It is important to know what a decree of God is before we start declaring the decrees. Webster’s dictionary declares a decree as an order or having the force of a law. It is also the judicial decision of a Roman emperor. It can also be a religious ordinance instituted by a council (Merriam-Webster, 2022). According to BibleStudyTools.com, decrees of God are His will and His purposes. His character, how He deals with us, His plans for the future, and what He has already told us will happen, all fall under his decrees.
For example, the devil is a defeated foe. That shall not change. God kicked him out of heaven with a third of the heavenly host. God allows him to run around and irritate humanity, but Satan and his imps will be cast into the lake of fire at the appointed time. Acts 15:18 declares, “Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.”
God is unchangeable. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever more. If God told Moses to stand before him and be holy, that is his expectation for man today. He is not fazed by what society accepts or allows in the church. Isaiah 46:9 declares, “Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me.
As humans, we have plans that do not always align with God. Psalms 33:11 declares, “The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.” There are many decrees in the Bible, and the number is too numerous to name. Romans 8:28 declares, “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.”
You can look at the Ten Commandments to find decrees of God. God is sovereign and does not change his mind about his will, but he is merciful. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20). If God took the time to give these tablets to Moses for the people of God, they are important. These are rulebooks for life and will help make our lives easier if we can live by them.
What Kind of Things Does God Decree?
God decrees all sorts of things for all areas of our lives. God tells us his thoughts are not our thoughts, neither are his ways our ways. It is hard for our minds to conceive the depth of God and how He operates. Many people find it hard to get a grasp on predestination. But the Bible said before I formed you, I knew you. God knows everything. He knows the decisions we are going to make. I try not to focus on predestination with new Christians. It is a bit much for them to grasp. It is like saying the fight is already fixed. If you are a Christian, God knew that you would be one. Just because God gives man free will does not mean he does not know the choices that we are going to make. He tries to help us out in life as much as possible. He has given us the Holy Scriptures. He has given us preachers, teachers, evangelists, pastors, and prophets to help us out in life. Unfortunately, people do not always operate with integrity. That is why it is important to have a relationship with God for yourself so that you can know the character of God. You have read His Word, and you know His will.
It is easy to try and con people, but the astute saint is a Bible scholar. They will study God’s Word to show themselves approved unto God, rightly dividing the Word of truth. People who say they are called and sent by God have a higher level of accountability. If you are a pastor, you have an elevated level of accountability. Scripture even spells out how clergy should act and how they are to conduct themselves.
We cannot take advice from any and everybody; the counsel of the Lord prevails. You want sound council. Read the book of Proverbs. There are so many ways to stay connected with the Word of God. You have audible Bibles and your printed Bible. There is no excuse not to be informed concerning what God declares and decrees. You can listen to your audio Bible on your phone while commuting to and from work and as you run your errands.
Lessons from the Decrees of God for Today
We know from the decrees of God that he is a god of judgment. We will all stand before the Great White Throne, both small and great, male and female, saint and sinner. We are fortunate that Jesus came to earth and became the Lamb or the sacrifice for us. We have missed so much judgment because of Jesus.
We know that God is sovereign. He does not have to check with anyone to see if He can bless you. If He promised you something, He will make good on His promise. Why he blesses some people and others, we cannot know.
We know it is up to God when we pass away, even if it’s unexpected. During this coronavirus, many people have died. I and others have prayed for people, and they died anyway. We have to accept what God allows to happen and realize the season that we are in. If the door is open for someone to get their spot in heaven, they need to walk through that door.
We know that God is watching us, and He knows the heart and understands if we are having struggles. He will make a way of escape for us, but we have to want the escape.
I thank God that I was born after Jesus Christ. I do not know if I could have made it in Moses’ days or centuries before Christ came. We are afforded so much grace during this particular time. That is favor.
Prayers to Remember the Decrees of God
Gracious God, move us to live every day as if it were to be our last, for we do not know if it might be. Cause us to live as if we know it is our last hour. O grant that we may not die with any guilt on our consciences or any known unrepented sin, but that we may be found in Christ, who is our only Savior and Redeemer.—Thomas á Kempis
Almighty and eternal God, by your Holy Spirit, you have revealed to us the gospel of your Son, Christ Jesus. Awaken our hearts that we may sincerely receive your Word and not make light of it or hear it without fruit as did your people long ago. Instead, lead us to fear you and daily grow in faith in your mercy and finally, through your Son Christ Jesus, obtain eternal salvation; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever.—Veit Dietrich
(Excerpted from “7 Prayers of Faith to Pray for Strength and Trust in God”)
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