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Good News about Satan: A Gospel Look at Spiritual Warfare, by Bob Bevington
Foreword by Jerry Bridges
Endorsed by John Frame, Justin Taylor, Aimee Byrd, Stanley Gale, and more.
For authentic Christians, the bad news of Satan and the kingdom of darkness, while serious, is overshadowed by the good news of Jesus and the Kingdom of God.
Yes, there is a cosmic clash. Yes, we are in the middle of it. Yes, we need to become equipped to recognize and resist the enemy. But those who are united to Christ by genuine faith need not fear Satan. Not now. Not ever.
The truth can be summed up in this simple statement: The good news about Jesus, the victorious one, far outweighs the bad news about Satan, the evil one.
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Yes, there is a cosmic clash. Yes, we are in the middle of it. Yes, we need to become equipped to recognize and resist the enemy. But those who are united to Christ by genuine faith need not fear Satan. Not now. Not ever.
The truth can be summed up in this simple statement: The good news about Jesus, the victorious one, far outweighs the bad news about Satan, the evil one.
Good News About Satan is a short, reader-friendly text that cites no extra-biblical sources. Instead, it walks the reader through the plain teachings of Scripture regarding Satan, demons, and spiritual warfare, at all times from an explicitly gospel-centered perspective that exalts the sovereignty of God and the finished work of Christ as paramount. Because of this focus, the book, while treating our enemy soberly and seriously, is devoid of the unfruitful speculations and illegitimate extrapolations so common to this topic. For these and other reasons, we believe this book differs significantly from nearly every other book on the subject.
Author
Bob Bevington is a co-author with Jerry Bridges of The Bookends of the Christian Life and The Great Exchange, and co-author with Joe Coffey of Red Like Blood: Confrontations with Grace.
Endorsements
“Reliable, biblical, and practical..easy to understand and challenges our spiritual complacency.”
—Dr. John M. Frame
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“I was very eager to get Bob Bevington’s newest book, Good News About Satan, having heard a little about it beforehand. However, as the Queen of Sheba said, ‘the half has not been told me.’ This is the best book I have ever read on this subject. It kept me up nearly an entire evening as I read it from cover to cover. I simply could not put it down. It is both highly Christ-centered and very practical, having the wonderful effect of focusing the reader’s attention directly on Jesus while at the same time providing much useful help in the believer’s battle against the enemy.”
—Mike Cleveland, Founder and President, Setting Captives Free
“Christians tend to fall into one of two camps when it comes to Satan and spiritual warfare: it becomes everything (resembling a Hollywood horror movie) or nothing (resembling a naturalistic worldview). Enter Bob Bevington, a wise teacher who decided to investigate for himself what the Bible really says—and doesn’t say. The result is a careful and lively introduction to these important issues. The title is not a typo: understood in the grand storyline of Scripture, there really is good news about Satan. Read this book, prepare for battle, and rejoice in the victory that has been won and the glory that will shine more brightly.”
—Justin Taylor, blogger at The Gospel Coalition, “Between Two Worlds”; co-author, The Final Days of Jesus
“The literature on spiritual warfare is often speculative and sensational. It’s hard to know what authors to trust. But spiritual warfare is certainly an important biblical topic; from one perspective it is the central topic of the whole Bible. So it’s important that believers get sober and reliable guidance on the subject. Bob Bevington’s book is one of the most helpful. He has not put to rest all of the controversies in this area, but his book is reliable, biblical, and practical. It is easy to understand and challenges our spiritual complacency.”
—Dr. John M. Frame, Reformed Theological Seminary
“Good News About Satan is filled with biblical reconnaissance and helpful insights for the conduct of spiritual warfare inherent in the life of every believer. In this concise treatment, Bob Bevington provides a stimulating analysis of the biblical data, drawing boundaries between the factual and fanciful, and grounding the reader firmly on the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
—Stanley D. Gale, author of Warfare Witness: Contending with Spiritual Opposition in Everyday Evangelism and What is Spiritual Warfare?
“Bob Bevington approaches a difficult subject with the precision of a surgeon. Using only the Bible as a source he is able to teach powerful truths concerning one of the most important areas of the Christian life: our relationship with the enemy. It’s an area easily filled with misinformation and error in spite of it’s critical nature. Good News About Satan is the first book I’ve read that applies the gospel to spiritual warfare so thoroughly. This is a tool I have long needed in my library. Like all great tools it is one I will use most on myself and then lend liberally to others.”
