Most Holy Fait h Reaching and rising to another level In the realm of the Spirit and faith. Jude 20
Mike Leichner
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Most Holy Faith Copyright  2009 by Mike Leichner All Rights Reserved Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. Cover scripture taken from the Amplified Bible, Expanded Edition. Copyright 1987 by the Zondervan Corporation and the Lockman Foundation. ISBN: 978-0-9820914-3-2 Cover and book design by Jim L. Friesen Printed in the United States of America by Mennonite Press, Inc., Newton, Kansas. ii
This book is dedicated to my lovely wife, Dee, the most Godly, Holy Ghost woman I know. She was the first in our family to experience this wonderful gift of the spirit – praying in the Holy Ghost. Her life has both inspired me and propelled me. She has impacted her family, her church, and she has taken us into a higher level of faith in the Holy Ghost experience!
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Today there is a fresh emergence of the Holy Ghost in the lives of those with a keen appetite for the things of the Spirit. The first and second of seven final commands to Christians are listed in Jude 20, “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.” In I Timothy 1:4b, the Apostle Paul charged Timothy to be occupied with the essentials of Christian faith – to do something…. “godly edifying which is in faith; so do.” This truly is the dispensation of God which is in faith. In Most Holy Faith you will see what to do. You will experience the presence of the Holy Ghost as you encounter Him in a refreshing perspective. This is divine truth revealed to help the hungry heart make progress, to rise higher and to ride on high places with the Spirit Himself !
Mike Leichner iv
Int roduct ion T
his book is for people who have a Holy Desperation to go deeper in the realm of the Spirit. Herein lies the help to push past mediocre Christianity and even normal Pentecostalism. The message is simple yet profound, to take you past normal intellectual faith into Most Holy Faith; to take prayer to another level into the realm of the Spirit. You have the privilege and the ability to tap into the very mind of God for every circumstance or situation you may be facing. There is Someone to lead you into the master plan of God for your life. The only question is, “Do you want to go beyond what you can understand?� If the answer is yes, then follow me now, as we wade together into spiritual waters, a deeper walk and higher communication with the Commander and Chief of communications, the Holy Ghost! v
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Content s Introduction................................................................. v 1. Breaking Tradition.................................................1 2. The Seventh Step................................................. 15 3. Man’s Limitations................................................ 23 4. Most Holy Faith Revealed................................. 31 5. He Holds Your Destiny...................................... 35 6. Beyond Understanding...................................... 43 Epilogue..................................................................... 49 About The Author................................................... 53
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Chapter 1
BreakingTradit ion
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rue science always gathers all the evidence before it makes a conclusion. Pre-justice is the product of a lazy mind. Before you can move into most holy faith you must have an experience that is very real, an encounter with the person of the Holy Ghost. This is a separating ground. You must have a holy desperation, if you will; for all that God has for you. You must step away from the dreams and desires of those close to you, and into the plan of God for your life. Just as we have dreams and desires for our children, Father God, has placed into the hands of the Holy Spirit those things He has designed for you. There must be a choice; do I want the complete plan of God for my life, and my generations to come or to 1
BreakingTradit ion just be thankful for my Salvation. That is enough, I must say, to shout all the way to Heaven for. Yet there is more. Great and wonderful Christians, powerful in Christ, soul winners, have for years said, “Why should I ask for anything more than Bethlehem?” (God with us). Or Calvary (God for us), but may I say there is an upper room (God in us). This is a distinctly personal experience. It is not just a blanket anointing that happened only on the Day of Pentecost. Time and time again after the Day of Pentecost, believers experienced this personal encounter with the third person of the Trinity as He, the Holy Ghost, fully came upon them. That is what began on the Day of Pentecost; He fully came, not just on the one hundred twenty believers who had gathered together. That Upper Room became the head waters of a mighty rushing river that would envelope the known world of that day, and still flows and baptizes those who believe, in the Holy Ghost and Fire. It was a personal and wonderful experience then, and is still just as wonderful today. It was and is a promise. Acts 2:39, “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”
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BreakingTradit ion Joel 2:28-29, “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.” I was a part of a main-line denomination with the belief that on the day of Pentecost there was a blanket anointing that came and covered the whole world. In other words, the Day of Pentecost is when the Holy Ghost came into the world, and upon every believer and every generation of believers to come. It is true; the Day of Pentecost was when the Holy Spirit fully came into this world. It was His dispensation. His time had fully come. It was the day the church began, but look closely at what took place on that day. One hundred and twenty gathered in the Upper Room. Ten days they sought the Lord. This is how I picture it. On the tenth day in Heaven, the Holy Spirit is pacing the floor in the Throne Room. Father God says, “Holy Spirit the prophecy I gave the Prophet Joel,” the Holy Spirit, stops and turns with excitement toward the throne, “Yes, Father?” “Well,” Father God continues, “that day is here!” “Do you have your bags packed?” 3
