Safe and Sound: Standing Firm in Spiritual Battles

Excellent read for all who are preparing, in the midst of, or recovering from any sort of spiritual battle. Powlison gives a sensible approach to the armor of God, explaining each piece of armor and how it is used on the offense, rather than simply defending against the attacks of the world, flesh, and devil. He was a faithful servant during his life and I am thankful for his help through this book in my battles.

In Chapter 1, Dr. Powlison summarizes his book as follows: "How do we understand the role of the devil in the battles we are in?! These are hard questions and it is so easy to go in the wrong direction when thinking about the role the Evil One plays in this world. In Part 1 of this book, we will see how Scripture helps us wisely answer these questions. Perhaps the fullest expression of how we are to stand against evil is in Ephesians 6:10–20, the classic passage on our participation in the clash between light and darkness. The engine room of this book will be unpacking that passage and trying on, piece by piece, the equipment God has given us for fighting evil. In Part 2, we will illustrate what spiritual warfare looks like in real life with case studies of people facing different battles." An example of describing a Biblical approach to spiritual warfare is in Chapter 7 where he points out that physical ailments in Jesus' time were either plain physical ailments or had a demonic agency. Neither the former or the latter had a particular sin involved. In the former, Jesus healed. In the latter, He cast out the demon. However, where there is the sin of occult practice, there is NOT a casting out. Instead, repentance is required. I have heard that proper Biblical interpretation requires weighing Scripture with other Scripture, i.e. not just the historical/cultural context but the context of the entire Bible. Throughout this book, the author interprets Scripture carefully and clearly, thereby giving a better understanding of spiritual warfare.

David Powlison entered the presence of Jesus on June 7, 2019. The church lost one of its modern-day giants with his passing. But he left behind a great legacy of material for troubled souls, and those who minister to them. His final gift to the church was this little, 103-page book about spiritual warfare. While intended primarily for those who minister to others, Safe & Sound is an excellent resource for those who are suffering themselves. Part One deals with the reality and description of spiritual warfare. The first chapter urges the reader to acknowledge and accept the truth that Satan is real and life is a spiritual battle in which the enemy of our souls plays a terrible role. The following chapter consists of an exploration of the key passages in the Pauline corpus that instruct us as to how to understand and wage spiritual warfare. Chapter three examines the weapons of the whole armor in Ephesians 6, and shows us that the imagery is not drawn from the panoply of the Roman soldier (which is how most teach this passage), but rather from images of the Messiah in Isaiah and the Psalms. Jesus is our Divine Warrior (a term I first heard from Tremper Longman) who both battles for us, and shows us how to conduct spiritual warfare. Part Two of the book applies the teaching of the first part to specific struggles. Powlison introduces this section by showing how, first, Jesus models this mode of warfare, and second, how Paul himself—taking his cues from Jesus—also employs this manner of fighting. For counselors and counselees—as for Paul and Jesus—prayer takes a central role as we seek the Lord on behalf of those who are suffering the moral and situational evil of this fallen world. This chapter is followed by a selection of major issues that a counselor will encounter with those he helps. Fighting the normal battles of anger, fear, and escapism; the battle with the shadow of death; conflict with the occult; and the battle with animism; these are the chapters in which Powlison demonstrates that the classic mode of ministry—finding our answers in Christ and His gospel rather than some sort of direct encounter with a demon—is first of all that which Scripture commends, and secondly, able to deal with any problem God’s people face regardless of the presence or absence of demonic involvement. Chapter 9 contains a case study of a truly bizarre encounter with a very troubled individual. Powlison’s intent is to show that the classic mode of ministry (as opposed to what he labels EMM—the ekballistic mode ministry which focuses on casting out demons) is called for even in such situations. By focusing on the person rather than the demonic aspect, and applying the gospel to that suffering heart with all its combination of hurts and sins, genuine deliverance is accomplished. “True spiritual warfare looks beyond the problems and sees the person” [76]. The last chapter is Powlison’s testimony of his own final battle with cancer, one that ultimately took his life. In it he demonstrates that Jesus Christ and the gospel are sufficient to enable us to meet with—and defeat—all of our troubles. The book closes with an appendix in which Powlison contrasts classic mode ministry with EMM, and shows how classic mode is what the New Testament urges upon us. This brief appendix is a condensation of his larger exegetical studies on the matter, which are contained in a different, somewhat larger volume entitled Power Encounters: Reclaiming Spiritual Warfare. That volume provides the foundation for the applications Powlison makes in Safe & Sound. Safe & Sound is a book every biblical counselor should have. Five stars, highly recommended.

