked at me and said.
You little boy.
You don't understand nothing.
Someday.
You will understand.
She never disclosed her private.
Walk.
Of giving away everything she had.
To preach the gospel.
It's a lonely.
Walk.
Where her own son who is a mission
leader.
Couldn't even understand.
And abuse her.
For the way.
She didn't have fancy clothes on her.
But she was exchanging all.
For the sake.
Of preaching the gospel.
And reaching the lost world.
People around you will think.
Why you.
Keep on driving this old car.
Why you don't have these new things.
Or why you are not.
Having all this social life.
How come you know.
You are fasting more than you are eating
food.
Or how come you don't do this.
I mean.
Please listen to me.
When you stand before the lord.
Your husband and wife.
And your.
Friends and children.
And nobody is going to be there with
you.
You alone.
Will face him.
Not to be condemned and judged.
But just to hear from him.
What he will have to say.
Oh what a beautiful thing it will be.
For him to say.
My daughter.
I just couldn't wait.
Until you get here.
I am so glad you are here.
My son.
Thank you for walking with me.
All alone.
So glad you are here.
But then you will know.
It didn't happen without suffering.
Without pain.
Without difficulties.
But it's worth it.
Because our life on earth.
As you know.
Is so very brief.
Before we know it.
It is over.
Well as someone rightly put it.
Only one life to live.
It will soon pass.
And only what's done for Christ.
Will last.
Today on the road to reality.
Brother K.P. O'Hannan has encouraged us.
To let go of self-centered living.
And be more eternally minded.
That's also a central theme.
Of a book he's written.
Called No Longer a Slumdog.
And if your desire is to make a
difference.
For the Lord.
Help the suffering children of Asia.
This is a must read.
I think you'll find it hard to put
down.
As K.P. shares stories of children's lives.
Radically transformed by God.
It's our free gift to you.
Go to winasia.org For your free copy
of No Longer a Slumdog.
It's waiting for you now.
At winasia.org Our friends in Canada are
encouraged to Stop by gospelforasia.ca Or call.
888-946-2742 Here's K.P. once again.
The other day I was.
At this place to do my exercise.
And there's a man there who.
Helped me to do the right things.
You know I'm trying to stay alive.
So I can continue to preach the gospel.
So.
And when he told me.
Do 10 more times.
I said I don't like you.
He said I know.
But you'll like me later.
You know.
The difficulties we go through.
In following the Lord.
The time of fasting or prayer.
Or giving or whatever you do.
Or humbling yourself.
Or seeking forgiveness or coming clean.
Be honest.
It's all difficult painful.
But I assure you.
In the long run.
Those difficulties will turn into.
Beautiful beautiful.
Experiences with the Lord.
And this.
Is a journey.
The Lord is calling us for.
I remember the.
Day I turned 50.
By the way I was going to tell
you this.
So this man.
In the gym.
Asked me.
So how old are you?
He should have known that I thought.
I said.
I'm 60.
He said what?
I think he was lying to me then.
He said you look 40.
I like that sound.
But I remember.
The day I turned 50.
And I took that day.
And I said Lord.
It's been a.
Interesting journey with you.
And I love it.
How many more years I have left.
I did not know.
And I want to.
Hear something from you this day.
And I was alone.
And late in the.
Afternoon.
It was interesting thing.
I didn't see him.
I didn't hear him with my ears.
But it was so real.
And he said son.
A few more years left.
Get to know me.
And you know to keep in mind.
In all my 43 some years.
Of serving God.
I have taken two vacations.
And one was last year with my wife.
And my children and grandchildren.
We went on the ship.
It was weird thing you can do.
But it was quite interesting.
Seven days.
But before that we took three days vacation.
I don't know how many years ago.
And I had three meetings.
During that time.
My life revolves around one thing.
The Lord and his kingdom.
And nothing else I live for.
And as Paul said.
I labor.
And very hard.
And I expected for the Lord to say
something like this.
I am glad you spend this whole day
with me.
I know.
Your journey been.
One of the most difficult.
And you work for me.
You labor for me.
Two billion people wait to hear my name.
And thank you for doing what you are
doing.
And move forward.
And this and that.
And all kind of affirmations.
But it is a weird thing.
He didn't say any of those things.
He simply said.
Son.
Just a few more years.
Get to know me.
And I cried.
I sobbed.
I wept.
And I realized once again.