BreakingTradit ion “Oh, yes!” “What’s in the bag, Holy Spirit?” He holds up the bag, “In this bag is the Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.” (Galatians 6:22-23) “That’s good, Holy Spirit, but what’s in the other bag?” He holds up the second bag as if to display treasures. “In this bag are the Gifts of the Spirit: wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healing, working of miracles, prophesy, discerning of spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues.” (I Corinthians 12:8-10) God the Father stands from His throne and says, “Holy Spirit, it is now time. The Passover Lamb has been slain, raised again at the Feast of First Fruits, and sits now at my right hand. Salvation’s way has been made. Now it is time for my Spirit to fully come upon the earth and to establish my church against whom the gates of hell shall not prevail. Holy Spirit, are you now ready?” The Holy Spirit Whom since the world began had awaited this moment with great anticipation cries from way down deep within, “Yes, Father! Oh, yes! I am ready!” Now look closely at the sequence of the day that He, the Holy Spirit, was to fully come. You cannot look with your natural eye, or think with a denominational mind. You must look with the eye of the Spirit. Acts 2:1, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come they were all with one 4
BreakingTradit ion accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.” There, right there, is where the blanket anointing teaching began. He filled the house, and thus, the world. Every square inch of that room where they were sitting was impacted with His presence as He entered the room. Now follow me to verse 3, “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat on each of them.” Not the crowd, but the individual. For it says in verse 4, “And they (each) were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” How many times has the Spirit of God moved into a service, and the powerful presence of Jesus Himself filled every square inch of the room. Saints would rejoice, shout, dance, sing, worship and love His presence in the safety of an “all house” blanket 5
BreakingTradit ion anointing. Yet individuals would stop short of a personal baptism of fire and rather be satisfied with the room being filled. I tell you the only ones filled that day were the ones who with all their heart sought Him, the Holy Ghost of Heaven. Multitudes were there, every nation on earth, yet it was the 120 in the Upper Room that received the infilling of the Holy Ghost. It was not just the atmosphere in the room; it was what they received in that Holy presence. I have stood in that very room in Jerusalem, no different than any other room in that area. Pastors Lawrence and Darlene Bishop and family were with us – Pastors of the Solid Rock Church, Monroe, Ohio. A man from their congregation who was with us spoke out as we began to worship and said, “I want what they received here on the day of Pentecost.” As he began to reach out to God with all his heart, and as we began to worship and bless the name of the Lord, we did not hear a rushing mighty wind. We did not see any cloven tongues of fire as on the day of Pentecost, but that same Spirit that fell in that room so long ago rested on that man. He was baptized in the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave him utterance. That experience is real 2,000 years past the day of Pentecost! This experience has nothing to do with your salvation, which comes first. Salvation comes through the Blood of Jesus, not speaking in tongues. It 6
BreakingTradit ion has nothing to do with you loving Jesus, Him loving you, and knowing the joy of salvation, healing, and deliverance from evil spirits. The experience is the personal infilling and the gifts of the Spirit loosed in your life. There is a greater and prevailing walk of power, authority, and communication with God on a higher level. It is called, most holy faith. The greatest example of the joy of Salvation, and then stepping into another level in God is found in the book of Acts chapter 8 verses 4 through 8. The Disciples were now scattered abroad after their personal encounter with the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost. “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the Word. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city.�
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BreakingTradit ion Right there they could have stopped. What could you want more than salvation, unclean spirits having to leave, the lame leaping for joy, and great joy? This is exactly where many Christians stop. Why stop with a big burger combo when it’s within your power to super size? Now look at the occurrences in Acts chapter 8 verse 14. “Now when the Apostles which were at Jerusalem, heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John.” Why? People are getting saved, healed, and delivered with great joy. The Holy Spirit had come down in Jerusalem. If it’s not broke, don’t fix it. Then why did they come, to record it for the Jerusalem Daily? Here is why in verse 15 thru 17, “Who when they were come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (for as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.” There is a glorious experience subsequent to salvation, the Bible makes it clear. Many wonderful Christians are stuck in the Samaria experience. I must say some of the greatest soul winners stay in Samaria. Some of the sweetest Christians and great Pastors stay 8
