I saw a word of faith (I call it “hyper-faith”) teacher on television read from Genesis 1 and claimed he too could speak worlds into existence. Another TV platform speaker at his church told his audience: “Don’t pray! Decree it!” Jesus really did teach that we can command our personal obstacles to be thrown into the sea. But is this the same as decreeing? Let’s find out.
Let’s begin.
I. Introduction
A. Next step
In this post, we assume that you have already repented of your sins and placed your full trust and faith in Christ. Your sins are forgiven. You have been justified. God’s free gift of righteousness is yours now, for it has been imputed to you. You are born again. Now what?
B. Lifelong journey
You have been launched into a lifelong journey of growing in holiness and conformity to the image of Christ. This process is called sanctification. Discipleship consists of activities and a lifestyle by which you grow in holiness and in conformity to the image of Christ.
C. Ethical justification
Sanctification is sometimes called “ethical justification,” by which you prove and demonstrate by good works–living the life of a disciple–that you have been forensically or legally justified, that you have been declared righteous. You work out what God had declared you to be.
D. Life in the Spirit
The section on pneumatology shows that we disciples are filled with the Spirit. Sanctification and discipleship assumes that the Spirit lives in us. We cannot live a holy life without the Holy Spirit and grace empowering us.
E. Discerning God’s will
Every disciple needs to discern and surrender to God’s will by living in the Spirit. Then we can pray according to his will. We also have to analyze the popular practice of decreeing. Life in the Spirit will give us wisdom which will lead us away from the error of presumption.
II.. Matthew 17:20
A.. Scripture and context
While Jesus, Peter, James and John were on the Mount of Transfiguration, the nine disciples were trying to expel a demon from a boy. They were unable. When they descended, the nine asked him why.
20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matt. 17:20)
B.. Interpretation
Jesus said that if they had “small faith” they could move a mountain. It is a symbol of insurmountable obstacles in our lives. We speak to the mountain, and God removes it. However, we need to be careful about taking it literally, as if we can move Mt. Everest by our speaking. The image of a mountain is a literary device called a hyperbole (pronounced hy-PER-boh-lee), which means a deliberate and “extravagant exaggeration” (Webster’s Dictionary) to make a strong point and startle the listener. Modern example: “The ice cream seller is really generous! He piled the ice cream on my cone a mile-high!” No, a “mile high” (1.6 km) is not to be taken literally.
Once we have faith the size of a mustard seed, nothing shall be impossible for us. This too is a general statement. We need to be careful of over-applying it, so we believe we can jump from the temple in Jerusalem or spend money carelessly, put ourselves in massive debt, and demand God to bail us out. If he did bail you out without your learning how to manage your household budget, you may plunge yourself in debt again. The miracle would happen when you improve your godly skill in handling money. With that said, I have heard many stories, for example, about genuine miracles of provision and angelic protection when lives were about to be lost. God can work miracles for those who genuinely need them!
So how does Jesus answer their request and instruct them to build their faith? In effect he tells them they do not need to increase their faith by working it up and following a formula. All they need is a very small degree of faith, and then miracles will happen. This answer implies that the apostles sometimes had faith because they saw healings and demon expulsion (Matt. 10:8; Luke 9:1; 10:17). Do not worry about putting faith on steroids. God and the word and constant prayer will cause it to grow.
Next, Jesus says to speak out the order or command. So Jesus tells them, “speak!” or “say!” It is not merely “you say” or “you speak.” No. Just do it. Just speak it out. No, do not boss God around. “Lord, I command thee to do what I want and when I want it!” Instead, just say, “Lord, I pray over my life what the Scriptures teach!” And then be specific, by the Word, which may support your godly desire or oppose your selfish desire. Be open to have your desires transformed. James 4:7 says to surrender or submit to God, and then resist the devil, and he will flee. Galatians 2:20 and 5:24 speak of crucifying our flesh. Your selfish desire will flee, too.
Commanding the mountain—and no doubt the mountain they had just climbed was visible in the background—is a visual image of a spiritual truth. It is a metaphor, a hyperbole. We speak to the mountain, and God removes it.
Any deeply and stubbornly rooted thing in your life that is an obstacle to your growth and God accomplishing his promise in your life can be removed with prayer. Speak to it to go over there, from here to there.
