There is a growing trend among evangelical Christians where some feel they should declare or decree things over their lives. This is particularly true among those who are influenced by the Pentecostal-Charismatic movement and, more specifically, the prosperity gospel.
For example, one prominent independent Pentecostal preacher encourages the readers of his bestselling book to declare things like, “I am full of wisdom. I make good choices. I declare I am blessed with good health…I will lend and not borrow.”[1] But the question is, is there any theological foundation to this practice?
Image of God vs. New Thought Metaphysics
Those who make such declarations sometimes claim that, because we are created in the image of God, we, like God, can speak things into existence. It is telling, however, that no theologian in church history has ever suggested that this is what it means to be created in the image of God.
Rather than being rooted in Scripture, the idea that human thoughts and words can create one’s future goes back to at least the “New Thought” movement, which began in the 19th century with an American mental healer named Phineas Quimby (1802-1866).
The New Thought movement emphasized the human power of positive thinking for healing. Religious historian Beryl Satter explains that the movement’s leaders taught, first, that “the mental or spiritual world was the true reality, while the material world of daily life, the world of ‘matter,’ was merely a secondary creation of the mind.” Second, they taught that “human beings had god-like powers. As God created the universe through pure thought, so on a lesser scale did people create their own worlds through their thought.”[2]
These false beliefs led New Thought teachers to conclude that one’s negative thoughts create negative outcomes, but that one’s positive thoughts would create positive outcomes, including physical healing. Some thought that the power of positive thinking could even affect the health of others through “thought transference,” a practice in which a patient would silently absorb the mental thoughts of a healer.
Eventually, many New Thought teachers like Charles and Myrtle Fillmore, who founded Unity Church in 1888, emphasized not only the power of thinking but the power of speaking as well, and claimed that by speaking “affirmations” a person could attain not only healing but also financial prosperity.
At the turn of the twentieth century, E.W. Kenyon, a Baptist pastor, incorporated New Thought teaching into his evangelistic healing ministry. While Kenyon rejected the non-Christian principles of New Thought, he replaced them with “divine principles” and laws that could unlock the many blessings that he believed Christ had granted believers through his death and resurrection.[3]
A number of scholars have outlined the historical influence of Kenyon on Kenneth Hagin, Sr., whom historians often regard as the father of the contemporary Word of Faith movement or prosperity gospel.[4] Similar to New Thought philosophy, with its emphasis on the power of positive thinking and speaking, the Word of Faith movement teaches that if Christians practice a “positive confession” of the Word of God to release the force of their faith, there are predetermined laws of divine principles that ensure those who confess will live a healthy and successful life.
Many Christians who decree or declare things over their lives today are, unfortunately, following the same line of thinking as New Thought and the Word of Faith movement.
Prayer vs. the Magic of Declarations and Decrees
The practice of declaring things over one’s life is, ultimately, an attempt to compel, manipulate, or even force God to act, as though through some type of Christian mental magic. In his book Counterfeit Christianity, Roger Olson explains that magic is “any technique for manipulating reality through paranormal means.”[5] Magic assumes, for example, that if people utter an incantation correctly, then their wishes will come to pass through some supernatural means. Similarly, those who decree or declare things often think that their words have a supernatural power that forces God to act according to the “laws of prosperity” (the title of a book by Kenneth Copeland, a prosperity teacher). Prayer, by contrast, and when properly understood, involves people bringing their requests to God and leaving them with God to sovereignly decide how best to respond (no, I’m not a Calvinist).
I imagine that in some cases, Christians who make declarations intend them to be nothing more than a prayer to God. In such a case, “I declare that I will be healed” could simply mean, “God please make me well.” But, if that is all one means, then why not say it that way?
There are, nevertheless, some Christians who do not think of their declarations as only prayers. Moreover, they actually think their declarations and decrees have more power than their prayers. One prominent prosperity preacher even explicitly asserts, “When you face a mountain, it’s not enough to just pray…. You have to speak to your mountains.” The result, apparently, is that “all the forces of heaven come to attention.” But only “when you declare.”[6]
What then Should we Do?
The answer to the question, “is there any theological foundation to this practice?” is no. And so, no, we should not declare or decree things over our lives in the manner I have described above.
If you interact with Christians who engage in this practice, you might ask them why they feel it is necessary to declare something, rather than to humbly ask for something in prayer. And, with all gentleness, you might ask them if they have enough faith in God—that is, if they truly trust in God’s love and wisdom—to pray as Jesus prayed, “not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).
