October 20, 2026

Our passage today answers one question but raises another. It answers why it took the angel three weeks to reach Daniel and give him God's answer to his prayer. That reason was that in the spiritual realm, the angel was blocked by some kind of spirit in the kingdom of Persia. He couldn’t get through until he was helped by the archangel Michael. But that answer leaves us with other questions: What the heck is spiritual warfare? How did the spirit “block” him? What kind of battle did they fight? Why was the archangel Michael able to overcome? My answer is I have absolutely no idea.
I’ll be very honest. I don’t know how this whole thing works in the spiritual realm. I have no idea whether they fight like humans, duking it out with massive, muscular arms, or whether they zap each other with wands and spells like a Harry Potter movie, or whether they emit forces that push and pull on humans and spiritual beings alike. There’s not enough information in the Bible to develop a clear theology of spiritual warfare. But there is all kinds of evidence that it’s there. Listen to Paul in Ephesians 6. “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12 NLT) Paul then goes on to say that’s why it’s so important that we cover ourselves with the “armor of God.” We guard ourselves against the enemy by being saved by God’s grace, grounded in His Word, living in God’s peace and truth, and holding onto faith. And he closes it out with pray, pray, pray, pray, pray.
I share this with you because I think that though we don’t understand what all goes on in the spiritual realm, we need to be aware that it’s there. I believe that God answers our prayers there just as He does here. So as we pray for those who need to be saved, we’re pushing back on those forces that are pulling them toward darkness. As we pray for those who are discouraged and in despair, we’re battling back the Enemy that wants to keep them oppressed and without hope. When we pray for our churches on Sunday to be filled with the presence of God, we’re building spiritual trenches that keep the Enemy out and allow the Holy Spirit to do His work. So I encourage you to pray…even though you don’t understand it all, pray with all your heart for the forces of heaven to prevail.
And one last thought. Don’t be afraid. We already know that our Jesus has won and that the ultimate victory is ours. But until that day, let’s put on our armor and get on our knees and push the Enemy and his forces all the way back to the gates of hell. That’s God’s Word for you today.