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[Editor's note:Â Below are the prophetic insights shared by Brenda Kunneman during her latest ElijahStreams interview. You can watch the full episode using the link at the bottom of this article.]
Why Decrees?
I strongly believe in the power of the words and declarations that we speak. I believe in the power of the decree! Decrees are more than just spoken words and prayers, but rather words spoken with faith and with an element of authority and finality. They are spoken as the final say on a matter that cannot be altered, just as a legal decree on civic matters is such. The decree becomes the law, and all entities must act in line with the decree.
God has already decreed from His Word, the Bible. He has already laid out what He wants to do and what His will is for us regarding healing. It's our job to align ourselves with what He has already decreed and to speak accordingly. I believe there is another layer beyond just maintaining a positive confession. There is a type of commanding declaration that flies in the face of demonic spirits and also alerts our own mind to align with God for our healing. This summarizes the meaning of a decree. This is to empower people to speak and decree in line with God on what outcome they want to experience.
I once heard someone say there are statistics that prove those who use some type of written prayer or prayer guide are far more likely to see results. They are far more confident in what they pray about, because they see it on paper as if it's an unalterable document.
This also underscores why Jesus gave the disciples a prayer guide, so to speak, which we have come to know as "The Lord's Prayer." His disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray, and He responded by saying, "When you pray, say..." (Luke 11:2). Then He laid out the prayer guide for them to say.
I also write decrees because I feel we all need something written in advance of the battles of life we often face. Sometimes when you are in the winds of a storm and a raging battle, it's more challenging to muster up the right words under pressure as everything is coming at you. Of course, the more God's Word is already inside you, the more you will naturally speak it when difficulties arise. But, having a written prayer that we can decree in advance is a special tool of fierceness against the enemy! (Photo via Pexels)
Consider how hard it can be to speak rightly when your emotions are pressed with fear, frustration, and confusion. But when a decree is written in front of you, you can pick it up and say the words no matter how you feel! And the more you decree it, those words will eventually shift how you feel and work to bring your emotions in line...
Leading the Way: From Prayer and the Prophetic to Culture and Politics
Coupled with our duty to be involved in civic issues as both citizens and Christians, we must also lead the way in prayer and prophetic utterance. If we don't pray and prophesy hope over our nation, who will? The saints of God must be involved!
Recent times have brought up a fair amount of controversy over the matter of Christians being involved in the civic and political arena. We certainly see extremes on both sides; however, the greater extreme over the past several decades has truly existed on the side of Christians feeling they should stay out of political affairs, at least for the most part.
It's important, however, to understand that the Bible has plenty to say about God's people being involved in civic and cultural matters. We cannot employ the weak argument that our nation is simply an earthly establishment that will one day be dissolved and, therefore, our only attention should be on God's heavenly Kingdom, abating all necessity to be involved in national issues. That sounds ideal at first glance, except that we live in a world where both the spiritual and natural realms collide. Yes, we wrestle not against flesh and blood. But let's face it, flesh and blood will be used by the demonic forces we are fighting, and we will have to interact with people while simultaneously waging war in the heavenlies.
This fact is true politically and culturally, and we will be forced to be involved (naturally speaking) at some point, whether we want to or not. Avoiding social issues in the name of prioritizing the spiritual realm fails in multiple ways. It's like the schoolteacher saying they won't insert themselves to break up a fight on the playground because the battle is spiritual. We must realize that the hot-button topics which spread across our newspapers and television screens will touch us all on a personal level eventually, and Believers and churches must have their position on these topics clearly injected into the conversation.
Consider that most of the prophets and Old Testament figures inserted themselves on a political level, acting as the force of resistance against the conduct of countless wicked kings and leaders. One of the greatest examples is the prophet Elijah and his constant run of interference against the evil deeds of Ahab and Jezebel. Moses stood up in the face of the political figure Pharaoh and demanded liberty for a people.
Then consider how Jesus was an intercept to the political system and its moral corruption. If He wasn't a thorn in the government's side, they wouldn't have wanted Him dead or accused Him of defying the supremacy of Caesar himself. John the Baptist also confronted Herod and the many evils he had done (Luke 3:19–20). The early apostles, including the apostle Paul, regularly flew in the face of political leaders, defying their threats and mandates to shut down the liberty of the Gospel. (Photo via Picryl)
Today, our fight in the various civic arenas is to be a counter assault to the advancement of darkness. We involve ourselves in the voting process lest it be led down the path to total evil, handing the leadership of our nation over to the vilest of individuals. We speak up on bills and initiatives, otherwise the pleasures of evildoers will become the normal way of life. We stand up for moral righteousness in our schools, capitals, and businesses because we aren't willing to let society fall unchallenged into the hands of demonically inspired agendas.