BreakingTradit ion in Samaria. At the news of my Holy Ghost experience, family and friends would ask, “Why? Why lose your credentials in your denomination?” Of whom I love very much, by the way. Why go any further than Samaria? It was good enough for your fathers. Why? You found Salvation there, didn’t you? Yes, and I’m forever grateful. Why? You had a deliverance from drugs and alcohol and all the world’s bondage didn’t you? Yes! Why? You found joy there didn’t you? Yes! Why? You had the power to preach, as you lifted up His name didn’t you? Yes! John 12:32, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” Why do you need more than Samaria? The answer is simple, because there is more! This is my heritage as a genuine believer and it is my right as a child of God. I am not just laying again the foundation of the Faith. 9
BreakingTradit ion Hebrews 6:1, “Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on into perfection not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith towards God.” There is another level to faith and another level of fellowship. There is communication with the Lord of Glory, and gifts of the Spirit that cannot be denied but must be revealed. There was something that happened in Acts 8 other than salvation, deliverance, healing, and joy. In verse 12 they were baptized in water, but it was in verses 14 thru 18 that messed up my Samaria. “Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: who when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the Apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money.” 10
BreakingTradit ion Verse 18 when Simon saw through the laying on of the Apostle’s hands the Holy Ghost was given he observed something. There was an identifiable, recognizable, manifestation for he said, “I want that”. What did he see? What did he hear – a shout? No, they already had that. Was it a dance of joy? No, they had that. What did he see? What did he hear? He heard supernatural evidence that He, the Holy Ghost, had come upon the Samaria Christians. He, the Holy Ghost, came upon Saul of Tarsus in the house of Ananias Acts 9:17-18 “And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.” The evidence the Holy Ghost had fully come was a prayer language from Heaven.
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BreakingTradit ion I Corinthians 14:5, “I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.” The Holy Ghost came upon Cornelius in Acts chapter 10 while Peter yet spake in verse 44, “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the Word.” Verse 45, they, meaning the Jews, were astonished because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. Why were they astonished? Here it is – and this is the dividing line. Acts 10:46-47, “For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?” Let me ask you a question. If everybody who ever trusted Christ received on the day of Pentecost all that God had, why years later are the disciples still 12
BreakingTradit ion preaching, and people still receiving this Holy Ghost experience? In addition, the initial evidence is still speaking in tongues, a prayer language from Heaven. Listen to the account given to the Jerusalem church in the book of Acts chapter 11 by the Apostle Peter. He is giving an account of the Samaria revival in Acts chapter 8, and the outpouring at Cornelius’ house in Acts chapter 10. Verses 15 thru 17, “And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the Word of the Lord, how that He said, John indeed baptized in water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.” Note “as on us at the beginning.” Pentecost was not the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all; it was the beginning, His entrance. His dispensation of time had fully come. Then in Acts 19, Paul passing through the upper coast of Ephesus found twelve Disciples of John. Verse 2, “He said unto them have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed? And they said unto him, we have not so much heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.”
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BreakingTradit ion John had cried from the Jordan River, “this is He.” As he walked the shores of Galilee he cried, “Behold the Lamb of God”. If they were John’s disciples they had believed, but they had not yet been baptized in Jesus’ name, only John’s baptism. Here it is, and this is where so many people are, and thus, the reason for this book. Verse 2, “We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.” Verses 4 and 5, “Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Jesus Christ. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Watch now, verse 6, “And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.” This encounter with the Holy Ghost is so wonderfully real! In the next chapter I will tell you of my personal experience, and open to you most holy faith on a higher level. 14
Holy Desperat ion
Dee Leichner
Holy Desperation Copyright ď›™ 2009 by Dee Leichner All Rights Reserved Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. ISBN: 978-0-9820914-3-2 Cover and book design by Jim L. Friesen Printed in the United States of America by Mennonite Press, Inc., Newton, Kansas. ii
The scripture verse Romans 14:17 holds five words that are a treasure of my heart. The phrase is ‘joy in the Holy Ghost.’ The scriptures on joy are plentiful and joy is the characteristic mark of distinction of the Christian. The first person I told my ‘Holy Desperation’ experience to, was my husband, Mike Leichner. He likes to say that I plunged into the river of God’s glory ankle deep, head first! It is true that I found a well of joy that is constantly full to overflow and no matter what measure of joy I experience, it’s capacity does not diminish! It is to my husband, with so much love that I dedicate my portion of this dual book. He was the only one who fully understood and experienced the impact of what God brought to pass in our lives. In Most Holy Faith he ties every experience to the truth of God’s Holy Word. Just as our two books are completed as one, so does he complete my life. He is my constant partner in God’s joy as we walk together in the Kingdom of ‘righteous, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost!’
