Restored at the Root by Joseph W Walker III

When I started reading this book and found out it was about spiritual attacks, I was a little leery. Now that I have read the book, I am greatly impressed with the insights it contains. I have never read a book so revealing about spiritual attacks, how to recognize them and deal with them. I was impressed with the combination of spiritual insight, common sense, and scientific study Walker uses in this book.

Walker believes many Christians are living below what God has intended for them. Many Christians struggle with issues, never understanding the root of the problem. Resentment, exhaustion, anger and similar problems may well have their roots in demonic attack. He does a good job of helping us understand how the attacks work. He then provides thought provoking questions to help us work through the issues to healing.

Walker uses Jesus' encounter with the man with the unclean spirit in Mark 5 as a framework for his exploration of spiritual oppression. I was surprised at the insights he gleaned from that experience. Self pain and manipulation are just two of the characteristics Walker identifies. The characteristic that surprised me the most was hyperspiritualism. “Religion is often used as an escape route by people who don't want to address the deeper issues of their lives.” (100) That one made me think long and hard.

I highly recommend this book to Christians who want to investigate the possibility of spiritual oppression in their lives. While Walker says Christians cannot be possessed by demons, they can be oppressed to the point of physical problems and mental and emotional instability. You'll encounter some common sense yet spiritually insightful information to help you in the process of self discovery and then the task of successful spiritual warfare. It will not be easy work but will be well worth the effort.

You can find out more about the book, watch the book trailer, and read a sample chapter at http://restoredattheroot.com/ .

My rating: 5/5 stars

Joseph W. Walker III is the senior pastor of the historic Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Nashville, Tennessee. He also currently serves as the International Presiding Bishop in the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International. He received a master of divinity degree from Vanderbilt University and a doctor of ministry degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. He and his wife have two children.

Charisma House, 224 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.