Many are confused over our role in spiritual warfare. Should we fast and pray, commanding or binding the principalities and powers in the heavenly realms?

The devil’s forces

In Daniel 10, the angel Gabriel appears to Daniel, saying he had been fighting the prince of the Persian kingdom (verse 13), and later would fight the prince of Greece. He says the great prince, Michael who protects your people (12:1) would assist him.

From this, we know there is war in heaven fought between the good angels and the enemy’s forces over nations. Paul adds, for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12).

We cannot command angels

How do we do that? When Jesus was arrested he said, ‘Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?’ (Matthew 26:53). Even Jesus, before the resurrection, couldn’t command them. So neither can we.

In Ephesians 6, Paul tells us to put on the armour of God, against the attacks of the enemy here on the earth. Our only offensive weapons are the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (verse 17), and praying in the Spirit (verse 18). He does not instruct us to command angels.

Our authority is only on earth

Jesus said in Matthew 16:19, ‘I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’. Earth is our current jurisdiction (more on this verse).

We don’t have yet authority in the heavenly realms. We will judge angels (see 1 Corinthians 6:3), but only after our own resurrection.

Daniel’s disturbance!

But didn’t Daniel’s fasting and praying affect heaven? Stay with me, because this is crazy!

In chapter 9, Daniel pleads for his people to be returned, according to the Scriptures. Gabriel turns up and answers, including some end-time prophecy. Wow!

Next, Daniel (chapter 10) seeks the Lord for three weeks in a ‘Daniel fast’. Was he trying to understand the prophecy? He doesn’t say, but he has a vision of Gabriel, who says, ‘Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.’ (Daniel 10:12-14).

Gabriel was busy fighting the prince of Persia. In order to answer Daniel, he had to leave, needing Michael to take over while he was away. Then after encouraging Daniel, he says, ‘Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come; but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (Daniel 10:20-21). He then reveals the future in Daniel 11 & 12.

This is crazy

Gabriel’s side trip to answer Daniel messed up his fight against the prince of Persia and even allowed the prince of Greece to get involved! Without Michael’s help, it would have been a heavenly mess! So, yes, Daniel’s prayer and fasting DID affect the heavenly realms—by hindering Gabriel’s fight!

Why then, did the Lord allow it? We read three times that Daniel was ‘highly esteemed.’ The Lord also wanted us to know the truth of what is to come. However, it came at a price. To think Daniel chapters 9 & 10 give us authority over angels misrepresents Scripture.

We do not have authority in the heavenlies. Commanding principalities is not only a waste of energy, but counter-productive. We have enough trouble resisting the devil on earth! However, Jesus said (John 16:33), ‘In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’