Safe & Sound - Standing Firm in Spiritual Battles paints a clear picture of the spiritual battles we all face, whether we realize it or not. Author David Powlison explains the triad of evil spiritual forces at work: the Devil, the flesh, and the world. We face a constant battle of who we will serve. Our strength to resist is spelled out in Ephesians, where Paul describes the weapons Christians can/should use to combat evil forces. After setting the framework, Mr. Powlison tackles the question at the heart of the battle... what do we do about it? With prayer as the foundation, Mr. Powlison walks through the normal battles that stem from anger, fear, and escapism. Examples of real-life cases hammer home the points and I venture to say that any reader would find their own battles reflected within the examples. With a deeper understanding of spiritual warfare, readers can acknowledge the forces we face on a daily basis. Knowing the tools we have at our disposal to fight against evil is empowering and encouraging. We can take control. The choice is ours. The topic of spiritual warfare and our need to actively resist is presented using examples and language that the average reader can understand. Readers will be equipped to apply some of the concepts to their own life. I was sorry to learn the author passed away in mid-2019 from pancreatic cancer. I had only read one of his children’s books before reading Safe & Sound, but I can tell that the Christian community has lost a major resource with the loss of this great author. May he rest in peace. How this book affected me: In the past, I ignored the idea of spiritual warfare because it scared me when I thought about it. This book taught me a lot in a non-frightening way. Safe & Sound also validated that one of my persistent human flaws is rooted in spiritual warfare. I will be able to apply what I’ve learned to my life and my marriage. Who would enjoy this book: This book is intended for counselors, pastors, and anyone who provides spiritual guidance or counseling. Although it's a technical topic, it's written in common language and will be helpful for individuals who are interested to learn more about spiritual warfare. Our Christian Book Reviews: Finding God Among Us publishes Christian book reviews. We focus on Christian books - adult and children, fiction and nonfiction. We're proud to be included in the Top 50 Christian Book Review Bloggers. I read an ARC from New Growth Press and this review is my honest opinion. I rated this book 4.5/5 stars on my website and rounded up to 5/5 stars when half stars are not allowed.

Safe & Sound: Standing Firm in Spiritual Battles is one of David Powlison’s finest works. Published by New Growth Press, this book was written by Dr. Powlison as he battled stage four cancer. The Lord called him home shortly after the publication of his work on spiritual warfare. The past few works of Dr. Powlison have been short and sweet, providing great wisdom in very concise fashion. This final work of his has proven to be no different. When reading the endorsements of the book, you will find no shortage of praise being given to Powlison and his skillful, rich, insightful writing. Powlison certainly shepherds others as he himself was being shepherded during his own battle with cancer. He leads us to the same satisfying, delightful, comforting Christ that he himself was communing with. So with that being said, I’ll move on to the material being presented in this book. Safe & Sound is broken up into two parts: (1) What is Spiritual Warfare, and (2) Counseling in the Reality of Spiritual Warfare. This layout is very logical and helpful. In order to be able to counsel others in regards to spiritual warfare, we must first lay the foundation of what we mean by spiritual warfare. Powlison walks through the reality of spiritual warfare, and he then discusses how the Apostle Paul understands this topic. The last chapter (Chapter 3) of Part 1 is a discussion of the Lord and how He is our strength (our weapon). Just to highlight a few aspects of part one, Powlison notes that spiritual warfare is “a metaphor for standing on the Lord’s side in the epic struggle between the Lord and his enemies” (pg. 13). It is a “moral struggle” (pg. 13) and “a synonym for the struggles of the Christian life” (pg. 14) and a “battle for lordship” (pg. 14). In other words, spiritual warfare is a reality that every Christian experiences and is involved in. After examining passages that deal with the reality of Satan, Powlison says this: “People and their relationship with God are the focus. So, do speak of the devil, but don’t talk too much. The way you pay attention to Satan is analogous to how you pay attention to other influencing factors: bodily problems, personal history, cultural and peer influences, situational stressors, and sufferings. They are in the mix, but the person as a moral responder always come front and center” (pg. 17). Powlison acknowledges the reality of Satan, but he leaves no room for “the devil made me do it” responses. As a book that is a part of the “Helping the Helpers” series, Powlison moves on in Part 2 to discuss how to counsel others in the reality of spiritual warfare. This is where Powlison shines brightly as a skillful counselor. The reader is able to get a glimpse of how Powlison understands the human condition (sinner and sufferer) and compassionately, lovingly, patiently gets to know those who are sitting right in front of him. You will also notice how masterfully he utilizes God’s Holy Word in the process of helping others. Powlison explains the importance of prayer when helping others. “The reality of spiritual warfare teaches the counselor and the counselee about our constant need for dependence on the good Shepherd. We express that dependence as we pray at all times, for all the saints, and most especially for those that the Lord has entrusted to us to guide and help” (pg. 45). Counselors need to be those who pray often! The last chapter of this book is about the last battle that we will all face: death. This is a beautiful chapter that is perhaps worth the price of the book itself. Powlison mentions that he is dealing with his cancer as he writes, and he is absolutely transparent and vulnerable as he expresses his own thoughts and feelings and sufferings. But more than anything, you can sense that he is indeed safe and sound in the arms of his Savior! As with any book authored by Dr. Powlison, I highly recommend it! It is sure to minister to your own soul while simultaneously preparing you to better minister to others. Disclaimer: My thanks to New Growth Press for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book on behalf of an unbiased review. The opinions expressed are my own.

