UNDERSTANDING PROPHETIC DECREES
I. How Prophets Make Biblically Sound Prophetic Decrees — Using Ezekiel 37 as a Template
In Ezekiel 37:1–14, God brings the prophet Ezekiel into the valley of dry bones. The key principle of prophetic ministry here is that Ezekiel does not speak his own words; he speaks exactly what God commands.
“And He said to me, ‘Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.’”— Ezekiel 37:4 (ESV)
Ezekiel is told to
prophesy, not to
decree from his own imagination or authority. His prophetic act is a response to divine instruction, not human initiative. The pattern is:
- Ezekiel receives the word —revelation.
- He speaks the word — Obedience.
- The Spirit acts on the word —manifestation.
Thus, a
biblically sound prophetic decree is not a personal command; it is a spoken word of divine origin that the prophet releases in alignment with God’s revealed will.
When Ezekiel prophesied, life entered the bones — but only because he spoke as commanded. The power was never in Ezekiel’s decree; it was in the word of the LORD.
II. Distinguishing Between Decree, Declaration, and Prophecy
Decree – A decree is a formal command or decision issued by one who has authority to enforce it. In Scripture,
decrees ultimately belong to God alone, who sovereignly ordains all things.
“The LORD of hosts has sworn: As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand.” — Isaiah 14:24
No prophet, priest, or believer may issue decrees apart from the revealed will of God. Prophets
echo divine decrees; they do not
originate them.
Declaration – A declaration is the public announcement or proclamation of a truth God has revealed. For example, the psalmist declares God’s righteousness (Psalm 40:9–10). Believers declare what
God has done or
promised to do, but that declaration is not a decree, it is testimony or confession.
Prophetic Declaration (Prophecy) – This is when a prophet utters the exact words of God as revealed by the Spirit.
“For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” — 2 Peter 1:21
Thus, to declare God’s prophetic word is to
speak what God is saying, not to
decide what God should say. This is the essence of biblical prophecy.
III. Examples of Prophetic Decrees (God’s Own Decrees Spoken Through His Prophets)
While the word
decree is rarely used in a human sense, the Bible is filled with divine decrees spoken through prophets and servants. Some examples:
- Creation — “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” — Genesis 1:3
(The first divine decree, revealing that all power rests in God’s spoken word.)
- Abrahamic Blessing — “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.” — Genesis 22:18
- Moses before Pharaoh — “Thus says the LORD, ‘Let My people go.’” — Exodus 5:1
(A divine decree released through a prophet.)
- Samuel’s Word to Saul — “Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king.” — 1 Samuel 15:23
- Elijah’s Word about the Drought — “As the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.” — 1 Kings 17:1
- Elisha’s Word of Provision — “Thus says the LORD: Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel.” — 2 Kings 7:1
- Isaiah’s Word of Deliverance — “The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” — Isaiah 9:7
- Ezekiel’s Word to the Dry Bones — “I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live.” — Ezekiel 37:14
- Jesus’ Prophetic Words — “Lazarus, come forth!” — John 11:43
(The incarnate Word Himself decreeing life, by divine authority.)
Each of these decrees came from the mouth of God, spoken through His servants. The prophet’s authority was always derivative, not original.
IV. The Importance of Prophesying Within Your Measure
Paul warns believers to function within their God-given limits:
“For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” — Romans 12:3
And again:
“Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith.” — Romans 12:6
To
prophesy within your measure means:
- Do not speak beyond what the Spirit has revealed.
- Do not imitate the authority of others.
- Do not claim divine authority for what is merely human aspiration.
- Stay within the boundaries of Scripture and the Spirit’s leading.
When prophets overstep their measure, they risk speaking presumptuously:
“But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name which I have not commanded him to speak… that prophet shall die.” — Deuteronomy 18:20
True prophetic ministry is marked by humility, obedience, and alignment with the Word of God.
V. Understanding Job 22:28 in Context of Decrees-
“You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established for you; and light shall shine on your ways.” — Job 22:28 (KJV)
These words are spoken by Eliphaz the Temanite, one of Job’s friends. Although not every statement made by Job’s friends was doctrinally correct, some of what they said contained fragments of truth about how God operates. The key is to filter their words through the total revelation of Scripture.
When Eliphaz says,
“You shall decree a thing,” he is expressing a truth later confirmed elsewhere in Scripture: that those who walk uprightly before God, in faith and righteousness, can speak God’s will into manifestation — not by independent authority, but by alignment with divine purpose.
Thus, Job 22:28 should not be read as “humans can create reality by words,” but rather, “those who walk in covenant with God can declare what God has already purposed, and heaven will back it.”
This is consistent with Ezekiel 37, where Ezekiel speaks not what he wants, but what God commands — and life follows.
VI. The Difference Between God’s Decree and Man’s Decree
God’s decree is sovereign, eternal, and creative. His decrees originate from His will and carry the power of fulfillment within themselves.
“Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.” — Psalm 119:89
“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void.” — Isaiah 55:11
When God decrees, He commands reality to conform to His will.
Man’s decree, on the other hand, is delegated — it carries authority only insofar as it aligns with God’s decree. When believers decree, they do not invent outcomes; they agree with heaven’s will and release it by faith.
“Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” — Matthew 18:18
The verbs “bind” and “loose” in the Greek suggest
declaring on earth what heaven has already determined. This is not independent authority but cooperative authority – speaking from union with Christ.
VII. Scriptures affirming that believers can speak or decree God’s Word
when their words are in harmony with God’s will:
- Mark 11:23 — “Whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his h e a r t . . . h e w i l l h a v e w h a t e v e r h e s a y s . ” Here, faith-filled speech brings God’s will into visible reality, not by human willpower but by trusting God’s power.
- Romans 10:8–10 — “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart… if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be ” The confession (spoken decree) of faith releases salvation. This is a divine pattern: believing, speaking, and receiving.
- 2 Corinthians 4:13 — “We also believe, and therefore speak.”
Faith always finds its expression in speech. Spirit-filled decrees are faith declarations rooted in divine revelation.
- Proverbs 18:21 — “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Words carry creative or destructive power because they reflect either agreement with God’s truth or with unbelief.
- Matthew 16:19 — “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven.” Jesus gives believers authority to enforce heaven’s decrees through obedient faith and proclamation.
- John 15:7 — “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”
This shows that the power of decree depends on abiding in Christ and His word abiding in you. Only then are our words and His will united.
VIII. How Christians Can Decree Biblically and Safely
To “decree a thing” biblically is not to invent one’s own will and demand God to perform it. It is to speak forth what God has already said, believe it, and stand in faith until it manifests.
A sound prophetic decree therefore, follows this pattern:
- Revelation — You receive insight from Scripture or the Spirit.
- Alignment — You discern that this word aligns with God’s will and character.
- Proclamation — You speak that word in faith, declaring God’s will over your situation.
- Manifestation — The Spirit brings the word to pass, according to His timing and purpose.
Ezekiel 37 demonstrates this perfectly: Ezekiel spoke, not from imagination, but as commanded, and the Spirit acted. The same principle applies to New Testament believers who walk in the authority of Christ.
A mature believer learns to balance humility with boldness.
- Humility — Recognizing that only God’s decrees are absolute, sovereign, and creative.
- Boldness — Recognizing that God invites His people to partner with Him by speaking His word in faith.
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” — Hebrews 4:16
Thus, when Christians “decree a thing,” we do so from a place of submission, not presumption. We decree what God has decreed; we declare what God has revealed; we prophesy what the Spirit gives.
This keeps our speech both powerful and pure; prophetic without being presumptuous.
