Victory Over the Darkness: Realizing the Power of Your Identity in Christ (Paperback)

~ Mr. Neil T. Anderson (Author) "I really enjoy asking people, "Who are you?..." (more)
Key Phrases: indiscriminate expression, proven character, Holy Spirit, Christ Jesus, God's Word (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Ten years ago a breakthrough book launched a ministry that has helped more than one million people overcome this world and win the battle for their hearts and minds. Now Neil Anderson has revised and expanded Victory over the Darkness for a new generation of readers, outlining practical and more productive ways to Christian growth based on Christ's promise: "You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." Victory Over the Darkness emphasizes the importance of believing and internalizing the cardinal truths of Scripture as a base from which to renew the mind and fend off Satan's relentless attempt to convince us that we are less than Christ empowers us to be.

From the Back Cover

It's Jesus' promise to you-the promise that you live triumphantly. But what keeps you from really walking in the joy of the Lord? The powers of darkness attack us daily. But, as Dr. Neil Anderson shows in Victory over the Darkness, you can have the power to conquer them by knowing who you are in Christ. Learn how to: € Realize the power of your identity in Christ € Free yourself from the burdens of your past € Stand against the spiritual forces of this world € Win the battle for your mind € Become the spiritual person you want to be € Discover the truth about God's view of you Neil Anderson has updated and expanded his best-selling Victory over the Darkness for a new generation of readers, spelling out practical and productive ways to experience Christian growth based on Christ's promise. Learn to apply the truths of Scripture as a base from which to renew your mind and become the person Christ empowers you to be.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Regal; 10th Anniversary edition (July 10, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830725644
• ISBN-13: 978-0830725649
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (60 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,608 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book on who we are in Christ., November 10, 2001

By	Erik Olson "Seeker Reviews" (Ridgefield, WA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

"Victory Over The Darkness" was a book that I really looked forward to reading. I have been intrigued by the concept of being a new creation in Christ ever since I read "Alive for the First Time" by David Needham a couple of years ago. After seeing a video Mr. Anderson did about forgiveness in one of my seminary classes, I wanted to learn more about his ideas, since they seemed to echo Needham's. So it was with anticipation that I began reading this book.

Anderson's theme in "Victory Over The Darkness" is the Christian's status as a new creation in Jesus Christ. As Christians, we are alive in Him, and are no longer dead in our sins. We are spiritual beings - indwelt by the Holy Spirit and reliant upon his power. If this were not the case, then we would be unable to experience change on a fundamental, spiritual level. The title "Victory Over The Darkness" perfectly fits the book's central idea of our true standing as Christians - we are indeed victorious in Christ. However, a lot of Christians still live in unnecessary defeat, and play the same negative thought tapes over and over again. Anderson's desire is that we forsake these false internal messages for the vital truths found in Scripture.

An important aspect of "Victory Over the Darkness" is its heavy Scriptural basis. This is extremely important, because if there is nothing beyond us in which we can put our hope, then there is really no point in striving for radical internal change. If we are the highest beings in the universe, the only real imperative to change is conformation to societal mores and avoidance of legal penalties. The secular world's constant redefinition of right and wrong is not based on a foundational truth. What's wrong today can be right tomorrow, and vice versa. In such a society, the only necessary change is based on altering external behavior to achieve conformity. However, the existence of an unchanging, holy God characterized by love, grace, and holiness invalidates such a scenario. There is Something beyond us, a greater reality that is based on true perfection. God is concerned with internal change in us based on His righteousness. These changes serve to produce external actions which glorify Him. Therefore, it is absolutely imperative that we have a deep knowledge of Scripture, for it is our main method of knowing and relating to God and man in a loving manner. This point cannot be stressed enough.

I found a number of Anderson's practical recommendations to be eminently useful. First, his admonition for us to forgive is key, and he backs it up with solid Scriptural quotations. Too often we are in bondage to the hurts of the past, and we miss out on God's forgiveness and freedom if we fail to forgive (Matt. 6:14-15). There are some people that I continually need to forgive, and I know that I run to God for forgiveness quite often. Unforgiveness on my part hinders my relationship with God, and that's a scary proposition. Better to forgive (or seek forgiveness) and be free to live a redeemed life, rather than remain in fatal bondage to pride and bitterness. Second, Anderson's insights into rejection are also important, especially since many people fear it and live their lives accordingly. I have had my share of rejection, and it's very hurtful. But fear of rejection inevitably produces the sin of self-protection, and that's ultimately even worse than any rejection can ever be. That's because we miss out on the kind of true love that can only be had by taking relational risks. The principle of "high risk, high return" applies. These actions are easier said than done, of course, and they are often part of a long, difficult healing process. But they are necessary applications on our part, and their importance cannot be denied.

