Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    A Life of Balance
    A Life of Balance
    A Life of Balance
    Ebook69 pages50 minutes

    A Life of Balance

    By K.P. Yohannan

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    Remember learning how to ride a bike? The hardest part was learning how to stay balanced. Once you mastered that, you were ready to go anywhere.

    The same is true of life, especially for those of us who sincerely seek to follow Jesus Christ. All truth has two sides, and balanced attention to both sides of the coin is necessary to rightly divide the Word of Truth. Otherwise, our passion for the Lord can quickly turn into fanaticism and our ministry will eventually fade away.

    In this short booklet, K.P. Yohannan discusses Biblical balance in 11 key areas of life, such as

    *Discipline and Freedom
    *Faith and Common Sense
    *Love and Doctrine
    *Zeal and Wisdom

    Learn how to develop the balance which will keep your life and ministry healthy and honoring God. Order your copy today!

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherGFA Books, a division of GFA World
    Release dateSep 12, 2014
    ISBN9781595891006
    A Life of Balance
    Author

    K.P. Yohannan

    Dr. K.P. Yohannan (or KP Yohannan) has been crisscrossing the globe for the past 40 years, challenging the Body of Christ to discipleship. His call to a radical lifestyle—with an all-out commitment to Jesus—has left its impact on nearly every continent. To the Church caught up by the tidal waves of compromise and self-preservation, Yohannan’s life message is a fresh word to this generation and yet as timeless as the scriptural mandate itself.Yohannan is the founder and director of GFA World (formerly Gospel for Asia aka GFA), a Christian mission organization deeply committed to seeing communities transformed through the love of Christ demonstrated in word and deed. He is also the metropolitan bishop of Believers Church , an indigenous church in South Asia.Born in South India in 1950, Yohannan is the youngest of six sons. His mother dedicated each of her children to the Lord and longed to see one of them commit their lives to ministry. She secretly fasted each Friday for three-and-a-half years, praying, “Oh God, let just one of my boys preach!” Even as she prayed, her children were growing up, seeming destined for secular work. Finally, only the youngest, little “Yohannachan,” was left. Seeing how shy and insecure he was, his mother thought there was little chance that he would preach.However, after Yohannan finished his schooling, he heard stories about North India from a visiting mission team, and his heart was gripped. His mother’s faithful prayers were answered as he immediately decided to join the mission movement and go to faraway North India to help bring the Good News to the multitude of villages that had never heard of Christ. While preparing to go with this radical mission team from Europe, the timid 16-year-old was challenged by a call to radical discipleship from missionary statesman George Verwer. That night, Yohannan couldn’t sleep. What if God asked him to preach publicly in the streets? What if he was stoned and beaten?Suddenly, God’s presence filled the room, and he knew he was not alone. “Lord God,” he prayed in surrender, “I’ll give myself to speak for You—but help me to know that You’re with me.”The next morning, he awoke with a supernatural love and burden for the people around him. The Lord gave him courage to speak to the crowds he saw that day, and he continued to preach for the next seven years in North India. As a field evangelist and regional coordinator, he was responsible for the members of his teams and the planning of each day. His future wife, Gisela, was also serving with the mission movement at the same time, and Yohannan felt through their brief encounters that he had found someone who shared his same vision and calling.In 1971, Yohannan was invited to spend a month in Singapore at a new institute that had been started by John Haggai. Here, he was challenged by Haggai to do something significant with his life for God’s glory. His time at the institute produced a restlessness that eventually led him to leave India to search abroad for God’s ultimate will in his life. In 1974, he came to the United States, where he received his theological training at Criswell College. He and Gisela were married after his first term.As a theology student, Yohannan was ordained and began pastoring a local church in Dallas, where he served for four years. While God blessed his pastoral ministry, Yohannan couldn’t forget the burden God had given him for those who had never once heard the name of Jesus.Remembering the Millions in AsiaAs the Lord reminded Yohannan of the millions in Asia still waiting to learn of His love for them, he resigned his pastorate, and he and Gisela began taking steps to start an organization to support national missionaries, which eventually became known as GFA. They began meeting together each Tuesday night with a small, faithful group of believers to pray over world maps. The Lord soon guided them to start a program through which people could regularly support the work of national missionaries by laying aside one dollar a day. As the Lord opened doors to share this opportunity with churches and individuals, the ministry began to grow.Today, GFA World comes alongside thousands of national workers and supports them through prayer and assistance as they bring hope to the most needy in South Asia. GFA World is engaged in dozens of projects, such as caring for poor children, slum dwellers and widows and orphans; providing clean water by funding wells; supporting medical missions; and meeting the needs of those in leprosy colonies. Through GFA’s Child Sponsorship Program (formerly Bridge of Hope), tens of thousands of children are being rescued from the generational curses of poverty and hopelessness. In honor of Yohannan’s decades of demonstrating the heart of a father to the fatherless, the members of the Christian Men’s Network’s Global Fatherhood Initiative awarded him the Reggie White Fatherhood Award in 2016. In 2003, he was awarded Alumnus of the Year from Criswell College for his influence in the work of God.A Ministry of DiscipleshipOne of Yohannan’s deep desires is to see a new generation catch sight of the Lord’s burden for the hopeless in their generation and to give themselves, no-holds-barred, to His work. GFA World’s School of Discipleship, a one-year program for young adults, is helping fulfill this dream. Through this life-changing year at GFA World’s headquarters in East Texas, dozens of young people have deepened their relationship with Christ and grown in their desire to follow in His footsteps. Many of them are now serving the Lord full-time in different capacities across the globe.Ministering hope and practical help to the people of South Asia, Dr. Yohannan’s radio program, Spiritual Journey, reaches more than 1 billion people in 110 languages. His Road to Reality radio program airs weekly on more than 200 radio stations in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Additionally, viewers in 100 nations can watch him daily on AYTV. He served on the executive committee of World by Radio from 2004–2012 and as a board member with the National Religious Broadcasters Association (NRB) from 2013–2015. In recognition of his service, NRB presented Yohannan with its Individual Achievement in International Broadcasting award in 2003.Dr. Yohannan is a prolific writer with more than 200 books published in Asia and 11 in the United States. With more than 3.9 million copies in print, Yohannan’s landmark book, Revolution in World Missions, is an international bestseller that has literally changed the course of mission history in our generation. For his faithful service to the Body of Christ, Yohannan was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Hindustan Bible College in Chennai, India.

