If, as a Christian, you spent any amount of time on social media, it wouldn’t be long before the algorithm brought you decrees and declarations by Christians. “Healing is their portion in Jesus’ name,” will quickly follow an invitation to pray for a reportedly sick friend on a WhatsApp group. Or something like, “I decree and declare healing for them.” Over on TikTok, a ‘prophet’ will decree and declare “open doors of success and promotion now,” or “curses broken in Jesus’ name” to an adoring live chat crowd.
I do appreciate that not all such promises, especially those on WhatsApp, are made in bad faith. I’m sure many have goodwill behind them. However, even goodwill statements can quickly devolve into bad theology. Our goodwill must align with the truth, for only then will it achieve its intended aims.
We are Creatures of Dust
Any prayer that decrees and declares is misguided because one would be commanding God, who is all-powerful (Jeremiah 32:17, Psalm 115:3, Matthew 19:26). God alone decrees and declares, and it happens (Isaiah 46:9-10, Isaiah 44:24-26, Psalm 33:9-11). Who are we to think we can decree and declare anything? After all, we are creatures from the dust of the earth and a rib bone (Genesis 2:7, 22). The prophets were but servants of God (Jeremiah 7:25, Daniel 9:10). Not even Moses (Deuteronomy 34:5) and Elijah (2 Kings 9:36), the mightiest of prophets, were anything greater. Similarly, the apostles are also referred to as servants of God: Peter (2 Peter 1:1), Paul (Romans 1:1), and John (Revelation 1:1).
And so are all the saints: children of God (1 John 3:1) and ambassadors of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). We are servants, God is our master. We are his children, and he our Father. Who are we to command him? His alone is the power to “decree and declare” events (Job 23:13-14), kingdoms (Daniel 4:24-26), creation (Psalm 148:5-6), judgment (Ezekiel 12:25), and salvation (Isaiah 45:22-23). Isaiah 55:11 says it best: that God’s word goes out from his mouth and it will not return to him empty, it accomplishes its purpose, and shall succeed in that for which it was sent. Who among us can make such a claim?
None can, and so none ought to decree. The best of us was sinful (Psalms 51:5), gone astray (Isaiah 53:6), deceitful in heart (Jeremiah 17:9), stiff-necked (Exodus 32:9), an enemy of God (Romans 5:10; James 4:4), hostile in mind (Colossians 1:21; Romans 8:7-8), spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1-3), defiled in conscience (Titus 1:15-16), filled with all manner of unrighteousness (Romans 1:23-32), blind and deceived (2 Corinthians 4:4), under God’s wrath (Romans 1:18), and powerless to save himself (John 6:44). There is no end to the words with which one could describe our misery and wretchedness.
However, a merciful God saved us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:3, Titus 3:5, Romans 6:4, Ephesians 2:5-6). We, who have placed faith in Christ, are now children of God (John 1:12). We are crucified in Christ (Galatians 2:20), justified (Romans 5:1), and liberated (Romans 8:2). We are chosen (1 Peter 2:9; Colossians 3:12; John 15:16), redeemed (Ephesians 1:7), and created for good works (Ephesians 2:10). We are complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10); citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20). We are sons of God (Galatians 3:26)! What a merciful and gracious God we serve!
His mercy must ever and always be the declaration that fills the lips of poor beggars as we, not the idols of health, wealth, and a make-believe freedom from “curses”.
Declare Truth
The Christian declares only what God has done. Humbly, he reckons, “I am a child of God (John 1:12), crucified in Christ (Galatians 2:20), and created for good works (Ephesians 2:10)”. His words stem from a heart of gratitude and worship, giving honor to the Lord. He does not turn the One who gives him breath into a servant waiting on his beck with health, wealth, and whatever else he fancies.
Any Christian’s declaration is not at all an empty speech. It is rooted in a deep, Spirit-wrought persuasion of the heart. Christians believe that sin has no dominion over them because of the grace of God through Christ (Romans 6:1-23), and so they declare, especially through their actions. Believers know that the Lord is their shepherd and will provide for their needs (Psalm 23:1, Philippians 4:19, Matthew 6:33-34). Hence, they declare as much with an unwavering trust even in the face of threatening lack. In the midst of trial, a Christian trusts God for wisdom (James 1:5), doubtless that he [God] is for him and not against him (Romans 8:31), and that he can endure all things through Christ who strengthens him (Philippians 4:13). Such truly please their God.
Decree To The Glory of God
Praying God’s truth, as shown above, glorifies God for who he is: all-powerful, Savior, Merciful, provider, etc. A Christian should never pray as if thumping his chest; rather, we are to be full of worship and reverence in prayer (Psalm 95:6, Ecclesiastes 5:2). Our God, lest anyone forget, is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:28-29). He is “our Father in heaven,” and so we pray, “hallowed be your name” (Matthew 6:9).
We all must dislodge ourselves from being the center of our prayers, and instead center them on Christ, asking in accordance with his will, which alone is to be glorified (John 14:13-14). The Bible commands us to pray at all times in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:18), which means praying in accordance with the truths of the gospel and walking in the newness of life.
Without heeding the above, one easily slips into the stream of popular Christian culture, which, misinterpreting the phrase “the power of life and death is in the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21), concludes that a Christian can declare whatever they please. That, it is fair to warn, is a sure path to frustration. The health, money, job, exam score, marriage, children, etc., if pursued apart from every God-glorifying truth, would prove unsatisfying even if one were to have them.