DAMIAN SPAULDING
ESCAPING SPIRITUAL BONDAGE
( Part 1)

'Playing' with a Ouija board opened a doorway to evil into Damian's life. Damian was led down a dark, confusing and terrifying path, which eventually led to the demon possession of one of his close friends. Ultimately, Damian found that the real love, power, freedom and excitement he longed for, could only be found in the God of the Bible.

Before we read Damian's story let's look at what the bible say.
The bible warns us not to blindly enter the spirit world but to enter through 'the narrow gate'. This narrow gate is through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the only pathway to God. The bible also warns us that many will come and try to deceive us into following other paths.

Enter through the narrow gate

(Jesus says) "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the path that leads to destruction and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it" (Matthew 7:13-14).

Jesus Christ is the only gateway to God

(Jesus says) "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me"
(John 14:6).

Does reincarnation occur?

"NO" - "Man is destined to die once and after that to face judgment" (Hebrews 9:27).

Is historical Jesus Christ the only way to God?

"YES" - "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me' ' (John 14:6). "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

Was historical Jesus Christ of Nazareth without sin?

"YES" - "God made Jesus Christ who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21). God is Holy and we are sinful. Through God's grace, Jesus Christ died and shed His blood so that we might have forgiveness for our sins.

Can sinful human beings like you and I ever become God?

"NO" - (God says), "Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me" (Isaiah 43:10)."God is not a man, that he should lie" (Numbers 23:28).

What practices does the bible tell us NOT to practice?

Contacting the dead, interpreting omens
Casting spells
Being a medium or spiritist
Practicing or consulting astrology

"Let no one be found among you who … practices sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead" (Deuteronomy 18:10,11).

"The acts of the sinful nature are obvious … sexual immorality … witchcraft … fits of rage … drunkenness … I warn you as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:20).

"Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God" (Leviticus 19:31).

"Let your astrologers come forward, those stargazers who make predictions month by month … Surely they are like stubble; the fire will burn them up" (Isaiah 47:13, 14). red line

CAUTION: Damian's story contains detailed accounts of the supernatural including demonic activity and demon possession. Discretion is advised. red line

(Now let's read Damian's story ...)
"ESCAPING FROM SPIRITUAL BONDAGE"

Jesus says,
"Enter through the narrow gate.
For wide is the gate
and broad is the road that leads to destruction,
and many enter through it"
(Matthew 7:13).

"If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36).

Introduction to the spiritual world

I was born in Kingston, Jamaica on 25th June in 1976. My Uncle Glen who could never have children himself was extremely fond of me and would spend hours cradling me in his arms. Unfortunately, Glen, who was very fearful of flying, was killed in a plane crash only a few months after my birth. Long before his body was identified using dental records, my family knew of his death because his "spirit" would knock on our front door and ask to see me one last time. When I was a small child, I also had a familiar spirit who I would share my toys with. This spirit was in the form of a quiet, easy going little girl who always wore the same sundress.

Ominous voices calling my name

At times, when the house was quiet I would consistently hear voices calling my name. My mother was bathing me one day when I heard a cast of these voices saying slowly, ominously, and persistently, "Damian, Damian, Damian." These voices sent shivers through me and deep fear penetrated my body as my mother tried to comfort me. I was two years old at the time.

Sensing protection from harm

On day I was climbing a rock cliff that was over 100 feet (30 meters) high. At the base of this cliff was treacherous, swift-running water. About half way up I overbalanced and knew I was going to fall. At this point, after losing all hope of regaining my balance, what felt like a strong gust of wind pushed me safely back onto the rock face. The people with me were astonished that I didn't fall. At that moment I felt as though the hand of God was comforting me, protecting me. It is a moment I will never forget.

Almost losing control

In grade school I got into a fight with two older boys and I was cornered within the crowd of onlookers. I successfully won this fight by using martial arts but at that time in my life I had not been trained in martial arts! The fight ended with me flipping one of the boys over my shoulder onto the ground in front of me. At that moment I "saw red" and I had to stop myself from instinctively delivering a killing blow to his neck.

Dangers of the Ouija board

When I was growing up I would often feel spirits staring down at me as I lay in bed trying to sleep. They would enter my room and greatly intimidate me. On a couple of occasions I also used a Ouija board with a friend. Because of this activity I believe I opened myself to receive certain familiar spirits that were to plague me later in my life. Displaying wisdom but many questions remained.

By the end of high school I was writing a book of reflections containing my thoughts of the universe. It also contains many questions that I knew only God could answer. Despite the wisdom in many of my thoughts so many questions remained unanswered.

Thoughts and questions spinning in my head

In my final years at high school, I was facing difficult decisions concerning what I was to do with my life. I was entertaining either trying to master healing, becoming a professional musician, or doing computer programming after my father. I was busy organizing and running major events on the school's organizational council, and my grades were as they always were - frustratingly low. For months the thoughts and questions from my "Reflections" book of poetry had left my mind spinning in circles.

Foolishly, stopping my own heart!

Frustrating thoughts and memories had been plaguing me continually for days. I so desperately wanted answers to my questions. This particular night was one of the lowest points in my life. I was in a depressed enough state to be uncaring of my own welfare. In an attempt to get some answers, I used my mind control skills to carry out the unthinkable. I stopped my own heart from beating! I finally chose to follow through with what I had been entertaining for months.

