By Morkporkpor Anku, GNA
Accra, Oct. 19, GNA – Dr Kwabena J. Darkwa Amanor, Director of Berea Academy, has urged Christians to rely on God’s provision and the victory of Christ rather than human techniques in spiritual warfare.
He said Scripture called believers to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
Dr Amanor made the call when he delivered the 14th Berea Lecture Series on the topic: “Spiritual Warfare Gone Haywire: A Biblical Response to the Myth of Believers Fighting to Overcome the Devil.”
He said Ephesians 6:10–18 instructed Christians to put on the whole armour of God, which represented God’s complete provision for His people to remain steadfast in faith.
Dr Amanor said believers did not fight to secure a victory for themselves, but stood in the victory Christ had already secured through His life, death, resurrection and exaltation.
He cautioned against practices that appeared to shift believers’ confidence from God’s provision in Christ to human techniques, rituals or objects believed to possess spiritual power.
He said the repeated instruction in the biblical passage was for believers to “stand,” rather than to engage in dramatic physical confrontations with the devil.
Dr Amanor explained that the armour of God included the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of the gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation and sword of the Spirit, with prayer sustaining the believer’s use of the armour.
He said truth was foundational to the Christian faith, while righteousness protected believers against accusations, and the gospel of peace enabled them to remain reconciled with God and proclaim the Gospel.
The Director said the shield of faith helped believers withstand fear, doubt, temptation, discouragement and resentment, while the helmet of salvation protected their minds and strengthened their assurance in Christ.
He said the sword of the Spirit represented God’s Word, which was to be used to uphold truth, resist deception and follow Christ, rather than as a weapon for attacking fellow Christians.
Dr Amanor used protective equipment worn by health workers and laboratory personnel as an illustration of the armour of God, explaining that protective equipment enabled people to function safely amid hazards without necessarily removing the hazards themselves.
He said similarly, God’s power did not necessarily remove the presence of hostile spiritual forces, but enabled believers to stand firm and remain faithful to Christ.
He also stressed the importance of prayer, saying it was through prayer that believers continually depended on God’s strength, applied discipline, exercised faith and received grace.
Dr Amanor said Christians were not expected to stand alone, but should support, encourage and pray for one another as members of one body, particularly when others became weak or discouraged.
He cautioned Christians against using Scripture to attack fellow believers, saying spiritual warfare should not result in Christians wounding one another, but should strengthen unity, love, faith and perseverance in Christ.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter: Morkporkpor Anku