Leave a comment below by clicking here.
This post was originally published on Roger E. Olson’s Blog.
Get Your FREE PDF
→ Click here to get your FREE PDF called, “Four Simple Ways to Identify the Prosperity Gospel.”
Andrew K. Gabriel, Ph.D., is the author of Simply Spirit-Filled: Experiencing God in the Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit (forthcoming) as well as three academic books, including The Lord is the Spirit. He is a theology professor at Horizon College and Seminary and serves on the Theological Study Commission for the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. You can follow him on Facebook or on Twitter.
Endnotes
[1] Joel Osteen, I Declare: 31 Promises to Speak Over Your Life (New York: Faithwords, 2012), 187.
[2] Beryl Satter, Each Mind a Kingdom: American Women, Sexual Purity, and the New Thought Movement, 1875-1920 (Berkley, CA: University of California Press, 1999), 3
[3] Kate Bowler, Blessed: A History of the American Prosperity Gospel (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013), 15-20.
[4] Foundational research was provided by D. R. McConnell, A Different Gospel: A Historical and Biblical Analysis of the Modern Faith Movement (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1988), esp. 3-14.
[5] Roger E. Olson, Counterfeit Christianity: The Persistence of Errors in the Church (Nashville: Abingdon, 2015), 162.
[6] Osteen, I Declare, 185 (original emphasis).
It would be helpful to see a written debate with someone of the opposing view or at least a q & a with someone at a similar education level
Andrew,
Once again we see the gullibility of Christians. Why is it we are looking for the easy way, or maybe the best of the flesh and the best of the Spirit? Doesn’t this all hearken back to a combination of Hedonism and Gnosticism? Nothing is new it just gets recycled.
Question. Where does the gospels recording of “speak” to the mountain fit into your thought. ? .
Mark 11: 23.
The previous verse, Mark 11:22 clarifies the main point of the passage: “Have faith in God.” And for those who have faith in God, the impossible is achievable.
“Speaking to a mountain,” as Jesus spoke to the fig tree, is very different than the declarations I describe in the blog post. The declarations in the article are potentially declaring things that are not actually true in the hope that they will come to be. By contrast, when Jesus curses the fig tree, he says “may it happen” (Mark 11:14), not that it had already happened, when it obviously hadn’t. Note also that v. 24 specifically speaks of “asking in prayer” not “declaring in prayer.”
Also, in that passage, according to a professor at Israel Institute of Biblical Studies, the mountain that Jesus referred to is a spiritual representation of Herod, (symbolic of the kingdom of the world). To move the mountain with faith is to pray and believe that we have authority over the enemy by using and having faith in God’s power working in us, not that we are little gods who can demand of God.
I bacame a Christian at 17 and was immediately in the middle of the prosperity gospel, I didn’t know any better. I always felt like I was on the outside looking in. Actually they weren’t very kind.i didn’t measure up my life wasn’t “successful” in their eyes. It was easy to slip into a cult for the next ten years. I was put down because I had various troubles and my faith was supposedly weak. I had an undiagnosed mental illness and whenever I had difficulties again I was put to shame. Christians can be so unkind. Eventually I left all churches and gave away my Bibles. But in 2020 I think the Lord said, you are mine. Ever so slowly He began to pull me back! My husband bought me my first Bible in ten years. We got messed up in a cult again for seven months. But eventually we knew something was not right. We left and now we’re in a wonderful church. I’m now unlearning and relearning. We go to church, I go to a ladies Bible study where we study the Bible not someone’s interpretation, and we have Bible study on Wednesday with four other couples. We are finally in a good place. Prosperity teachings end up making you feel unworthy.
I’m sorry to hear about your experience. Thanks for sharing your story.
Too bad the PAOC and AOG couldn’t see this coming. When the Toronto Blessing first came up we were afraid of losing many churches to them so we kept our cool. Big mistake! Couldn’t we see those money grubbers coming? Then TV “evangelists” and more shame to overcome. Is our staff really that chicken now? Or are they into it too? God is watching our works! Time to read the bible and repent … or at least to resign.
