Spiritual Warfare: A Biblical and Balanced Perspective

by Brian Borgman, Robert Ventura

Overview

Too often, Christians today either sensationalize the subject of spiritual warfare by obsessing over demon possession, exorcisms, binding the devil, and rebuking demons, or they minimize the idea and are unprepared for the real struggle they face against principalities and powers.

Pastors Brian Borgman and Rob Ventura provide a balanced approach that exposes the fictions and superstitions surrounding this vital doctrine and at the same time reveal the unseen realities of this struggle. Basing their battle plan on Ephesians 6:10–20, the authors give an overview of the battle, a guide to the armor God gives us, and instruction regarding the vital wartime disciplines of prayer and proclamation of the Word. By learning to think biblically about this subject, Christians are enabled to deflect the blows of their adversary, fight sin, and live God-glorifying lives as followers of Jesus.

Table of Contents:
1. Be Strong in the Lord
2. Put on the Full Armor of God
3. The Schemes of the Devil
4. The Nature of Our Conflict
5. The Belt of Truth
6. The Breastplate of Righteousness
7. The Gospel of Peace Footwear
8. The Shield of Faith
9. The Helmet of Salvation
10. The Sword of the Spirit
11. Warfare Prayer
12. Warfare Prayer and Proclamation
13. Spiritual Warfare Debriefing
Appendix 1: The Sovereignty of God and Satan
Appendix 2: Can a Christian Be Demon-Possessed?
Appendix 3: Pray for Your Pastors

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781601782847
Publisher:	Reformation Heritage Books
Publication date:	12/16/2013
Pages:	128
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Rob Ventura is one of the pastors of Grace Community Baptist Church of North Providence, Rhode Island. He is a contributing author and blogger for Reformation 21 the online magazine of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals and co-authored A Portrait of Paul on Reformation Heritage Books (2010). He has written articles for The Founders Journal and The Journal of Modern Ministry. He was also the editor of Greg Nichols’ book on Covenant Theology (Solid Ground Christian Books). He is a graduate of Reformed Baptist Seminary SC.

Brian Borgman is founding pastor of Grace Community Church in Minden, NV. He has written articles for The Southern Baptist Theological Journal, Reformation and Revival Journal and the Gospel Coalition. He has also written, My Heart For Thy Cause (Mentor, 2002) and Feelings and Faith (Crossway, 2009). He holds degrees from Biola University, Western Seminary and Westminster Seminary.

Table of Contents

Foreword Steven J. Lawson vii

Preface ix

Acknowledgments xi

Introduction: One Side of the Horse or the Other 1

1 Be Strong in the Lord 7

2 Put On the Full Armor of God 15

3 The Schemes of the Devil 23

4 The Nature of Our Conflict 33

5 The Belt of Truth 41

6 The Breastplate of Righteousness 49

7 The Gospel of Peace Footwear 59

8 The Shield of Faith 65

9 The Helmet of Salvation 73

10 The Sword of the Spirit 79

11 Warfare Prayer 87

12 Warfare Prayer and Proclamation 97

13 Spiritual Warfare Debriefing 105

Appendix 1 The Sovereignty of God and Satan 111

Appendix 2 Can a Christian Be Demon-Possessed? 117

Appendix 3 Christian, Pray for Your Pastors! 121

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

'Authors Borgman and Ventura aimed for biblical accuracy and balance in addressing spiritual warfare. They hit the bull's-eye! How we think about this battle is critical to how we fight it. Here is a brief treatment that is also clear and accurate: Satan may prowl around as a roaring lion seeking someone to devour, but Christ is the reigning Lion who has already won the battle and sits on the throne!' - Pastor Bruce A. Ray, author of Withhold Not Correction, Celebrating the Sabbath, and Help! My Friend Is Suicidal

'William Gurnall once said that the battle between Satan and the saints makes the most brutal war on earth look like child s play. Yet so many Christians act like civilians on vacation instead of soldiers on the front lines. Borgman and Ventura, like experienced master sergeants, give us the Bible's basic training on spiritual warfare. Drawing from the classic text in Ephesians 6, their teaching will both clear away false ideas about the spiritual battle, and equip Christians to stand firm to the end.' - Dr. Joel R. Beeke, President, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan

'Spiritual Warfare: A Biblical and Balanced Perspective is a wake up call to every minister of Christ that our work is not merely academic or intellectual, but also spiritual and supernatural. We have forces arrayed against us that cannot be defeated with any human armament. I fear that this theme has been too often ignored by the biblical scholar and too often exaggerated by those whose conclusions are not grounded in the Scriptures. For this reason, this balanced treatment will be a tremendous benefit to pastor and layperson alike.' - Paul Washer

'Too many popular evangelical notions about spiritual warfare have been shaped by superstition, bad teaching, and pulp novels about battles with territorial demons. Multitudes of Christians are mystified, terrified, unsure of their role ignorant of God s strategy in the warfare against the powers of darkness. Brian Borgman and Rob Ventura turn to the Word of God and skillfully unravel the mystery. I appreciate how they deal with this vital subject in a meticulously biblical, thoroughly enlightening, and wonderfully edifying way.' - Phil Johnson

'The increased hostility of our anti-Christian culture is forcing many Christians on to the back foot and even into the bunkers. This stirring book is a much-needed clarion call to battle, but one that emphasizes the spiritual nature of the battle and of the weapons we must use.' - Dr. David Murray

Editorial Reviews

In his letter to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul describes deliverance from bondage of sin through the work of Christ. He brings that deliverance to bear in our personal experience by the enlivening grace of God. He issues a call for us to walk in this newfound freedom, worthy of our calling in Christ, amid the dangers and challenges of this fallen world. Paul concludes his letter in practical terms for the battle we face as part of the normal course of the Christian life. It is here in Ephesians 6 that Brian Borgman and Rob Ventura meet us to orient us to the strength, weaponry, and strategy by which our Lord equips us for the battle. These pastors provide clear, concise, competent, and compelling counsel in what can be a neglected or abused topic.” — Stanley D. Gale, author of Warfare Witness: Contending with Spiritual Opposition in Everyday Evangelism


“Spiritual Warfare is thoughtful, biblical, theological, accessible, and impactful. The book is exegetical and expository without feeling like a commentary or running homily. In it, authors Borgman and Ventura make much of Christ and what He has done without negating the reality of our adversary and the real danger he presents, as well as our call to faith, righteousness, prayer, and perseverance that flows directly from our Savior’s finished work. What a timely, refreshing, encouraging, convicting, and empowering book! I can’t wait to get it in front of our people.” — Voddie Baucham Jr. serves as pastor of preaching at Grace Family Baptist Church in Spring, Texas, and is author of Family Shepherds.


"Spiritual Warfare: A Biblical and Balanced Perspective is a wake up call to every minister of Christ that our work is not merely academic or intellectual, but also spiritual and supernatural. We have forces arrayed against us that cannot be defeated with any human armament. I fear that this theme has been too often ignored by the biblical scholar and too often exaggerated by those whose conclusions are not grounded in the Scriptures. For this reason, this balanced treatment will be a tremendous benefit to pastor and layperson alike." - Paul Washer

From the Publisher