Newsletter from Thailand

I’m back in Norway now after having a great time in the USA . It was a very exiting and inspirational trip but turned out quite differently than I expected, typical of God. It’s kind of difficult to put it all down on paper, but I will at least write about some of the highlights from my trip.

He heard my cry
”God, You need to speak to me today!” I almost cried aloud on my way from where I lived to the prayer centre, the International House of Prayer in Kansas City . I had experienced a terrible night because my breathing problem was really bad, and I was in desperate need of encouragement. I had signed up for a prophetic ministry this day, hoping that God would speak to me.
When the first person came and prophesied, he said: “You have a great heart for Israel and the Jewish people.” I felt my hopes that God would speak to me with an encouraging word vanish. Disappointed, I thought: “God doesn’t want to speak to me today.” I wish to bless Israel and the Jewish people, but this was not what I wanted or expected to hear at this time, plus God had already put a different people group on my heart, the Shan.
In my frustration I only listened half-heartedly to what the next person said, but later listened to it on tape. She said that I have a unique ministry amongst a unique people, which few don’t reach or consider. She did not know anything about the un-reached Shan people, which I work amongst. They are truly forgotten by the world and there are not many missionaries that work among them.
After I left the prophetic room, I sat down in the worship hall at IHOP and complained to God: “ Why couldn’t you have said something like this: “
I see you going through a hard time, but I will
soon deliver you.” And, given me Is. 58:8?”
Then I felt God speak to me: “Do you remember what I showed you two days ago?” At a seminar I had attended, one lady had said that she was reminded of the story of Naaman in 2 King 5, and she felt it was for someone that was sick at the seminar.
Naaman was the captain of the host of the king of Syria , and he was a leper.
When the prophet Elisha heard that Naaman had come to Israel and wanted to be healed, he called for him. When this mighty and famous captain went to the prophet’s house, Elisha didn’t even meet him, but sent his servant out with a message. Naaman should dip himself seven times in Jordan . The captain was offended and said: 2 King.5: 12
12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus , better than all the waters of Israel ? May I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.
Fortunately he had a wise servant that said:

2 King.5:13
My father, if the prophet had bid you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much rather then, when he say to you, Wash, and be clean?

When I read this story later that day, two observations came to mind. The first was that Naaman had to wash himself in the Jordan . We need to wash and cleanse ourselves in the Word of God in order to receive healing and deliverance, and that is a process.
Sometimes God in His great grace and mercy is working in His gifts through us, and He can supernaturally do an instant miracle. This is what usually happens in healing/miracle crusades and meetings. But healing is a process. Many people give up because they don’t see anything happen right away when they get prayed for, and then they loose their healing because of that discouragement.
The second observation was that Naaman dictated what Eilsha should do, he was actually proud.
Naaman thought that Elisha should come out and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper (v11).
I have really had a tendency to dictate to God how he should do things, such as how he should heal me or speak to me, but God almost never does it my way.
Naaman got offended, because he was proud, God did not do it his way. Pride is definitely one thing that can hinder healing. If Naaman had not dipped himself in the Jordan , he would never have gotten his healing.

In my discussion with God, he was right and I was wrong as usual, fortunately! And I asked for forgiveness for trying to dictate to Him.
On my way home I passed the bookstore at the centre, and stopped in to see if they had some interesting books to buy. I found several books about healing, and one of them was called: He Lifted Me Up, How To Go After Your Healing by Mary Truman Gracey.
When I came home I sat down in the garden and started to read this book. I was amazed over how much she had been through. She had a sickness called multiple chemical sensitivity (MSC/EI). She was allergic to almost everything, food, smells etc. While at her worst, she had to live in her car. She had tried everything, but nothing helped. The doctors said that the disease was chronic and incurable and they had no solution for her.
I recognized a lot of what she said, but I haven’t been through half of what she had gone through.
When I later started to research this condition I found out that Candida (the sickness I have that causes a lot of food allergies) is not the root of the problem, because I have many allergies that are not connected to Candida. I have known about this for a while, but no doctor had given me any answers and I did not figure out what it was, but now I know.
After she saw the truth about healing she gradually got well. After a year she could go anywhere and eat everything again, and she was and is totally healed.
I also found out that she was part of the staff at the centre I visited. I scheduled an appointment with her and was able to speak with her. The meeting was an encouragement and it answered a lot, especially on how I got this sickness and how to get well again. She also had severe Candida, and got rid of it without any medicine (she was allergic to everything), which is not possible without supernatural help from God.
The key to getting well is actually quite simple: Live in holiness and in the joy of the Lord, don’t let fear enter your heart and stand on and confess the word of God and resist the enemy.
When she prayed over me she got Psalm 91, and some days before I also was reminded by God to learn this Psalm by heart. I pray this Psalm everyday now, and I will continue to do so in the time to come.