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" (Eph. 6:12, ESV). What is this spiritual battle that all face yet cannot see? How does one fight an unseen enemy? How do we think biblically about spiritual warfare? David Powlison wrote Safe and Sound because he wanted "...us to be awake and alert to the real battles we face" (pg. 1). In Part 1, he carefully examines Scripture to answer questions regarding the nature of spiritual warfare, the role that the Evil One plays in this world, and how we are to stand against him. Powlison faithfully unpacks Ephesians 6:10-20 by examining the Old Testament Messianic passages in Isaiah and Psalms to which Paul alludes (as opposed to the more common, but erroneous, teaching that Paul has the Roman centurion in mind). In so doing, Powlison helps us "...learn how to fight well, how to put on Jesus Christ himself, wearing the weapons of light with which he defeats the power of darkness" (7). In Part 2, he helpfully illustrates what spiritual warfare looks like and applies the wisdom of Scripture to these scenarios. This section, in particular, makes this book unique with its emphasis on and application to personal ministry to other believers. In addition to tackling difficult topics like the occult and animism, Powlison addresses battles with anger, fear, escapism, and death. Coming in at around 100 pages, Safe and Sound is incredibly concise, making it easily accessible to those who are short on time and looking for a biblically faithful primer on the subject of the unseen spiritual warfare in which we all engage daily. I'm happy to commend it. *Many thanks to New Growth Press for sending me a copy of Safe and Sound! This is my honest opinion.

What is spiritual warfare? Powlison says that it is a part of Christian life -- a battle for Lordship. Every moment, he contends, we make decisions on who we will serve. The promotional blurb for this book said that it “guides readers to see the normality of their struggles with themselves, the world around them, and the powers of darkness.” I liked that perspective. Powlison says that the devil is certainly real, but that we don’t need to overemphasize him. “The person as a moral responder always comes front and center.” He relates a story about a woman in church who began acting in a very disturbing way. Several members came forward, wanting to “exorcise” her. But another man reacted instead by sitting at a distance from her, talking quietly to her, praying, etc. This “normal” approach reached the woman. “Spiritual warfare is not grim or apprehensive, not paranoid or superstitious, not magical or talismanic.” Other interesting bits — Spiritual warfare is about light invading darkness. It’s not all about Satan attacking us — we are to be on the offensive and should take the battle to the darkness. “Turning to Christ is to win spiritual warfare.” In describing a health crisis he and his wife had faced with their daughter, Powlison focuses on Psalm 28. He notes how the Psalmist goes through the emotional register, from despair to peace. He shares that the Psalmist seemingly went through this process much faster than his family did, and that the template here –not the timetable — was the important aspect. Sadly, Powlison died of cancer shortly after this book was written. I have found teaching videos he has made on RightNow Media, and I appreciate his calm, assuring manner both in this book and in his videos. **Thanks New Growth Press for a review copy.

"Safe and Sound: Standing Firm in Spiritual Battles" by David Powlison offers a clear, concise explanation of spiritual warfare, why we need to know how to battle in the spiritual realm and how to be strategically prepared.  Powlison teaches scriptural ways to deal with the common battles we all face as well as tackling more difficult situations such as the occult, animism and death. The most helpful chapter was "Strength and Guidance for Personal Ministry" which includes a detailed section on how to pray at all times for every saint, including yourself. It appeals primarily to those involved in counseling others; however, there are great tidbits for every believer who wants to deal effectively with his/her spiritual battles. Powlison earns high praise from readers which is well-deserved.  If you are unfamiliar with spiritual warfare and/or want to learn how to be victorious in battle, "Safe and Sound" needs to be in your library. You will refer to it often. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from New Growth Press through Audra Jennings PR. I was not required to write a review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

This is a book for counselors. It is about how to help people stand up to evil. Many Christians do not understand they are in a spiritual battle, that it is an everyday part of every Christian's life. Since the term, spiritual warfare, does not appear in the Bible, Powlison explores what it means. He identifies three areas: being on the Lord's side in battle with His enemies, the moral struggle in our hearts, and the struggles in our Christian life, including lordship. Powlison reviews the armor Paul lists in Ephesians. He had some insights I've not seen before, relating the pieces of armor to counseling. Truth, for example, refers to the lies of the world, the devil, and our own hearts. They could be lies about God or about others. Counselors help uncover the lies and apply the truth of Scripture. Righteousness embraces not only our salvation but also living out that righteousness in how we treat others – doing right and good. An Appendix in included regarding demons and exorcism, downplaying them both. This seemed like it might be a controversial issue to me. Counselors who want to have nothing to do with confronting demons will like this Appendix. I am not a counselor but I learned a great deal from this book. Counselors and pastors would do well to read it. While you may not agree with everything in the book, there are many insights about helping others in spiritual warfare included. I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.