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“Well, I don’t know what happened to you. Obviously it was some sort of holy desperation.” The Lord spoke, “You have been held in by walls of words built by men. Seek My face and I’ll set you free.” Too often a partial vision can prohibit people from moving into areas that are beyond their vision. As you read this modern day account of Holy Ghost and fire, you will find yourself stirred to a fresh hunger and experience your own Holy Desperation!
Dee Leichner
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Int roduct ion T
his book is not intended to be a theological or doctrinal study, or argument. It is rather, a very personal modern day Pentecostal story. The events which lead up to the baptism in the Holy Ghost, are all a part of that testimony, and serve to show God’s unchanging word as it is manifested in His children still today!
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Content s Introduction..............................................................................v 1. The First Void – Salvation.................................................1 2. The Second Void – Ministry.............................................7 3. The Third Void – Holy Ghost and Fire....................... 29 Benefits to the Holy Ghost Baptism................................. 54 Scripture References on the Holy Spirit.......................... 55 About The Author................................................................ 57
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Chapter 1
Salvat ion
The FirstVoid–
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t was September, a typical Friday night bar scene. The sights, smells and sounds had become familiar to us. We were teenagers and that was where we met. Ten months later we were married eighteen hundred miles away in a Marine Corp wedding. It was not the beginning of a godly life, nor did anyone think that it was the answer to prayers that had been prayed. My husband had been raised the son of dedicated, God-loving people, active in ministry and deep in faith. I had been exposed to many facets of religion. I’d attended Sunday School, Church, Vacation Bible School, been sprinkled as a baby in the Catholic church, and baptized by immersion in 1
The First Void–Salvat ion a mainline denominational church. We both knew that there was a God, but that He existed was the extent of it. We did not know Him. Our new married life began when Mike had been in the Marines for nine months. We joined our military friends in wild parties, incautious, reckless living, alcohol, drug experimentation, and a life that never considered reality or consequences. He was a fighter, and I liked to instigate those fights. He always won, his fierce temper giving the edge, and I always cheered him on. We liked the dance floor and I was proud when he played his guitar and sang in the California club scene. Our first two years of marriage went by fast and furious as we tried to find every thrill the flesh could experience. I clearly remember the day that we discussed his upcoming discharge. He had fulfilled his three year commitment, and my husband Mike, was counting the days. “The Marine Corp will ship our things home and we’ll drive the car and tow the motorcycle. I know the house we can rent, and I’m sure I won’t have any trouble finding a job with forty some family members living right there! Viet Nam is over and I would think that people would be anxious to hire vets.” “You have got to be kidding!” I was incredulous. “Why should we go back to Kansas, I like it in California. You have lots of friends who are staying here, and honey, this is home to us. Not only that, but you know your folks they’ll want us to go to church with them. That’s the last thing we want, and if we don’t, we’ll have those family problems you always 2
The First Void–Salvat ion hear about!” Mike laughed as he turned to leave for his day on Camp Pendleton base. “We’ll go home but we won’t go to church – we’ll go to Wichita, but you better believe we’ll live our own life!” So there we were, a month later, being welcomed home. We framed his Honorable discharge papers and hung them on the wall of the house we were renting from his folks. “You’ve got to come to church on Sunday son, everyone wants to see you and Dee – you’ve been away for three years, and everybody is expecting you.” I was holding my breath and urging him subconsciously – say no, say no, say NO. “Sure, Dad” Mike grinned over his shoulder at me. “We’ll be there; I know Grandpa will preach a good one!” We went that Sunday and I hated the feelings that came flooding back. I remembered the one time that I had visited the church to watch a Christmas play. I had left crying and couldn’t understand why. The tears became so intense as I drove home, that the next day I had gone to see a Pastor whose services I had attended when I was younger. I told him what I had experienced, about the tears and how miserable I felt and that I wanted to do something about it. “Do you believe in God?” He was serious so I answered, “Yes” with the same seriousness. “Then that’s all that matters, you’re fine.” I was back in the present. “I’m fine; I’m fine, now I let the words ring over and over in my mind. I’m fine, they are all emotional. I’m fine, they’re nuts!” I had started to feel better. “Honey, the folks want me to play some for them. Their lead guitar player isn’t with them anymore and I know their style. They really need me.” “No way.” I 3