So God spoke to me this day after all, he heard my cry, just not in the way I expected and planned.

The proverbs says:
16:9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

I am certain that I will get rid of this horrible sickness. One of the reasons I believe this is true is that God would never have allowed me to take this trip, or to meet Mary Truman Gracey, if He didn’t want to help me get rid of the sickness. By the way, I believe that God wants everyone to be in good health, because sickness is not from God; it’s an enemy we have to fight. Jesus treated sickness as an enemy, and so should we. We have the promise that Jesus has healed us, but we need to possess it. When the Israelites went to possess Canaan they had to fight a lot of enemies (read Joshua). The land and the promise was theirs but they had to possess it. It’s the same way with healing. We have a promise, but we have enemies such as fear and unbelief, and we need to fight them to possess the promise.
God helped me tear down strongholds of fear and unbelief.

I will just mention that the prophetic ministry at International House of Prayer is very good. They are very open and say that they sometimes don’t prophesy 100% accurately, because the vessel is not 100% perfect and as humans we only see in parts. If you receive a prophecy that is not correct at all, forget it or put in "on the shelf", which is according to the Bible, which is what I also teach (see: http://www.btww.net/ths). I went back three more times for prophecy, and received a lot of great encouragement. For instance, it confirmed my calling to go to the nations.

The word is powerful
Faith and meditation on the word is much in focus at the centre, especially when it comes to healing. I attended a three-day healing seminar, and that was the best teaching I have ever heard about healing. It was very inspiring, balanced and faith building.
I got a new revelation about the word there even though I have attended and been part of leading two Bible Study Schools in YWAM (SBS CC). I have read the Bible several times, but still I got a new revelation. I have known the principle, but haven’t used it much. The most important thing with Bible reading is not how much you read, but how you read it. To meditate on the word is not to read fast over the text, but to really dig into a few words and let God minister and speak to you by it. Then you let the word be a part of you.
When I read a verse I do as follows: read it slowly and take it word for word. I read it many times. I write it down, pray it out and may be even sing it out.
To learn a whole Psalm by heart, as Psalm 91, has been a new dimension in my prayer life. As I have said I have done part of it before, but not a whole Psalm full of promises.
I use it as a model of prayer and pray through it every morning and every night and sometimes more. It is powerful, especially when I have a bad day! I recommend memorizing Psalm 91 and praying it, it is incredible what opens up when you pray and meditate on it every day. It contains promises for everything in life and especially against fear. To meditate on the Word will increase your faith. Many try to get faith by trying to believe more in faith. They try to pull themselves together and try to believe, but faith comes by hearing and reading the Word of God and let it be a part of you (Rom 10:17), not by having faith in the faith.
As I have said I have experienced a lot, and I will probably write more about it in the future.

To Thailand
I will go to Thailand soon, but I’m not sure when, but it will be no later than the beginning of January. Right now I’m at the YWAM centre Grimerud, not too far from Oslo. I’ll probably stay here before I go to Thailand again. It’s good to live with the YWAM family.

Prayer subjects
- Give thanks to God that he met me in the USA.

- Don’t pray that God will heal me, because I know that is what he wants that. He has already healed me, according to his word (Is 53), but pray for protection and grace to fight the battle to “posses the land.” Our mind is the battlefield and the enemy continually sends bad thoughts our way.
Continue to pray for the Shan people. Pray for protection and wisdom for the new believers.
Pray for the missionaries that work among the Shans
Pray for the economical challenges that I have. I need approximately $700 USD before Christmas.

Web links in connection to this newsletter

If you wish to read more about the place i visited look at this web site:
International House of Prayers .
http://www.fotb.com
The couple that was leading the healing seminar and the healing ministry: Kevin and Lora Matthews. You can download a teaching (The Healing Technician’s Manual) on their web site.
http://www.rapha.org
Read more about the book: He Lifted Me Up, by Mary Truman Gracey.
http://www.heliftedmeup.com/

Financial support
My economical challenges that I have this fall are approximately $700 USD before Christmas. If you wish to support me in my ministry you can use the link below (you can give by Visa or Master Card):
http://www.btww.net/donation.shtml

Or, wire money to my Norwegian account.

Union Bank of Norway (DnB NOR)
Postboks 1172 Sentrum
0107 Oslo
Norway
Swift kode UBNONOKK

Receiver
Tore Johannessen
Addr. Grimerudvn 81
City: Ottestad
Zip: 2312
Norway
Bank: Skandiabanken,
Bank account nr: 97102746787