Spirit Wars: Winning the Invisible Battle Against Sin and the Enemy
By Kris Vallotton and Bill Johnson
4.5/5
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About this ebook
Just as enemies fought Joshua in the Promised Land, and Nehemiah faced opposition as he rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, our enemy will fight us as we approach the spiritual terrain God has promised us. Most Christians retreat at the first sign of conflict because they fail to recognize the true nature of the battle. But you can prevail in freedom and joy.
Sharing his deeply personal story of demonic bondage, torment and ultimate deliverance, pastor and bestselling author Kris Vallotton turns the idea of spiritual warfare as we know it on its head. He reveals the diabolical lies and strategies of the enemy--attacks and traps so subtle and deceptive that we may find our souls and hearts imprisoned without even knowing it.
No more! Now you can win the invisible battle against sin and the enemy. Victory is within your grasp. Will you take hold?
"It is with great excitement that I recommend this book to you, knowing that fruit will increase until Jesus gets His full reward."--Bill Johnson, author, When Heaven Invades Earth and The Essential Guide to Healing, senior pastor, Bethel Church, Redding, California
Kris Vallotton
Kris Vallotton is the senior associate leader of Bethel Church in Redding, California, where he has served with Bill Johnson for more than three decades. His prophetic insight and humorous delivery make him a much-sought-after international conference speaker. Kris is also the cofounder and senior overseer of Bethel School of Ministry, which has grown to more than 2,100 full-time students, as well as the founder of Moral Revolution, an organization dedicated to cultural transformation. He has appeared on numerous media outlets, including The 700 Club. Kris and his wife, Kathy, live in Redding, California.
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Reviews for Spirit Wars
31 ratings11 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I absolutely loved the book. It appears to be the author's personal experience, but it's an eye opener into the spiritual realm. Whether or not, it's completely accurate - I'm not going to judge that, but it was a great reminder that we are not alone in this world. For Christians, we are in an ongoing battle. I recommend this book to Christians who are interested in learning more about the spiritual realm.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Overall, I really enjoyed the information presented in this book. It is an eye opener to the very real presence of Satan and his legions of demons. I would definitely read this book again, highlighting it thoroughly! Kris Vallotton knows firsthand about the topic of his book - spiritual warfare. He was plagued by physical and psychological attacks, and it was years before he discovered that the root cause of his trouble was demonic aggression. He cites very real scenarios and experiences from his own life that are real and genuine. I feel that this book can be a great tool for preparing for the field of battle - the spirit realm. Know your enemy, right?I went through several instances of momentum where I couldn't put this book down and I felt like I could read it in one entire sitting, only to be derailed soon after by something the author had written or said: -There are several instances in this book where Vallotton is denoted as a prophet, or he attributes others as being prophets or prophetic in nature. -Another time in the beginning pages of the book he tells a student in one of his classes that he can and has gone several weeks without sinning.-Several other references to practices that I personally feel are doctrinally unorthodox.In closing I would recommend this book to others, but I would not rank it as the foremost authority on the subject. This may not be a very popular review of Vallotton's book from what I have seen so far, but this is my honest review. Please be diligent when reading this book to discern between the facts concerning demonic attack, and Vallotton's personal views of Continuationism. ______________________________________________________________________________________I was given this book for free to review by the Author or Publisher, and received no compensation for my review.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Interesting personal story, the theology is nothing new, found in scripture. Good reminder of what is in the word about fighting spiritual battles.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Excellent book on understanding the only spirit release that really works.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5"Fear is the most socially accepted sin in the Church. Fear is a serial killer, the prime suspect in the death of more people on the planet than all other diseases combined. Fear in every form has been linked to heart disease, cancer, autoimmune disorders, mental illness and many other sicknesses. Fear is the welcome mat to demonic activity in our lives. The prophet Isaiah wrote, "You will be far from oppression, for you will not fear" (Isaiah 54:14). When we reject fear, we live in peace. But if we allow fear to creep into our lives, we soon find ourselves oppressed, tormented and tortured." (Kris Vallotton, "Spirit Wars")
The author, Kris Vallotton, begins this book describing what gives him the authority to write this book. He says that he had spent 3 years being demonized and that he has a Ph. D in fear, oppression and anxiety. He relates many personal stories of his battle with sin, the enemy and his victories, but also some of the mistakes he has made, and where the enemy took advantage of him because he was ignorant of his devices.
There is much content in this book, including teaching on how satan takes advantage of believers because of their ignorance, your spiritual armour, overcoming fear, and how the love of God is the secret weapon that our enemy cannot defeat.