I have to say that the lessons in this book are not a quick solution to any problem. They are based on having a love relationship with Christ, and not on a list of do's and don'ts that guarantee emotional health overnight. God usually takes time working change in our lives, and ultimately He is in control of any internal change. But I know that He does want us to have the fruits of the Spirit (see Galatians), so there is hope for our hurts - even if they remain in order to make us rely on His grace. I recommend that this book be read in conjunction with "Inside Out", "From Bondage to Bonding", and "The Search for Significance." The Scriptural truths in these four books are liberating and healing.

44 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Healing of past wounds and experiencing future victory., October 16, 1999

By	Todd Hudnall (Colorado Springs, CO) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Victory over the Darkness: Realizing the Power of Your Identity in Christ (Paperback)

In Victory over the Darkness, Neil Anderson provides a guide for healing of past wounds and for experiencing future victory. In Victory over the Darkness Dr. Anderson doesn't suggest change through behavior modification or external rules and regulation. Instead he gets to the issue of living according to our identity in Christ. His sections on healing past wounds and how to continue on the journey of spiritual maturity were very good. I appreciate that this book on emotional health was based on theology and not psychology. I believe it is a good, practical tool for the pastor and for the Christian mental health professional. While the book was strong in emphasizing our new identity in Christ, I felt it was weak in exposing the depravity of self. I've found that until a person abandons all hope in the self-life they will have difficulty rejecting it for their new life in Christ. This book would be a good book to read in tandem with Christ-Esteem by Don Matzat. I see them as being an effective balance for each other.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book really is cool for people with mental problems, December 12, 2002

By	Dona Mason (Muskogee, OK United States) - See all my reviews

I have Fibromyalgia and Chronic Depression and am filing for Total Disability. I once made over $100,000.00 per year - now, I barely manage to function.

I was shopping for a self help book because I have always had problems with the question "Who am I?" In fact, the first question my new church councelor asked me is "Do you know who you are?"

My husband always told me to define myself by what I do; what I am able to produce. When I became sick with Fibro, I could only work (and do that at an extreme cost to my health) and my housework, being a good mother and wife went by the wayside. Then I couldn't even work, I was too sick. I quickly saw that defining myself by what I do/produce is not a true way to answer "Who am I" because if production defines a person, then I am already dead. As long as you are healthy and able to do things, you can try to convince yourself that is the answer, however, the moment you can't perform, you have just destroyed your own self worth.

My therapist tried to ask questions like "Are you kind?" to help me develop self-worth. For her, if you had good morals and were patient, kind, have self-control, etc, then that should give you self worth. Although I tried to be, I was not always kind (sometime I had road rage, sometimes I was impatient waiting in line when I was in a hurry, sometimes I over ate). Sometimes I was kind because of ulterior motives such as "this will help me sale this idea to my boss", "this will help me...". So I could quickly see that basing "who am I" on a relative system that constantly changed versus and absolute system was doomed.

This book tells you who you are. In fact, I took the scripures the author uses for "Who are You?"; "I am Significant"; and "I am secure" and typed them out in the new Message Bible. Now each morning, I read and pray these scriptures and my life is slowly but surely changing. Now, "Who am I" doesn't revolve around who everyone else says I am but who God says I am.

I recently underwent a visualization therapy where we were listening to ocean sounds and a therapist was taking the group through relaxation techniques (relax your toes, feel the muscles of your feet relax, etc) then he said, "I want you to go back to a time where you felt safe and secure". I started searching for that time through my childhood, teens, early marriage, young children, teen children, and now empty nest and I couldn't think of one time I felf safe and secure. I started to panic when I asked God to help me remember. Then I remembered the day I accepted Jesus as my savior. That was the one day, I felt safe and secure. Now, I get to read about being secure in God versus being secure in my self and this is helping me.

I never thought I was significant and with the Total Disability, I still have problems with this one - most people would say I am not significant because of my illness. But even with my problems, I am able to produce Godly fruit despite my problems. In fact, without having the problems, I would never have the oportunity to reach people who have some of my problems but don't have God to help them through them. So I see my significance through the scriptures.

I always wanted to write. It was the one goal of my life since age 9, but the publishing part scared me so bad that I couldn't write anything. Since reading about Goals versus Desires, I am able to write. In fact, this one chapter was worth the price of the book.

My church councelor recently gave me the homework assignment of writing down everyone who had hurt me, let me down, made me angry, etc. I plan to use the steps for forgiveness in the book for getting rid of this trash.

I plan to give this book for Christmas to those that are struggling. I think that they too are looking for help.