Joel 3:10 kills anybodies argument that says God doesn’t want want us to declare thing and decree them, what you don’t understand is that many of prophets and apostle didn’t ask God to do things that just say it and God backed them up, when Peter healed the cripple man he didn’t pray to God and ask him if he would please heal the man he simple say money I do not have but this I do rise and walk, I have an even more power example when Mose was trapped with the children of Israel between the Red Sea and the incoming Egypt armies hey prayed to God and God told him, what are you praying to me for get up and take your staff and part the sea again Im paraphrasing I’m not defending positive confession movement Im hear just to say that some people faith is on different levels there are many men and women of God in the Bible that didn’t ask God for anything but by faith that said this and did that and God just backed it up let me ask this did Elijah ask God to rain down fire, did he ask God to make the rain stop he just declare it, did Eli ask God when he declare to Hannah that she was goin to be pregnant with child no so please stop trying to lead to a conservative faith we need radical believers not quite askers. yes asking God is fine asking what his will is but there is a level the spirit where we work together with the holy spirit to breath the will of God
Some good points raised there
This response sounds good. But it is not sound. The prophets only spoke what God, through His Spirit, told them to speak. So, they only declared what God had decreed. Deuteronomy 18:15-22 would be a good read to give proper understanding of how the prophets acted. What about Hannah? Well Eli didn’t decree anything. Eli asked that God grant Hannah’s petition. Read Eli 1:3-19. God remembered Hannah’s prayer, not any decree of Eli. God clearly told Elijah to prophecy that there would be no rain, because 3 years later, God is the one who sends Elijah back to declare that the rain was going to start again. And yes, Elijah did ask for fire. “Let fire come down from heaven” is a request, not a decree. It is always assumed that a prophet only speaks and acts what God has already decreed. I guess the writers didn’t think they would have to keep reminding us of this every time a prophet said or did something. And what is a “radical believer?” Well, it would have to be someone who believes in the power of God, not their own power. A decree doesn’t require belief or faith. God decrees because He knows with absolute certainty that His word will not return void. He and only he has the sovereignty to decree a thing. To say that we are not to be “askers” is to deny or defy the sovereignty of God. God is not an errand boy simply running around fulfilling decrees. Btw, to decree something, you must have the full legal authority and the power to make it happen. If we have that, do we really need God? But if we need Him to make it happen, then we aren’t really decreeing anything.
There is undoubtedly Christians who go overboard with Declarations and Decrees (Christians can tend to overdo almost anything and everything, which is another subject). …. The central tenet to speaking in the affirmative about something God has already provided is in fact scriptural. Nor asking God for something He has already provided can be backwards. … Stirring oneself up and speaking any of the things God has made us or given us is a sound practice. Comparing it to metaphysics is outright misleading. … Come boldly to the throne of grace. Not weak. Not begging. Yes, we are God’s and we never take for granted that He is the Source and grace is the reason we have what we have. … Be humble. Not dumb. Not a parrot blurting out things. But do act like your redeemed. Act like your a child of the Most High. Jesus had no issue saying outloud who He was. And whose He was, as far as the works and sayings. … This entire subject comes out of balance from both sides. There are those that overdo the Declarations thing. Pentecostals that do this are like other Pentecostals, who sometimes overdo all sorts of things. But to the other side, we as Chrsitians have been steeped in teaching that we are sinners, sinners, sinners (sin-conscious) and we are weak and always striving to be something or get somewhere. Rather than standing in what God Himself has spoken (decreed, if you will, by His own Word). … Folks on all sides, just keep it in balance. … John McCurdy
I agree with you that “speaking in the affirmative about something God has already provided is in fact scriptural” (your words). I will post about this in the future. My concern is that people just take Bible verses out of context and apply them to themselves when, for example, they apply to a specific person in the Bible or to the people of Israel. I’m also concerned that people declare things that clearly aren’t the case, for example, good health, when they are clearly sick.
Whilst I would accept that “decreeing” per se at the extreme end, e.g. “God I decree I win the lottery” is nonsense, Scripture is replete with examples of promises that refute your propositions.
Take just one of some 2-3,000 of God’s, or through His chosen Prophet’s, Word, such as appears in Job 22:27-30 – “….and you shall decree a thing and it will be established….”. This to me is clear. It is clear because all of God’s Word is “decreeable”.
You may say, as you have, many take the Word in Scripture ‘out of context’. And in a few cases this is may well be true. BUT, it would be a sad day indeed if we humble servants are placed into a position of questioning if God’s Word applies to them or not. Or being placed under a cloud of doubt.
If doubt appears because of a fear to decree God’s own Word, then faith disappears.
In short, as far as I’m concerned, if I read the spoken Word of God, and it speaks to me through The Holy Spirit, then I will DECREE that ‘thing’ aloud from the roof tops, and do so boldly, passionately, and with every measure of confidence I can muster. Because if I don’t or if I feel that God’s Word is subject to some intellectual rigour, then I would be disrespecting God.
Maybe the problem can be resolved if we all agree that terms such as – asking, seeking, decreeing, claiming, knocking, or any other similar terms, are really all the same thing.
If God said it – then it is done.
Hi PH. Thanks for engaging the conversation. If you check the context of your reference to Job, it isn’t really helpful here, because you are referring to words from Eliphaz. Later in Job God says to Eliphaz, ““My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has” (Job 42:7). So, this appears to be another example of a verse taken out of context. Job is certainly a tricky book to read!
To be clear, I agree that the whole Bible does apply to us, but not always in the same way as it did to the original authors, and not always directly to us. By the latter statement, I mean that a principle may be there that we can apply, but not necessarily in the precise way it is worded in the original. An example would be much of the OT law, given that we might not stone people who are engaged in sexual immorality, but we can still see the laws guiding us to God’s intention for sexual chastity.
Thanks again for sharing.
Dr. Gabriel…..good blog, I face this with the church I am currently a Deacon in. I fight this battle with my mens ministry, especially when doing expository teach. Thanks for the teaching. Deacon Parks
Balanced & accurate. We need to know who we are in Christ. He js not our bell hop, but he is our almighty loving saviour & Lord who reminded us our Father loves to give good gifts to his children. We’ve been given authority to do the works of Christ in the power of the Spirit – paraphrase of Jesus’ words. It’s all for his glory. I agree, some have made God their errand boy, God have mercy & wake them up before they go into eternity. We are fully dependent on HIM not the other way around. We can declare the Word in context when we are declaring healing, deliverance etc is ours in His name thru the blood. I’m not talking about decreeing a new Mercedes or any of that foolishness. I’m talking about declaring the revealed word of God over our lives & all Jesus accomplished on the cross. – Blessings
just read this truth, I have know in my heart for years that this practice was off balance at its minimum. you put into words the very thing i have felt for many years. it truly grieves me when i see people declare things as if they have the power and not God after all if it is done correctly God will respond and if not done correctly God will not. So therefore at its core WE are the ones in control. That is so false. I appreciate your article and plan to keep this i my bible. our relationship with God is dependent on FAITH, Gods faithfulness and He choose thru His plan and purpose how he will work all things together for Good to those who love Him.
I throughly agree and enjoyed reading this article. Blessings on you.
In relation to Christians speaking positive things over their life, what does the scriptures “life and death” is in the power of the tongue and we eat the fruits thereof, mean to you?
Hi Mary, Thanks for your thoughtful question. There are a number of verses in the Bible that talk about the significance of the “tongue,” or what we say. The verse you mention (Proverbs 18:21) is surrounded by verses that are all about how we treat other people. So it seems clear that when verse 21 says “Death and life are in the power of the tongue,” the meaning is that we can hurt or encourage others by how we speak.
The second part of the verse says “And those who love it will eat its fruit” (NASB). Other translations bring clarity to the meaning of this statement. For example, the CEV translates this, “Talk too much, and you will eat everything you say.” And the NLT translates this, “those who love to talk will reap the consequences.”
So, overall, this verse is not talking about us speaking things over our own lives, but about being careful about how we talk to other people.
I’m thinking this should become a future blog post 🙂
Truth:. God told me himself, decree a thing!
I’m trying to understand it.
When we declare and decree a thing we are simply repeating God’s words back to him. The bible says God’s words will not return to Him void. We aren’t eliminating prayer. It goes in conjunction with prayer. Jesus said greater works will we do. He prayed and spoke and things manifested. It’s not some sort of magical thinking. We are the children of God (The Manifested Sons of God), He said no good thing He will withhold from us. So why should we walk around defeated? He gave us dominion, power, love and a sound mind. And in the word, Pastor, doesn’t it say what ever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven? We believe the promises of God and he said we shall have life more abundantly.
Natalia, Thanks for your comments.
I’m afraid that many people out there who declare and decree are *not* simply repeating God’s words back to God. For example, I’ve seen some say, “I decree God will give you whatever you are believing for today.” And one famous preacher regularly declares over his congregation, ” We are healthy” (though they may be sick) and “we are focused” (though some likely have ADHD) and “we are confident (though many probably struggle with self esteen). I could go on. But these are clearly not all things that God has said in Scripture nor promised to every believer.
