Table of Contents
Introduction
My name is Andreas Johnsen. I am the founder and speaker for Chariots of Fire Ministries and I would like to share my testimony with you.
Early life with my biological parents.
I am thankful to have been born in an Adventist home. My father was a theologian. He taught and wrote books. He taught at Andrews University for a number of years. My parents were good people. However, not everything was perfect in our family, as in every family. My mother was sick with cancer since before I was born and mostly lay in bed. My father was 65 years old when I was born and was busy writing books etc. so it was hard for them to take care of a little child. Also I don’t remember them ever saying that they loved me. We lived in a number of different places so I wasn’t able to develop deep roots; Norway, France, the US, Jamaica, and even Kenya. They died when I was still young. My father died last, when I was 9.
Life with my aunt and uncle.
After that I lived with my aunt and uncle, which are great people, and they treated me just like one of their other kids. It is challenging, however, coming into a new family, and also I had baggage coming into it. And though I wanted to serve God I was not at peace with Him, which makes it hard to be at peace with others.
In high school I was youth leader. I wanted to serve God but was not victorious. After high school I spent some time in France, where my relatives have a farm. In France I learned about the 1888 message, but after years of reflection, my conclusion is that it was a slanted take on the 1888 message. So I learned a bit more about the gospel, but it was slanted, and I was still not experiencing victory. A couple of years later I was staying at my aunt and uncle’s house in Norway. There was some tension, partly to do with pornography, and my uncle wanted me to move out. Sin causes such problems in our lives.
Going to America
I didn’t have clear goals for my life at the time. I moved to the United States. I traveled around for a while and then started studying theology, thinking I would teach like my father. While in school I got married and had kids. We later bought a farm. I switched paths from theology since I knew I was not fully serving God. I was a truck driver for a while and worked some different jobs.
I was head deacon in the local church. Things might have looked all right for the casual observer but there were deep cracks underneath. Then at one point my wife found out that I was addicted to pornography and then gradually everything came tumbling down. We got divorced. She got the farm and the kids. I was living in my car.
Wanting to die
I eventually bought a dilapidated house in another state that I started working on. I thought I had been treated unfairly in the divorce and so I no longer considered the children to be mine. I swam across the Ohio River in the middle of the night, thinking I might drown. I begged God with all my heart to let me die but I realized he wouldn’t. I was very upset with Him that He wouldn’t let me die and I didn’t understand why. But He knew what He was going to do. He knew that He had a plan for me. He has a plan for all of us and wants to bring us to Him.
The Power of Prayer
Right before COVID-19 shut down the United States I attended a prayer conference. It changed my life. Some of the speakers were Melody Mason, and Janet & Jerry Page. I became excited about prayer and got a new motivation to live for God and to walk with Him. I now pray through the sanctuary. I spend a lot of time at the altar of sacrifice, going through Christ’s life, especially focusing on the closing scenes.
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit
At the candle stick I ask for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. That He will fill me so that there is room for nothing else. There is such sweet communion with God, such joy and peace that He gives. It is much better than pornography, or Netflix, or any idol or addiction that we may have. We often consider prayer a drudgery, but that is such a mistake. The king of the universe wishes to give us an audience with Him. You can’t beat that.
There is hope for you
My wish for you, if you haven’t, is that you may experience God’s perfect peace Isa 26:3. It is pretty amazing. You may think there is no hope for you but I will say if there is hope for me there is hope for everyone. If I can have a close walk with God and be victorious then anyone can. I was in a pretty miserable state but God dragged me out of the pit and put my feet on solid ground.
Life is Good
My life right now is very good. After walking down the wrong path for a long time there are many broken and strained relationships etc. but God can restore broken relationships. In fact God is an awesome God, He will work powerfully in so many ways for anyone who seeks Him with their whole heart.
Related articles:
