Warring Alongside Michael
Yesterday we talked about the need to understand and impact the invisible realm of the Spirit. I want to restate a sentence mentioned in that post. “The more we learn to function in the invisible spiritual realm, recognizing and applying its governing principles, the more we can partner with God, positively impact our world, avoid the snares and influence of the evil one, and enjoy the blessings of our salvation.” We looked at 2 Kings 6:15-18, which revealed that thousands of invisible angels were helping defeat a visible army opposing the prophet Elisha.
Another Old Testament passage, Exodus 17, demonstrates the reality of this invisible realm during Joshua‘s leading the Israelite troops into battle against the Amalekites. God told Moses to take the rod He had given him, go up on the mountain overlooking the battlefield, and hold it aloft. This rod symbolized God’s authority, in much the same way a king's scepter represents his. Throughout the recent deliverance from Egypt, the rod represented God’s authority, which released His power. By raising the rod over the battle, Moses was exalting God’s strength.
Scripture tells us that when Moses’ arms became weary and he was no longer able to hold up the rod, the battle against the Amelekites would turn against Israel. When his hands were held high with the rod extended, the battle would go in Israel’s favor. This was not an issue of morale. The soldiers below were obviously not watching Moses while engaged in conflict. The cause of the momentum swings was completely separate from their conscious minds. It was caused by the invisible war in the heavens.
While there obviously were visible, flesh and blood people, using tangible, physical weapons on a very real battlefield, the action of Moses on the mountain was releasing an invisible force that was determining the conflict's outcome. Notice that both realms were influencing the other: 1) actions occurring in the visible realm (Moses lifting the staff) 2) activated God's invisible authority and power, 3) which, in turn, determined the outcome in the visible realm (the battle). Each arena - natural and spiritual, seen and unseen - affected the other. They still do today. Millions of good and bad events occur on earth every day due to this two-way cause and affect.1
Daniel 10 records an example of an extraordinary angelic visitation with a remarkable message from God.
He said to me, “Oh Daniel, man of high esteem, understand the words that I am about to tell you and stand up right, for I have now been sent to you.” Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for 21 days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me...” (vv 10 - 13, 20).
Daniel, a man of passionate prayer, had cried out to God for several things, one of which was Israel’s restoration. As incredible as it sounds, the angel that appeared said to him, “I was sent to you the first day you began to pray, but I was opposed by a spirit, the prince of Persia.“
In late October, 2004, just a few days before the presidential election, I lived an experience somewhat similar to Daniel’s. I sensed a great increase of spiritual warfare over that election. The burden on me was so great I knew I had to go to D.C. to pray. I had been there to pray just before each major election for the past eight years, so that in itself was nothing new.
As I prayed regarding the assignment, I was drawn to Revelation 12. The passage is about spiritual warfare. God’s angel, Michael, and other angels were warring against satan, the dragon. I found verse 8 particularly interesting: “No room was found any longer in the heavens for the dragon and his angels.” I felt that God was confirming to me there was a great warfare over D.C. and that I was going there to participate in it.
I received a call from Jean Steffenson, a seasoned intercessor from Colorado, who said, “I have been praying for you and felt strongly led by Holy Spirit to ask you to read Daniel, chapter 10. God wants to speak to you from there.” This, of course, is the passage I just quoted.
As I read it, I came to the portion regarding Michael warring in the heavens against the Prince of Persia. This was the second passage Holy Spirit had given me regarding Michael warring in the heavens against demonic forces! Again, in the Daniel passage, God had dispatched angels with an answer to Daniel’s prayer, but demonic forces were warring against the angels sent to answer his prayer. God finally sent Michael to help the other angels break through to Daniel.
While praying about all of this, I suddenly remembered a prophetic exhortation given to me several months earlier. Jane Hamon, while speaking in our church, prophesied that sometime in the near future God was going to send the archangel Michael to war over D.C. and I was going to go and partner with him.
I had forgotten this word, but after reading about Michael warring in the heavens in Revelation and Daniel, I remembered it. I knew God was telling me, “I have brought you to Washington to war against satan’s election strategies, and I am sending Michael to help you.”
In D.C., several of my friends joined me in asking God to send Michael and a host of angels to help us in this battle. The result was immediate and incredible. I have never in my life been in a room where the atmosphere changed more quickly and dramatically. A holy fear and awe entered the room; I knew Michael and his angelic force had come.
As one final encouragement for this assignment, the Lord prompted a member of Congress to call me just before I left for the White House to pray. “How are you feeling about the elections?” he asked.
I explained what had transpired, that I was actually in D.C. and what I was about to do. “Perhaps you’re supposed to pray for me and with your governmental authority commission me in a spiritual sense, into this assignment,” I suggested.
“I believe so,” this legislator said, “because you just now came to my mind and I felt impressed to call you immediately.” His prayer was powerful and added greatly to my confidence.
Three of my friends joined me and for an hour or more we had a powerful prayer time at the White House. We bound the efforts of satan to determine the election’s outcome. With many petitions and decrees we released kingly, governmental intercession. We commanded God’s kingdom rule to come and His will to be done in the upcoming days (see Matthew 16: 18-19).
We know our prayers were answered. Of course, there were thousands of believers around the nation also praying concerning these elections, and we certainly do not take the credit. We were only a portion of the efforts.
Pray with me:
Father, we ask You to give us greater realization of the fact that we live in a spiritual world, that the spiritual realm is as real as anything we see around us in the physical world. Teach us how to relate to this spiritual realm and operate in it biblically. Make us more aware of Your presence, and consciously aware that we always have angels with us to help us. Teach us to discern when the powers of darkness are working against us or are causing problems in situations we are trying to address.
Your word tells us we are wrestling with demonic powers (Ephesians 6:12) and that we have spiritual weapons to use against them (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). Cause a flood of good teaching and revelation to come forth in order to train the church in this area. Break fear and hesitancy of wielding the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17), and of resisting the devil (James 4:7), off of Your body.
Our decree:
We decree that the sword of the Lord will go forth from the church, penetrating the spiritual realm with power and victory.
Portions of today’s post were taken from my book Authority in Prayer.
Click below to watch the prayer.
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Dutch Sheets and Chuck Pierce, Releasing the Prophetic Destiny of a Nation, (Shippensburg, PA: Destiny Image, 2005), pp 76-77