In this sermon, Brother K.P. Johannon discusses the problem of people doing things for themselves rather than for the Lord. He emphasizes the importance of seeking the Lord's direction and staying balanced in life. He shares the story of Jacob, who faced challenges and deception but ultimately trusted in God's plan. Brother K.P. highlights the difference between the old covenant, which focused on following rules, and the new covenant, which calls believers to be one with Christ and obey his commandments out of love and gratitude.

Hi, this is K.P. Yohannan, President of Gospel for Asia. If I could, I would love to take you with me to the mission fields of Asia. There, you would see first-hand how God is moving in unbelievable ways to bring thousands of lost people into His kingdom. But since that is not possible, I want to do the next best thing. I want to bring the mission fields to you. That is why we are hosting our second annual Renewing Your Passion Conference. It is in Texas this summer, close to the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. I encourage you to set aside June 30th to July 2nd for an experience that can change your life. So, mark your calendar and join me, the GFA staff, native missionary leaders from Asia, and hundreds of believers from around the world for our Renewing Your Passion Conference, June 30th through July 2nd. I look forward to seeing you there. The conference takes place June 30th through July 2nd in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. If you desire to renew your passion for the Lord and missions, then call or visit our website today for complete information. The web address? gospelforasia.org. That's gospelforasia.org. And click on the conference link or call us toll-free 866-WIN-ASIA. That's 866-WIN-ASIA. You have a holy responsibility now, today and tomorrow and the rest of your life and my life, to ask the Lord, Lord, what do you want me to do? Then make sure that we listen long enough for him to speak. Our lifelong pursuit of seeking the Lord next on The Road to Reality with Brother K.P. O'Hannan. As Christians, we go through times of confusion and difficulty, hopelessness, and lack of vision for our lives. And we think because we're Christians, it should never happen this way. Well, today, we'll be encouraged to stay focused on the Lord Jesus and to simply seek Him for all of the answers. Hello and welcome to The Road to Reality with Brother K.P. O'Hannan, founder and director of Gospel for Asia. Today, we bring you a message delivered by Brother K.P. during the 2005 Gospel for Asia Missions Conference. From Acts chapter 13, here's Brother K.P. O'Hannan with a message entitled, The Lord's Work, The Lord's Way. God knew these, you know, two people that we read in Acts 13, Paul and Barnabas, before the world began, God knew that they would be serving Him. There's no doubt about it. But it was as they waited before the Lord, ministered unto the Lord, that they will hear, this is what you should be doing. It's not when we have all the needs and explanations given, we figure out what to do. You have a holy responsibility now, today and tomorrow and the rest of your life and my life, to ask the Lord, Lord, what do you want me to do? Then make sure that we listen long enough for Him to speak. How do you know He's speaking? It is a growing awareness that we all have to develop, a sensitive heart that we know the Lord is saying, and I cannot give you one, two, three, four, this way to do that, although there are many ways we can explain that. You know, in 2nd Samuel chapter 5, we read this incident where David inquired of the Lord, shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands? And the Lord said, yeah, go up. It's all yours. It's a good example. And he, surely the Lord said, do it, and he did it. It all worked out. But a little later, he faced the same problem. 2nd Samuel chapter 5, verse 23. Therefore, David inquired of the Lord and said, Lord, what shall I do? Well, you shall not go up. Don't do it. Well, David could easily say, well, you know what, last time, I talked to him two months ago and yesterday about him. He said to do it. Well, I mean, I don't want to waste any more time to dealing with this. He already gave the plan. Man, go and do it. If he did it, they would be in big trouble. Well, last time, David, I told him to go up and deal with it, but this time, don't do it. Plan changed. What if David didn't ask? Think about it. Bible is full of stories of God's people that he called, and he left the stories without Photoshop, touch-up, painting, changing any colors. Just the way it happened. Began in the spirit and ended up in the flesh. And he says, I'm so sorry that I put this fellow to do this. And the Lord says this often, they worship me with their lips. They say the right words. They are able to explain things so powerfully, and people think, oh, they're so wonderful, but their hearts are so far away. I'm never near them, and they are not near me. Isn't it strange in Revelation chapter 2, the Lord says, I'm going to put out the light to a church. What is the answer, Lord? Repent and do the first work. Isn't it strange? He just said, we do all these wonderful things, and you are upset with us, and you're going to kill us. Now he says, do the same things. Do the first works. We've been doing it all along. The Lord says, don't you see the difference? Then you did it because you love me. Now you do it for your sake, for what people say about you and think about you. Then you read the Bible, sat before me, so that I can commune with you, and your heart was tender and tears, but now you do it so you can preach and teach and explain. That's the difference. He says, don't stop it, but do it because I am the one that's doing it, and for my glory. When it's all said and done, when our work, what we do, the money we gave, the places we went, the journey we made, and the things we built up, is tested by fire, it says, and all the stuff that was done in the energy of the flesh, wood, hay, and stables will be burned up. Obviously, this bunch of people in Acts 13 knew they needed to get together and talk about stuff. They had council meetings, but