So, I’m not saying we should walk around just talking defeated, but we do need to be real about what God has and hasn’t said or promised. I discuss this further in this post: https://www.andrewkgabriel.com/2018/10/15/bible-verses-declare/
‘Let the weak say I am strong’
People aren’t lying when confess what God’s Word says about them as a new creation in Christ. Doesn’t living by faith mean we believe for what we can’t see literally at the moment?
A person confessing they do not have a spirit of fear, even though they feel anxious/nervous/fearful, isn’t magic, it’s faith in God’s Word – faith that their current reality will be overcome by the truth of God’s Word.
@Richard Ball, No, living by faith does not “mean by believe for what we can’t see literally at the moment.” “Faith” means “trust” in God. See further Chapter 5 in my book, Simply Spirit-Filled.
Delight yourself in the Lord your God and He will give you the desires of your heart. I am amazed at how God has done this in my life through the years and I treasure my relationship with Him through Jesus His son.
Thank you for the food for thought. It makes a lot of sense. I heard a pastor say he was praying for patience and God spoke to him and told him to start decreeing it. So while we may not actually be able to decree things, I believe that we can call things that are not as though they are, if they line up with the word of God; as in this case because Patience is one of the fruits of the spirit and God wants his children to possess all the fruits of the spirit. Perhaps many Christians have a problem with what you’re saying because declaring things over their lives gets them charged up and gives them hope. On the other hand, if they don’t come to pass, they can get discouraged and question their faith or even God’s love for them. Because of the insight I’ve received from your article, rather than making declarations, using scriptures that were applicable to something specific, I will make declarations/confessions of my identity in Christ (and encourage others to when needed). We can declare the following: I am a child of God; I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength; with Christ, I am more than a conqueror; if God be for us, who can be against us?; God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love and a sound mind; Be anxious for nothing but in all things by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving make your requests known unto God. I believe that something happens in the spirit realm when we make declarations of our position in Christ. Same as when we sing “The Creed”, making a declaration of our faith. So, while I won’t try to make God a genie in the lamp by decreeing things that may not be part of His will for me, I will wage warfare by reminding myself and the enemies of our souls of who we are and the power and authority that has been given to us over them… for greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.
Thank, your words are very encouraging SND helpful!
Andrew, I said to a friend about what you said, there is no phrase ” I decree” in the KJV at all but I got a lecture from him stating that as an son of the King he was authorized to issue kingly decrees and establish the kingdom of God on earth by decree. God can decree because of His infinite authority but how do we know that we are repeating God’s decree?
Hi Randall, Thanks for your question. It is an odd argument that this person is making, but also a common one. Certainly the Bible nowhere suggests we get this authority. As you say, only God has infinite or complete authority. God also declared the world into existence, but we don’t gain that ability. No to mention that any decrees God make will certainly happen, whereas those we might make are really only wishes that might happen.
In addition to pointing out that “decreeing” things is no where in the Bible (which is a pretty big deal!), I would you might ask them if they have enough faith in God—that is, if they truly trust in God’s love and wisdom—to pray as Jesus prayed, “not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). In other words, why is prayer not enough for them? Why the need to decree?
Andrew, it’s been over 2 years, but when I answered this man, I got a lecture from him about how uneducated I was and ignorant of the Bible. (I was totally taken by surprise by his response) He concocted that as children of God, we issue decrees of the King every day and establish God’s kingdom this way. But here it is 2 years later, and the world has become more corrupt and evil. If Christians decreeing something makes it true, I would have decreed thousands of years ago that satan and his whole kingdom be bound up and cast in the lake of fire.. but guess what, all my quadrillions of decrees doesn’t seem to affect this at all.
Thank you for the great explanation. Do you have a Spanish version of this?
Sorry, no. My Spanish is limited to words like taco, burrito, and amigo.
Wow!, that sounded really racist
@Anonymous- I was not talking about a person, a people group, or a race. I was talking about a language, and specifically my lack of knowledge about the language.
How is that racist? lol
When I hear someone decreeing and declaring, it’s like chalk wailing on a chalk board! Job 22 is often cited as a Scriptural justification for decreeing and declaring.
