To Live Is Christ - 3 Minute Version
K.P. Yohannan emphasizes the need for Christians to confront their self-centeredness and actively engage in prayer and sacrifice for the lost world.
This sermon challenges the notion of blaming the devil for all troubles, emphasizing that our true enemy is our own self-centeredness. It calls for a shift in focus towards selflessness and sacrificial living, inspired by the examples of martyrs like Amy Carmichael. The message urges listeners to reflect on their response to global tragedies and prompts them to consider a lifestyle of fasting, prayer, and commitment to reaching the lost world.
Full Transcript
We blame the devil for all kinds of things. The devil is bad, okay, I understand that. But the poor devil gets blamed for everything under the sun.
Yes. The devil is bad, I admit. But I'm telling you something, your enemy, my enemy, more than you realize, is not the devil.
It is our own self-centeredness. Yes. And Jesus came not only to save me from my sin and hell, but during my life in this pilgrimage to set me free from my own self-centeredness.
The church is so totally disobedient in picking up the cross and willing to lay down their life like Amy Carmichael Jetson and thousands who march the way of the cross and were martyred instead of committing our life for sacrifice and death. We blame the devil for the whole world going to hell. My brother, my sister, I am not here to put you on a guilt trip, intimidate you, get something out of you and run to the next place.
That's not my purpose here. But I want to ask you one simple question. When you heard over 100,000 people died in Rwanda in a few days time, when you heard in a week over 100,000 swept away from Bangladesh into the oceans and millions left homeless, where were you? What happened to you the following day? Did your son ask you, mama, why are you not eating today? After three days, your son said, daddy, it seems that you are not eating any food.
What happened? Are you sick? And he said, my son, you remember, we watched the news and saw what happened. Yes, daddy, son, I'm so broken hearted over the millions that are perishing that I decided to fast and pray and stand in the gap on behalf of a world that is going to hell and forever without Jesus. That's the only reason.
When was the last time you as a family sat down and said, let's talk about it. Half of the world go to bed with empty stomach and naked bodies. Some 80,000 die every day and slip into hell.
You and your wife and kids said as a family, when was the last time you made a pact, a discussion and say, we will live as strangers and pilgrims on this earth with sacrifice and commitment and tears and fasting and touch the lost world with our lifestyle and commitment.
Sermon Outline
-
I
- Understanding the true enemy
- Self-centeredness vs. the devil
-
II
- The call to discipleship
- Examples of sacrifice in history
-
III
- The urgency of the lost
- Personal responsibility in prayer and fasting
-
IV
- Family discussions on global suffering
- Living as pilgrims and strangers
Key Quotes
“The poor devil gets blamed for everything under the sun.” — K.P. Yohannan
“Jesus came not only to save me from my sin and hell, but during my life in this pilgrimage to set me free from my own self-centeredness.” — K.P. Yohannan
“When was the last time you made a pact, a discussion and say, we will live as strangers and pilgrims on this earth?” — K.P. Yohannan
Application Points
- Engage in regular family discussions about global suffering and our role in it.
- Commit to fasting and praying for those who are lost and suffering.
- Live a life of sacrifice, reflecting Jesus' call to pick up our cross.