Initial peace but then extreme dizziness

After my heart stopped beating I could hear a pin drop in a room next to me. In fact, I did hear the furnace running two stories under me, a sound that normally only could be heard when you were standing in the basement. Everything seemed peaceful and quiet, a deep peace that my spirit had desired. I knew my body was dead but my mind was still alive. Then severe dizziness hit me. This dizziness was about ten times worse than being very drunk. I knew I was falling into the next stage of death.

Panic setting in - the point of no return was coming!

I saw a vision of a stiff, manikin like body falling down a dark endless tunnel, slowly turning as it descended. In the silence, I began to hear rushing noises all around me as I seemingly increased speed. It was me who was now passing through that dark tunnel not knowing where it led! Then suddenly I landed. The dizziness stopped and I was standing in an unknown land. I did not know what to think. I just knew this was the real thing. I was dead. It was nothing like a "fluffy embraced by the light" story. It was real - too real!

The countdown had began - realising what I had done

Within moments I got my bearing and noticed a countdown had begun in my mind. In a way I saw the numbers of a digital clock in the sky counting down from twenty seconds. I intuitively knew this was the time I had left before it became impossible to return. It was then that I realized the true severity of what I had just done. Twenty seconds did not seem to be enough time and I knew the longer I waited the harder it would be to go back. I looked around and saw just open night sky. All other spirits seemed to ignore me as they went about their business. The tunnel that I entered through was still there in the sky and I knew if this disappeared that it was the end for me and I would never be able to go back to my life on earth.

Time was running out for me

Many things went through my mind as the clock ticked down. 16 … 15 … 14 … 13 … I realized I had three choices. A voice said to me; "You can stay in this spiritual world for a time and then be judged like all the rest. Or you can go back and return to your life, or you can come now and be judged and begin your true eternal life." I now had to decide. 12 … 11 … Time was running out! The thought of being immediately judged partly appealed to me because I would love to be in heaven. But I was absolutely horrified because my spirit had a knowledge of where I would probably end up. My destination would probably be hell not heaven and I wasn't ready for that choice! Even though I thought I was 'a really good guy', I definitely wanted to be sure of my destination first. It is interesting that even though I followed Eastern Philosophies, the choices that were given to me reflected the teachings of the Christian bible.

I must return to my body!

At that moment the pictures of my life hit me. I saw people in my life that would be severely hurt if I died at this time. It was those friendships that helped me to finally make up my mind. I decided to return to my body. (The clock now read 8 ... and I was getting dangerously close to the point of 'no return".) I was positive I wasn't ready to be judged. I knew I could come back to death later. I looked back to the sky where the tunnel I had entered was deteriorating and I made a 'beeline' for it. Going back to earth was like swimming against rapids. It was extremely difficult. If only I hadn't waited so long it would have been easier.

Thank God for my mother

I fought and fought tirelessly until finally I used all my remaining strength to call out to my mother. Thankfully my mother asked as she approached from another room, "What is it?" After a pause, I managed to utter the words; "I stopped my heart from beating." Upon speaking that short sentence I felt her genuine concern in the air. My mother was thankfully one of the few people I knew at the time that understood some the areas of spirituality that held my interest. She fell immediately to her knees, almost in tears, and uttered a quick prayer under her breath that I could not hear. My strength was slowly returning. It helped me greatly knowing she was just there beside me to fight with me if I needed. I moved my hand for the first time and before long my strength began to return. My near death experience occurred on 29th May, 1994 at 11:37 PM.

Giving my life to Jesus

A month and a half after my near death experience, while spirits were still plaguing me, a high school friend introduced me to a church where I gave my life to the Lord. From that day forward my destination was decided. I was going to heaven, but I was still extremely confused and many bondages plagued me. Because of these bondages I was deceived into trying to get closer to God by following the other practices that in fact led me away from God that included energy healing, mind control, talking with familiar spirits, believing in reincarnation, etc. I now know the extreme danger of these practices. These practices and beliefs allowed demons access to my life and ultimately led to the demon possession of one of my good friends. Accepting Jesus as my savior did not instantaneously fix all of my problems and pains. I have learned that sometimes healing of people's souls sometimes occurs miraculously, while other times God heals through a loving process. Either way God is faithful and restores our souls.

Why was I lured back into deception?

Even though I knew the true living God was a God that loved and cared for me, I never read my bible to get a complete understanding of His love, grace, forgiveness and power. I had tried to read the bible once and had failed. People who believes in things like reincarnation often quoted bible verses to validate their beliefs and experiences. This mixture of light (the truth from the bible) and darkness confused me greatly. This confusion led me to turn back to my old ways to try and find answers to my questions about life. These old practices seemed to still hold the key to fill the spiritual void in my life. My pride lured me to think I could sort out my spirituality without guidance from the bible. This was a horrible mistake. The full truth and guidance has been already completely laid out for us in the bible and all we have to do is read and accept it (if you have enough courage).

The Bondage Breaker

I strongly recommend the book "The Bondage Breaker" by Neil T. Anderson because this book explained and demonstrated the true meaning, heart, and power of God to me. It is a book that can change your life as it has for many people I hold close to my heart. The instructions in this book taught me that it was only God who could deliver me from the bondage of darkness and there is nothing more that He would rather do. God knew what was required all the time but I couldn't accept it for some reason. I truly leaned the hard way.