How can we "decree a thing" in alignment with God's will today? Setting the Verse in Its Context • Job 22:28 records Eliphaz telling Job, “Your decisions will be carried out, and light will shine on your ways.” • Although Eliphaz later admits error (Job 42:7), the Holy Spirit preserved this statement to reveal a principle repeated elsewhere in Scripture: what we confess in faith, in harmony with God’s will, is established by Him. What “Decree” Signifies • To decree is to speak out a judgment, decision, or settled conclusion. • Scripture links righteous decrees with God’s own declarations (Psalm 119:89; Isaiah 55:11). • In the New Testament the same concept appears in Jesus’ teaching on speaking to mountains (Mark 11:23) and abiding in His words (John 15:7). Conditions for Effective Decrees 1. Agreement with God’s revealed will – 1 John 5:14-15: asking “according to His will” brings assurance. 2. Alignment with Scripture’s moral boundaries – James 4:3 exposes requests driven by selfish motives. 3. Abiding fellowship with Christ – John 15:7 ties effective asking to remaining in Him. 4. Reliance on the Spirit, not personal power – Ephesians 6:17 calls God’s Word “the sword of the Spirit,” underscoring divine, not human, authority. How to Decree Biblically • Submit the matter to God in advance (Proverbs 16:3). • Search Scripture for promises or principles that cover the need. • Phrase the decree as agreement with God, not as a command to Him: – “Father, Your Word says __________; therefore, in Jesus’ name, I speak __________ to be established.” • Speak with faith, free of doubt (Mark 11:23). • Continue in thanksgiving rather than repeated pleading (Philippians 4:6). Promises Believers May Rightly Decree • Salvation for those who call on the Lord (Romans 10:13). • Provision for genuine needs (Philippians 4:19). • Wisdom when sought in faith (James 1:5-6). • Peace that guards the heart (Isaiah 26:3; John 14:27). • Victory over demonic oppression (Luke 10:19). Misunderstandings to Avoid • Treating decrees as magic formulas; power rests in God, not vocabulary. • Declaring outcomes God has not promised—e.g., luxury, vengeance, or bypassing Christ’s cross-shaped path. • Ignoring God’s sovereignty; even Jesus prayed, “Yet not My will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Living in the Light That Shines • Speak God’s Word with confidence, then walk obediently, expecting the “light” of guidance (Psalm 119:105). • Maintain a repentant, humble posture so nothing hinders the decree (Psalm 66:18). • Share testimonies of God’s faithfulness, strengthening others to decree in harmony with His will (Revelation 12:11). |
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