(7 of 7) Months after that night of destiny in 1989 I trashed my occult and New Age books, yet I kept some items that were very significant to membership in those occult brotherhoods. But very soon, troubles brewed up within my relationships. And they got worse, and worse. So I asked for prayer help and gathered all those remaining things, such as ritualistic items and pictures. Right at the peak of my trouble I heard an almost audible voice instruct me,
“Burn what you’ve collected – NOW!”
Never, ever, would I have believed what was to happen next:
Out in the backyard I piled those membership items onto an area of gravel and, putting a match to them, I sincerely repented.
Fanning the flames, I apologised deeply to God for all my past rebellious, sinful activity and specifically renounced satan and all evil connected with those occult associations.
As I asked God to forgive me, heavy invisible shackles suddenly dropped off my wrists!
I felt, and was, free, completely free – exactly as is jubilantly sung in Charles Wesley’s great hymn And Can It Be?
WOW, from despair to jubilation within a split second! What utter freedom! Praise Him!
That hymn’s lyrics present the simple yet sublime salvation found in our Father’s good news about Jesus.
How aptly the third verse describes my personal situation and what had just happened – my wonderful liberation from invisible bondage to satan.:
1. And can it be that I should gain
An int’rest in the Saviour’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God shouldst die for me?
2. He left His Father’s throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace!
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race!
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For, O my God, it found out me.
3. Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night.
Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray:
I woke the dungeon flamed with light!
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
4. No condemnation now I dread:
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’ eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
If you’re unfamiliar with Charles Wesley brother of the renowned evangelical founder of Methodism, John Wesley, read here about his equally famous influence as author of many well-known hymns; eg. Love Divine, all love’s excelling, Hark the herald angels…
Listen to one of the greatest hymns as broadcast some years ago in Songs of Praise, thanks to Fabio Ramsay.:
I will rejoice in the Lord, I will exult in the victorious God of my salvation! (Hab 3:1)
To read testimony in full click: to read from beginning – to read part 6 – for Appendix.
Richard's Watch 
What a wonderful, wonderful testimony! Thank you so much for sharing it. For those of us who have family still trapped in those same shackles, what Hope!, what a Promise! Hallelujah!!
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Hi Richard, You refer – to “Methodism, John Wesley, you may like to read the brief note at the foot of this page of lyrics from Scripture and Music.” is but I’m struggling to see that link? There is another WordPress page by isobel blackthorn, is that what you mean?
love the posts, thank you Blessings, Vince
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Oops, thx Vince as usually check links still work on republished posts, but Thurs was v busy. Am online for mins only so will check when back at desk in week. Or, perhaps you could provide url to your refc pls?
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Appreciate your help with this Vince and have now amended paragraph accordingly. (Your further thoughts on possible link are correct as its content isn’t appropriate)
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Just returned to this post – looks good – could i also suggest that the link phrase be underlined next time, I many links are shown that way?
Blessings, Vince
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Thanks for suggestion, this blog’s WordPress theme shows links in colour but not normally underlined. On my PC, if I hover cursor over link it gets underlined. As with occasional linked emphases in bold I could underline a link, but making either textual variant a regular feature would mean remembering and become a burden.
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Great post 😃
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Dear Richard,
Where are the links to the previous 6 posts please?
Would you tabulate them for easy access?
When I read a post “7of7”, I immediately look for the links to the previous 6!
For some reason, I easily get lost in your RW pages! 😁😁
God bless you. Chris
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HI Chris and thanks for pointing this out. The previous iteration of 7-steps had the links but in recopying I had to delete those old links and new ones could only be done after a post published – so I couldn’t insert whilst they were in scheduled listing. I intended running through them with same listing but for time constraints…
Do you read blog via phone? I work on PC displaying blog’s home page, which shows sidebar with Previous Postings, which may only be visible via ‘full site’ on phone/tablet. Yet this time I avoided putting part numbers in titles, which doesn’t help.
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Have just tested adjustments, so please be sure to refresh this page (F5 button) to clear your device’s cache memory (otherwise you won’t have links), and try again and am sure you’ll be blessed my friend.
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