—Joe Coffey, Lead Pastor, Christ Community Chapel, Hudson, Ohio
“Spiritual warfare is an uncomfortable topic. Bob Bevington gives us the biblical 411 on our common enemy, the devil, without giving him the lead role of his book. The good news of Jesus Christ is the prominent message while Bevington distinguishes our relationship with the world, the flesh, and the devil. Certain parts of Good News About Satan have challenged me to dig deeper into what Scripture has to say in areas where I have questions. But most of all it magnifies Christ, equipping us with his Word and the application of it while further motivating me to share the gospel.”
—Aimee Byrd, blogger, author of Housewife Theologian
“It is a rare book that both gives us our marching orders against the enemy and glorifies God in the mission. The good news about Satan is that God is always supreme. As the father of a son with severe autism, I need scripture to guide me through the dark valleys of disability. As a police officer who walks the front lines of the enemy’s territory on a daily basis, I need to stay focused on my Savior and King. This book has made me better equipped to recognize the tactics of the accuser and face his fiery darts with solid, biblical, Christ-exalting confidence.”
—Greg Lucas, author, Wrestling With An Angel
“Satan is real. Satan is dangerous. Satan is defeated. Those three notes form the chord that sounds through this clear, winsome, biblical book. In contrast to the many volumes that venture into unhelpful speculation about the nature of demons and extra-biblical methodology for engaging in spiritual warfare, here is a book that tenaciously sticks to God’s revealed word with a steadfast focus on the triumphs of our God and King in the cross and resurrection of Christ. Read it, dress for battle, and stand in the victory that is yours in Christ!”
—Brian G. Hedges, Pastor and Author
“I am wary of books about Satan and spiritual warfare for numerous reasons. There seems to be too little of Christ the King when speaking about Satan the deceiver. But Bob Bevington is right, there is good news about the most maliciously evil being in the universe. The good news about Satan, says Bob, ‘begins with the recognition that Jesus Christ defeated the entire kingdom of darkness by his life, death, resurrection, and reign.’ Bob engages his readers with a simple exposition of what the Bible teaches about Satan and the believer’s battle with this cruel and ruthless enemy. The best thing about Bob’s book is that the counsel is saturated with the Word and Christ is constantly presented as our victorious Champion. I found it simple, straightforward, and very helpful.”
—Pastor Brian Borgman,Grace Community Church, Minden, Nevada; co-author of Spiritual Warfare, A Biblical and Balanced Approach, author of After They Are Yours: The Grace and Grit of Adoption.
Mark Weimer (verified owner) –
Just finished reading Bob Bevington’s excerpts on “Good News About Satan”. I found the opening pages to be very engaging as Bob leads us through very valuable scriptures that reveal who Satan really is, how he became the prince of darkness, his legion of followers and the impact he and his kingdom has upon those who walk the earth today. From scripture Bob clearly presents to us Satan’s downfall and how he has been actively and deceptively causing great chaos and grief upon the world. Bob’s new book then should be required reading for all believers who need to know their enemy, their enemies intentions not only to keep unbelievers within the kingdom of darkness but also his role in keeping believers from fulfilling all that God has called them to become. Just as Hal Lindsay awoke American Christendom in the 1970’s in his landmark book “Satan is Alive and Well on Planet Earth” so took Bob Bevington’s book “Good News About Satan” could have a similar positive impact on those who truly want to live victoriously for Christ in this age. (Mark Weimer, ACBC Counselor) 5 star rating
Blog Review –
“There are few books on this topic that I recommend, and Bob’s is one of them.”
Spiritual warfare is one of the most misunderstood aspects of Christian living today. The reasons for this area many. You and I live in a culture that emphasizes spirituality from a secular worldview. In this culture truth is often relegated to how we feel. Thus everyone is spiritual or religious. This is one of the reasons New Age spirituality and Eastern Mysticism are so popular today. It’s easy to accept religion if it’s according to how we feel and not according to truth. After all no one wants to be told what to believe. No one wants to coerce anyone into believing anything. Or so our culture believes. Yet false religion always tickles men’s ears and leads them away from God. Instead, our culture preaches a watered down gospel. The truth is that the Christian life is one of war. Christianity is not your best life today, but rather is a life of peace with God and spiritual war against a real but vanquished foe in the world, the flesh, and the devil. All of this is reason to be thankful for the work of Bob Bevington with his latest book Good News About Satan: A Gospel Look at Spiritual Warfare.
