The dialogue in an Instagram live between the senior pastor of Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn and the actor lasted for 30 minutes. In between those minutes, Washington shared that he had surrendered his life to Jesus and had a supernatural encounter. The encounter impacted him and his family greatly.

Denzel Washington and his experience with God

It happened in the '80s when Washington went to church with Robert Townsend. Washington recalled, "When it came time to come down to the altar I said, 'You know this time, I'm just going to go down there and give it up and see what happens.' I went in the prayer room and gave it up and let go and experienced something I've never experienced in my life. I remember calling my mother afterwards and asking her, I said, 'Well, you know it felt like I was going up in the air, and my cheeks were filled' and she said, 'Oh no, that's the devil you're purging.'"

"It was a supernatural, once in this lifetime experience that I couldn't completely understand at the time." He added, "I was filled with the Holy Ghost and it scared me. I said, 'Wait a minute, I didn't want to go this deep, I want to party.'"

It took years before the Academy-award winning actor fully committed his life to God.

What kept him grounded

Apparently, his experience with the power of the Holy Ghost grounded him throughout his career. "It kept me grounded in spite of myself; I mean, I accepted it, I definitely experienced it, but I wasn't ready to live it. I don't know how old I was then but I wasn't ready to live it then. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's gone through that kind of experience," he said.

He continued, "You have that moment ... But it doesn't mean that the rest of your life is going to go the way it should. It's not like 'Oh, I had this moment, I'm filled with the Holy Spirit and now everything's going to be pretty, not going to be perfect. The next day I'm ready to save everybody. I'm in charge of saving people."

An example to follow

Washington's eldest son, John David Washington, followed his father's footsteps in acting and also with his faith. "He's a very talented and spiritual young man," Washington said. "We are happy about his success but we are equally excited about the example he's setting for his brothers and sisters, as a man of God and their sibling being an example of that and being unashamed of it." (Image: Denzel Washington and family at the Golden Globes /Credit: Paul Drinkwater-NBC /via Chicago Tribune)

"I don't put value in monetary and all of those things. What happened with one of our sons, we pray, happen to all of our children. I've tried everything else and it doesn't pay off." Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

'Young Washington' Delivers Record Opening Weekend for Angel Studios

After an Emotional Loss to Belgium, the US Men's Team Continued to Give God the Glory

A 'Miracle': CCP Releases Pastor Ezra Jin

House Speaker Johnson Braces for a High-Stakes July with Everything on the Line

Why the NATO Summit in Ankara Matters to the US

New Report Details Secret Service Failures in Butler Assassination Attempt

Charlie Kirk's Family Faces Accused Killer Tyler Robinson for the First Time as Murder Case Moves Forward

'The Passion of the Christ' Getting Theatrical Re-Release Ahead of Highly Anticipated Sequel

A Sweet Update on That Oregon Couple Who Stepped Up at the Great American State Fair

The World Lights Up for America's 250th, While the American Left Opts to Whine About It

The America 250 Celebration in DC Was One for the History Books (Videos)

Must Watch: Katharine Birbalsingh's Fiery ARC Speech-How Schools Are Destroying the Moral Core of the West (Video)

DHS Condemns Minnesota Pardon of Convicted Child Rapist

The President Rings NYSE Opening Bell from the Oval Office, While Officially Launching the Trump Accounts for Children

Venezuelan Earthquake Death Toll Soars as Country's Independence Day Arrives

July 4th Fireworks Will Be Great on America's 250th Birthday, But Your Dog Will Hate Them!

Our Favorite Patriotic Tunes, Part 2: 3 Songs Swiped from the Brits (Videos)

World Cup: Team USA Wins, Goes to the Sweet 16 Round against Belgium on Monday

3,000 Walk Boston's Freedom Trail: 'We Have A Lot to Thank God For'

Except for Democrats, a New Survey Shows Americans Still DO Have Pride in Their Country (And We Don't Mean the LGBT Kind)