more important for the Lord to do his work, more important was to wait and spend time for him to speak and do what he says. The passage you read from the book of Issachar, the two groups of people, the Levites, isn't it sad? The Lord says, let them minister to the people out there, cut up the animals, they're so busy. I mean, when you go to the outer court, I mean, the millions of animals and stuff, continually, day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, they've been slaughtered, and they're pulling them, moving them, cutting them pieces, and I mean, there's a multitude out there, so visible, so elaborate, lights and sound, and everything is there. They're so out there before the people. The Lord said, let them do all that, but for you, to a group of people, he says, you shall come before me and minister to me and stand before me. Are they always confined in the little place? No. Their lives are making the biggest difference for the whole nation and the whole community, but the Lord says, what you do, let it be that you are doing it for me. You know, if we are really honest, and I'm one of those people, how to repent, I don't know, 10,000 times a day or something like that, there is certain attraction and glamour in Christian ministry. A lot of attraction to the flesh, and we can become restless, because the need is so huge, and opportunity is so much, that I think, we think that, you know, this is, this is the way I have to do it, and it needs to be done, and somehow it pushes up to look for higher positions, higher titles, more visible places, to do things that are seen and written about and talked about as the result of my ministry, my mission, the souls, and all these stuff. Nothing bad about doing good things and great things for God. The need is so huge, and opportunity is unlimited. Yeah, nothing wrong with that, but in the inner deepest part of your heart and my heart, in the inner chamber that nobody can enter in, do I really know this is all I'm doing for Him? Why there is so much rivalry, bitterness, restlessness, anger, frustration, discouragement in the ministry among God's people. One major denomination put out their statistics. I mean, I was shocked to find out 80% attrition takes place on the mission field for this movement because of a relationship problem. Did you hear that? Not because of sickness and lack of money. And they talked about the millions of dollars they lose after training these fellows in their graduate, postgraduate degree, two years of special training in psychology, and counseling, and anthropology, all this. And they are superstars, missionaries, and they end up on the mission field. They quit within two years. And the problem, not the heathens, it is a relationship problem. You can't get along with each other. You ask, what happened? And this kind of tells us the real problem of people doing things for themselves and not for the Lord. Because when we get into pain, and suffering, and loss, and misunderstanding, and hard work, late in the night agonies, you know what I'm saying? What a stupid thing. I mean, I have to do all these things. Don't these people have any understanding about it? I, me, I mean, I... No. Lord, I'm amazed that you'll give me the privilege to have the energy to stay up all night. And Lord, I do this for you. A great reminder to stay balanced in life, and to keep seeking the Lord for His direction. We'll get back to Brother K.P. Johannan for more of this edition of The Road to Reality in just a moment. You're listening to a message that Brother K.P. delivered at the Gospel for Asia 2005 Missions Conference. It's called The Lord's Way. Now, the 2006 Missions Conference is just around the corner. It takes place June 30th and through July 2nd at the Gaylord Texas Hotel near the Dallas Fort Worth Airport. Come and get a life-changing perspective as Brother K.P. and other missionary leaders bring the mission field to you. Again, the 2006 Renewing Your Passion Missions Conference takes place June 30th through July 2nd. You can get complete information about the Renewing Your Passion Conference simply visit the Gospel for Asia website at gospelforasia.org and click on the conference link. That's gospelforasia.org or call us toll free 800-WIN-ASIA. That's 800-WIN-ASIA. Now, let's return to Brother K.P. for a humorous look at the driving passion of Jacob's life. Jacob is a strange human being. You know, tricked his father and ran away and ended up with Laban. Three times more crook than him. He had fallen in love with a beautiful girl and wanted to marry her. Yeah, you can have her, but you have to work seven years. Seven years? What a dowry. So he works seven years and then he gets married and morning he wakes up to find he got the wrong girl and he is furious. I would be too, you would be too. What have you done to me? Son, calm down. No problem. No problem, son. What do you mean no problem? What's the... Rachel, she's the one I want. No problem, you can have her. Yeah? Seven more years you have to work. Seven more years. Now 14 years. But there's an interesting statement. But all those years look like just a day. No, first of all, because he loved Rachel. Love erased the pain. The old covenant is do this, don't do this, do this, don't do this. But the new covenant is totally different. We are called to be partakers of his nature. We are called in the new covenant to become one with him, to partake of his nature. So all we do, his commandments we obey. It is not to get points and rewards and this and that. Lord, I know my own blood was the price he purchased me. I'm just yours. What do you want me to do? That's all. It's all you and you and you alone. Otherwise we stand outside of Christ. I have to do this. The world is going to hell. I have to do something about give money and raise money and travel. Lord, I have to do this. He says, listen, that's not what I'm worried about. Just be mine. Let me work through you. One day is like thousand years for him. Just one day. The rest of the time just sit at his feet is worth doing it. Well, what was Jesus all about? If I must be a partaker of his nature? Look at these verses. You don't have to open your Bible. John's