The book seeks to look at spiritual warfare in the first five chapters by recognizing the kingdom of darkness, their allies, weapons, limitations, and maneuvers. In chapter six, Bob considers how Jesus is victorious over Satan and His kingdom through His death, burial, and resurrection. Chapter seven teaches readers how to resist the devil. Chapter eight looks at helping the demonized, and then in chapter nine explores the glory of God revealed in Jesus Christ. The book concludes with two appendixes looking at learning from Satan’s names and verses to memorize when engaging in spiritual warfare.
This book is very needed. Often times Christian books on spiritual warfare teach things that the Bible doesn’t teach. There are few books on this topic that I recommend and Bob’s is one of them. Bob’s teaching is clear, biblical, and helpful. The best Christian books are biblical, practical, and personal. This book classifies in this category which is why I highly recommend you pick it up. This book will teach you the Bible’s teaching on this topic, and how to engage in spiritual warfare to the glory of God. As I’ve mentioned the Christian life is one of war. We are both saints and sinners. Saint in our position and sinners in that we have not yet been perfected. The Christian life, in other words, is an already not yet. We are saved and yet our salvation has not yet been completed. The reality of our war is all around us. This is why we are to take up the armor of God as outlined in Ephesians 6. This is also why you should heed Bob’s teaching of the Word. God uses saints who love His Word and earnestly seek after His righteousness. Bob is such a saint and he faithfully exposits the text with a clear view to help and edify the saints so they may be holy, happy, and effective servants of the Risen Christ.
This excellent book will help new and seasoned Christians to grow in their understanding of God’s Word and the reality of spiritual warfare all around them. This would be an excellent book to use for Sunday school or for small groups to go through. This book could also be used by pastors in their study on spiritual warfare. Bloggers and writers could also take up this book and use the material and quote from it in their writing. I highly recommend this book and pray the Lord would use this book powerfully to awaken slumbering Christians to the truth that all around them a war wages for the salvation of the lost.
Dave Jenkins, Servants of Grace
Amazon Review –
“I highly recommend this book!”
Good News about Satan: A Gospel Look at Spiritual Warfare is filled with amazing reminders of who our Heavenly Father is in comparison to the evilness of the devil. It is also a practical look at what we, Christian Believers, need to do in order to fight Satan’s attacks. I thought that the author, Bob Bevington did a masterful job in taking a difficult subject and putting it in a simple, yet clear and concise format, for the reader to understand. I highly recommend this book!
Mindy, in a 5-star review on Amazon
Amazon Review –
“Can be read in one sitting, but what you get out of it stays forever.
An educational, informative read. This book can be read in one sitting, but what you get out of it stays forever. A go-to book to keep at arms reach to review at any time.
Tom, in a 5-star review on Amazon
Blog Review –
“We are all engaged in spiritual warfare whether we want to believe so or not.”
Life is a battlefield. It seems if it is not one thing it is another in our daily lives from dealing with issues at work, home, mounting bills, problems around the world, a screaming kid, or you name it. Also amongst the battles we face are those of fighting the urge to sin and break God’s commands. No matter what battle we seem to be engaged it, one important truth to remember is they are rooted in the spiritual warfare that rages each and every single day. Ben Bevington, in his excellent book Good News About Satan: A Gospel Look at Spiritual Warfare, explores what spiritual warfare is all about, how we can know the enemy and his tactics, and most importantly, the reality that we can have confidence the victory has been won.
There are many books on the market that deal with matters of spiritual warfare, some good and many not so much. Many authors forget the answers to his battle that wages against spiritual forces in heavenly places are found within the pages of Scripture. I firmly believe that biblical focus on biblical answers is where Bevington’s book shines the brightest. Now there is nothing wrong with some quotes from godly men on a particular topic. With that said, there is something refreshing about an author who writes a book with the sole source of information being the pages of God’s Word.
Bevington does an excellent job of outlining the playing field. Just as an army going into battle must understand their enemy, the ground they are fighting over, the enemy’s tactics, the enemy’s weakness, and the strengths of your own troops before going into battle, so to should the believer analyze these same issues when battling Satan. As Bevington so rightly notes, “As members of the kingdom of God, all Christians are unavoidably involved in the conflict – each one of us is commanded to engage in active resistance.” Thus, sitting on the sidelines of this war is not an option.
