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The Beginner's Guide to Spiritual Warfare
The Beginner's Guide to Spiritual Warfare provides an overview of the battle between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness, which affects every one of us. And to help apply the victory Christ won over the enemy, the book gives basic practical instruction for obtaining ongoing victory in daily life. The authors shun sensationalism and deal with spiritual warfare in a balanced way. The Beginner's Guide to Spiritual Warfare is a pastorally sound, wise, and jargon-free presentation of the basic truths about the dark side of the spiritual life that anyone can read with profit.
163 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
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146 people want to read
About the author
Neil T. Anderson
286 books291 followersNEIL T. ANDERSON is founder and president of Freedom in Christ Ministries. He was formerly the chairman of the Practical Theology Department at Talbot School of Theology. He holds five degrees from Talbot, Pepperdine University and Arizona State University and Arizona State University and has authored several bestselling books on spiritual freedom, including Victory Over the Darkness and The Bondage Breaker.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 20, 2018
Though I didn't find anything about this book particularly bad or damaging, I did find it generally mediocre, unnecessarily soft in making some of its better points, and largely unfocused when it comes to staying on the topic of spiritual warfare.
To put it another way, this book could be considered a slightly above average book on general, Christian spirituality and living if it didn't claim in the title to be about the spiritual (angelic and demonic) realm. The author addresses various parts of the Christian life and worldview, but only goes as far as saying there is an demonic component to it. The details of that demonic component are left unaddressed. What I found most frustrating in the entire book, however, is that in addressing the supernatural/demonic world, the Holy Spirit is hardly mentioned at all. With the Holy Spirit being the primary power of the spiritual realm, this silence was almost eerie.
There were certainly some good components of the book. The author does dive into worldview and points to how post-enlightenment worldview had majorly affected our default views on the spiritual world. And finally, one of the topics that the author does go into at a helpful depth is the relationship between the demonic realm and human thoughts.
Overall, it is hard to tell if this this is a mediocre book or if the target audience is for someone much different than me.
To put it another way, this book could be considered a slightly above average book on general, Christian spirituality and living if it didn't claim in the title to be about the spiritual (angelic and demonic) realm. The author addresses various parts of the Christian life and worldview, but only goes as far as saying there is an demonic component to it. The details of that demonic component are left unaddressed. What I found most frustrating in the entire book, however, is that in addressing the supernatural/demonic world, the Holy Spirit is hardly mentioned at all. With the Holy Spirit being the primary power of the spiritual realm, this silence was almost eerie.
There were certainly some good components of the book. The author does dive into worldview and points to how post-enlightenment worldview had majorly affected our default views on the spiritual world. And finally, one of the topics that the author does go into at a helpful depth is the relationship between the demonic realm and human thoughts.
Overall, it is hard to tell if this this is a mediocre book or if the target audience is for someone much different than me.
August 31, 2019
This book is incredibly helpful if you have been a victim of abuse and are a believer and follower of Christ. It helped me to understand the spiritual aspects of the abuse I experienced... A dimension I desperately needed to develop my faith and heal more than just my heart, but my soul.
February 26, 2025
I finished reading "The Beginner's Guide to Spiritual Warfare" by Neil T. Anderson and Timothy M. Warner last night. This book was so good and interesting. There were several things that I had never heard before that I found interesting and intriguing. I'm going to share a few of those things - and I quote "With all the moral corruption in the world, it is tempting to ask "why doesn't the Lord just come back and end all this?" I heard a retired African-American pastor give the correct answer to this question as he addressed a group of inner-city pastors after the Los Angeles riots that were prompted by the verdict of the Rodney King trial. As my memory serves me, he said, "Fifty years ago the Lord looked into the kingdom of darkness and saw me. Had he come at that time, I would have been locked out of the kingdom of God for all eternity. The Lord is not slow about his promises. For him one day is as a thousand years. He is waiting for the gospel to go out to the ends of the earth, and then the end will come." We longingly look for the Lord's return, but how many of us still have a family member, a friend, a neighbor, or a coworker who doesn't know the Lord? How selfish it is for us to pray for his return before doing what we can in this life to see that all may hear the Good News."
I had never in my life thought about this like that before. But think about it! It makes sense, why would we want Jesus to return before everyone has a chance to know him? It is selfish.
Another quote "Federal agents don't study counterfeit money. They study the real thing, in order to detect the counterfeit."
