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Putting on the Full Armor of God

Authors: Brian Borgman & Rob Ventura

In Ephesians 6:10-18, the Apostle Paul describes the metaphorical full armor of God. It’s a famous passage, and despite the title of Brian Borgman and Rob Ventura’s book, Spiritual Warfare, the true focus here is on a step-by-step exegesis turned devotional hyper-focused on this classic bit of scripture.

Authors Borgman and Ventura explain that the armor of God is essential for surviving and remaining “standing” throughout spiritual warfare. They briefly examine spiritual warfare, with a focus on not dismissing it, but also on not becoming unnaturally focused on it – seeing demonic intervention in a simple cold, for example. It is, however, taken for granted that the audience knows the ins-and-outs of what entails spiritual warfare, and the author jumps straight to a diagnosis – the armor – without being given more than a cursory examination of spiritual warfare. The warning is clear – do not become obsessed with spiritual warfare, but do not dismiss it. But the ways in which it manifests, its more salient points, identifying spiritual warfare over the common contentions of life and the ramifications of our own sins and those of other people, only gets a brief mention. If you think that this book will deep-dive on spiritual warfare, then you are wrong. It is mislabeled and should instead be titled something like “Putting on the Full Armor of God.” That’s not to say that the book is not incredibly powerful. It’s just mis-marketed.

Once the quick introduction and warning is slotted aside, the authors get down to business, talking about each piece of armor and what it represents, or could represent. This is where the narrative becomes a true devotional and where it gains its moving strength.

At the time I read this book, I was myself going through a difficult time, waking up with panic attacks (which I later found out were thanks to a new migraine medicine). Reading this work helped me to visualize myself putting on God’s protection and reminded me again that no matter what forces assail us – whether natural or demonic – God’s strength and love will take us through any situation.

Image by Karen .t from Pixabay

The language here is strong and powerful, showcasing a God full of love and truth, advocating us to apply Bible principles. The armor in turn represents the power of girding ourselves with Biblical truth, God’s unassailable righteousness, the peace that passes understanding, the power of faith, the longevity of salvation, and the Holy Spirit himself, our strongest ally who does the fighting on our behalf. Each of these themes is given a full chapter, where the authors talk about what the theme means and how we, as Christians, are empowered to wield it as part of our definitions and assurance in the protection of God. With Him backing us, we cannot fall, so long as we use that which he has forged for us.

The concluding appendixes give some interesting side bars, including a section on demon-possession (and examining if Christians can become possessed), an essay on the sovereignty of God and Satan, and a final exhortation to pray for pastors and other teachers.

Despite the book’s small size and poorly chosen name, I highly recommend Spiritual Warfare as a targeted and thorough devotional which highlights our powers as Christians to withstand evil, wherever it comes from and rest assured in the peace and protection of our Savior and Heavenly Father. Highly recommended.

– Frances Carden

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Frances Carden
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