Grace Evangelical Society

P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202
  • About
    • Home
    • Beliefs
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
  • Resources
    • Grace in Focus Blog
    • Grace in Focus International Blogs
    • Grace in Focus Radio
    • Grace in Focus Magazine
    • Free eBooks
    • Journal of the GES
    • Book Reviews
    • Partners in Grace Newsletter
    • Audio Messages
    • Videos
    • Email Subscription
    • Bookstore
    • Online Tracts
  • Store
    • Main Page
    • On Sale
    • Return Policy
    • Your Cart
    • Your Account
  • Events
  • Connect
    • Contact Us
    • Free Grace Church and Bible Study Tracker
    • Free Grace Jobs
    • Ministry Links
  • Donate
    • One Time Donation
    • Monthly Donation
    • Your Account
  • Search
Home
→
Journal Articles
→
Book Reviews
→
Spiritual Warfare. Victory Over the Powers of This Dark World

Spiritual Warfare. Victory Over the Powers of This Dark World

Posted in Book Reviews

Spiritual Warfare. Victory Over the Powers of This Dark World.By Timothy M. Warner. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 1991. 160 pp. Paper, $7.95.

The content of this book is an edited form of the Church Growth Lectures given in 1988 at Fuller Theological Seminary. The author is a professor of missions and evangelism at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

The central thread of the book is the necessity of “power encounters” in the defeat of the devil. The author’s description of a power encounter includes such matters as prayer and a holy life. Yet the burden of the book is to persuade us to conquer our spiritual enemy through direct confrontations (casting out demons, rebuking Satan, etc).

To be sure, many sound truths are presented which may be commonly found in evangelical approaches to Satan and demons. In this light, many have highly recommended the book (see the back jacket). Nevertheless, my own disagreements with its content raise serious questions with regard to its value.

In the author’s view, the church must liberate those enslaved to Satan so as to “make disciples” and fulfill the Great Commission. Supernatural manifestations of divine power over Satan must accompany the preaching of the Gospel. Yet, this theology of a “power encounter” effaces biblical salvation and sanctification. The power of the Gospel of grace alone for deliverance becomes deficient (cf. Rom 1:16), and the “power encounter” to deliver a Christian approaches a second-work-of-grace doctrine (cf. p. 65)

A few of the other teachings in the book which cannot be supported exegetically include: (1) demonic possession/oppression can be passed on sexually (p. 73) or genetically (pp. 73, 107); (2) the issue in demon possession is not the location (inside versus outside) (pp. 80–85); (3) Christians can be demon-possessed; (4) at baptism, new believers should renounce Satan so as to be delivered from any potential demonic possession or control (pp. 108, 120-21); (5) Christians must pray against territorial spirits; and (6) demons attach themselves to objects and places, and need to be “cleansed” (pp. 90, 93-95).

This book is best suited as a primer in the theology of moderate “deliverance ministries.” While a call for balance is found in its pages, look for it elsewhere.

John F. Hart
Associate Professor of Bible
Moody Bible Institute
Chicago, IL

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

Cart

Recently Added

March 24, 2023

1 Peter–Part 05–3:8-4:19

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. Today, Bob Wilkin, Philippe Sterling and Ken Yates continue their study and discussion of 1 Peter. Suffering is a...
March 24, 2023

The Impact of One Person 

In Hebrews 11, we are met with list of Biblical figures who exemplify what it means to walk by faith and not by sight (11:1)....
March 23, 2023

1 Peter–Part 04–2:11-3:7

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. Today, Ken Yates, Philippe Sterling and Bob Wilkin continue looking at 1 Peter. Not only do believers need to...

Grace in Focus Radio

All Episodes

Listen to Stitcher

Listen on Spotify

Grace In Focus Magazine

Grace In Focus is sent to subscribers in the United States free of charge.

Subscribe for Free

The primary source of Grace Evangelical Society's funding is through charitable contributions. GES uses all contributions and proceeds from the sales of our resources to further the gospel of grace in the United States and abroad.

Donate

Bookstore Specials

  • A Free Grace Primer: The Hungry Inherit, The Gospel Under Siege, and Grace in Eclipse $20.00 $12.00
  • Here Walks My Enemy: The Story of Luis (Hardcover) $13.95 $5.00
  • Hebrews: Partners with Christ $22.00 $15.00
  • Here Walks My Enemy: The Story of Luis (Paperback) $6.95 $3.00
  • The Road to Reward, 2nd Edition $9.95 $5.00
Grace Evangelical Society

(940) 270-8827 / ges@faithalone.org

4851 S I-35E Suite 203, Corinth, TX 76210
P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube