Invasion (Part 1)

"The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert, so that the devil could test him."

--Matthew 4:1

One of my favorite authors is Frank Peretti.  He has this amazing gift of telling stories about sin and the influences of sin.  In most of his novels, the sin seems to be the person's (or people's) choice, but a few of his novels dive into the world of angels and demons and their influence on our thoughts/actions.  My question is simple (ha...right): how much do angels and demons really influence us?  After reading This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness, one would think that angels and demons have an incredible impact on our lives.  Is this true?  I'm not doubting that the unseen powers have tremendous influence.  In fact, I'm extremely fascinated by angels and demons and stories about them (thank Peretti and the TV show Supernatural for that).  I'm curious due to (1) a temptation that started in high school and (2) my battle with depression (these are my two biggest sins/problems).  Do Satan's captains have a hand in either of these things?  Do the Guard stand by and watch as the demons do their worst?  Do I have to make the conscious effort of fending off the demons before the angels, or God Himself, intervene?  I realize these questions will most likely never be answered on Earth, but these are questions I've had for a while and can't seem to get away from.  

After reading Matthew chapter 4, I've noticed a few things that partially answer a couple of the aforementioned questions:  

-Satan tempted Jesus a few times, telling me that Satan and his crew do have a good deal of influence among Earth.  I'm not saying that everything evil is/has been influenced by Satan, but that his influence is strong.  If that's the case, then I'd like to assume that the angels also have a strong influence in this world.  

-Satan can create and exploit temptation.  He doesn't do this all of the time (sometimes our temptations are our own doings), but he certainly has his hand in the cookie jar, so to speak.  

-Jesus fought off Satan with scripture and, ultimately, faith.  Jesus quoted several OT passages with the last, and most explosive, one being, "Worship the Lord your God and serve only him".  Matthew 4:11 then states that Satan left and the angels appeared at Jesus' side to help him.  This passage makes me believe that we indeed have to be the first to act against our sin and demons before God and his Guard will intervene.  

God won't abandon us in our time of need, but we must first recognize that we are in need.  

"I cannot live, I can't breathe unless you do this with me."

-Angels and Airwaves, The Adventure