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Acts 4:12 – And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (ESV)
While I was growing up, I attended Sunday school, went to youth group, studied music, and became an organist and choir director. During this time, I was influenced by New Age teaching, which I fervently studied and become involved in. Various esoteric inner peace organizations and universal mind groups deeply influenced my theological formation.
I was searching for truth. I was attracted to the premise that I was learning hidden truths that would allow me to become like God. I could be one with the mind of the universe. I could be more spiritual, more enlightened, more in tune with the power of the gods. I could even control and use this power. What an attractive proposition! There were many ways that lead to God, I thought.
During my fourth year at university, I felt led to study theology. I went to seminary and became a minister. All the time, I shared my New Age beliefs and even wove them into my sermons, explaining that these were new ideas, new interpretations of Scripture. I was enlightened. The scary thing was that no one in my first church seemed to notice that I was preaching false doctrine.
After my first two years of ministry, I was still searching for peace and spiritual illumination. The esoteric teaching was leaving me empty inside. I needed to know what was missing in my life. One day, I received a regular monthly cassette tape from the Association for the Understanding of Man. They were thoroughly New Age, offering psychic readings to tell the future. The tape began by saying that they were in a time of transformation. The leadership had attended an old-fashioned, evangelistic tent meeting in order to heckle, but the Holy Spirit got hold of them. They gave their lives to Jesus and were announcing to the membership that they were denouncing all former teaching and activities and were now Christians.
I felt abandoned and confused. Had they bought the Jesus thing? After all, there are many ways to God. Shortly afterward, I was baptized with the Holy Spirit in my bed as I was talking with God. My life was changed. In an instant, I knew that Jesus was my Saviour and Lord. I burned my library of New Age books and announced to my congregation that I had become a Christian.
There are so many false teachers in the world today with so many false teachings. How can we know the way to God?
John 14:6 – Jesus said to [Thomas], "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (ESV)
Be careful whom you listen to. Be careful what teaching you accept. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and give you discernment from God's holy Word. By the grace of God, I know that Jesus is the only way to the Father. May God give you this knowledge as well. Pray with me:
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, You came to bring salvation to the world. You came to call me into a relationship with You. You came to forgive my sins and make me holy and acceptable to Your Father in heaven. Give me eyes to see and ears to hear the truth of the gospel, and may I be equipped by the Holy Spirit to share this good news with others. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, I pray. Amen.
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Amen!
Amen to your prayer.
Thanks for sharing your journey, David.
AMEN and thank you, David.
(Texas)
Thanks for the devotional David. It’s always refreshing to hear from a ‘new’ writer.
Praise God that you attended to the call of the Holy Spirit and the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
My short response is PRAISE GOD. Remember the true loving Father will never leave you nor forsake you. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, David, for your message. It is a reminder of the transforming power of God. Praise God for the work of the Holy Spirit in everyone who believes in Jesus.
Every blessing in your ministry.
Hello David,
Thank you for writing about this interesting journey in your life and when you finally realized that Jesus is the real way to abundant life and received baptism by the Holy Spirit.
Blessings for sharing your experience and writing for the devotionals.
David,
What a great testimony to the power of the Gospel used by the Holy Spirit to change hearts of stone. Thank you for the warnings.
We must be careful to not be deceived by the temptations to become followers of personalities instead of Jesus alone. Christ Alone, Cornerstone!
Dear David, you have moved me to tears…a good way. I professed my faith when I was 12. It has been a long awesome road with many ups and downs, but my faith has never left me. Your ups and downs were much different, but your joy is not. Thank you for this moving message.
(N. S.)
Hello David
Wow, this was interesting and thank you for sharing. I never think about this until I read about a minister who is not a Christian. I guess they do not go hand in hand. Thank God, the Holy Spirit got hold of the you and the others.
God bless
Dear Pastor David,
Thank you for sharing your testimony with us! Praise God that He reaches out to us wherever we are (including the pulpit) with His love, grace, and truth.
God bless and keep you!
In Christ.
(BC)
Thank you for sharing your life story, David. So many Christians today are lured into psychic readings, horoscopes etc., and are unaware that it doesn’t fit with Christian teachings. May the Holy Spirit fill them as it did you and lead them into the correct path. It must have taken great courage to stand before your congregation and admit to your errors.
Blessings.
Dear David,
Thank you for so openly sharing a part of your journey to becoming a Christian. It is sometimes difficult to admit our past and our misunderstandings. I believe when we do that it is very helpful to others and also to ourselves. I am glad that God continued to help you see the truth and you are helping others understand the importance of Jesus in our lives. May you continue to share and help us all to expand our knowledge, understanding, and faith. Blessings.
What a powerful Devotional! Thanks so much.
When I was growing up, there weren’t so many false doctrines floating about; now they’re everywhere, and it’s getting more difficult to stay on track. (Even the church I attend feels that it is “just one of many ways” to God.
Sorry! I found 40 years ago; it is THE Way!
Thanks for showing us the power of repentance!
(BC)
Hello, Thank you for your incredible testimony that needs to be heard and read far and wide. I was born in a parsonage of a church where my Daddy was Pastor. His father and brother also were pastors. I wasn’t going to marry one, but I failed to remember who is the planner of our lives. He had and gave me the most incredible Christian young man into my life.
I never as a young person wandered away from the Lord, but I had to make my own commitment as being a PK didn’t save me. I faced that at 11 years, and a total understanding commitment as a teenager. I see so many Christians not really understanding what a real commitment is.
Thank you for sharing and may you be blessed in many special and surprising ways.
(Ca. USA)
David,
Thank you for your open testimony and witness to finding the truth of God’s Word! I praise the Lord for your journey, and for your testimony. I also thought of the summary from The Imitation Of Christ by Thomas A’ Kempis that I discovered a few years ago—Without the Way there is no going, Without the Truth there is no knowing, Without the Life there is no living. Amen, Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I am an old retired pastor and chaplain, and I am blessed by your testimony and for your clear witness to the truth about Jesus that you know and witness. The Holy Spirit will continue to empower you and equip you to be a special witness.
Thank you again for your clear testimony and keep on sharing it and living it. Blessings.
David,
Wow Incredible!
What a witness of the power and life transformation of coming to know Christ – the Way, the Truth, and the Life!
Our Faith In Christ is the greatest thing in the world, and the greatest thing to share with everyone! I will pass on your message – and pray for those still believing the New Age lies – may they also come to believe and receive True faith IN Christ alone!
Dear David,
Thank you so much for your message! We pray that many people will be convinced of their need for Jesus in their lives, to repent of sin, turn from it and become consecrated to Jesus Christ.
God bless you in every way possible!