Devilishly good?

THE MESSAGE OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE
By Keith Ferdinando
IVP. 283 pages. £9.99
ISBN 978 1 783 594 351

There are two extremes to avoid in considering the subject of spiritual warfare. One is to underestimate the devil and the other is to indulge an unhealthy obsession with him. This book, part of The Bible Speaks Today Bible themes series, is very helpful in charting a balanced and biblical course. It includes a study guide, but no indices.

The book is divided into four sections. The first reminds us of the reality of the devil and his schemes, with studies of Genesis 3, the sufferings of Job, and the sorcery of Balaam and Balak. When we come to the New Testament in the second section, the central emphasis is not the devil himself, but the triumph of Christ over all evil powers. We see demons being exorcised, and we are taught of the triumph of the Cross, and ultimately the final judgment. The author notes in the exorcisms of Jesus the absence of ‘usual terminology and ritual nonsense’ (p.90), and so for us believing prayer is the method for opposing the devil.