Nepal is the only country in the world whose constitution states that they are to be a Hindu nation. People come to Nepal from all over the world so that they can visit Hindu temples, meditate, and call down the powers of darkness.
We, however, come to Nepal to tear down the altars of idol worship and to break the power of the darkness over this country.
It has been strange how the Lord has opened up Nepal for PTL. There first time I flew into this country, there was an enormous rainbow along the border, and my plane flew into and through the rainbow. Rainbows, you can read in Genesis, are a sign of God’s covenant.
Our crusades have had a major impact here. Last year there were death threats and bomb threats at our crusade. But it ended in victory: many mountain tribes of Hindus got saved and new churches were planted.
This time we were in southwest Nepal, just below the mountains. It is a poor agricultural area where they still plow using oxen. As usual, the resistance to our crusade was intense.
- The authorities were very negative toward us before the crusade, saying “you are challenging science.” Among the critics was the principal of the school in whose large courtyard we held our crusade. But now he has changed his stance toward us: he had been deaf in one ear since his youth, but Jesus opened his ear!
- The police and military said “you will be responsible for what happens if the people don’t get healed.” They were afraid of riots in case people were disappointed, but by the first evening many people had already gotten healed, including a lady who had been completely blind for 16 years.
- The Christians in the neighboring cities were very critical of the posters that had been printed. They completely lacked any Christian symbols, the word Jesus or the word Christian. This meant that no one knew that a Westerner was going to speak. The poster said “Master” Lilja, which is what Hindus call the guru speakers at their own big meetings. But now the Christians have asked for forgiveness and congratulated us on a successful crusade.
It is hard to estimate how many people got saved, but during each meeting more than 25,000 people prayed along during the prayer of salvation. It is impossible to say how many people were born again and baptized in the Holy Spirit. But from the stage I could see a huge number of people getting baptized in the Spirit.
So what is going to happen with all of these people?
First of all, we can’t underestimate what happens when a person is born again. It is a work of God. Not everyone who prayed the prayer of salvation was truly born again, but many were. The small churches in the region do what they can, but now God lives in these people, he takes responsibility for them, and in time they will come into churches. I was born again a full year before I came to a church, and didn’t even know that there was a Pentecostal church in my small town. But the born again, new creation on the inside of me was God’s responsibility and he made sure I ended up where I needed to be. I believe in the indwelling power in the person who has been born again.
Also, revival is a process. Most of the people had never heard of Jesus. Now they know, and the churches are going to grow over time. A balance is needed, because if things go too quickly, the church buildings are burned down and the pastors are abused and killed. We have to give Jesus time to emerge from within these tribal societies.
On Saturday evening more than 100 people were healed from major hearing loss and deafness. Each night someone who was completely blind received their sight back and many visually impaired people were healed. Many testified that their cancer tumors had disappeared and various degrees of paralysis were broken. Many children were healed.
It is impossible to say how many demons were cast out, but starting on the second night the deliverance tent was full even before the meeting was halfway through. Many “animal” demons were cast out. There were people barking like dogs, squirming on the ground like snakes and acting like monkeys. Every night there was a long line of people who wanted to tell about how their darkness was now over. The dark power that had governed their lives for such a long time was no longer there. Many Hindus told of how the demons left them when they prayed along in the prayer of salvation to Jesus. The most attention-grabbing part of our crusades isn’t the healings but the deliverances. I don’t do anything to cause them to manifest. But the same thing happens wherever we go: five minutes into the sermon, the demon-possessed start to manifest. The only explanation I have is that the presence of Jesus is forcing the darkness to flee.
I’m not asking you to believe me, because this simply must be seen with your own eyes. What happened in Jesus’ time is happening now as well.
Some people might think that seems scary. But no, quite the opposite is true. Seeing the power in the name of Jesus causes you to become both bold and calm. What enormous grace to be allowed to experience the power in his name.
It is this power that is characterizing the crusades. Just imagine: How do you preach to people who have never even heard of the Bible? These are simple people. Eighty percent of them are illiterate. They can only listen for about 20-25 minutes. So it is all about proclaiming the name of Jesus and communicating, in a simple way, that you can be born again, that God’s Spirit is here, and that you can be united with God. The problem is “bad karma”, sin, which separates you from God. But God loves you so much that he has helped you by redeeming you in his Son, Jesus, if you believe in Him.
And when Jesus confirms what I proclaim, they want to receive Him. The sick get healed, the blind see, demons are cast out, and the presence of God’s Spirit touches nearly everyone. God is there!
It takes a lot of people to put together a successful crusade. The Nepalese pastors in the district did a great job and our Kathmandu team under the leadership of Pastor Peter put forth an amazing effort. And thanks to our Asia Director as well, Bertil from Sweden.
I am so happy tonight. It is such grace to feel the power of God flowing inside of me, such grace.
After the final meeting I flew to Kathmandu and have now eaten a real dinner, the first I’ve had in the past four days. The hotel room I stayed in had lizards on the walls and there were mice running along the floor, but who cares? So many people were united with God and now have their names written in the Book of Life!
