Spiritual Warfare: A Biblical and Balanced Perspective

by Brian S. Borgman; Rob Ventura

Publisher:

Reformation Heritage

, 2014

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 reveals 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.

Key Features

• Explains the often misunderstood ideas of spiritual warfare
• Provides exegesis on Ephesians 6:10–20 and the armor of God
• Discusses spiritual warfare and how to think biblically on the matter

Contents

• Be Strong in the Lord
• Put On the Full Armor of God
• The Schemes of the Devil
• The Nature of Our Conflict
• The Belt of Truth
• The Breastplate of Righteousness
• The Gospel of Peace Footwear
• The Shield of Faith
• The Helmet of Salvation
• The Sword of the Spirit
• Warfare Prayer
• Warfare Prayer and Proclamation
• Spiritual Warfare Debriefing

Top Highlights

“The devil’s craftiness and subtlety have one main goal—deception.” (Page 26)

“Paul’s charge to ‘be strong’ is in the passive voice in the original Greek, which means that this empowering is something that is done to us from an outside source. This tells us that we dare not look to ourselves for strength in this combat.” (Page 10)

“One of Satan’s most effective weapons is to get us to question or doubt God’s goodness.” (Page 27)

“Our first step in successfully waging spiritual warfare is recognizing our weakness and the Lord’s great strength. Self-sufficiency is a killer in this battle; dependence on Christ is crucial.” (Page 7)

“First, as believers we must always be ready to go on the offensive by taking the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world so that people might be saved and delivered from Satan’s tyranny.” (Page 60)

Praise for the Print Edition

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., author, Family Shepherds

Many voices in our day present a version of spiritual warfare in which Satan seems to hold the position of prominence—even preeminence. Christians are left to wonder what magic spell or formulaic expressions can be invoked to see their demons excised. Yet, since Christ has triumphed over all the forces of darkness, His people should grow in hope and faith as they look to Christ. Brian Borgman and Rob Ventura present one of the finest and most biblically responsible and insightful studies of spiritual warfare now available. While they account fully for the reality of Satan’s deception, cunning, and power, they give greater stress (as they ought!) to the superior and indefatigable victory and sovereign reign of Christ. Christians need the message of this book. Satan, indeed, is a real and present danger, but Christ is our real, risen, and reigning hope! Spiritual Warfare guides readers into a clear and grace-empowered understanding of these truths.

—Bruce A. Ware, professor of Christian theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Often people talk about spiritual warfare but don’t understand what the Bible actually teaches on the matter. Borgman and Ventura unpack from the scriptures the true nature of spiritual warfare. As result readers will not only understand spiritual warfare but will also be equipped to fight the good fight of faith. Borgman and Ventura are to be thanked for an eminently clear, wonderfully biblical, theologically rich, and practically applicable study.

—Thomas R. Schreiner, James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

This fine book on the vital issue of spiritual warfare is a clear exposition and application of Ephesians 6:10-20. It challenges believers to realize that the Christian life is a serious spiritual battle. Christ’s victory over the powers of darkness, the nature of the conflict we are engaged in, the provision of God’s armour with all its wonderful weapons, and the need for believers to stand firm in the Lord and be committed to his eternal gospel are all carefully explained and applied. We are indebted to the authors for presenting a ‘Biblical and Balanced Perspective’ as the sub-title claims. Highly recommended.

—Peter O’Brien, emeritus faculty member, Moore Theological College, Sydney, Australia

Product Details

• Title: Spiritual Warfare: A Biblical and Balanced Perspective
• Authors: Brian S. Borgman, Rob Ventura
• Publisher: Reformation Heritage
• Print Publication Date: 2014
• Logos Release Date: 2014
• Pages: 130
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Spiritual warfare
• Resource ID: LLS:SPRTLWRFPRSPCTV
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-02-12T06:07:50Z

About the Authors

Brian Borgman is founding pastor of Grace Community Church in Minden, Nevada. 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.

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 coauthored 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 Covenant Theology. Ventura is a graduate of Reformed Baptist Seminary South Carolina.