Like most books by this author, we have here a readable and concise description of the armour available to the everyday believer in his daily combat with the enemy of our souls. From the start, we see Wiersbe’s characteristically alliterated headings make the meaning and significance of each piece of armour both memorable and practical.
We are reminded of the importance of the Christian’s armour. Every true believer in Christ is engaged in the same warfare that Jesus was. The big difference, however, is that we fight from his victory not for victory. Christ has overcome and we fight in the light of his triumph.
Wiersbe shows how each piece of armour warns us what sort of attacks we face and is perfectly designed to protect us. Great examples are taken from the Old and New Testament to flesh out examples of where saints of old were tempted. Some individuals parried attacks effectively using the piece of armour being considered; others through failure to don that piece fell in the battle.
For me, the book’s highlight was found in the two chapters on the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. Wiersbe uses our Lord himself as his example here. He shows why Jesus was tempted, how he was tempted, and the brilliant way our Lord saw through the devil’s misuse of the Word of God with his refrain, ‘Again, it is written’.
The book ends as it began, with a call to arms. Our Lord’s last temptation is skilfully used to challenge the self-serving ideas prevalent in many churches today, which promote worship without service and a crown without the cross.
Grahame Wray
Leeds