There were many teachings in this book that are life-changing; however, the topic of fear hit me the most. He talks about how fear often goes unnoticed by society, but all the while is stealing people's destinies, killing their bodies and destroying cities. The cure for fear? Putting our focus back on God. He says, "Fear dismembers and disfigures our perspective of God, making Him seem a powerless pawn controlled by our circumstances. But when we re-member the Lord and re-count His works, we begin to re-form our vision of His greatness in hearts. As we meditate on His greatness, confidence begins to sprout in the soil of faith, and soon fear's fantasy is unmasked, flogged and sent fleeing."
If you are a captive or in prison to fear, oppression and anxiety, then this book will give you insight, counsel, comfort and truth to liberate you! - Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5It's written in everyday situations that are real & natural to the author. So beautifully expressed that you feel you want to know more & put this into practice yourself .
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I love Kris Vallotton's writing style! You'll truly get immersed in this book and you won't be able to stop reading this once you get started! I love how when you read his books, it feels conversational. As if he's speaking to you directly. I just hope everyone gets to read this book and adapt the same Kingdom mindset and be freed! This is truly liberating. I'll surely read this again in the near future.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5very god so far
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Can't believe how real this book is. This is not a learning experience as much as it is a weapon. I am being armed by this books scriptural insight. I haven't read a lot of these kinds of books because they seem to be full of fear or worse but this one is crazy different!
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5TITLE: Spirit WarsAuthor: Kris Vallotton Foreward by Bill JohnsonIt’s the first of January in the year 2012 and I have read two great books so far and the book by Kris Vollotton gave me insights to deliverance and all that it involves that I had not heard of in my past. What the author tells of his real life story of years being attacked by the devil and his schemes during bouts of heavy anxiety attacks that plague him for years. He tells his story while being married, moving, dealing with his issues, and the birth of two children. This man endures adversity and the devil head on and tells how we can be delivered from attacks that seem to plague us more than one time. Quote: “I became reclusive and never wanted to be around people.”After reading that quote and having to deal with my own spiritual battles and depression, I realized I am being attacked and I am not alone. Isn’t it true that as Christians we tend to retreat at the first sign of conflict because we fail to recognize the true nature of the battle doing on inside us? I have experienced much of demonic bondage, torment and have been delivered myself. Kris is the pastor at Bethel Church in Redding, California. He leads a Supernatural Ministry and has been able to deliver others from their demonic oppression, first hand. If you want to win the invisible battle against sin and the devil you need to pick up this book now!I was given this book for my honest review. © 2011 Jackie Paulson
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5There are some good books available on Spiritual Warfare. This is not one of them.
Book preview
Spirit Wars - Kris Vallotton
© 2012 by Kris Vallotton
Published by Chosen Books
Minneapolis, Minnesota
www.chosenbooks.com
Chosen Books is a division of
Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
www.bakerpublishinggroup.com
Ebook edition created 2011
Ebook corrections 11.16.2022
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
ISBN 978-1-4412-7016-0
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible®, copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations identified
nkjv
are from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations identified
web
are from the World English Bible, Rainbow Missions, Inc. Public domain in the United States.
Scripture quotations identified
kjv
are from the King James Version of the Bible.
The Internet addresses, email addresses and phone numbers in this book are accurate at the time of publication. They are provided as a resource. Baker Publishing Group does not endorse them or vouch for their content or permanence.
Cover design by Kirk DouPonce, DogEared Design
I dedicate this work to every person who is bound in a spiritual prison, longing to be free and fighting for peace. May you find rest for your souls, peace for your minds and joy for your hearts as you journey through the pages of this book.
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Foreword by Bill Johnson
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1. Fighting for Peace
2. Are You Living in a Haunted House?
3. Rules of Engagement
4. The Wilderness
5. The Flesh Is Weak
6. Treating Yourself Kindly
7. Serious Joy
8. The Armor of God
9. Casting Out Demons
10. Generational Curses
11. On-the-Job Training
12. For the Love of God
Notes
About the Author
Back Cover
Foreword
My wife and I have been friends with Kris and Kathy Vallotton and their children for over 32 years. They are two of the most important people in our lives. Our children grew up together. We simply have lived life together. In fact, for a season, they lived with us until their home was built. I watched Spirit Wars unfold. What you hold in your hands is the farthest thing from theory that you could imagine. It is real, sobering and promising, taken from a life trained in the trenches. As much as I would like to promote the happily ever after
lifestyle, I am reminded that we were born into a war—a war that has already been won.