    Read more from K.P. Yohannan

    Related to A Life of Balance

    Related ebooks

    Christianity For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Begin Again

      Jul 26, 2022

      Begin Again
      2 min read

    • Article

      Monday, January 2

      Dec 16, 2022

      “WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU could do better?” a friend asked me recently. Without missing a beat, I quickly replied, “Sing.” I’ve long admired those who have voices that can croon any type of music—Christian, opera, R&B, pop, jazz, or country. I love to si

      1 min read

    • Article

      Thursday, November 4

      Oct 15, 2021

      So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. Luke 15:20 (NIV) ONE OF OUR ORGANIZATION’S MINISTRIE

      1 min read

    • Article

      God Has Not Forgotten You

      Nov 16, 2022

      God Has Not Forgotten You
      1 min read

    • Article

      Understanding The Spiritual Side Of Business

      Sep 4, 2020

      “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” – Ephesians 6:12 After many years of learning

      2 min read

    • Article

      God’s Word Is A Mirror

      May 20, 2019

      We have an identity crisis in the Church today. This is because we do not know who we are in Christ and what belongs to us through Christ. Our minds remain unrenewed. In the natural, without proof of identity, you are not officially recognised and ca

      1 min read

    • Article

      True Generosity

      Nov 25, 2022

      It’s the gift-giving time of year! If we’re honest, everyone one of us looks forward to receiving a present, right? Giving gifts is a universal practice, isn’t it? Almost all cultures value generosity. But what exactly is generosity? Think about Jesu

      2 min read

    • Article

      A Love That Forgives

      Jul 25, 2023

      A Love That Forgives
      7 min read

    • Article

      Wednesday, November 3

      Oct 15, 2021

      Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 (ESV) FOR THE PAST YEAR I’VE had a monthly phone call with a spiritual director. I reached out to her because I was feeling unclear about God’s purpose for me

      1 min read

    • Article

      Multi-user Access

      Mar 31, 2020

      Data Crow supports multiple users, enabling you to grant others varying levels of access to your collections, from read-only to full editing capabilities. Click the “User” icon followed by the green “+” button to set up a user. Fill in the details on

      1 min read

    • Article

      On Grace

      Nov 30, 2021

      On Grace
      2 min read

    • Article

      All in Good Time

      May 28, 2021

      All in Good Time
      3 min read

    • Article

      Share Christ With Others While You Still Have The Opportunity…

      Feb 11, 2022

      Use every moment to give thanks and to testify to the greatness and goodness of God. Record the work of the Lord in your life. When you got born-again, the old you died and you became a new creature. Your spiritual eyes were opened. You can recognise

      1 min read

    • Article

      DeVon Franklin

      Sep 26, 2022

      DeVon Franklin
      2 min read

    • Article

      Jesus Is The Reason For The Season

      Nov 18, 2019

      We all know that Christ was not actually born on December 25th , and there is always a big debate amongst believers as to whether or not we should celebrate Christmas at all because of its historical origins. Whatever the case may be, we should not g

      1 min read

    • Article

      Ask Val

      Sep 23, 2022

      Ask Val
      2 min read

    • Article

      Thursday, March 3

      Feb 16, 2022

      MY BOAT’S GALLEY CUPBOARDS ARE stained a deep reddish-brown. The glossy doors look beautiful set against the surrounding off-white walls. Their interiors, however, are a different matter. Humidity levels run high from November through April because w

