In my early adulthood I was a very serious student and follower of Kyokushinkai Kan:
One week after being saved in 1972 I attended the Kyokushinkai dojo, a school for training in various arts of self-defense (as judo or karate) as I had many times before. At this point my skill level was high. I had participated in full body contact combats on several occasions; brick breaking was done with ease; one finger press up was executed easily. I experienced abilities which were beyond the natural realm.
That first day after I accepted Christ as Lord was my last day in a dojo. I recall being about to commence training as I had done hundreds of times before by bowing to the master of the movement Masutatsu Oyama. A large picture of him hung in the dojo. I felt God said, “You shall not bow down to another god but me. This is your last time coming to the dojo. Never again shall you bow to this man.”
The weeks following I experienced demonic attacks. I also learnt the power of Jesus’ Name. A demonic attack presented typically as an evil presence that would flood my room without prior warning as I lay down to rest. This evil presence would come over my body like a thick slab-like sheet starting from the feet sweeping upwards till it covered me completely. Any attempt to move was useless as the body seemed completely immobilised by this weighted presence which acted as a physical restrainer. Even the power of speech was immobilised. The only functional part was the power to think. Within seconds of an attack a sensation of snarling faces were felt about my face accompanied by screaming in the ears trying to penetrate the mind. At times I could see them even whilst my eyes were shut. The only thing I could do was think, so thought took over where speech failed. Quickly it came into my mind, ” call out his name ‘Jesus’ ”. At every incident of a spiritual attack I did just that. After calling out “Jesus” intense screams followed and within a flash it would all cease. These attacks continued on and off for 14 years before they abated and ceased. By then I had become an elder, a preacher and minister in the apostolic gifting.
God’s calling It was a Sunday and the third time when I experienced God questioning me, “Do you love me? Then feed my sheep.” On this occasion I went forward at the altar call to respond. As the visiting minister prayed for me a strong breeze began to buffet my body. I looked around to see if it came from open doors or windows but it became clear this was no human wind. I felt nothing emotionally yet I knew God was all around me. I left without speaking to anyone. I remember feeling tired and decided to lie down. I said to God, “I didn’t feel any different within but I know that was You.”
As I began to drift off to sleep the same sensation of a heavy lead sheet began to sweep up from my feet till it engulfed my whole body. Unable to speak, firmly pinned down and unable to move any part of my body, an aggressive screaming began to come into my ears. The moment I uttered “The Name of Jesus!” within the sound disappeared. I lay there asking God, “What is this? I thought we dealt with this 14 years ago.”
Suddenly this giant figure appeared to the left side of my head at the entrance to my bedroom. He leaned towards me with his hand extended towards my head and I heard him speak two words, “Zen Buddhism”. Then he was gone. I sat upright understanding exactly why this happened. I asked God to forgive me for dabbling in Buddhism and to set me free. A sense of being dirty on the outside came over me so strongly that I was compelled to shower. I repented and asked God to cleanse me from this sin of getting involved in Zen Buddhism through the karate.