In Job 22:21-30, Eliphaz exhorted Job to “return to the Almighty.” And then, “thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.” As a result of this, Eliphaz said that Job shall then “lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.” In other words, “If only you will return to the Almighty, you will be wealthy again.” Eliphaz was saying that wealth is a proof or the result of being righteous and then God will be delighted in Job so that Job’s words will be like God’s: “Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways. When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person. He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands.” So Eliphaz said that it will be Job’s clean hands, not God’s mercy, that will deliver people!
Now read Job 42:7, 8: God said to Eliphaz: “My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.” Twice God told Eliphaz that he did not speak the thing that was right concerning God. God called it folly.
Such do I think are the extremes of the name it and claim it doctrine. To the Bereans, always find out where cited Scriptures are from and who said them and to whom. Clearly, the words spoken by Eliphaz did not describe God’s heart! Nor were they meant to be attributed to God.
I would like to translate this article into Spanish to send it to some family members in Mexico. Would that be ok? Also, if you would like to post my translation into your website, or need help with other translations please let me know. Blessings.
You are welcome to do so, Giselle.
When I look at the exchange above my heart is one of concern. Why? Because despite everyone’s seeking to know the perfect will of God there are different interpretations of scriptures. Viewing this discussion will undoubtedly cause unbelievers or young converts great confusion. From my vantage point rather than suggest that one view is in error while the other is true might we proffer that one of the two ways of interpreting the scripture is incomplete?. Mr. Gabriel, I can see why you are against decrees. In some ways you see them as lies. I refer to your reference to a pastor who tells his congregation to say they are healed when some as you alluded to might be sick. Of course, you provided a series of similar examples in the same text. Mr. Gabriel when Christ died for you and I Romans says, ” For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Now if there is ever a seeming contradiction this is one. However, was it an untruth? Mr. Gabriel Believers live in two worlds. There is the natural and the supernatural. However, all that we will ever need Christ has already secured for us. He is now seated at the right hand of God in Heavenly places and a lot of things are under his feet. Believers are described as seated with him in Heavenly places also and lots of things are under our feet. Is that too a lie? Further, later in Ephesians, we are told how to walk/live as saints and even later we are told, ” Having done all to stand.” Was God confused? Did He not remember that we were seated with Him in heavenly places? On the contrary. All statements are true as the bible does not contradict itself. In similar fashion, when a believer declares in Faith that they are healed when their body might yet be hurting, they are merely choosing to acknowledge and accept by Faith what has been made available to them through the cross of Calvary. Moreover, they know that the only way to have that reality transferred from the unseen to the seen is to come into agreement with what God says versus what a doctor says. : Let all men be liars and God WORD be true. So Mr. Gabriel, making a decree is not as unbiblical as you have repeatedly purported in your many responses. But I respect that at this point you do not see the fine line of difference. On the other hand, you seem to be a guardian of the integrity of the word and YES, people read out of context and many decrees reveal the selfish LUST of men. Hence your caution is fitting/ needed. However, remain prayerful and be careful not to throw out the baby with the bath water. Satan would be very delighted if saints never come into their priestly and KINGLY roles in the earth. (Revelation 6:1)
In His Grip
Hi Clarice,
Thanks for your respectful reply.
I guess its obvious that we disagree 🙂
It seems to me that there are many times in the Bible where God healed someone who wasn’t declaring anything. So I am wondering, why do you think “that the only way to have that reality transferred from the unseen to the seen is to come into agreement with what God says versus what a doctor says”?
All the best to you!
Thank you for this article. I am living amongst those who have gravitated to these teachings, and some of your article and the following thread interaction has given me more loving ways of addressing this false teaching with those I love and want to help.
Thank you for addressing this issue. Just yesterday, there was an instance in the White House where a veryprominent Evangelical made several declarations in the way which you have described. The verse used to justify this method of ‘declaring’ was Job 22:28 ““You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you; And light will shine on your ways.” (NASB) This is part of a speech from Eliphaz to Job which contains several statements which many evangelicals would consider to be truthful; however, 16 chapters later God speaks and does not approve, as He makes it clear in 42:7 “It came about after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, because you have not spoken of Me what is right as My servant Job has.” Why did He speak that to Eliphaz? Perhaps he spoke this rebuke to Eliphaz since his explanations were plausible but the most incorrect. In any case, this is not a proof-text for “declaring”. There may be other versus that commend us to declare in this way and if they are valid I would gladly support doing so. I have no bias against it; however, Job 22:28 is not sufficient.
Isa.55.8 – “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.
Isa.55.9 – “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.
Brethren let’s be humble. Declaring and decreeing is a form of pride. We pray and not make demands to God.
