In a world increasingly fascinated by the supernatural yet hesitant to acknowledge spiritual realities, my recent conversation with Jonathan Pokluda (JP) pulls back the curtain on a topic many Christians struggle to address: spiritual warfare and demonic influence. JP, known for his Bible-focused teaching and ministry to young adults, shares how his research for his book “Your Story Has a Villain” led him to unexpected encounters with the demonic realm—even in places as unlikely as an upscale country club.
This candid conversation explores the biblical foundation for understanding spiritual warfare, how to recognize demonic influence, and why acknowledging this reality is crucial for every believer’s spiritual health and effectiveness in ministry.
The Reality of Spiritual Warfare in Modern Christianity
JP opened our discussion with a profound observation from C.S. Lewis: “There are two mistakes we make about the devils. One is giving them too much power and authority, being afraid of them, and the other is not believing that they exist.”
But there’s a third mistake common in 2025, according to JP: “believing that the devil exists, believing that there’s demons, believing that there’s fallen angels, and that belief having zero implication for our life and what we do.”
This disconnect between belief and practice led JP on a three-year research journey. Though he had traveled extensively to spiritual hotspots like Africa, Haiti, and the Amazon jungle, his most striking encounter with demonic manifestation happened not in these expected places, but at an upscale American country club while sharing the gospel with a well-dressed golfer who “struggled to pray.”
A Surprising Encounter: When Spiritual Warfare Gets Real
The story JP shares about his country club encounter serves as a powerful testimony to the reality of spiritual warfare. After the man mentioned experiencing physical symptoms when trying to pray, JP offered to pray for him. When JP said, “Lord, if there’s anything demonic at work, would you just bind it in Jesus’ name,” the man began convulsing and making disturbing noises.
“I’m embarrassed to tell you that I was like, ‘Oh my goodness, what is happening?'” JP admits. “And my internal narrative is like, ‘Please don’t let it jump on me.'”
This raw honesty about his own fear and surprise makes JP’s testimony all the more powerful. Even as someone researching spiritual warfare, the manifestation caught him off guard. It underscores a crucial reality: when we start acknowledging spiritual warfare biblically, we should expect to witness spiritual realities manifesting.
Finding Balance in Spiritual Warfare Ministry
Our conversation addresses a critical need within the church: finding balanced biblical understanding of spiritual warfare. We both acknowledge the dangers of two extremes—either being overly focused on demons or completely ignoring their reality.
“If in your Christian experience nothing is ever demonic, then you will be conquered by the enemy that you refuse to acknowledge,” I noted during our discussion.
JP responded by highlighting how disproportionate our teaching often is: “The Bible says more about spiritual warfare than it does about marriage. If I’m an honest preacher, then really my sermon series should be 10 to 1, spiritual warfare to marriage, how the Scripture operates.”
This insight challenges church leaders to reconsider whether our teaching accurately reflects biblical emphasis. While we shouldn’t become obsessed with demons, ignoring scriptural teachings on spiritual warfare leaves believers unprepared for battles they inevitably face.
The Connection Between Evangelism and Spiritual Warfare
One of the most enlightening aspects of our conversation is the connection between evangelism and spiritual warfare. JP shared how his involvement in revival movements across college campuses—where thousands are responding to the gospel and hundreds are being baptized—has heightened his awareness of spiritual battle.
“I think we’re in [revival]. I think it’s happening in prisons and university campuses… I think we are so close to the return of Christ,” JP states. “There’s something being disrupted in the spiritual realm right now. Satan’s not hiding anymore.”
I observed that those actively engaged in evangelism tend to encounter spiritual warfare more frequently: “My friends who are Methodists who preach the gospel have stories of the demonic. It’s my institutionalized friends who never leave the building that don’t have those stories.”
This reveals a profound truth: when we actively engage in kingdom advancement through evangelism, we often experience increased spiritual resistance. The enemy fights hardest against efforts that most threaten his control.
How to Recognize Demonic Influence
Our conversation addressed the practical question many believers have: How do we recognize when something has demonic origins versus natural, biological, or psychological causes?
We discussed how Jesus frequently encountered and cast out demons during His earthly ministry. I pointed to Luke 13, where Jesus healed a woman with a “spirit of infirmity” that had caused her physical condition for eighteen years. This example shows that some health issues can have spiritual roots, though we emphasized that this doesn’t mean all sickness is demonic.
JP urged wisdom and discernment: “Are we misdiagnosing schizophrenia? Is all of that demonic? And what do we do with that?” The answer isn’t simple, but requires careful biblical understanding and spiritual sensitivity.
The Power of the Gospel in Spiritual Freedom
The most powerful section of our conversation focused on how the gospel itself is the ultimate weapon against demonic influence. JP passionately explained how he shares the gospel daily by asking two simple questions:
- “Between one and ten, ten being certain, one being not so sure, if you died today, how certain are you that you would go to heaven?”
- “If you stood before God and He said, ‘Why should I let you in?’ what would you say?”
These questions reveal whether someone is trusting in their own works or in Christ’s finished work for salvation. JP explained that when we trust fully in Christ, we can have complete confidence (a “ten”) about our salvation based on 1 John 5:13: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
This gospel clarity is essential for spiritual freedom because, as JP put it, “when you sin, you let them in.” Persistent sin gives the enemy footholds that can become strongholds. True freedom comes through embracing the gospel—not through works-based religion or trying harder, but through receiving what Christ has already accomplished.
Inheritance vs. Earning: A Fresh Perspective on Freedom
I shared how my recent book “Inherit Your Freedom” aligns perfectly with JP’s message. “The concept is you don’t earn your freedom, you inherit it,” I explained. “This is a low-key rebuke on the deliverance community because it’s like we need to learn how to inherit it, not just fight for it.”
JP illustrated this beautifully with a story about how he demonstrates the gospel at college revival events. He’ll hold out a candy bar or $20 bill and ask someone to “try to take it.” After several confused attempts, he explained: “You can’t try to take something that’s being freely given to you. You can take it or you can leave it. Those are your options.”
This powerful illustration cuts through the confusion many believers experience about spiritual freedom. We don’t “try harder” to experience freedom; we simply receive what Christ has already secured for us.
Unity in the Body of Christ: Breaking Down Denominational Walls
One of the most touching moments in our conversation came when JP and I addressed a past disagreement between us. Neither of us could even remember what the disagreement was about, highlighting how trivial our divisions often are compared to our shared mission.
JP observed that one of the enemy’s primary tactics, especially evident since 2020, has been division. “Divide them racially, socially, politically, by gender, by ideologies, just divide, divide, divide, divide.”
Our conversation models the unity that can happen when believers prioritize the gospel over denominational distinctives. Coming from different theological backgrounds but sharing a commitment to Scripture and evangelism, we found profound common ground in our understanding of spiritual warfare.
“I think we’re entering a both/and, not an either/or,” I noted, suggesting that the current spiritual climate requires Christians to embrace biblical truths from various traditions rather than maintaining rigid separation.
Walking in Spiritual Victory
JP concluded our conversation with a powerful call to holiness and spiritual vigilance: “Walk in righteousness, stay in step with the spirit, pursue holiness because He’s holy.”
He emphasized that this isn’t legalism but relationship: “I’m not talking about rules, man. I’m talking about a relationship with your creator through Jesus Christ, that you would remain in step with Him, that you would rid your life of any unholiness, that you would drag into the light anything in darkness.”
This path to freedom involves transparency with other believers, renouncing enemy influence, and fully embracing the abundant life Christ offers: “I’ve drank deeply from the world. I’ve had the sex, I’ve done the drugs… and I have found something beautiful in Jesus Christ, and I’m sober-minded, and I’m just telling you, there’s no turning back.”
Final Thoughts: Preparing the Bride
As we wrapped up our conversation, I reflected on how these teachings about spiritual warfare connect to Christ’s return for “a bride without spot or blemish.” Understanding spiritual warfare isn’t just about confronting demons—it’s about allowing Christ to purify His church.
“He’s the one who irons out the wrinkles. He’s the one who removes the blemishes. We just got to submit to that process,” I noted.
This conversation with JP reveals that acknowledging spiritual warfare isn’t about fear or obsession with demons. Rather, it’s about living in the full reality of what Scripture teaches, embracing the freedom Christ secured for us, and participating in His work of advancing the Kingdom and preparing His bride for His return.
Whether you’re skeptical about demonic influence or have witnessed it firsthand, this conversation challenges all believers to take Scripture seriously and live in the freedom and authority Christ has already secured for us.
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Get Jonathan Pokluda’s book “Your Story Has a Villian” here
Get my book, “Inherit Your Freedom,” here