The First Void–Salvat ion was adamant, “It’s just what I said would happen, and it’s on weekends. Do you mean that you would rather play their old gospel songs on a stage or in a church somewhere rather than have a FUN weekend?!!” There was just no comparison in my eyes. The weekend came and we were off to Oklahoma making the trip on his singing families’ big Golden Eagle bus. The next weekend it was Arkansas. As I sat in the Saturday night concert, Mike’s cousin sang a song about a girl who thought because she was young, that she had plenty of time to accept Jesus as her Savior. The song ended by saying she had died, and in Hell had plenty of time. I didn’t like it, the words were haunting, and I was glad when the night was over. Sunday services came and went and we were on the road driving the long distance home. Most of the family was in the back of the bus, napping in the bunks, and the rest were sitting in the small dining lounge area. Mike and I were sitting up front talking with his uncle who was driving the bus. After a while, I became conscious of the music tape playing. It was quiet and I started to listen to the words. “I thought I had plenty of time...” There it was again – men’s voices this time, beautiful harmony, but that same song that had bothered me so badly the night before. I had the uncomfortable feeling that I was going to burst into tears, and I did! My husband looked startled and said, “What’s wrong? Are you O.K.?” I cried harder. I was confused, upset, and embarrassed. This wasn’t like me at all! I tried, but I couldn’t stop the weeping. “Honey?” He touched my shoulder and I began to sob. Through the tears I saw my 4
The First Void–Salvat ion husband fumbling for the cigarettes that he had hidden in his inner jacket pocket. I saw his uncle looking at us in the rear view mirror. I was fighting the tears, but to no avail. “I’ll get Mom...” and he headed down the bus aisle. I was bent over and felt, rather than saw several family members gather around me. Someone asked if I wanted to pray and I nodded yes as I knelt in the aisle. I don’t recall what they prayed and I really didn’t know what to pray myself. I do remember telling the Lord that I was so sorry for my sins, and I wanted Him in my life more than anything. How could anyone cry so hard, be so miserable, and then feel so relieved, happy, expectant and wonderful in such a small span of time? I asked for my husband and someone laughed and said he was hiding in the bathroom. He told me later that he knew I was experiencing ‘oldtime conviction’ and he had locked himself in that tiny bus bathroom, opened the window and chain smoked in misery for miles down the road. We pulled up to the church at home and went in just in time for the evening service. We were a little late and the choir was singing their last song. That is when my father-in-law stood up and announced that I had something to say. I looked at the entire congregation looking at me and whispered, “No I don’t.” He assured me that I did. “You tell them”, “No, you”, “YOU tell them!” I knew this was going nowhere. I looked at several other of my husband’s family members – nobody was going to help me out. I stood to my feet and was surprised when I heard my own voice speaking loudly. “Tonight I gave 5
The First Void–Salvat ion my heart to Jesus, and I’m saved.” I was sitting down but everyone else was on their feet, crying, shouting, waving their hands in praise and hugging me. I looked all around but couldn’t find Mike anywhere. I didn’t know enough about salvation, or serving the Lord or even the Word of God, to realize what a dramatic thing had occurred. I only knew the clean feeling in my heart. I also did not realize that my husband and I had become unequally yoked. This was going to affect our relationship, the way we looked at situations, and the way we valued things. He would have a hard time understanding the supernatural side of me, and I would have difficulty with the natural side of an unsaved husband.
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To read more from the Dual Book: Most Holy Faith and Holy Desperation, order from: Ark Church http://www.arkchurchwichita.com/ (Go to Media Center—Shop Online, to order.)
OR Contact Desiree Liggett 316.721.6688 5501 N Maize Rd. Maize, KS 67101