Another quote "Without minimizing the possibility of God intervening in our lives at times of special need with his own miraculous "quick fix," it is safe to say that he usually expects us to use the resources he has given us to work through the problems of life. He made us in his image, with the ability to think, feel, and make decisions, and he encourages us to use these abilities. Sometimes well-meaning Christians suggest that we should expect God to make all the decisions for us. We are told, "Get out of the driver's seat, and let the Lord take over." While there is an element of truth to that statement, this isn't the way it works. The better picture is that of a young man at the helm of a ship. The Lord standing beside him as a mentor with his hand on his shoulder. There are indeed some things that only God can do- things like creating something out of nothing, sustaining the universe with the word of his power, defining truth, and providing redemption for fallen man. There are some things, however, that God has equipped us to do, and he will not do those things for us. He will be there to help us and to mentor us, but he will not excuse us from using our minds. He does not fill our minds with a knowledge of his Word. We have to read it, study it, memorize it, meditate on it, and obey it. We have to put on the armor that he has provided for us. We have to meet the changing circumstances of our lives with the resources that are available to us as children whom he loves. We have to use our ability to make decisions. He will help us with the process and correct us when we make bad decisions, but he will never tell us to be passive, either mentally or volitionally. We live in a fallen world, and our Lord has told us very clearly that "In this world you will have trouble." Fortunately for us, the verse does not end there. Jesus goes on to say, "but take heart! I have overcome the world" (Jn 16:33). The promise of victory, however does not excuse us from the trouble. It is similar to what we hear God tell his people in the Old Testament: "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze" (Is 43:2). God's people were not promised that they would not go through the floods and the fire. They were simply given the assurance that God would be with them at such times "
Just three more quotes (they are short).
"Every action is just a product of our thoughts. "For as he thinks within himself, so he is" (prv 23:7)."
"Satan is like an animal on a tether. The animal can go as far as the tether allows, but no farther. He can act freely within the area defined by his rope, but the rope defines his area of activity. Satan is on God's tether, and while he can do many things within the limited area defined by God, he certainly cannot go beyond the limits God has established."
"It is also true, however, that if God's people trust and obey God, they can live free from the control that Satan would try to gain over them."
And enough with the quotes because I don't wish to spoil the book for anyone. But seriously go get a copy of the book and read it. This is the first book I have ever used highlighters in. Every Christian should read his books! I give five stars!
I had never in my life thought about this like that before. But think about it! It makes sense, why would we want Jesus to return before everyone has a chance to know him? It is selfish.
Another quote "Federal agents don't study counterfeit money. They study the real thing, in order to detect the counterfeit."
Another quote "Without minimizing the possibility of God intervening in our lives at times of special need with his own miraculous "quick fix," it is safe to say that he usually expects us to use the resources he has given us to work through the problems of life. He made us in his image, with the ability to think, feel, and make decisions, and he encourages us to use these abilities. Sometimes well-meaning Christians suggest that we should expect God to make all the decisions for us. We are told, "Get out of the driver's seat, and let the Lord take over." While there is an element of truth to that statement, this isn't the way it works. The better picture is that of a young man at the helm of a ship. The Lord standing beside him as a mentor with his hand on his shoulder. There are indeed some things that only God can do- things like creating something out of nothing, sustaining the universe with the word of his power, defining truth, and providing redemption for fallen man. There are some things, however, that God has equipped us to do, and he will not do those things for us. He will be there to help us and to mentor us, but he will not excuse us from using our minds. He does not fill our minds with a knowledge of his Word. We have to read it, study it, memorize it, meditate on it, and obey it. We have to put on the armor that he has provided for us. We have to meet the changing circumstances of our lives with the resources that are available to us as children whom he loves. We have to use our ability to make decisions. He will help us with the process and correct us when we make bad decisions, but he will never tell us to be passive, either mentally or volitionally. We live in a fallen world, and our Lord has told us very clearly that "In this world you will have trouble." Fortunately for us, the verse does not end there. Jesus goes on to say, "but take heart! I have overcome the world" (Jn 16:33). The promise of victory, however does not excuse us from the trouble. It is similar to what we hear God tell his people in the Old Testament: "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze" (Is 43:2). God's people were not promised that they would not go through the floods and the fire. They were simply given the assurance that God would be with them at such times "
Just three more quotes (they are short).
"Every action is just a product of our thoughts. "For as he thinks within himself, so he is" (prv 23:7)."
