At one of his visits to South Africa, he received a message that he should go back to Germany. He went to buy a plane ticket but all the seats had been sold. The Lord told him to pack his suitcase and to head for the airport and He would provide. Ivan asked himself: “Now what?” He went and stood in line with all the passengers ready to board the plane for Frankfurt, Germany. In front of him was a couple who were flying together. At the check-in, the couple found out that they had only made reservations for one person. The man insisted that he had called and made reservations for two as they didn't want to fly separately. The couple declined their trip and after Ivan asked, they gave him their place on the plane. It was wonderful how God orchestrated for Ivan to stand in the right spot in a long line of passengers. Not only did He provide for a seat on the plane, but also for a ticket. (...your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew 6:8 NIV)
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There were many times in Ivan’s life when God used the gift of discernment through him.
Ivan met a woman who ended up in great financial need. A so-called prophet had prophesied to her that the Lord would compensate her double if she donated a large sum of money to the church. She trusted this prophet and gave him all her money but no fortune came back to her. She inquired from Ivan what she should do. Through the gift of discernment, Ivan told her that the Lord would restore her money if she served Him. She had already been spiritually searching and with joy she accepted the Lord as her personal Saviour. Later on, all her money was restored to her. The Lord works in wonderful ways for those who serve Him. We must remember that not all prophets are upright. (...did we not prophesy in your name ….?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' Matthew 7:22-23 NIV)
There was an assembly where a certain couple was causing the pastors quite a headache so Ivan decided to go visit this couple. When he got to the door of their home, he could hear them swear and insult each other. When he knocked on the door they welcomed him in although they actually didn’t want him there. The woman asked if she could get him some tea. “Never mind, sweetheart”, said the man, “I will make some tea.” “No my love, I’ll make tea, after all, it's a woman’s job”, she replied. The whole evening they pretended that they loved each other very much and didn't want Ivan or the assembly to know that they fought like cats and dogs.
Before visiting, Ivan had prepared himself in prayer, and in his soft and friendly manner, he told them how he had heard them insult each other. Their hypocrisy came to light and for the first time they saw what they looked like in the eyes of God and realised that they needed to confess their sins. Ivan spent time teaching them how to pray with each other and confess their misdoings. Quite often people blame each other, even in their prayers, and later on resent each other even more. This time around, they received grace from above and saw that they had each been too proud to admit guilt. From that day on, they worked towards living in peace with each other. Sometimes we know inside that we are wrong but the humiliation is too big to admit it to our life partners. Remember James 4:6 says “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble." (NIV)
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Pastor Prinsloo, the founder of Members in Christ Assemblies, and Ivan would often visit the overseas assemblies. One time they spent the night in a hotel before flying again the next day. Pastor Prinsloo had gone shopping and when he returned to the hotel, he noticed that he had left his briefcase somewhere. All of the crucial documents for their travels were in his briefcase. Pastor Prinsloo immediately started to retrace his steps to find his briefcase while Ivan stayed behind to pray for him. When he finished praying, he went down to the beach. While at the beach, he saw a man coming in his direction, holding a briefcase. When Ivan noticed the name “CJ Prinsloo” on the case, he immediately told the man that the case belonged to his friend. The man handed it over and explained that it had been left behind in a store. Pastor Prinsloo had returned to the hotel, discouraged. The next moment he was overjoyed when Ivan handed him his briefcase. God had organised the place and time for Ivan to be to the minute, just when this man came walking by with the briefcase. (For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. 2 Chronicles 16:9 NIV)
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Many years ago, a Little Person of German descent had come to the Lord. He worked as a clown in a world renowned circus. He was ashamed to confess his sins but God’s Word and His Spirit kept urging him. His Afrikaans and English weren’t all that good and he made a plan to confess all his sins in German, figuring that no one would understand him anyways. During a prayer meeting in a conference, he knelt next to Ivan and confessed all his sins in German, not realising that Ivan was also of German descent. Ivan prayed with him in German asking the Lord to forgive him and wash him in His blood and cleanse him. The man got such a fright that he couldn’t look Ivan in the eyes. (...for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. Matthew 10:26 NIV)
On one of Ivan’s flights, a woman wearing a very short mini skirt sat next to him. Without words, the Spirit of God in Ivan convicted her and a short while later she left her seat, and returned wearing a pair of pants. Later on, she said to Ivan: “Sir, I don't think it’s appropriate for women to wear a mini skirt or a pair of pants.” God’s Spirit who lives in you can convict people if their lives are not right with God. (Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16 KJV)
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