In recent decades there has been a growing trend, particularly in charismatic and Pentecostal circles, to emphasize the practice of making declarations and decrees. Many believe that simply speaking a word – whether it be healing, the election of a political candidate, or even the end of a pandemic – will produce immediate and visible results.

The COVID-19 pandemic, for example, has seen many high-level leaders decree an end to the virus or claim political outcomes, but these proclamations have not materialized. This phenomenon calls for further theological examination, especially when compared to the biblical practice of intercession and waiting for God’s will.

I believe that statements often fail when they are made presumptuously – without the foundational work of intercession, faith, and understanding the specific will of God. This problem is not with the statements themselves but with the assumption that one can circumvent the deeper processes of discernment and prayer. Therefore, making presumptuous statements often short-circuits the process of Spirit-led intercessory prayer that leads to breakthrough.

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Additionally, some people mistakenly believe that simply because they hold the title of apostle or prophet, they possess the inherent authority to make statements that God is required to fulfill based on their position alone. This hypothesis confuses an assumed spiritual function with spiritual authority. However, God is not obligated to honor statements made outside of His purpose, regardless of the individual’s ecclesial position.

The Biblical Basis for Making Statements

The idea of ​​creating things by speech or calling “things which are not as though they were” (Romans 4:17) is frequently cited by proponents of decrees. After all, Abraham is a model of this practice, confidently declaring that he would father a great nation. However, Abraham’s confidence was not based on his statements but on a specific promise from God. God had explicitly spoken to Abraham, assuring him that he would have a son, and this divine assurance laid the foundation for Abraham’s faith-filled words.

Likewise, when Jesus cursed the fig tree (Mark 11:12-14), it was not an arbitrary act of power. Jesus often spent entire nights in prayer and acted in deep communion with the Father. Isaiah 50:4 highlights how, “morning by morning,” God gave Jesus the wisdom and words he needed each day. Jesus only did what he saw his Father doing (John 5:19), indicating that his actions, including the fig tree incident, flowed from an intimate knowledge of God’s will. This is an essential distinction. Statements are only effective when they are aligned with God’s revealed purpose, achieved through a life of prayer and intercession.

The power and process of intercession

Unlike the miracle approach of decrees, intercession involves a patient and often sacrificial process of seeking God’s will. It is not just about making requests, but about standing in the gap, mediating between Heaven and earth, and aligning one’s mind with the leading of the Holy Spirit. I argue that the modern Church has largely lost this “art of intercession,” replacing it with superficial prayer lists or quick proclamations.

True intercession requires time, discernment and the willingness to wait for a breakthrough. As we pray, the Holy Spirit often gives us insight into what God is doing and how we should pray. Romans 8:26-27 speaks of this, reminding us that the Spirit helps us in our weakness, interceding through us according to the will of God. Without this discernment, statements can become hollow, mere words without the backing of the authority of Heaven.

I remember in the early 1990s there was a Category 5 hurricane heading toward Puerto Rico. Sensing an urgent burden from God, our local church engaged in hours of prayer and intercession, seeking God’s purpose for the island. We felt authorized to declare that the hurricane would turn away only after we had acquired a deep sense of faith. And indeed, the storm changed course unexpectedly, sparing Puerto Rico. This account emphasizes the principle that declarations should follow intercession, not precede it.

Statements must be rooted in God’s will

The main problem with many contemporary statements is that they are based on human desires rather than divine directives. The Bible encourages believers to have faith and to speak with authority (Mark 11:23-24), but Jesus’ teaching also emphasizes the need to believe in the heart before speaking with the mouth. Faith is not presumptuous optimism but a confident assurance that comes from hearing the voice of God. Romans 10:17 reminds us: “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Without first hearing from God, statements become empty rhetoric.

Unfortunately, many believers today wish to avoid the work of prayer and intercession, opting instead for quick declarations in hopes of seeing immediate results. However, faith is not developed through shortcuts. Spiritual authority to declare comes after investing time in God’s presence, discerning His will, and allowing faith to awaken in the heart.

The importance of Spirit-led faith

At the heart of effective declarations is “Spirit-led faith,” a faith that arises from the leading of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. It is not enough to quote scriptures or speak positively. There must be spiritual alignment between the believer’s words and the will of God. This is what makes statements powerful. When the words spoken are filled with the authority of God and supported by faith, they carry the weight of heaven. But they often produce little or no results if done hastily, without the foundation of reverence for Christ, prayer and intercession.

The story of Jesus cursing the fig tree and commanding the mountains to move (Mark 11:23) only makes sense in light of His abiding connection with the Father. Before Jesus performed miracles or made decrees, he spent time in solitude, prayer, and intimate fellowship with God. This model shows that spiritual authority arises from relationships, not formal statements.

The contrast between decrees and intercession is crucial for the Church today. While declarations have their place, they are no substitute for the slow, intentional work of intercession. Statements must be based on Spirit-induced faith in the will of God. Without a foundation of intercession, where the believer waits on God, listens to His voice, and discerns His purposes, declarations risk being just empty words.

In an age where quick fixes and quick fixes are prized, the call to return to intercession is more relevant than ever. The Church must rediscover the art of waiting on God, seeking His will, and allowing spirit-induced faith to shape its pronouncements. Only then will the words we speak have the authority necessary to carry out the will of Heaven on earth.