Also of note in this book is Bevington’s apt evaluation of the strategy of Satan. It is important to understand that not every evil thing that occurs in life is the work of a demonic force. There is an alignment of forces arrayed against humanity that all seek to trip us up. These three pernicious foes are “the word, the flesh, and the devil.” Scripture provides us the blueprint for being able to identify which of these foes is at work in a given situation, and Bevington does a marvelous job of walking the reader how to read the battlefield and to properly identify which attack is being thrust.
There are some who seem to feel as if the battle against the enemy is a losing proposition. Everywhere we turn, it seems as if heartache, strife, and godlessness reign supreme. Bevington addresses that wrong attitude, noting the enemy has weaknesses given he is not God, and most importantly, Jesus has won the victory over the enemy on the cross. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus took the battle to the enemy’s own camp, utterly defeating him. While in this life we will continue to endure trouble, hardship, and temptation, the believer can remain confident as they fight this spiritual battle that the victory is complete. This is a reminder we all need each and every day and Bevington saliently and gently reminds the reader of exactly Who is on our side and the reality that King Jesus has secured the battlefield.
Furthermore, Bevington discusses how the battle must be fought and what weapons we have been provided by God by which engage in this conflict of the ages. He notes we are to first remember who we are in Christ. We are the children of God and God takes care of His children. Additionally, Bevington comments that when we put on the full armor of God, it must be done with a gospel-centered approach, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus who won the victory. Moreover, Bevington reminds the reader that to resist the temptation of the enemy, we must humbly submit to God as well as confess our sin and repent of wrongdoing. These are all keys to a successful battle strategy and they are all found in our battle manual – The Word of God.
I highly recommend this book for all believers. We are all engaged in spiritual warfare whether we want to believe so or not. Bevington’s powerful book is Scripture centered, gospel centered, and timely. Those who have been sitting on the sidelines hoping the battle will pass them by desperately need to read this book as a call to arms. Those who have been fighting the good fight for many years also need to read this book as a source of encouragement. As the title of this book so rightly notes, the good news about Satan is he is a defeated enemy and God has provided His people the tools to resist temptation and to be the warriors of the kingdom we have been called to be.
I received this book for free from Cruciform Press for this review. I was not required to write a positive 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.”
Michael Boling, Intelmin Apologetics
Amazon Review –
“There is no doubt that this book has better equipped me.”
I have not experienced the extreme forms of demonic influence that others, including the author’s son, unfortunately have. But this book has helped better equip me to battle the “normal” ways that Satan still has subtle influence in my life, as well as the lives of those I shepherd in my local church as a Pastor. And there is no doubt that this book has better equipped me should those more extreme cases come…as the author deals sufficiently with those cases both from personal experience and the authority of God’s word.
This book also wonderfully shows how everything in the Christian life (even battling Satan and Demons) is gospel related..that there is no situation we face that is not directly related to the our recognition of the glory and Lordship of Christ.
Thank you for your faithfulness to Christ and His word!
Jared Wiemer, in a 5-star review on Amazon
Roger Taylor, Ph.D. –
” . . . remember who you are, armor up, get humble, and submit to God by dealing with your sins.” This simple and practical prescription (found on p. 187) is emblematic of Dr. Bevington’s eminently readable and timely book on spiritual warfare. Dr. Bevington’s personal experience and his sole reliance on the plain teaching of scripture combine to give this work its special force. Moreover, in the opinion of this reviewer, Bevington’s book comes at a time of widespread ignorance, even in the church, of Satan’s designs. In that sense, Good News About Satan should serve as a wake up call. Let’s face it; any other mortal enemy would elicit grave concern on our part, yet there is widespread ignorance and even apathy in the face of enemies (the world, the flesh, and the devil) “intent on leveraging sin in order . . . to stamp out [our] faith, destroy [our] life, and commandeer any glory God would ever get from [us].” (p. 20) Good News About Satan is a biblically-based and compelling reminder to Christians (old and new) concerning our life and death struggle with our real enemies and how through and in Christ “we are more than conquerors . . . . ”
Roger Taylor, Ph.D.
President, Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy