Winning The War | Jonathan "JP" Pokluda | Harris Creek Sermons

We are in a real war, and if we don’t realize it, then we are losing. Once we learn to watch for it, we begin to see it. Once we see it, we can’t unsee it. Paul writes in Ephesians 6 everything we need to know to resist temptation when the enemy attacks.
Stand strong against Satan’s schemes
Stand firm and suited up
Stay praying in The Spirit and share
Life Group Discussion:
Do you recognize when the enemy attacks? Why is it important to stay on guard?
What is a moment you stood strong against the enemy?
What is a moment you failed, but you felt the grace of Jesus that he’s already won the battle?

[@laynekieschnick1175]

Jesus Christ is King 👑

[@loribooth883]

Wow wow wow, what a good word, thank you bro!

[@Xmlfelicity]

Gods timing with this sermon on a day that I truly knew this was so true but needed confirmation!

[@lydiaghirmay]

A really timely word! Thank you for this message, JP!

[@David-gz4de]

Beautiful sermon. This is one of the most needed topics in Scripture that we all need today.

[@erikadesiderio8514]

❤

[@thehoss]

I'm sincerely asking, do you really need to play emotionally stimulating piano or organ or whatever at the end of every sermon? I understand it's the invitation, but if it's truly the holy Spirit at work do you need to stimulate it by artificially creating an emotion with instrumental support?

[@drewzle837]

I know this is pretty late given when you made the comment, but I did think it would be helpful to expand on why the music played at the end there (probably, I don’t attend Harris Creek). Usually at the close of a sermon, music starts to play as it leads into worship music, so it’s less to stimulate you emotionally for the message in particular, but more as a transition between message and worship music, otherwise they’d play it the whole time. Music is a fundamental way we worship the Lord and is outlined in scripture, and emotions are an essential part of how God crafted humanity. Of course there are ways that individuals can distort this, but we should find joy in worship and music is one of the ways that helps people feel connected to their Creator while we do so. If you want to know how the Holy Spirit is working in someone, evidence of that is better found in someone’s life outside of Sunday service anyway.

[@Ajsirb24]

So are these "chess pieces" culpable if they are controlled by fallen angels?

[@Ajsirb24]

Shifting blame from the person to the devil. He is not responsible for our evil. Humans have been evil from the very beginning because of our own wicked thoughts and actions. We don't need the devil to commit evil. We do it without him.

[@evanmichel632]

I don’t think that was the intention of this message at all. Like he said in minute 26, Jesus, like all of us, was also tempted by the enemy. When we view it in our own lives, it’s a matter of how do we combat the spiritual warfare going on which we can’t see. It isn’t a matter of being able to shift the blame, but rather recognizing the enemies tactics and living in a manner that aligns with scripture. We are going to fall short, but it’s our own free will which decides how to respond to these battles being put in our lives. Just my interpretation of the message. Much love brother

[@Ajsirb24]

@evanmichel632 I see your point, but the chess analogy, I think, was a poor choice. But I think it's still misleading to say that the fallen angels of scripture are still influencing the world today. The devil was the prince of Rome, and Christianity arrived on the scene with Jesus defeating spiritual death and the one who had the keys of spiritual death.