      1 min read

    • Article

      A Note From The Editor

      Jun 16, 2022

      IN A LOT OF WAYS, the summer is a powerful reminder of the freedom and rest we can find in Jesus. Our children and grandchildren, who are on break from school, enliven our homes with laughter and joy. Packing for that long-awaited family vacation mak

      1 min read

    • Article

      Modern Forms Of IDOLATRY

      Aug 25, 2023

      Modern Forms Of IDOLATRY
      4 min read

    • Article

      Max Lucado

      Jan 26, 2023

      Max Lucado
      2 min read

    • Article

      Palm Sunday, April 10

      Feb 16, 2022

      MY HUSBAND, KEVIN, IS A pastor and likes to illustrate his sermons in unique ways. One year on Palm Sunday, he arranged several styles of coats in the center aisle of the church building. At the start of his message, Kev stepped into the aisle, held

      1 min read

    • Article

      Reader Testimony

      Dec 31, 2021

      For as long as I can remember, I have had so-called symptoms of Bi-Polar mood disorder. I can also claim symptoms of PTSD. At risk of giving anything not of God any kind of recognition or sense of pride in itself, I hesitate to write too much about t

      3 min read

    • Article

      Be Present-Minded

      Mar 16, 2022

      Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Chris

      1 min read

    • Article

      Plant Yourself In God’s Word

      Jan 16, 2021

      Plant Yourself In God’s Word
      1 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for A Life of Balance

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      A Life of Balance - K.P. Yohannan

      A Life of Balance

      By K.P. Yohannan

      Published by GFA Books at Smashwords

      Copyright © 2014 K.P. Yohannan

      It is good that you grasp one thing and also not let go of the other; for the one who fears God comes forth with both of them.

      Ecclesiastes 7:18, NASB

      Table of Contents

      Free Resources

      Introduction

      1. Both Sides of the Coin

      2. Our Need and Christ’s Sufficiency

      3. Our Sacrifice and God’s Grace

      4. The Devil Is Bad Enough

      5. Faith and Common Sense

      6. Authority and Submission

      7. Discipline and Freedom

      8. Where Is Your Focus?

      9. Zeal with Wisdom

      10. Love and Doctrine

      11. As You Run to the Finish Line

      12. Information and Action

      Conclusion

      About the Author

      Excerpt from Revolution in World Missions

      About Gospel for Asia

      Notes

      Copyright

      Step into the world of

      FREE!

      gfa.org/resource/signup

      Discover exciting resources by Dr. K.P. Yohannan to help you grow spiritually. Ebooks, videos, mp3s and photos—all free for download.

      resource-ad-smaller.jpg

      To my dear daughter Sarah.

      Thank you for your desire to serve our Lord.

      I am proud of you.

      Introduction

      EK8%20glyph.png

      One of my happiest times growing up in India was playing along the river. When the monsoon season came and brought the floods, the river near my village would swell. You could be sure all little kids were out on the rushing water playing in our tiny, homemade canoes—so small they could hold only one person. I was there too, just a young boy, maybe five or six years old.

      Just imagine, a young little kid, no more than 60 pounds, tossing on the rushing waters of a flooded river in a makeshift canoe. I can remember countless times when the whole thing would be flipped over by the force of the water, and I’d be underneath with that canoe over my head.

      But after many monsoon seasons and many flips, I became an expert at handling my little canoe in the floodwaters. I became so good that I could actually stand and put one foot on each side of the canoe and balance myself on the outer edges. Then I’d maneuver myself right through those waters. These memories make me wish I were young again.

      It was growing up by the river that I first began to learn the lesson of balance, which affects life every day, no matter where we are. In order to maintain a healthy life and ministry that doesn’t just come and go but is continually sustained by God and His grace, we need to have a balanced foundation in our thinking and our service. Then we will be able to maneuver safely through all that comes our way because we will be grounded by the Word of God.

      CHAPTER ONE

      Both Sides of the Coin

      EK8%20glyph.png

      Have you ever seen those people in the circus—the tightrope walkers on the high wire? It’s all balance. They must study and learn the proper way to carry themselves as they walk that wire, otherwise they will fall. Balance is crucial in every aspect of our lives, whatever it may be.

      In God’s plan and creation, things are made to balance out. When we look at life, whether we are Christians or non-Christians, in ministry or otherwise, we need to have balance as our anchor, cultivating it daily into our thoughts and actions.

      Where do we find such a balance? We find it in the Word of God. The Bible presents us with that proper, whole and complete understanding —a stable approach of thought and action. All truth has two sides, just as a bird flies with two wings. Have you ever seen a bird with one wing fly? If you have ever seen one, I guarantee you it did not fly for long. The bird has been given two wings so that it can soar away from the earth and experience the awesomeness of God’s creation and majesty, appreciating the vastness of God’s handiwork. We also are meant to soar in this life. But like the bird, we cannot fly with just one wing, no matter how

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1