Many people have asked me to put Ivan’s testimonies and encounters with the Lord on paper, but I put it off for years because some people had exaggerated his testimonies in order to sensationalise them. Experiences with the Lord are impressive enough and nothing must be added to them. Another reason I had doubts about writing them down is because we tend to glorify the individual who is led by the Lord’s Spirit instead of giving God all the glory.
I experienced one such example when Ivan was invited to speak at some church. There were photos posted all around the walls of evangelist William Branham. We know that Pastor Branham was led by the Spirit of God and miracles took place through his ministry. A phenomenon took place when after pictures were taken of him, a halo appeared around his head as soon as they were developed. Unfortunately, this led the congregation to honor Pastor Branham and say: “Brother Branham said this or that”. It immediately struck me that they did not honor the Lord or His Holy Spirit.
Many times, people use the expression: “That is a wonderful preacher or awesome person!” Nowhere in God’s word is a person considered wonderful. Only Jesus is “wonderful”. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6 KJV)
In writing this book I like to give all the honor to our Heavenly Father! I do not want to create the impression that we are better than anyone else. We are people with faults, weaknesses and shortcomings. We are just fortunate that we accepted God’s grace. When a crippled man was healed, the multitude said that Paul and Barnabas were gods and wanted to bring sacrifices to them. But they answered: “And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, …” (Acts 14:15 KJV) (“Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are…” (James 5:17 KJV)
The Grace of God helps you through your whole life. He fills you with an enduring inner joy until He comes to call you to move into the mansion He has prepared for you. “2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also.” (John 14:2-3 KJV)
Martie Muller
I experienced one such example when Ivan was invited to speak at some church. There were photos posted all around the walls of evangelist William Branham. We know that Pastor Branham was led by the Spirit of God and miracles took place through his ministry. A phenomenon took place when after pictures were taken of him, a halo appeared around his head as soon as they were developed. Unfortunately, this led the congregation to honor Pastor Branham and say: “Brother Branham said this or that”. It immediately struck me that they did not honor the Lord or His Holy Spirit.
Many times, people use the expression: “That is a wonderful preacher or awesome person!” Nowhere in God’s word is a person considered wonderful. Only Jesus is “wonderful”. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6 KJV)
In writing this book I like to give all the honor to our Heavenly Father! I do not want to create the impression that we are better than anyone else. We are people with faults, weaknesses and shortcomings. We are just fortunate that we accepted God’s grace. When a crippled man was healed, the multitude said that Paul and Barnabas were gods and wanted to bring sacrifices to them. But they answered: “And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, …” (Acts 14:15 KJV) (“Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are…” (James 5:17 KJV)
The Grace of God helps you through your whole life. He fills you with an enduring inner joy until He comes to call you to move into the mansion He has prepared for you. “2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also.” (John 14:2-3 KJV)
Martie Muller
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