The fact is that Jesus permits us to command obstacles to leave. Just earlier Jesus commissioned them to heal the sick and raise the dead and expel demons, but this demon was stubborn. Mark says that even Jesus had to ask the question of the father about how long he had the demon (9:21), and the father answered, “since childhood. If you can do anything, help us!” Jesus replied, “If you can! All things are possible to him who believes.” Then the father cried out with very comforting words for us today, which must have stuck in Peter’s mind when he was preaching his stories about Jesus, and Mark was recording them (or so says church history). “I believe! Help my unbelief!” the father said.
C. Summary
This cry is a perfect description of the dilemma that people—you and I—face when we see a great need and want to have faith in God, but our desperation and unbelief get in the way. Yes, God responds to desperation, as Jesus is doing here, but sooner or later the mind has to settle down and trust and believe. That’s the point Jesus was making. “All things are possible to them who believe!” Desperation ≠ Faith
III.. Mark 11:22-25
A.. Scripture and context
Jesus had just pronounced the end of a fig tree because it bore no fruit. It was an action parable, illustrating the fruitless Jerusalem and temple establishment.
22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” (Mark 11:22-25)
B.. Interpretation
The command to have faith in God tells us that our faith has a direction: God. The direction is not our own faith or in the power of our own words. It could be translated as “have faith that rests in God” (Decker).
Jesus says to speak out the order or command. Here the verb “speak” is the standard one. You can command your obstacles to go away. The verb “be thrown” is in the passive commands. The verb “go” in the NIV is not the best translation. It could better be translated as “be gotten up!” Or “be risen up!” So it too is passive. Often passives like these in these contexts are called the “divine passive.” That is, God is the one who acts behind the scenes. Just because God is not mentioned does not mean he is not behind those two verbs. We pray and God works it out and removes the mountain and throws it into the sea.
As noted for Matthew 17:20, commanding the mountain is a visual image of a spiritual truth—it is a metaphor. Jesus is speaking metaphorically and hyperbolically. Followers of Jesus must learn to read the Bible on its own terms, without their wearing monochrome glasses, in which every word appears the same literal color in different contexts. Yes, most of it can be taken literally, like the histories or the commands of the Torah and epistles. But in significant sections of Scripture, the Bible is not a “flat,” one-dimensional book, on one simplistic level. It is multi-layered. And this clause about the mountain is a case in point. This verse is not to be interpreted literally and simplistically.
In other words, do not stand in front of a literal mountain and command it to “be gotten up” and “be thrown” into the sea. You can surely, however, command an obstacle in your personal walk with God—like a disease—to be removed and be thrown into the sea (so to speak). God is their (hidden) subject. God causes “the mountain” to “arise” and he “throws it.”
We are not to doubt in our heart. The verb “doubt” means an internal, self-reflexive action. Do not waver or doubt God’s ability to remove the mountain in your life.
Then we are to believe that what we say will happen. Those two verbs are actually in the present tense, so the latter verb could be translated as “is happening” or “is coming about.” In that translation, it is a process. However, Decker argues for the future meaning. NET translates it as future, and so do most translations. You can decide, whether it is “will happen” or “is happening.” I go with the majority—future tense. But the results are the same.
The mountain moving is done for us. It is almost as if the answer exists for him, but remember, once again, that God answers the prayer; your words do not create something out of nothing. And vv. 24-25 proves that this is about praying, not decreeing, because Jesus himself pinpoints it with the actual word praying and the word therefore. Remember the divine passive; “be gotten up” (or “be arisen”) and “be thrown” are God’s actions. Don’t arrogate all authority to you and your words. Be in relationship with God. Do not think that your faith is in itself, and do not exclude the Father. Have faith in a living person, not faith in faith.
Verse 25 is strong and clear. There is no other way to read them than in their plain sense. You simply have to forgive others, or else your Father will not forgive you (See the chapter on forgiveness.) Are you ready to forgive? If not, consider all the sins of which your Father in heaven has forgiven you. Many and deep sins. Your walk with God will suffer greatly if you do not forgive. Your walk with him will thrive the moment you do forgive. Pray that you can be made willing to forgive, and then do it. Sometimes an evil spirit can attack your mind and deepen the unforgiveness and bitterness you already have. You can rebuke Satan off of your mind, as part of the process. Jesus is speaking extra-strong words here to throw water in your face and warn and wake you up. Forgive right now!
C. Summary
Renewalists must be very careful about commanding God or things in nature to happen because we want them to. Even Jesus said he does what he sees the Father doing: Jesus “can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son does also” (John 5:19). Word-of-Faith teachers say they read the word and understand what the will of God is, so they can command things. Part of that is true because of what Jesus just said in v. 24, but partly certain excessive Word-of-Faith teachers often misinterpret Scriptures which seem to indicate they can boss God around, like humans calling things into existence. (They base this on Rom. 4:17, but the verse clearly says God is the one who calls things into existence.)
IV.. Luke 17:5-6
A.. Scripture and context
The context is that the apostles were requesting a teaching on increasing their faith.
5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you. (Luke 17:5-6)
B.. Interpretation
So how does Jesus answer their request and instruct them to build their faith? In effect he tells them they don’t need to increase their faith by working it up and following a formula. All they need is a very small degree of faith, and then miracles will happen. This answer implies that the apostles and the seventy-two and the women (and us, by extension) sometimes had faith because they saw healings and demon expulsion (Luke 9:1; 10:17). So just have even a little bit of faith.
Next, as in the other two passages, Jesus says to speak out the order or command. You must speak to your obstacle. The verbs “be uprooted” and “be thrown” are in the passive commands. God is the one who acts behind the scenes. Just because God is not mentioned does not mean he is not behind those two verbs. We pray and God works it out and “uproots and “plants” the tree.
Commanding the mulberry tree is a visual image of a spiritual truth—it is a metaphor and the action of the tree being uprooted is a hyperbole. Do not take it literally. The mulberry tree represents any deeply and stubbornly rooted thing in your life that is an obstacle to your growth and God accomplishing his promise in your life can be removed with prayer. Speak to it to be uprooted and planted in the sea. Note that it had been rooted and planted in your life, and now you can command to be planted in the sea, far away from you.
Of course the image of the tree being “planted” in the sea is designed to appear impossible and laughable. It doesn’t belong there any more than it belongs in your life. It’s as if Jesus instructed us to tell the tree, “Hey, tree! You got rooted and planted in my life, and you don’t belong there. I tell you what! Jump off a cliff and plant yourself in the ocean! Do it, now! And I’ll laugh at you trying to plant yourself in deep salt water like that!”
C. Summary
Don’t stand in front of a literal mulberry tree and command it. You can surely, however, command an obstacle in your personal walk with God—like a sin that undermines you or a disease or demonic oppression—to be uprooted and planted in the sea.
V.. Is Decreeing Biblical for Disciples?
A.. Brief intro.
There is rampant confusion circulating around the churches, particularly on social media. I have heard a really loud youtube prophet who pastors a church decree things. For example: “Come on! Decree it!” he shouted at his congregation in reference to the 2020 elections. (He had predicted Trump would win a second consecutive term.) These Christians who decree things do not understand how the New Covenant works, nor how the Old Sinai Covenant works, either.
1.. Elijah
At first glance, Elijah seems to have acted by himself to decree a drought, but look at how James reinterprets this (apparent) prophet-initiated decree from the fiery OT prophet (1 Kings 17:1; 18:41-45). But the epistle of James teaches us otherwise:
17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. (James 5:17-18)
Elijah was not acting unilaterally and decreeing without God’s permission, as if God’s hand was forced to obey a human prophet. No. We now have to fill in the blanks in 1 Kings 17:1 and 18:41-45 with James 5:17-18. Elijah actually prayed, though 1 Kings 17:1 does not record the prayer. Elijah submitted to God; God did not submit to Elijah. The NT clarifies what prophets today can and cannot do.
Here’s a comparative table:
At first glance, Elijah seems to have acted by himself to “decree” a drought, but look at how James reinterprets this (apparent) prophet-initiated “decree” from the fiery OT prophet.
|
Elijah, Drought, and Rain |
|
|
1 Kings 17:1; 18:41-45 |
James 5:17-18 |
| Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” (17:1)
……………… 41 And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.” 42 So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees. 43 “Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked. “There is nothing there,” he said. Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.” 44 The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’” 45 Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain started falling and Ahab rode off to Jezreel (18:41-45) |
17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. (emphasis added) |
In comparing the two columns, 1 Kings 17:1 now has to be be reinterpreted. Elijah was not acting unilaterally and decreeing without God’s permission, as if God’s hand was forced to obey a human prophet. No. We now have to fill in the blanks in 1 Kings 17:1 and 18:41-45 with James 5:17-18. Elijah actually prayed, though 1 Kings 17:1 does not record the prayer. Elijah submitted to God; God did not submit to Elijah. The NT clarifies what prophets today can and cannot do.
2.. Jeremiah
Did Jeremiah really decree the destiny of nations on his own? Let’s look more carefully at his ministry in its own context. The LORD himself touched Jeremiah’s mouth and called him to speak God’s words to the nations, not his words (Jer. 1:9-10). Jeremiah was not a loose cannon who had authority in himself. He really just said, “The Lord says,” like all the other OT prophets.
Further, it is clear from the whole context of Scripture at the time of Jeremiah’s ministry that it was God himself who plucked up, broke down, destroyed, overthrew, built, and planted. Jeremiah was simply repeating God’s words. Jeremiah’s authority began and ended with God. God was the sources of his words, not the prophet’s own decrees. Also, his words landed him in trouble and a mud pit.
Therefore, it is no good claiming Jeremiah’s authority if a modern prophet does not also want to suffer the consequences of punishment and judgment of an OT prophet, including death (Deut. 18:20-22), from the Lord when the modern prophet misses it. It is a blessing that we live in another and better covenant, and modern prophets don’t have an OT prophet’s authority, requirement of total accuracy, and possible punishment. That heavy responsibility is beyond them.
3.. Agabus
NT prophets indeed got revelations about future events. Agabus:
27 Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). 29 So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. 30 And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul. (Acts 11:28-30)
Note that Agabus received a revelation by the Spirit about a future famine. He did not actively decree it. Instead, Agabus merely predicted (“foretold”) it. Then the church was wise when it took action and prepared for it. They sent relief to the church in Judea. We should do the same when tornadoes and hurricanes threaten us. Let’s take action to keep ourselves safe, like driving inland away from the hurricane and getting in underground shelters when a tornado is coming.
B.. Objection and reply
Job 22:28 says to decree a thing, and it will be done.
Reply: the Hebrew verb gazar (to cut, divide) appears only thirteen times in the Hebrew Bible and means to “cut” or “divide.” Therefore most translations opt for “decide.” Why? Because the word decide comes from the Latin verb dēcīdere which means to “cut off.” Dēcīdere is made up of the preposition de, which means “away, off, down from,” and the verb caedere, which means “to cut, kill, slay” (AI + Webster’s). Therefore “decide” best corresponds to and translates the Hebrew verb. (Source: Biblehub.com and no. Hebrew verb 1504). So Job could not decree whatever and whenever he wanted, so that God had to jump up from his throne and scurry around and obey the tiny human. It does not work that way.
C.. Human decreeing does not cause nonexistent things to exist.
Abraham did not decree his child to come into existence. God did:
17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not. (Rom. 4:17)
Clearly, God, not Abraham, is the subject of those verbs. He, not Abraham, is the one who gives life and calls things into existence.
Further evidence: Abraham was “being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” (Rom. 4:21). God initiated the promise and was able to do it. The child (Isaac) did come into existence (with some human “physical” help!).
D.. Speaking to existing obstacles ≠ decreeing
Yes, we can speak to personal and existing obstacles in our lives, like a disease, as Jesus rebuked a fever attacking Peter’s mother-in-law (Luke 4:39). Jesus often expelled demons with words (Matt. 8:16; Mark 1:27; Luke 4:36).
However, God is still sovereign, and we still pray about future events. God is the one who works those miracles. On the lake of Galilee, storms arose quickly, without warning. It threatened Jesus and the twelve. Jesus took action for safety, out of necessity, (and to reveal himself more fully). Now we have warning systems. Run! Hide! Pray! Speak God’s protection!
If you speak to a spiritual storm in your life, as Jesus did to a literal storm, “Peace! Be still!” (Mark 4:35-41 and v. 39), then God may choose to remove it or not. Whether the storm stops or keeps coming on after you speak against it, God will see you through. Be like the wise Christians in the book of Acts. Prepare practically and pray for protection.
All of the verses in this section are about actual obstacles right in front of the Christian; in contrast, human decrees tell God what he must do and how he must act about future events. (Or worse, the one who decrees may believe that he himself brings not-yet-existing things into existence.) But you cannot force God’s hand. You don’t boss him around with your words. He’s still the LORD. Try praying, instead of decreeing, that God would do such and such about future events. For right now, pray for protection through your presently existing storm and speak to it.
E.. A word about decreeing Scripture
Christians often speak out decrees about the future based on their interpretation of Scripture. Here’s a dubious sample. “I read in Scripture that I am to prosper. I decree this general principle of prosperity in my own life. I decree more money for myself, so I can give it away! Money, come to me!” Such a Christian seems to be speaking into existence a future reality, based on a general principle of Scripture. However, God may intend specifically to go in another direction, like the Christian learning to depend on him without material prosperity of millions of dollars by asking for donations on TV. God has us in different places. We follow his word to us specifically. God is not compelled to back up our decree based on our (self-interested) interpretation of Scripture.
Worse, Satan still has a certain control over wealth and worldly kingdoms (Matt. 4:8-10). He is still the god of this age (2 Cor. 4:4). Jesus resisted Satan’s offer to give him all the kingdoms of the world. (The temptation was real, not hypothetical or imaginary.) There is no clear proof that God made the modern prophet or preacher rich. Maybe Satan intervened so he can deceive people with defective teaching about money–through the words of the now-rich prophet or preacher, no less!
Such interpretations misapply Scripture. Such an interpretation is self-centered, foolish, and dangerous, particularly when TV preachers manipulate people to give money, so the preachers can then boast of how well they are doing, in front of the people who had given money to make the preacher well off! Yikes! Meanwhile, ordinary Joe and Jane, who had given money to the mega-TV guy or local mega-pastor, still live as they have been all their married lives. These prophets and preachers have too much chutzpah and a total absence of self-awareness. Where does this (unscriptural) practice stop? “Come on, everyone! Let’s decree that each of us will become billionaires in one month. Repeat after me. I decree that I will be a billionaire!”
Yes, you can claim God’s promises, which are yes and amen in Christ (2 Cor. 1:20), but it is better to pray for a better job or a promotion or guidance and ideas to start a business—and to work hard. It is better to do those things than it is to decree future events to come into existence, which is an error. Future prosperity is ultimately in God’s hands. God decrees; we pray.
F.. Jesus and the apostolic community
Jesus never presumed as much power as the faith teachers claim for themselves. He never went in for “decreeing.” Name one time he used such verbiage. But he did teach us to pray and let the Father work his will on earth as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4). Nor did the disciples use those formulaic words in Acts or epistles. The apostles who lived the ministry in Acts and wrote the epistles did not teach anyone to “decree.”
Instead, Jesus clarified that he does only what he sees his Father doing (John 5:19). He lives because of the Father (John 6:57). He speaks only what the Father taught him (John 8:28). He does what he sees the Father do (John 10:37). What Jesus says is just what the Father told him to say (John 12:49-50, 57).
Jesus and the apostles taught us to pray, not decree. He gave us the Lord’s Prayer (Matt. 6: 9-15; Luke 11:1-4), and he prayed the High Priestly Prayer in John 17. We see the apostolic community praying often (Acts 1:14, 24; 2:41; 3:1; 4:23-31; 6:4-6; 8:15; 9:40; 10:9; 12:25; 13:3; 14:23; 16:13, 16, 25; 20:36; 21:5; 22:17; 27:29; 28:8). We too should follow God through his Son and by the Holy Spirit living in us. We do not boss him around with our decree formula.
G.. What decreeing is
Decrees are what God does. He decrees the universe into existence. He decrees his Son to die for the sin of the world. We don’t decree out of our initiative.
The following is a biblical decree (the double arrow means causes):
God Decrees ⇒ A Nonexistent Thing Comes into Existence (e.g. a longed-for baby or even the universe)
Next, this is a biblical decree (the single arrow means a sequence):
God reveals a decree → Christian hears the decree from God → Christian speaks God’s decree
A perfect illustration is the storm in Acts 27:23-25, an angel of God told Paul that God had graciously granted the lives of the entire crew and all passengers, and they would all be saved through the storm. First, God decreed his will through an angel to Paul. Second, Paul spoke out the decree and the gracious gift to everyone on board. Paul did not decree it first, and then God jumped to his feet (so to speak) and said he had to obey Paul’s decree.
H.. What decreeing is not
Decreeing future things into existence is not within a Christian’s jurisdiction. The next one is an unbiblical decree:
Christian Decrees ⇒ God Is Now Obligated to Jump Up from His throne and Scurry Around to Bring It into Existence (God obeys the human)
Worst of all:
Christian Decrees ⇒ Christian Believes Nonexistent Thing Comes into Existence by His Own Decree
Where is God in the latter decree? Do not cut God off from the miracle, as if you alone spoke it into existence without him. If it comes into existence, God did it, not you.
As noted, references in the OT prophetic books show that prophets reported what God had decreed, not what the prophets themselves decreed. Decreeing is only in God’s hands, not in anyone else’s.
I.. Summary
And so the power of decreeing does not reside in the Christian. He is sometimes just a vessel through whom God speaks his own decree. The Christian can say, “I believe God gave me a revelation of his decree. I speak out and prophesy His decree. I declare His decree! Now I don’t want to bypass God when I decree. Let’s pray that the Father’s decree will be done at the right time in the right way. And you may judge my prophecy. I am humble enough to realize that I may be wrong. I am a fallible human.” But decrees originate with God, not with the Christian. God decrees. Christians pray, and sometimes God speaks to a Christian to prophesy God’s decree. But God is not obligated to obey our human centered decree. He will probably ignore it because of our arrogance and presumption.
VI.. Application
A.. Surrender to God and his will
Yes, we can speak to existing obstacles, but God is sovereign. He decides to move it or allow it. We must not lose faith or heart if we have to go through trials. God may be disciplining us to develop in us good character or have any other number of reasons to sustain us while we go through trials.
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (Jas. 1:2-4)
Or he allows us to go through trials for other reasons. (Please note: God does not cause disasters or sickness, but he does use them.) You cannot decree (or even pray) such things away from you if God has allowed them. And you cannot decree that you will become rich when God says no. Submit and surrender yourselves to God. And pray that God will see you through any trial.
23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23)
20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Gal. 2:20)
Trust God with your life. Try praying to your loving Father and asking him what you can learn through living life in Christ as he sees you through or over or around the obstacle or removes it after your speaking to it. He is the good Father. Your life is in his hands.
B.. Avoiding the sin of presumption
Lord, give me even a small amount of faith. Yet let’s never forget that faith rests on the will of God. We Renewalists must be very careful about commanding God or things in nature to happen because we want them to. Word-of-Hyper-Faith teachers say they read the word and understand what the will of God is, so they can command things. Part of that is true because of what Jesus just said in those command Scriptures, but partly certain excessive Word-of-Hyper-Faith teachers often misinterpret Scriptures which seem to indicate they can boss God around, like humans calling things into existence. But only God can do this.
C.. Discerning God’s will by living in the Spirit.
Do not stomp around in your own home, skipping over and ignoring God by not praying. Decreeing bypasses God and concentrates too much power in the hands of selfish, unwise, short-sighted, and fallible Christians and prophets. God will not jump up from his throne and scurry around and obey the puny human’s decree. No. Pray to him to send revival or righteousness across the land and other wonderful things.
Let’s follow Jesus in discerning the will of God. Jesus clarified that he does only what he sees his Father doing (John 5:19). He lives because of the Father (John 6:57). He speaks only what the Father taught him (John 8:28). He does what he sees the Father do (John 10:37). What Jesus says is just what the Father told him to say (John 12:49-50, 57). If he lived life in union with his Father, then we need to do this too, though of course much scaled down, because we are not the Anointed Ones. We do not have the title Messiah or Christ.
We too should develop life in the Spirit (Gal. 5), so we can hear from the Father through the Spirit, in Jesus’s name and authority granted to us. We will never heal exactly as Jesus did, because he is the Anointed One of the Spirit without limits (John 3:34). But after the cross and the Son’s ascension, the Spirit can distribute the gifts of healings (plural) as he determines (1 Cor. 12:11), not as we “name and claim” or “decree and declare.” Let the Spirit work, and you listen and obey, and then rebuke a disease (not the person) or a demon or pray for healing. The demon has to obey and go. So, yes, speak to your personal obstacle, but surrender your will to his and listen to him and his directives.
D.. Praying for healing and demon expulsion
Let’s apply this teaching about faith commands to healing. In my own life, I have heard from God that a sickness in a relative was “not a sickness unto death.” She has been cancer free for many years, after surgery and other treatment. I also received a personal word that another relative was going to be taken home, so I should not pray for his healing (he died a few days later). No amount of commanding and pleading and rebuking would have altered the outcome.
And to be honest, I have seemingly heard from God about another relative and believed God would heal him, but he died. I was going through a time of deception in my life, but even in this case I relented and realized in his last hours that he would not be healed. I had been deceived, but I did not give up on healing because of this disappointment (even after another relative lectured me about how wrong I was).
I also had to expel demonic influence (not possession) out of my life. We can do this with prayers of command. Often the prayers have to be persistent. Keep praying!
One good way to leave behind your desperation is to read up on Scriptures that talk about who God is, how much he loves you. Also study Scriptures that promise healing. Healing is in the word. I never give up on the clear teaching of Scripture. We need to follow what Jesus said about healing and his example and actively do faith, not pull back or go inside our shells like a turtle and give up. Disappointments happen down here on earth. It is the human condition. Pray for healing fearlessly and with active faith!
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Dr. Jim's Essential Bible Teaching 