I am more convinced than ever that there are two distinct strategies that are directed toward destroying the spirits of human beings. The source of the methods of attack are the principalities and powers of this present darkness, but what is even more interesting are the rules of engagement.
The first attack, fear and power. Enslaving souls with power is the first, and probably the oldest strategy. The devil has power, and people seem to naturally worship power… because they fear power. Demon possession, manifestation, and straight on penalization to any who defy them. Those are examples of the fear and power strategy.
The second, and a more modern attack is indifference, stagnation, unbelief, and ultimately atheism. This is the phase that the western world is going through in modern times. If plan A (fear and power) fails, then this is plan B. Convince mankind that they are just flesh and blood with a short time to get as much as they can out of life.
The amazing dynamic that arises is the fact that the two strategies are not very compatible with each other. A demon cannot after all, manifest, do a power displaying dance, and then disappear only to whisper into the human’s ear the next day that he does not exist. It picks a course, and stays on it. Until… Well, until someone speaks the name of Jesus. At that name the demons must flee… plan A is over, time for plan B (atheism).
God’s response is not controlled by demonic activity, but it seems measured in response to it. God is quiet and gentle with humans. As I’ve said before, He is careful not to make us His slaves. When the principalities are on plan B the name of Jesus still sends them fleeing, but it is much less dramatic then when they were physically manifest. In fact, our faith is directly proportional to how clearly manifest the demon is. So it isn’t even that God is measured in response to the demons, He is measured in response to our faith, and we may be so fickle that our faith is measured in response to the demons.
Friends in the western world, don’t be afraid of the demon that appears and threatens to kill you if you don’t do what it says. It probably won’t happen. Evil is on plan B now. Don’t fall for the lie that God doesn’t hear because He’s not there. Remember, the fact that the weaker spirit is whispering to you means the other is there as well.