The War is Won: Why “Big God, Little Devil” Is Revolutionary
- Sean Tobin
- Jul 16
- 7 min read
The enemy is disarmed. Victory is assured. So why are so many Christians still living in fear?

In the landscape of contemporary Catholic spirituality, few topics generate as much discussion—and sometimes confusion—as spiritual warfare and deliverance ministry. I'm honored to introduce my new work, "Big God, Little Devil: A Radical Shift in the Approach to Spiritual Warfare and Deliverance," a book that arrives at a crucial moment with a powerful message: it's time to stop making the devil the star of the story and start magnifying the goodness, sovereignty, and nearness of God.
A Book That's Already Making Waves
The early endorsements speak volumes about the impact this book is poised to make. Dr. Mary Healy, Professor of Scripture at Sacred Heart Major Seminary and member of the Pontifical Biblical Commission, calls it "dynamite" and believes it "will help to change the whole paradigm for the ministries of deliverance and exorcism." Dr. Bob Schuchts, founder of the John Paul II Healing Center, describes it as "an incredible book—full of wisdom, practical insights, and life-transforming truth" that will be "a classic and groundbreaking work on spiritual warfare."
Beyond Fear-Based Spirituality
For too long, discussions of spiritual warfare have been dominated by fear, sensationalism, and an almost obsessive focus on demonic activity. My approach represents a much-needed corrective to this imbalance. The title itself hints at the book's central thesis: when we truly understand the magnitude of God's power and love, the enemy's influence appears far smaller and less threatening than we might have imagined.
As both a clinical psychologist and a follower of Christ, I bring a unique perspective to spiritual warfare that bridges theology, psychology, and charismatic spirituality. My conviction is clear: "We don't need better methods—we need new vision. We don't need more tools—we need childlike faith. We don't need to obsess over the devil—we need to fix our eyes on Jesus."
This isn't about minimizing the reality of evil or the importance of spiritual discernment. Rather, I invite readers to recalibrate their perspective, placing God's sovereignty and victory at the center of their understanding rather than allowing fear of demonic interference to dominate their spiritual lives.
A Radical Reframe
What makes "Big God, Little Devil" revolutionary is its fundamental reorientation of spiritual warfare. This isn't just another book about demons and deliverance—it's a complete reframe that transforms spiritual warfare from a performance or power-struggle into what it was always meant to be: a proclamation of victory, a pathway to healing, and a participation in divine intimacy.
Rather than the typical emphasis on elaborate deliverance rituals or constant vigilance against demonic attack, I advocate for a more Christ-centered, grace-focused understanding of spiritual warfare. This perspective aligns beautifully with Catholic teaching on the primacy of God's love and the ultimate victory of Christ over all forms of evil.
The book's core insights challenge everything we thought we knew about spiritual warfare:
Deliverance Is Not About Confrontation—It's About Communion. Spiritual warfare isn't about shouting louder than demons. It's about being more rooted in Christ than in fear.
God Even Uses the Enemy to Heal Us. The devil overplays his hand. Spiritual attacks can actually become opportunities for breakthrough, exposure of wounds, and deeper surrender.
Victory Isn't Something You Fight For—It's Where You Start. We don't earn freedom. We receive it. Real warfare starts with rest and sonship.
Deliverance Is Holistic: Body, Soul, and Spirit. True freedom involves trauma healing, spiritual disciplines, memory transformation, and the sacraments all working together.
A Journey in Three Movements
The book unfolds in three carefully crafted sections that take readers on a transformative journey:
Part One: Purpose – Reframing the Battle
Here, I reset the foundation entirely, moving readers from anxiety and superstition to identity and intimacy. I offer a Kingdom lens on deliverance that's less about casting out and more about drawing in, shifting from fear-based spirituality to one grounded in awe, trust, and presence. Perhaps most revolutionary is my exploration of how spiritual battles are not interruptions but invitations—opportunities for God to reveal and heal.
Part Two: Principles – Understanding the Terrain
This section brilliantly bridges deep theology, clinical wisdom, and charismatic insight. I explore how our truest authority is relational, examining how reclaiming the image of God disarms lies, shame, and fear. I provide clarity on the nature and limits of the devil without falling into either fear or mere technique, showing how filling the house with God's presence matters more than fighting shadows.
Part Three: Process – Walking in Freedom
Drawing inspiration from Acts 3:8, I present an integrated model of healing that covers body, soul, and spirit restoration. But this isn't just about personal freedom—it's about becoming an instrument of freedom for others through evangelization, sacramental life, community intercession, and testimony.
Bridging Worlds
What sets "Big God, Little Devil" apart is its unique position at the intersection of multiple traditions and disciplines. The book draws from:
The Catholic mystical tradition and sacraments
Charismatic experience and impartation
Clinical psychology and trauma-informed healing
Deep Scriptural grounding and practical tools
Where many books either reduce deliverance to superstition or strip it of supernatural power, I walk the middle way: Christ at the center, healing as the goal, and communion as the method.
