A Question Answer with K.P. Yohannan
Can you tell us something the Lord has been teaching you lately?
Life is a journey. Throughout the Old Testament you will find every call God gave to people was a journey. It was true for Abraham, Moses, David and so on, and it’s true for us. You will find that not only in the lives of individuals, but also in the people of God as a whole.
This past year, I’ve been on the most private journey of my life, and one of the things the Lord helped me see more clearly is that I’m just one person God is using to build His kingdom.
God is working in each one of us, and at the same time, He is working through us and with us, using us to build His Church””visible and invisible.
I am convinced the work God is doing is not going to be accomplished through me alone, because the Bride He is preparing is made up of a lot of people. And I must acknowledge every brother or sister who is doing their part, whether it seems big or small. A large puzzle may have tiny pieces, but if you remove those pieces, the puzzle is incomplete. Every piece is needed to complete the puzzle.
I know we’re all needed to fulfill God’s purposes, but why can it be so challenging to get along with others?
I remember a long time ago I came home pouting, upset about a problem I was having with someone. My wife, Gisela, listened and listened and listened to me. In the end she said, "You must realize God wants everyone to succeed. He wants no one to fail. And He wants you and me to be part of helping everyone to succeed.”
That statement changed my life forever. Now, every time I feel hurt, betrayed or misunderstood, I try to pause and say, "Lord, I want to be part of You fulfilling Your plan in their life. I don’t want to be the enemy.” And sometimes that means I have to embrace suffering to do that. But I also know it is actually part of the Lord’s plan in building their life.
In my personal journey with God, how do I know I’m growing and that He is working in me when I can’t see it or feel it?
In Philippians 2:12”“13, Paul writes, "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” All of us need to walk in humility and brokenness every day, knowing God is changing us and making us more like Him. We have to remember God is working with us.
Most of the time, God’s work is done silently. You may be praying quietly in the kitchen, and nobody hears that earth-shaking event that happened on the mission field as a direct result of your quiet prayer. God may not even show it to you. It’s a mystery in understanding the ways of God in this journey. Sometimes I have to completely throw my life in His hands and trust Him to fulfill His plan.
Sometimes I wonder if I’m any use to the Body of Christ with all the failures and mistakes in my life.
I have a lot of failures in my life that the Lord has used for the better. It is important that you and I come to the place of security and resting in the Lord and His sovereignty.
In Acts 17:26b, it essentially says that before we were born God knew exactly where we would live, what our family life would be like, what incidents would happen to us, etc. This is all part of His incredible plan, and sometimes the greatest disappointments and setbacks are His ways of conforming us more into His image!
In everything that happens to us, we should see it as the cup handed down to us by the Lord. It is for two purposes: 1) to make us closer to Him, which helps us understand Him more, and 2) to be united, to be one, with brothers and sisters to build His kingdom. That is how God has planned it throughout the Bible.
Is there anything we should do as we continue this journey with our brothers and sisters?
There are a few things I’ve learned from the book of Philippians that I think are very helpful for us to remember.
Fight for the unity of the saints. If something has come up between you and another believer, sort it out. Don’t be secretive. Say what hurt you and talk it out.
Ask the Lord often if there is anything in you that has created disunity within the brethren, and what you could do to actively bring unity among the saints. (See Philippians 4:2”“3)
Paul said, "I do not seek my own righteousness.” My own righteousness is fueled by my efforts and ultimately for my own benefit and appearance. Then there is Christ’s righteousness that says, "Nobody will ever find out what I’m doing, but I do this for His glory and no one else.” (See Philippians 3:9)
Humility is something we must embrace, and we will help more people around us by our humility than by everything else we could try to do. Our humility will itself be a ministry. (See Philippians 2:1”“18)
Paul said he would forget the past””both successes and failures””and look ahead instead to Christ. He is the one we’re running to. When we stop focusing on all the failures and all that we could have done, we see it’s a whole different world the Lord has called us to. (See Philippians 3:13”“14)
Remember that God will supply all your needs. He gives us great dreams and hopes, and it’s not up to us when they will happen. (See Philippians 4:19)
Trust God to finish the work He started in you. (See Philippians 1:6)