I believe if we just humbly pray as you put it,decree or declare in jesus name it’s very much ok.although my belief is that God already decree and hence we declare a decree,I might be off on this one anyway
Thank you! Great blog! My prayer is that we get back to the “simplicity” of the Gospel, and actually read the word for what it says.
Thank you for this. Just discovered you – so glad my path was directed to you.
Thankyou for this explanation and l agree….My Question arose from where Eliphaz said in Job you will declare a thing and it will be done for you,but these are just his words,not Gods,but l think thats where a lot of people take this as being from God…when God actually rebuked Jobs 3 friends for not saying what was right about Him…am l right in this?
Thanks for your question.
Yes! You are right. Job 22:28 is not talking about decreeing, but praying. More importantly, later in Job God says to Eliphaz, ““My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have NOT spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has” (Job 42:7). You will note, for example, that back in chapter 22, Eliphaz wrongly says that Job is suffering because of his sin (Job 22:5). Job is certainly a tricky book to read, but as with the rest of Scripture, each verse must be read in context, as I emphasize here: https://www.andrewkgabriel.com/2018/10/15/bible-verses-declare/.
another powerless Christian who does not obey the truth. Your life must be a wreck
What truth do you think he isn’t obeying?
Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, And thou shalt pay thy vows. Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: And the light shall shine upon thy ways.
Job 22:27-28 KJV
Hi Gabriel, Job 22:28 is not talking about decreeing, but praying. More importantly, later in Job God says to Eliphaz, ““My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have NOT spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has” (Job 42:7). You will note, for example, that back in chapter 22, Eliphaz wrongly says that Job is suffering because of his sin (Job 22:5). Job is certainly a tricky book to read, but as with the rest of Scripture, each verse must be read in context, as I emphasize here: https://www.andrewkgabriel.com/2018/10/15/bible-verses-declare/.
Y’know, I grew up around Christians who declare their will all over the place. Tonight, I received a Christian pamphlet that encouraged me to declare such and such over our government, etc. As I began, I thought, “Wait a second… where in scripture is this practice exemplified?”.
No where.
Thanks for posting and confirming. 🙂 Truth makes us free (whereas declarations without scriptural basis leave us poorer of faith when manifestation fails).
what do you rather do bless a person or curse them when you speak negative things they do come to pass that is why we choose to speak in a positive way it is written in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word is God there is life or death in your words don’t believe me test in out in someone you love and see the results God bless.
Hi, If you’re interested, I’ve also actually written about the verse that you allude to about there being life and death in the tongue. As I say there, there is power in the tongue (for sure!), but not for decrees and declarations: https://www.andrewkgabriel.com/2020/02/25/power-tongue/
I totally agree with you.
Thank you for writing such a pertinent blog- especially as I was searching for some theological discussion on declaring/decrees. A friend was excitedly sharing praying in this manner and wanted me to listen to a current popular daily blog from this week. It just didn’t sit right with my comprehension of scripture & the method seemed to be demanding of God rather than recognizing His Will.
Appreciate the comments and your responses. Extremely helpful!!
I’m glad you found it helpful, Sally. Thanks for sharing your story.
Hi there!
I am not a part of any movement that you mentioned here e.g. word of faith, I just believe in Jesus and read the Bible. In reading your article, there are a few questions that stick out to me:
– did Jesus say, ‘you can say to this mountain…’ – it doesn’t seem heresy if a person follows those words and ‘speaks’ to obstacles in life
– did Jesus tell His disciples to pray for the sick? It seems to me that He just said ‘heal’ them (Matt 10.8)
– why would it be considered magic if a believer makes a verbal declaration of the scripture?
@Richard Ball, I appreciate that you are genuinely thinking these things through. Keep it up!
My post here will address your questions to some extent: https://www.andrewkgabriel.com/2018/10/15/bible-verses-declare/
In short, many believers declare things that are not declarations of scripture, if we read the Bible well.
I believe we can only decree things that God has made known to us….Because when He shows us what His will is then and only then can we begin to declare it…this is my belief …right or wrong?
Simply put, the Occult declare what they want. Irregardless of what God said about it. Those who believe and speak, as ones who have Authority, because they believe in the finished work ” I’m no Wesleyan ” simply declare and Agree with what God has already said. The power of Agreement! Most people beg and cajole and bargain with God. Having a form of godliness…
Thank you Mr Gabriel for this explanation of Christian ‘declarations and decrees.’
