A Trustee of The Church of Pentecost, Elder Emmanuel Anane Boate, has noted that fear serves the agenda of the devil, making believers doubt the Word of God.
He made this assumption on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, at the Pentecost Convention, Gomoa Fetteh, near Kasoa, during a devotion with participants of the 2022 Retirement Seminar being organised by The Church of Pentecost Pension Board.
The event, which is being attended by ministers and their wives who have up to 10 years (2023-2032) to retire from active service, is under the theme: “Possessing the Nations: Serving the Saints” (Heb. 6:10).
According to Elder Boate, many events in life have put men to fear. These include national issues, territorial issues, and personal issues.
Speaking on the topic, “Fear Not,” he explained that in the scriptures anytime God wanted to do something new in people’s lives, He begins with the phrase ‘Fear not’ (Isaiah 35:3-4).
Elder Emmanuel Boate defined fear as ‘an unpleasant feeling or emotion that is triggered by a perception of danger; whether it is real or perceived.
“The origin of fear is from the Garden of Eden. That was the first time the Bible mentioned fear, according to Genesis 3:9-10,” he revealed.
Elder Boate noted that before God can work on a person’s life, He has to first assure the person not to fear (Gen. 15:1; 26:23-24, Matt. 1:20-21, Luke 1:12-13). He stressed that fear can be natural or can be something that will not bring glory to God.
“God cannot work with us when we are bathed with fear. Before He works in our life, He has to first drive away fear,” he said, adding, “Fear serves the agenda of the devil. It makes us doubt the Word of God.”
He cited some forms of fear recorded in the Bible as the fear of man (Matt. 25:25), fear of failure (Num. 14), fear of death (Heb. 2:15), fear of Satan, demons, witchcraft, fetish (Mark 6:47-51), fear of illness, fear of the unknown and the fear of darkness.
Describing the dangers of fear, Elder Boate noted that faith compelled Peter to walk on water, but fear sank him, according to Matthew 14:31.
He, however, explained that the cure for fear is a closer walk with Jesus Christ (Acts 4:13), the Spirit of God (2 Tim. 1:7), and dwelling in the shelter of the Almighty God (Psalm 91).
“As we labour towards our retirement, challenges may come our way, perceived or real. But remember that the Lord is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Therefore, fear not, let us with confidence say, ‘even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil’ for God will lift you out of the challenges of retirement,’” he concluded.
Speakers for the event include Apostle Eric Nyamekye (Chairman, CoP), Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi (General Secretary, CoP), Apostle Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe (IMD, CoP), Apostle John Appiah Aidoo (Chairman, Pension Board), Apostle Lawrence Otu-Nyarko (Finance & Administration Director, CoP HQ), Apostle Philip Osei Korsah (Director, Counselling Ministry, CoP), Apostle Dr. Ing. Joseph Teye I. Buertey (PIWC Asokwa), and Apostle Rigwell Ato Addison (retired) – former General Secretary of the church).
Others include Pastor Dr. Edward Arko Koranteng (Medical Director of the Pentecost Hospital, Madina), Elder Paul Kofi Mante (Managing Director, EDC – Ecobank Gh. Ltd.), Mrs Esther Mmabilla Tamakloe, Elder Lawyer Kwaku Agyei Gyamfi (Member, Pension Board/Legal Advisor, CoP), Elder Dr. Stephen Ankamah-Lomotey, Mr Ernest Amartey-Vondee (Director, Planning, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation at the NPRA), and Mrs. Beatrice Osarfo of SSNIT.
In attendance were some members of the Executive Council, namely Prophet David Kankam Beditor (Area Head, Ashaiman), Apostle Samuel Osei Asante (Area Head, Kaneshie), Apostle Dr. Daniel Okyere Walker (Area Head, Tarkwa), among others.
PENTECOST NEWS.