For Those Hungry for Spiritual Growth
This work speaks to anyone yearning for a deeper, more mature relationship with God. Whether you're a priest seeking fresh insights for ministry, a parent wanting to understand spiritual realities for your family, a counselor integrating faith and healing, or simply a believer tired of living in spiritual fear—this book offers practical wisdom grounded in solid theological foundations.
The book's accessible style makes profound spiritual concepts understandable without sacrificing depth. I address serious spiritual realities while maintaining an approachable tone that speaks to everyday believers wrestling with questions about evil, temptation, spiritual protection, and the deeper life in Christ.
This book is for you if you're:
Spiritually curious but weary of extremes and sensationalism
A believer who's battle-worn and tired of striving in your own strength
Someone seeking to integrate psychology, theology, and lived faith
A Catholic longing for deeper formation in healing and spiritual freedom
A Christian from any tradition hungry for more than formulas and techniques
Anyone wanting to live in true freedom and help others find the same
A person ready to move from fear-based faith to confidence in God's overwhelming love
"Big God, Little Devil" offers the balanced, hope-filled perspective that can transform both understanding and practice.
Timely and Necessary
In an era where interest in spiritual warfare and deliverance ministry is growing, but so too is confusion and even exploitation of these themes, my work provides much-needed clarity. My perspective offers a healthy alternative to both the extremes of denial (pretending spiritual evil doesn't exist) and obsession (seeing demons behind every difficulty).
The book addresses common misconceptions about deliverance ministry while providing practical guidance for those called to this important work. By emphasizing God's overwhelming power and love, readers can approach spiritual challenges with the confidence that comes from knowing they serve a God who has already won the ultimate victory.
A Resource for Growth
"Big God, Little Devil" is more than just another book on spiritual warfare—it's a resource for spiritual growth and maturity. By helping readers develop a more balanced, Christ-centered approach to spiritual challenges, the book serves as a valuable tool for personal transformation and ministerial effectiveness.
For Catholics seeking to deepen their understanding of spiritual realities while maintaining a healthy, hope-filled perspective, this book offers exactly what's needed. It's a work that promises to challenge assumptions while strengthening faith, providing both theological insight and practical wisdom for navigating the spiritual dimensions of Christian life.
Why This Book Matters Now
We're living in a time of deep fear and division—even within the Church. But "Big God, Little Devil" offers a different path. One that refuses to make the devil the star of the story. One that magnifies the goodness, sovereignty, and nearness of God. One that restores spiritual warfare to its original purpose: restoring wholeness and communion in the Kingdom of God.
This isn't just another addition to Catholic spiritual literature—it's a paradigm shift that promises to change how we approach spiritual warfare and deliverance for generations to come.
A Call to Freedom
If you're ready to step out of fear, reclaim your identity, and fight from victory—not for it—then this book is for you. My work represents more than just theological insight; it's an invitation to experience the freedom that comes from truly understanding that the war is won, the enemy is disarmed, and we serve a God who is infinitely bigger than any challenge we might face.
Continue the Journey
The conversation doesn't end with the book. As I continue to unpack the rich themes from "Big God, Little Devil," I'm sharing deeper insights on my Substack, exploring topics like the proper understanding of prayers of renunciation, addressing some of the negative influences of viral exorcist content that can lead believers astray, and offering practical guidance for living out this new paradigm of spiritual warfare.
These ongoing reflections provide valuable context and application for the book's core principles, helping readers navigate the complexities of contemporary spiritual warfare with wisdom and discernment. Whether you're wrestling with specific questions about deliverance ministry or simply want to grow deeper in your understanding of Christ-centered spiritual warfare, these additional insights offer continued formation and encouragement.
"Big God, Little Devil" arrives at a crucial moment in Catholic spirituality. As believers seek to understand their faith more deeply and minister more effectively, this book offers a fresh, balanced perspective on spiritual warfare and deliverance that emphasizes God's sovereignty while taking spiritual realities seriously.
Whether you're new to questions of spiritual warfare or have been wrestling with these issues for years, "Big God, Little Devil" offers the kind of balanced, hope-filled perspective that can transform both understanding and practice. In a world often dominated by fear and confusion about spiritual realities, my work shines as a beacon of clarity and confidence in the God who is truly bigger than any challenge we might face.
🛒 “Big God, Little Devil” is available at 👉🏻www.BigGodLittleDevil.com, where you can also read the introduction and first chapter free to get a taste of this transformative approach to spiritual warfare. For Catholics seeking to deepen their spiritual understanding while maintaining a healthy, Christ-centered perspective on spiritual warfare, this book represents an essential resource for our time.
Because the Kingdom is at hand. And Jesus Christ is Lord. Let's make the devil small again.
✝️
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