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The Essential Guide to Spiritual Warfare: Learn to Use Spiritual Weapons; Keep Your Mind and Heart Strong in Christ; Recognize Satan's Lies and Defend Your Loved Ones
What is spiritual warfare? Who should engage in it? How can I protect myself and the ones I love from Satan's attacks? In this foundational handbook for spiritual warfare, Neil Anderson and Timothy Warner offer a step-by-step, biblically-grounded guide to obtaining victory in spiritual battles.
162 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 19, 2016
141 people are currently reading
186 people want to read
About the author
Neil T. Anderson
286 books290 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 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 15, 2016
This wasn't a bad book, but I feel it wasn't strictly as advertized via the title. This was more of an "open your eyes and see the spiritual warfare around you and you need to do something about it" book rather than "how-to fight the spiritual war" book. I was expecting more of a how to fight, rather than the knowledge that there is a fight. That, I already knew. I need to know how to engage in an effective manner.
The authors mentioned "spiritual boot camp" a lot and I was hoping I would get some of that, but they just said the reader needs to go, they didn't take me there. Other than to say pray and put on your spiritual armor and deal with your sin (confess, repent and accept forgiveness). Unless that's all one has to do. I think I may have missed the point.
Which would be funny, since they do the classic preacher sermon; say what you have to say, say it again, and then again, and then multiply times three to make sure they get the message! So maybe I missed the super important part only mentioned once?
This is a good intro for those who may not have been aware or only vaguely aware of the spiritual warfare all around us. It's not the "spiritual boot camp" that I wanted it to be, but it wasn't a bad book for someone just starting out with the idea. I hope they do a spiritual boot camp book. That would be awesome and definitely something I would pick up!
Slight quibble with the notes and bibliography. The notes didn't include things that I felt should have been included, for example, when they state that in France there are more magical healers than medical doctors, there was no note number to where they got that fact from. I would have liked to see the source for that information. Also, the bibliography seemed to be heavy on the other works by the authors of this book. That may be due to not many people studying and writing about this topic, but it just seemed a bit on the odd side to me.
3 solid stars. One docked for the notes and bibliography issue and the other for a title that promised a lot that I feel I didn't get 100%. (I know, the author isn't always responsible for the title, but with a huge title like that, the reader expects the contents to match.)
My thanks to NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
The authors mentioned "spiritual boot camp" a lot and I was hoping I would get some of that, but they just said the reader needs to go, they didn't take me there. Other than to say pray and put on your spiritual armor and deal with your sin (confess, repent and accept forgiveness). Unless that's all one has to do. I think I may have missed the point.
Which would be funny, since they do the classic preacher sermon; say what you have to say, say it again, and then again, and then multiply times three to make sure they get the message! So maybe I missed the super important part only mentioned once?
This is a good intro for those who may not have been aware or only vaguely aware of the spiritual warfare all around us. It's not the "spiritual boot camp" that I wanted it to be, but it wasn't a bad book for someone just starting out with the idea. I hope they do a spiritual boot camp book. That would be awesome and definitely something I would pick up!
Slight quibble with the notes and bibliography. The notes didn't include things that I felt should have been included, for example, when they state that in France there are more magical healers than medical doctors, there was no note number to where they got that fact from. I would have liked to see the source for that information. Also, the bibliography seemed to be heavy on the other works by the authors of this book. That may be due to not many people studying and writing about this topic, but it just seemed a bit on the odd side to me.
3 solid stars. One docked for the notes and bibliography issue and the other for a title that promised a lot that I feel I didn't get 100%. (I know, the author isn't always responsible for the title, but with a huge title like that, the reader expects the contents to match.)
My thanks to NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
January 10, 2020
I really enjoyed the walk through of engaging in spiritual warfare. Anderson and Warner offered some very practical insight into dealing with this issue. They assist the readers in beginning to understand how to identify spiritual attacks and what we can do daily in order to combat our enemy.
Spiritual warfare is a very real problem that we in the West have somehow swept under the rug. We’ve allowed the Enlightenment mindset to replace some biblical truths. Christians are at war, but the fact is that we are battling a spiritual enemy. We have to identify that and begin fighting that battle.
Spiritual warfare is a very real problem that we in the West have somehow swept under the rug. We’ve allowed the Enlightenment mindset to replace some biblical truths. Christians are at war, but the fact is that we are battling a spiritual enemy. We have to identify that and begin fighting that battle.
February 22, 2024
I really loved this book! An easy-to-read format with relatable stories and examples. I particularly loved the Figures & Tables sprinkled throughout the text. I plan to frequently reference the tables regarding "In Christ" 1) I am accepted, 2) I am secure, 3) I am significant. A very upbeat, positive message/ tone for the times we live in today!
January 26, 2021
Every believer needs to read this book! Putting your head in the sand and saying you're not going to participate is not an option God gives us. Every child of God needs to understand how to fight this battle because they are a part of it whether they know it or not.