Kris is known for his incredible prophetic ministry. And rightly so. The impact is now international. I stand amazed at the open doors and the boldness Kris has to go into impossible situations and bring change for the glory of God. He is also known for power in ministry. It really does not matter if it is healing or deliverance needed; he ministers well in both. He is also recognized all over the world as an extremely capable preacher of the Gospel of the Kingdom. The impact of his teaching gift will be measured only in eternity. But I think both heaven and hell know his name for another reason altogether, one that only those closest to him would see. Heaven and hell both see that no matter what the circumstances are, Kris Vallotton believes God. He is truly a friend of God.
Watching this story unfold was fun at times and painful at other times. Yet I cannot help but think of the well-known passage in Romans in this regard: For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us
(Romans 8:18). The victories that have followed Kris, both for their family and through their ministry, have put the pain involved in its rightful place—squarely under Kris’s feet.
Kris has written many books, all of which have brought life, identity and insight to great numbers of people. But I do not think I have ever been more excited about one of his books than I am about this one. On many occasions, people have come to me needing help and insight for their unusual spiritual struggles. Those struggles often remind me of Kris’s story. I have encouraged people to get a copy of Kris’s testimony on CD, because those who listen to it are changed. But as good as the CD is, this book is much more complete. It captures the heart of the issue when it comes to spiritual conflict in a way that one CD could never touch. Plus, it can be used as a manual and read over and over again.
Even though Kris is a close friend, I would not be nearly as excited as I am about his ministry and this book if he glorified warfare and created a devil consciousness. But I have watched his life. He refuses, no matter what has happened, to set his eyes on his enemy. They are on Jesus, the author and finisher of his faith—our faith.
It has been said that often prophets’ lives are parables. They go through things that bring a message to the Body of Christ. If that is true, and I believe it is, then Kris’s freedom will bring exponential increase for the glory of God because what the enemy meant for evil, God has turned around for good. The delivered is a deliverer!
It is with great excitement that I recommend this book to you, knowing that fruit will increase until Jesus gets His full reward.
Bill Johnson
Author, When Heaven Invades Earth
and Face to Face with God
Senior Pastor, Bethel Church, Redding, California
Acknowledgments
Kathy, thank you for all the hard years you stood by me when I was struggling to find my way out of spiritual bondage. Thank you for all the times you woke up in the middle of the night to pray for me. Thank you for believing in me when I was really broken. And most of all, thank you for loving me all our lives.
Introduction
I have written six books prior to this one. Whenever you submit a manuscript to publishers, one of the first questions they ask is, What qualifies you to write this book? I am sure they are hoping for some letters after your name, or an Ivy League degree. But I was inspired to write this book out of my own experience with the demonic realm. As a young Christian, I spent over three years being very demonized. I have a Ph.D. in fear, oppression and anxiety, which makes this the most difficult book I have ever written.
The struggle is not that I do not know what I am talking about; the real problem is that I do! Writing this book has required me to recall some of the worst experiences of my life. Nevertheless, I made a covenant with the Lord the day He delivered me that I would spend my life helping others find freedom. Consequently, over the past three decades I have helped literally thousands of captives and prisoners go free. But three years ago, something happened that caused me to become even more vigilant. My own daughter, and later my son, came under a demonic attack that nearly destroyed them both and threatened to take out our entire family. In the midst of this intense battle, I decided that I would never again let someone else’s daughter, son, father or mother be destroyed while I stood by and watched. My prayer and my goal is that through this book, millions of people will become equipped to make a prison break and destroy the works of the devil on their way out of the POW camp.
Ignorance Is Bliss?
Many say that ignorance is bliss, but God says, My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge
(Hosea 4:6). I am astonished by how many people (including Christians) are unaware that we do not inhabit, but we cohabit, this planet. The apostle Paul began to unveil this mystery to us when he wrote, Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware
(1 Corinthians 12:1). The word gifts here does not appear in the original Greek text. The verse actually should read, Now concerning the spiritual, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.
Then Paul goes on to use the gifts of the Spirit as an example of how the spirit realm functions.
Although Christians typically acknowledge this unseen realm on some intellectual level, I personally do not think they really believe that the spirit world has an effect on their daily lives. Teaching some people about the spirit world feels very much like trying to convince someone in the 1800s that there really was such a thing as germs, and that these germs could make them sick or even kill them. Over the last two centuries, medical and technological discoveries advanced our understanding of this previously unseen natural realm and saved millions of lives.