He was saying.
Work is important.
The whole world need to hear my name.
That is important.
Your sleepless nights.
And fasting.
And agony.
It is all very important.
But son.
I ask you.
Love me more.
Get to know me better.
And my brothers and sisters.
What makes us.
What we are.
Who we are.
As disciples of the Lord.
It is not activities and work.
We perform.
But his life.
Flowing through.
Our earth and vessels.
This you will never know.
Unless.
You.
Spend time with him.
So may I make.
Just a few recommendations.
Hopefully some of them are practical.
You can do them.
Average Christians in America.
The study shows.
Spend less than 8 minutes a day.
In prayer.
That means a whole bunch of them do
nothing.
Would you consider.
Asking the Lord for grace.
And make a decision.
To take.
Maybe an hour a day.
Just to be with the Lord.
Please stop reading books.
About some new things that you need to
learn.
No.
This time you got your Bible.
And you and Jesus.
Practice that.
And you will find the joy.
And it will cause you to increase more
time.
And maybe it will become 2 hours.
A day.
Then see if you can take a day.
Of the week for fasting.
No you will not die if you fast
a day.
If you die.
Heaven is a better place.
Why you fast?
It will help you to lose some weight.
But don't worry about that part.
But you say Lord.
This is fast.
Before you.
Why Lord I want to see you.
And know you.
You will feel hungry.
If you add 2, 3, 4 days.
You will find it a little more easier.
But if you take a week or something
like that.
You will find after a couple of days.
Things get a little easier.
And I encourage you to enter into a
world.
Of spending time.
With the Lord.
Getting to know him in that way.
And I please.
I encourage you.
Don't feel guilty and bad.
Because you are not doing it now.
Or you don't know how to do it.
But someone like your shepherd here.
That walked with the Lord.
And know the way.
I am sure you will learn more.
How to go about doing that.
The second thing.
I will ask you to do.
What is godliness?
What is knowing Jesus?
It is just being honest.
The only way.
You can really know him.
Is to be honest.
When Isaiah was given.
The revelation of God.
He became totally honest.
I am lost.
I am undone.
I don't know what to do.
The longer you pretend to be spiritual.
By using the right words.
Doing the right things.
We will live in our world.
Of superficiality.
And being honest.
And transparent.
Before the Lord.
That makes us.
To become more real before the Lord.
And the third thing.
I would encourage you.
One of the worst enemy.
That we have.
In our following the Lord.
Is the love of comfort.
And materialism.
Whether you know it or not.
The amount of time.
You spend shopping around.
Buying things on sale.
And crowding your life.
With stuff that.
Just hurts you.
I do not know anything that bothers.
Or hinders people.
Than the love of material things.
Anything money can buy.
To make life more comfortable and ease.
Keep on going after that.
You know.
Life.
Keep it simple.
And so you will find it easier.
To devote your time.
For the things of the Lord.
And I pray that.
Your journey.
When it comes to an end.
You will say Lord it's been a good
journey.
And that's what you want.
Thank you for listening.
Thank you for opening your hearts to the
Lord.
And my prayer is that.
The Lord will draw you close to him.
And he will.
Amen.
You've been listening to K.P. Yohannan.
Here on the Road to Reality.
K.P.'s been talking about the terms of
discipleship.
As described by Christ.
It's an all out commitment yes.
But all the rewards for following Christ.
Immeasurable.
In India alone.
There are over 150 million child laborers.
For millions of children in Asia.
A toothbrush is considered a luxury.
Clean clothes a distant dream.
Malnourishment in India.
Is among the highest in the world.
Today we'd like to tell you about a
wonderful opportunity.
That we have to help.
Think of it.
For less than a dollar a day.
You can sponsor one of these dear children.
And impact a family.
And even a community for Christ.
It's called Bridge of Hope.
And we would invite you to stop by.
WinAsia.org To learn about the children through
their stories.
And if the Lord leads you.
To even sponsor one of them.
That's at WinAsia.org Or call 866-WinAsia.
That's 866-WinAsia.
For those in Canada.
Please visit us at GospelForAsia.ca Or call
888-946-2742 We would also invite you
to get live updates.
From us on Twitter.
Follow us on Facebook too.
And look for the links on our website.
Next week we'll discuss.
The most important thing in life.
That's right here on The Road to Reality.
With K.P. Yohannan.
The
Road to Reality