One major question came to me as I was reading through all the comments. And this comes from the perspective of someone involved in ‘prosperity’ teachings in the past. I’ve had to repent over a lot of things that have come out of my mouth.
When we or others, in faith and sincerity, make various declarations and decrees and attribute them to our ‘perceived’ Will of God, what do we say when these things we’ve spoken forth DO NOT come to pass? This especially comes into play when someone we so diligently prayed for dies of a sickness or prolonged medical condition.
I’ve heard the reasons/excuses so many times, and they honestly grieve me.
a. You (the recipient) didn’t have enough faith!
b. The person we prayed for must have unforgiveness or some unconfessed sin!
c. They weren’t faithful tithers and are under God’s curse! (Not kidding, I actually heard that preached from a pulpit).
d. We didn’t ‘weary’ God with enough petitions like the persistent widow of Luke 18 did.
Occasionally (and reluctantly), they might eventually say, ‘it just must not have been God’s Will.’ They never FIRST take into consideration God’s total Sovereignty over all things.
Hi Andrew,
I grew up in a church that taught much of what it appears you are teaching in this article. Sadly, my church was very much like the people described in 2 Timothy 3:5, “…having a form of godliness, but denying its power.” I didn’t see it at the time, and quite frankly was offended when a non-believer friend came to visit my church and told me, “The people are nice, but your church is dead.” It took me years to understand what he meant.
I think I understand what you are speaking against here, but it comes out as a mixed message which denies much God-given power and authority. Here are just a few points that stand out, that are probably coming across in a way you didn’t intend (I believe.)
1) Roger Olson’s definition of magic encompasses all of Jesus’ miracles. I hope (and trust) that you are not calling Jesus a magician. Therefore, Olson’s definition is not valid for a follower of Jesus Christ.
2) When it comes to speaking declarations, a Holy Spirit led believer is not doing his own will, but rather declaring out loud, and coming into agreement, with what he has learned in a lifestyle of prayer and internalizing both the Rhema and the Logos of God. (Both are necessary. The Logos without the Rhema is religiosity; the Rhema without the Logos opens one up to spiritualism. (1 Thess. 5:16-22)) Even finding this article this morning is the result of me listening to the Holy Spirit tell me specifically to research the phrase, “Get up and take your staff.” In obedience to Him, I found your article.
In considering the Logos, it was Jesus Himself who, in Matthew 17:20 and in Mark 11:23, said, “You can say to this mountain, “Move from here…”” Notice that Jesus did not say, “Ask God to please move this mountain for you.”
Jesus modeled for us a lifestyle of taking dominion over darkness. Jesus did not say, “Father, please resurrect Lazarus.” He did not say, “God, please heal this woman’s bleeding.” Nor did He say, in Matthew 10, “Ask God that, if it’s His will, that He would heal the sick and raise the dead. And if He wishes it, that He would cleanse those with leprosy and cast out demons.” No, Jesus specifically told the disciples to “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, cast out demons.” Yes, all of this is done in the power and authority of Jesus Christ, but we are not called to beg God for what He has already given us!
3) Finally, you quote Jesus’ prayer from Luke 22:42, “not my will, but yours be done.” I would dare to say that you are misquoting it, in the sense that you are taking it out of context. Jesus was not simply giving a situation over to the Father for His will to be done. This was not a faithless prayer like, “Lord, Aunt Beth has terminal cancer. I know that if it’s Your will, You can heal her,” and then waiting around for nothing to actually happen. No; Jesus knew exactly what His Father’s will was in this situation. It had been planned since the beginning of time. It was a plea of desperation (yes, even Jesus felt that), and a full, complete submission to God to do exactly what Jesus already knew was coming. It saddens me when people misuse this passage as a faithless backup plan to water down the power of their prayers. By uttering the words, “if it be Your will,” people give themselves an out for when God doesn’t heal, or doesn’t respond the way they hope He will.
I believe that if you and I sat down together, over a bowl of ice cream, we would probably find that we agree on a great many things, even things you wrote in this article. Unfortunately, the wording of the article does seem to rob Christianity of its Christ-given power. We are followers of Jesus Christ! We are to emulate Him! This is what moves me and empowers me. Perhaps one day we’ll have the opportunity to chat about this in person, if it be His will. 😉
God bless!
I just realized I posted this anonymously. My name is Peter. I’m happy to tell you my last name in a private message, but I keep my full name off the web as much as possible. Have a blessed day!