July 2, 2022
This books has a lot of good truth but also some errors - or perhaps I might be kinder by saying a lack of careful attention to terms and internal inconsistencies. We read this as part of a survey of books on the topic. Chip Ingram’s Invisible War is better. Also check Michael S Heiser’s works
October 15, 2023
This book has so much in it that I can't even express how open my mind is. It walks you through normal everyday life and explains things that there are SO many things we tend to overlook that are so important! Well worth the read!
March 5, 2025
This was a great book that pushes one to understand who we are in Christ and how to understand the invisible battle that is all around us.
There are so many valuable tools in here to equip us with the knowledge of who we are and what we are capable of in Christ.
There are so many valuable tools in here to equip us with the knowledge of who we are and what we are capable of in Christ.
April 11, 2025
Helpful book
This book didn’t approach spiritual warfare in the way I thought it would but it was very helpful and simple. It’s worth your time to read. I made a lot of highlights through the book that I plan to go back and reread time and again.
This book didn’t approach spiritual warfare in the way I thought it would but it was very helpful and simple. It’s worth your time to read. I made a lot of highlights through the book that I plan to go back and reread time and again.
July 17, 2017
Living victorious.
Solid biblical advice for living life submitted to God and victorious over the enemy. Read it and put it into practice.
Solid biblical advice for living life submitted to God and victorious over the enemy. Read it and put it into practice.
October 4, 2020
A valuable resource. I went through this book with a small group and we have learned a lot about our identity in Christ and spiritual warfare.
February 14, 2021
Very clear and straightforward. And with helpful diagrams representing our relationships to the various forces in our world!
August 24, 2016
This book feels like a necessary entry into the category of books on spiritual warfare. Anderson and Warner are the writers to do it, and they've succeeded, with just a few minor issues.
The strength of the book is its reasonableness. As an intro to the topic, it does a great job of being sane, rational, and convincing. There's no fear-mongering, there's no Exorcist-like anecdotes, and no ridiculous takes on what spiritual warfare looks like. The book presents a basic argument for what this battle is and why it's necessary, without straying to extra-Biblical concepts. It's a weird idea, but Anderson and Warner don't come across as a weirdo sect.
The book interestingly reframes the question people often ask: "Is it a spiritual attack, bad luck, an illness, or what?" by considering the way these various threads interact. More time could have been spent on this issue, but -- as part of an overview -- it's ably handled.
One thing that should be noted is that it's more an intro than an "essential guide". A reader will likely be left with many questions on how to proceed, and many of these questions would be addressed in the "Selected Readings" section. Anderson's own works show up in abundance here, but that's less self-promotion and more an awareness that these are some of the fundamental texts (*Victory Over the Darkness* would be an excellent next read).
This book would best suit Christians new to the topic, or those looking for a quick refresher. People who are already aware of spiritual warfare would likely want something more specific to their areas of concern.
[based on a NetGalley review copy.]
The strength of the book is its reasonableness. As an intro to the topic, it does a great job of being sane, rational, and convincing. There's no fear-mongering, there's no Exorcist-like anecdotes, and no ridiculous takes on what spiritual warfare looks like. The book presents a basic argument for what this battle is and why it's necessary, without straying to extra-Biblical concepts. It's a weird idea, but Anderson and Warner don't come across as a weirdo sect.
The book interestingly reframes the question people often ask: "Is it a spiritual attack, bad luck, an illness, or what?" by considering the way these various threads interact. More time could have been spent on this issue, but -- as part of an overview -- it's ably handled.
One thing that should be noted is that it's more an intro than an "essential guide". A reader will likely be left with many questions on how to proceed, and many of these questions would be addressed in the "Selected Readings" section. Anderson's own works show up in abundance here, but that's less self-promotion and more an awareness that these are some of the fundamental texts (*Victory Over the Darkness* would be an excellent next read).
This book would best suit Christians new to the topic, or those looking for a quick refresher. People who are already aware of spiritual warfare would likely want something more specific to their areas of concern.
[based on a NetGalley review copy.]
October 1, 2016
I was very enthusiastic about reading this book, but when it came down to actually reading the book I was very disappointed. The author just gave his opinion and his beliefs. As Christians we are not suppose to sit there and take someone's opinion and beliefs as gospel. I am a daughter of a Pastor and the one thing he made sure I know was that fact - he also said that when someone is teaching you something Spiritual you are to make sure that they back everything up with Scripture, not only that but when you look up the Scripture up you look at the verses around it and make sure that the Scripture belongs to what they are actually teaching. This goes for anyone - including Pastors. I am sorry to say this author does not do that but a few places here and there. The author writes well and it flows well but as I said all it is is his opinions and beliefs. I received this book to read and give an honest review
October 29, 2018
Excellent ~ give a clear concise picture of what we spiritually may and often do face once we decide to follow God.
May 9, 2017
I loved this book. It is a great beginner book to Spiritual Warfare.
July 26, 2017
brief but solid overview
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews