Why Aren't There More Demonic Manifestations Today?

The scene from the Exorcist is forever etched in our brains: levitation, a head spinning around, cursing and demonic manifestations. Interestingly enough in today’s Christian-influenced culture, demonic manifestations are found mostly in fictitious movies and television shows. It’s nothing to see a horror movie with a demon or a television show with a demon (those tend to be of the more PG variety). But we don’t see or hear about real life manifestations that often. Why is that? Do demons still exist today? If so, why are they choosing to remain hidden?

I think Acts 19:13-20 explains it for us. First, the demonic manifestation:

13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. Acts 19:13-16

A couple of preacher’s kids try to mess around with the demonic world and get their butts whooped in the process. The demon clearly and demonstratively revealed itself in the ancient city of Ephesus. After this manifestation, what was the response? Did the people cower in fear? Or did the wake-up call to the reality of a spiritual world galvanize the power of the gospel?

17 When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. 18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. 19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. 20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power. Acts 19:17-20

The demonic manifestation backfired on the devil and his minions. The reality of the demonic only shed a brighter light on the reality of the Lord Jesus who had power over the demonic, leading to a full blown revival. And that (I believe), is why we don’t see more demonic manifestations today. Demons prefer to stay hidden, operating in the shadows, lulling us into a false sense of ignorance to their existence and their schemes.

QUESTION: Why do you think there aren’t more demonic manifestations today?