TITLE: A Personal Testimony By Michael Okyere Asante 11/30/09 |
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"They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony …"(Rev. 12:11)
I gave my life to Christ on 1st May, 2004 during a retreat at Atibie-Kwahu within the Eastern-Region of Ghana. Before then, I thought that by doing good, attending church every Sunday and serving on various committees, I was saved. I lived all my life trying not to hurt people but to do what is right. I offered myself readily for service in my church and later became the youth leader. I gave to the needy and oppressed and made every effort to live at peace with my neighbours. I avoided temptation as much as possible and lived an attitude of meekness. These qualities gained me the name ‘osofo’ (pastor) amongst my peers and even the elderly in the church. I was known by everyone for my zeal.
At age sixteen, when I had just entered my second year in senior high school, I got myself into watching pornography and this opened the door for masturbation to become a habit in my life. I realized this was in no way going to help me; however, I could not break away from this habit. I read books on how to overcome masturbation and practised the measures that were given in those books but it did not work. Meanwhile, I was actively involved in the activities of the church. This was my state for two years until one day; I realized my good works could not earn me salvation. That day, the message was brief, straight to the point but carried the power of God. It was a simple message of salvation. The preacher stressed on what salvation was not, quoting scriptures. She said that for one to be saved, it was not by good works but by grace (Eph. 2:8, 9). She explained the salvation plan of God which was executed by the Lord Jesus Christ, and said that by believing and confessing Him as our Lord and personal Saviour, we receive eternal life (Rom. 10:9, Jn. 3:16). I had been struggling with sin all my life and that day I saw myself as a sinner needing a Saviour. A night of conviction it was when suddenly, a voice asked me, ‘Where would you spend eternity?’ The sermon ended and the preacher invited those who had not given their lives to Jesus Christ to do so. At first, I was hesitant but I continued to feel the nudging of the Holy Spirit. As a sign of surrender, I lifted up my hands and repeated the sinner’s prayer after the preacher, inviting Jesus Christ to be the Lord and Saviour of my life.
That day was a turning point in my life. From then, I was filled with peace, joy and an inner beauty of the Holy Spirit which is beyond description. For the first time in my life I felt real freedom. I wanted everybody to know about my experience. I became a totally changed person – not just turning a new leaf, but I had been recreated to begin a new life under a new Master (2 Cor. 5:17). Things of the flesh became things of the past. I now lived out my faith in Christ by obeying His commands. The desire to commune with my God in His word and in prayer could not be measured. No ridicule from friends, no rejection from relatives, no scorn of my neighbours, could challenge my faith in God. The desire to win souls for Christ was very high as I made use of every opportunity to tell others about my Jesus. This was my first love for Jesus Christ. The salvation experience was a great moment in my life. Praise God!
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