gospel chapter 5 verse 19. John 5 30. John 8 38. John 12 49. John 14 10. You know all those verses what it says? I do nothing of my own. I only say what I hear from the father. I didn't come to do what I want to do. About him it says in the old testament in the prophetic passage. My servant. The born slave of the father. Talking about the son of God. All night he prayed and talked to the father. Next day he goes and pick up all these fishermen. I wonder Jesus the man. Jesus the man. To do the work he must do. Why on earth he want to pick Peter? And sun so thunder. Fellows who are hitting others and beating them up. Father told him. As he waited all night long. Son, I have a plan. Go and pick up those fellows. Just trying to imagine this. Okay, as a man. Father, you really mean that? That fellow. He curses every day. But he's not educated. Or you want one educated? Pick Julius. He's the only one we can get. But the interesting thing. Finally toward the end of his life he prays a prayer. Father, I pray for these you have given me. Did he notice? Those statements. He never tells his disciples. I prayed all night long and the father told me to do this. By the way you fellows come after me. Not a word mentioned. Follow me. I will make you. Nothing about the father there. But there was that intimacy. That hearing heart. That tenderness. Not trying to add bunch of names and degrees and people around him to say, you know, great Jesus got all the peaches around him. He's a mighty man. No, nothing like that. He just picked some weird people. But the father gave those to him. No wonder they could turn the world upside down. No wonder when Peter's wife, it says by Eusebius, was taken out to be killed. As they're taking her out the tradition says Peter speaks from the cell. My wife, I can imagine she turns back to see her husband the last time. Don't forget how much he loved us. And then takes him out. You gonna crucify me like that? Please don't do that. I'm not worthy to be crucified like my Lord. Do it upside down. Who paid him the salary? Who took the four color pictures? Who put him on television? Who said this investment made 100,000 churches? Who gave him any kind of credit? And so I pray that none of us will seek to serve him because we are part of some great mission or the need is this and that. And A. W. Torser very well said in one of his writings, the biggest tragedy, the curse of evangelical Christian today is that we know nothing about waiting and hearing from God. When you have average people, believer pray less than six minutes a day in our country here and pastor spend less than 10 minutes a day. You know where we are. I pray that you and I will leave this conference with a absolute commitment to know him better and wait and follow him. And I'm telling you what, that will change everything for us and the world. Let's pray. Lord, thank you for your kindness. How gracious you are, Lord, in the midst of such a busy schedule and trying to get the job done. Lord, you're so amazing. You walk right in the midst of the whole thing and say, Lord, how gracious you are to say don't do this. This is not the way I'm thinking about it. Listen to me. We ask that for each one of us, Lord, and give you the permission to do that whenever, however, Lord, and give us a heart like little children who runs continually, non-stop to the mother, saying mommy, mommy, daddy, daddy. Lord, let that be our longing, our commitment. Please, Lord, some of us who are older, being in the ministry for long years, oh, Lord, help us that we don't forget those early days of innocence and childlike dependence and listening to you. The world is in such desperate need and, Lord, you are looking for some who will listen so you can meet those needs. Thank you in Jesus' name. Well, I hope you've been encouraged to continually seek the Lord for fresh direction and that the Lord's work is about Him, not us. You're listening to The Road to Reality with Brother K.P. Yohanan, founder and director of Gospel for Asia. We'll get back to Brother K.P. in just a moment, but today's message was recorded during the 2005 Gospel for Asia Missions Conference. Now, if you're not familiar with the missions work the Lord is doing through Gospel for Asia, please stop by our website. It's found at gospelforasia.org. You can view videos, get a free book, get an update on current events in the mission field. Again, that's gospelforasia.org or call us toll-free 866-WIN-ASIA. That's 866-WIN-ASIA. And once again, here's Brother K.P. I encourage you to set aside June 30th to July 2nd for an experience that can change your life. You see, that's what happened last summer. Nearly 200 people came to our first conference and they returned home. Their spiritual lives revolutionized. Some began prayer meetings and mission conferences. Others made renewed commitments to mission and evangelism. Some even reconsidered their entire direction of their life and ministry. What caused such a transformation in their lives? They heard for Native Missionaries how God is moving in Asia. They fellowshiped and prayed with GFS staff and with each other. They worshipped and opened their hearts to God's leading. And their passion for mission was renewed. Their passion for prayer was renewed. Their passion for Jesus was renewed. So, mark your calendar and join me, the GFS staff, Native Missionary leaders from Asia and hundreds of believers from around the world, for our Renewing Your Passion conference, June 30th through July 2nd. It will be an experience you will never forget. And it could be a turning point in your walk with Jesus. I look forward to seeing you there. The conference takes place June 30th through July 2nd in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. If you desire to renew your passion for the Lord and missions, then call or visit our website today for complete information. The web address? GospelForAsia.org. That's GospelForAsia.org. And click on the conference link or call us toll-free 866-WIN-ASIA. That's 866-WIN-ASIA. The Road to Reality is sponsored by Gospel for Asia. Come back next time, won't you, for more refreshment from God's Word. Until then, may the Lord richly bless you.