"Satan is like an animal on a tether. The animal can go as far as the tether allows, but no farther. He can act freely within the area defined by his rope, but the rope defines his area of activity. Satan is on God's tether, and while he can do many things within the limited area defined by God, he certainly cannot go beyond the limits God has established."
"It is also true, however, that if God's people trust and obey God, they can live free from the control that Satan would try to gain over them."
And enough with the quotes because I don't wish to spoil the book for anyone. But seriously go get a copy of the book and read it. This is the first book I have ever used highlighters in. Every Christian should read his books! I give five stars!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2018
Wow! This book was an amazing introduction to a topic that is often avoided simply because it is scary to think about, It was part of my job training, and I highly recommend it for someone that is curious about learning more about spiritual warfare.
April 20, 2018
Introductory book on spiritual warfare. A well done book to help you grasp the reality of spiritual warfare and build your knowledge so you can begin to apply it in the right circumstances.
June 16, 2018
This was the perfect guide for a class I taught on the subject. Really simply presented for Christians at every stage of their walk.
August 4, 2022
Amazing! A must read for all Christians.
December 17, 2022
If you're a follower of Christ, read this book.
January 1, 2016
Notes from the book:
- as Christians we are to be self-controlled and alert regarding Truth and Deception.
- sometimes it's hard to know if something is spiritual warfare or just plain trouble. It could be either/or and both/and.
- wrong worldview leads to wrong beliefs about everything including the spiritual realm, which is why we need a Biblical worldview
- spiritual warfare is based on a relationship with God
- who I am fundamentally is: I am one with Christ
- who I serve is the one true God not an idol of our making which is a caricature
- I am to keep looking down from my heavenly perspective as one seated with Christ in the heavenlies, at the right hand of God not just at myself and my circumstances
- In warfare, I am to put on the armor of God,submit to God, confess my sin, renounce my sin, flee from sin, reject satan
- I am fit for battle from my position in Christ as He leads me
From the Amazon review:
The exercise of spiritual warfare: What is it? Do you need special training? Do we need to confront evil or does God do that for us? How do we relate as believers to Satan and demons? In The Beginner's Guide to Spiritual Warfare, Neil Anderson and Timothy Warner provide an overview of the battle between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness, which affects every one of us.
First, we need to know who we are in Christ. And to help apply the victory Christ won over the enemy, the book gives basic practical instruction for obtaining ongoing victory in daily life. Topics covered include: having a biblical worldview, knowing which God I serve, giving up my reluctance to be a warrior, and becoming fit for battle.
- as Christians we are to be self-controlled and alert regarding Truth and Deception.
- sometimes it's hard to know if something is spiritual warfare or just plain trouble. It could be either/or and both/and.
- wrong worldview leads to wrong beliefs about everything including the spiritual realm, which is why we need a Biblical worldview
- spiritual warfare is based on a relationship with God
- who I am fundamentally is: I am one with Christ
- who I serve is the one true God not an idol of our making which is a caricature
- I am to keep looking down from my heavenly perspective as one seated with Christ in the heavenlies, at the right hand of God not just at myself and my circumstances
- In warfare, I am to put on the armor of God,submit to God, confess my sin, renounce my sin, flee from sin, reject satan
- I am fit for battle from my position in Christ as He leads me
From the Amazon review:
The exercise of spiritual warfare: What is it? Do you need special training? Do we need to confront evil or does God do that for us? How do we relate as believers to Satan and demons? In The Beginner's Guide to Spiritual Warfare, Neil Anderson and Timothy Warner provide an overview of the battle between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness, which affects every one of us.
First, we need to know who we are in Christ. And to help apply the victory Christ won over the enemy, the book gives basic practical instruction for obtaining ongoing victory in daily life. Topics covered include: having a biblical worldview, knowing which God I serve, giving up my reluctance to be a warrior, and becoming fit for battle.
February 13, 2011
The Beginner’s Guide to Spiritual Warfare is a great introduction to a topic that isn’t as complex or scary as many churches like to make it seem. Topics covered include: having a biblical worldview, knowing which God I serve, giving up our reluctance to be a warrior and becoming fit for battle. Here’s how to have confidence in God that the battle has already been won, and know how to stand firm in your faith.
April 23, 2014
I bought this book as part of my training for ReachGlobal...
June 9, 2014
Yes and amen ! Good teaching book.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews