TRACT NO. 9
"DECREE AND DECLARE - GOD IS NOT YOUR HOUSEBOY"
"Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be
established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways." - Job
22:28
THE POPULAR ERROR
Today's preaching has become full of decrees:
"I decree! I declare! I decree that car is mine! I
declare that contract must come! I decree heaven must obey me!"
Many preachers now teach Christians to command God. They say
"Don't beg God, just decree!" So people shout at God, command God,
and give orders to angels as if God is their houseboy.
Because of this, many Christians no longer pray with humility. They no longer say "If it be Thy will." They command, they decree, they declare, and when nothing happens, they become frustrated and backslide.
They have turned prayer, which is humble request to a
Father, into commanding God like a servant.
This is a serious error. We must correct it.
THE BIBLICAL TRUTH
1. Who said Job 22:28? Was it God or Eliphaz?
Check your Bible well. Job 22:28 was NOT spoken by God. It
was spoken by Eliphaz the Temanite, one of Job's friends whom God later
rebuked!
"...the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath
is kindled against thee... for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is
right..." - Job 42:7
How can we take the mistaken advice of a man God rebuked and
make it a doctrine? This is wrong foundation.
Even if the principle has some truth, it cannot mean we
command God.
2. Can a servant decree to his master?
"Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so
I am." - John 13:13
We are the servants. God is the Master. A servant does not
decree to his master. A servant HUMBLY ASKS his master.
Even Jesus, the Son of God, did not decree to the Father. He
prayed:
"...nevertheless not my will, but thine, be
done." - Luke 22:42
If Jesus prayed with humility and surrender, who are we to
be decreeing and declaring orders to God?
3. What is true Biblical prayer?
True prayer is asking, seeking, knocking with humility and
faith in God's will.
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall
find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." - Matthew 7:7
"Ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and
receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your
lusts." - James 4:2-3
We ASK. We don't decree to God. God is the One who decrees,
and we receive.
The only place we have authority to decree is against the
devil and his works, in the Name of Jesus, and even that must be according to
God's Word.
4. The power is in God's Word, not in our shouting.
God said: "So shall my word be that goeth forth
out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void..." - Isaiah
55:11
It is God's Word that is decreed from heaven that will
stand, not my word to heaven.
When we pray according to God's will revealed in His Word,
God will answer. 1 John 5:14
WHAT SHOULD WE PREACH?
Stop preaching: "Decree to God! Command heaven! God
must obey your declaration!"
Start preaching: "Humbly ask your Father in the Name of
Jesus according to His will, and He will hear you."
Preach humility in prayer. Preach surrender. Preach
"Thy will be done."
"And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our
Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be
done, as in heaven, so in earth." - Luke 11:2
Notice: Thy will be done, not my decree be done.
Preach that God is sovereign. He is not our errand boy. We
are His children, and children ask their Father respectfully.
A CALL TO HUMBLE PRAYER
Are you tired of decreeing and declaring with no result?
Return to humble prayer. Tell God: "Father, this is
what I desire, but let Your will be done. I trust Your wisdom more than my
desire."
That is the prayer God answers quickly.
Pray with me:
"Father in heaven, forgive me for commanding You as
if You are my servant. You are my Lord and my Master. Today I repent of pride.
I come humbly to You in the Name of Jesus. Let Your will be done in my life.
Grant my request if it is according to Your will, and give me grace to accept
Your perfect will. Amen."
Written By:
Pst. Edward Freedom
Please look out for TRACT NO. 10 in this series:
"CROWD IS NOT PROOF OF TRUTH - God Is Not In Numbers"
For copies, counselling and prayers, contact the author.
