For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.  Psalm 91:11

Jehovah Sabaoth is Lord of the angel armies.  He implements battle plans and dispatches angels to war in the heavenlies.  Satan, the mimic, also implements battle plans against the advance of the Gospel and dispatches his dark angels to carry out his work of resistance.  

There are differing opinions among God’s children regarding the use of spiritual authority in heavenly realms. Satan has assigned high-level territorial spirits to various countries and regions to darken the minds of the people to the truth of the Gospel. Most believers acknowledge that these spirits exist and fulfill these roles.  However, some contend that their spiritual authority extends to these heavenly places.  They ‘take authority’ over these satanic leaders and bind their activities.  Is this biblical?  Or is God the only one who commands His angels to confront these dark forces?  

In Daniel 10, Daniel received a vision and fasted and prayed for 21 days.  His prayers were heard and answered immediately by God but His intervention was delayed in the heavens by the work and leadership of two territorial spirits: one over Persia and one over Greece.  Heavenly reinforcements were needed, so God dispatched Michael, one of His archangels, to engage in the battle.  Victory was achieved.  

Daniel was unaware of the war in the heavenlies.  Therefore, he did not address them or bind dark forces.  His role was to fast, pray, and leave the matter to the Lord of Hosts.  Did he sense the great battle occurring?  Most likely, yes.  An angel came to encourage Daniel to stand firm and be courageous, addressing him as ‘you who are most loved.’  

Many sincere Christian leaders are training people to engage in spiritual warfare by entering an area, discerning the spirit assigned by Satan to oppress and control it, and then addressing them directly, informing them that God is victorious over them.  This level of strategic warfare is concerning and, I believe, a subversion of our spiritual authority.  While we have been given the mandate to liberate people from demonic oppression on Earth, warring in the heavens is beyond our bounds.  

If you often repent on behalf of our country, understand that this is God’s method to influence the battle where territorial spirits fulfill their mandates.  Like Daniel, we repent, fast, and pray, entrusting the Lord of Hosts to devise battle plans and deploy angelic forces.  Oh, child of God, dearly loved, be courageous, and do not grow weary in prayer.  Humbly defer all battle plans to Jehovah Sabaoth.  His promises in this scripture passage hold true throughout all time.

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14.