Much like the transition that took place with medical breakthroughs in the natural, a transition is now taking place in the spiritual. Society has become increasingly hungry to understand the spirit realm. Angels and demons have rapidly become the subject of many books and movies. It seems as though the invisible dimensions of life, which constantly reach through the veil of the unexplainable, fascinate the entire world. Books and movies like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings are contemporary examples of the hunger people have to comprehend and participate in this dimension. It is imperative that we understand the effects that angels and demons can have on our personal lives, or we can become victims of the invisible world. Paul wrote, You were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience
(Ephesians 2:1–2). In other words, before we knew Jesus, we were literally the puppets of demonic spirits.
Many people in First World countries have a hard time imagining that there is a prince of the power of the air
controlling the thoughts of everyday people. The idea that the world is inhabited by invisible beings is, to them, a metaphor or even a fairy tale like Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny. People in developing nations, on the other hand, have no problem believing in a spirit realm because the effects of demons are so overt. Witch doctors, medicine men and voodoo priests dominate their cultures to the point that nearly everyone who lives in such a place has experienced the demonic realm firsthand.
Freedom Fighters
When we think about people fighting for freedom from evil spirits, we often envision a primitive warrior slithering on the ground in a mud hut in the middle of a jungle somewhere. But my own experience has convinced me that evil spirits are just as influential in First World countries as they are in developing nations like Africa—they just manifest differently. We may not have many witch doctors or voodoo priests in the United States, for instance, but people are just as demonized in the land of the free and the home of the brave
as elsewhere. Understanding how to dispel demons and dispatch angels can make the difference between living a joy-filled life and becoming a captive of some evil scheme.
You may be thinking that I am a demon under every rock
kind of guy. I am not! I must admit, though, that when I first got free from years of bondage, I absolutely went through that season. I think that as you read this book, however, you will find that I take a very balanced approach to life in its pages. I worked hard to weigh my experience, the counsel of mental and medical health professionals, and the Word of God as I wrote each chapter. As you learn more from this book about how to win the invisible battle against sin and the enemy, I hope you find freedom and joy in its pages.
1
Fighting for Peace
In 1975, I finally married the woman of my dreams. I had waited five long years for her.
I met Kathy when she was twelve (I was fifteen), floating on a raft in the middle of a lake. We were engaged by the time she was thirteen! Kathy’s folks forbade us to marry until she finished high school, so she took extra classes and worked really hard to graduate a year early. Waiting all those years to get married was torture. To make matters worse, we lived thirty miles apart, so we only saw each other on the weekends. I would arrive on Friday and stay at Kathy’s parents’ house. As I left for home each Sunday, Kathy would stand in the middle of the street and cry while waving good-bye. During the week, we spent hours on the phone every day, often talking halfway through the night. Hours seemed like days and days felt like months as we longed to begin our life together.
I graduated from Sunnyvale High School in Sunnyvale, California, in 1973. The Carpenters’ song We’ve Only Just Begun
was a big hit that year, and it was the theme of our senior yearbook. It also became a prophetic declaration over Kathy and me, as we both became Christians a few months before I graduated. We found God in the Jesus movement, and we both had powerful conversion experiences. We were so excited about our faith.
Our wedding day finally arrived on a warm summer day in July. With three hundred people looking on, we repeated our vows and kissed way too long while everyone cheered. Our ship was finally launched into what would prove to be the high seas of a great love affair. Unlike many marriages, our first year together was like heaven on earth. It seemed as though all we did was play, explore each other and laugh a lot. I had a job as an automotive technician managing a repair shop in the Bay Area, and Kathy was our bookkeeper. Together we made a pretty good living, and soon we were able to buy a new house. I preferred that we wait awhile to have children, but Kathy wanted to have them right away, and she kept prodding me as only a wife can do. In a weak moment she got the best of me, and soon she was pregnant with our first child.
A Time to Mourn
Then suddenly, the season changed and our tiny ship encountered a huge storm that would almost sink us. It began with Kathy’s pregnancy, which made her incredibly sick. She vomited about fifty times a day and lost weight through the eighth month of her pregnancy. She could hardly get off the couch.
While Kathy was fighting her way through pregnancy, I was carrying tons of responsibility at the shop. Managing thirteen people when I was twenty years old was extremely challenging. I worked twelve hours a day, six days a week and rarely stopped to eat lunch. Consequently, my diet consisted mostly of candy bars, Coke and potato chips.
One night, exhausted from a long, hard week of work, I got in the bathtub to relax my tired body while Kathy lay sick