As pastors, we stand in our church pulpits speaking about moral and civic issues because these issues are addressed in the Bible, and we want God's Word to have a place in society. Therefore, we will gladly assume our responsibility to ensure it. Paul prayed that the Word of the Lord would have the unhindered ability to spread rapidly (2 Thessalonians 3:1). Yet if we don't stand up to the spirit of the antichrist dominating much of the public and political culture, the spreading of God's Word will be hindered.
We know that if left undisputed, there are those who would love nothing more than to close our churches, shut down our voices on the air, and deem the Bible another vehicle of misinformation. If we separate ourselves from the political culture war, content to keep our ministry to a select church audience without including what's happening in society, then that is exactly what they will do. They will ensure we are permanently removed from interfering, as has happened in many socialist countries. It's already being attempted here in the United States on multiple fronts, and it's time to sound the alarm.
Censorship of the Gospel Interrupted
Declaration:
We declare that the Word of God shall have the freedom in our society to be spoken and distributed without resistance, persecution, or censorship. We prophesy that the Word of the Lord and the Gospel shall not return void, but it shall accomplish everything it has been sent to do. We command all demonic operations that would rise to withstand the Word of God to be bound in the name of Jesus!
We speak a breaking apart of the forces that would censor, cancel, ban, and delete the truth, and we say they are rendered ineffective. We say that God's Word and the truth shall be promoted, shared, platformed, and it shall fill the airwaves! May the pulpits and people of this nation who are declaring and standing for truth be given their rightful place of prominence. We decree that all censoring and restriction against the truth shall be interrupted and halted in Jesus' name!
Scripture:
"Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you." (2 Thessalonians 3:1 KJV)
Integrity in Elections
Declaration:
We decree that the United States of America shall be marked by election integrity. Our republic shall be known for laws and legislation that shall protect the democratic process and the right of every citizen to vote and have their vote counted fairly and honestly. We break the power of the thief and the deceiver, and we say that their schemes and plans to manipulate votes shall be exposed in the name of Jesus!
We say that each state shall enact laws to protect its elections from being interfered with by criminal activity. We declare that the courts shall be committed to try and prosecute election fraud. We prophesy that foreign entities shall be stopped from having access to our elections, voting methods, and candidates. We declare that no illegal person's vote or illegitimate votes shall be counted. We bind the work of violence from arising against the true will of the people regarding their votes, in Jesus' name. (Photo via Flickr)
We decree that candidates shall arise who will uphold their oaths to work by and for the people, and they shall maintain their offices in truth and integrity. We say that the voters across this nation shall vote en masse to uphold morality, life, Biblical values, and decency, and that all ballot agendas to further evil in the culture shall be discarded and unable to succeed. We decree that no judge or candidate shall be fraudulently inserted or inaugurated in Jesus' mighty name! We say integrity covers our nation's elections!
Scriptures:
"Do not steal. Do not deceive or cheat one another." (Leviticus 19:11 NLT)
"Make your motions and cast your votes, but God has the final say." (Proverbs 16:33 MSG)
Word of Encouragement
The controversy over election integrity has saturated every recent election, and there have been clear and obvious reasons why this issue concerns voters. One of the most sacred rights of any citizen is to make their voice heard through the casting of their ballots. To realize that one's rights were taken away by fraud is not only infuriating but unacceptable.
As bearers of the truth, every Christian should be among the most outspoken about any hint of election fraud across the board and not be willing to sweep evidence of such under the rug. To believe widespread fraud isn't a reality when clear evidence suggests otherwise is to truly aid the furtherance of a lie. To avoid even looking at evidence is no different.
We, as Believers, should be adamant against turning a blind eye to the truth. In fact, we are the bearers of the truth and should be the ones who set the standard for upholding it.
Of course, because of issues such as election fraud, coupled with candidates who seem to have compromised values, many Believers have taken themselves from the political conversation and determined not to bother voting. However, that approach fixes nothing and only allows evil to go on unchecked. Our nation was built on a fair electoral process, and we must cherish and protect it. Declare in faith for fair and honest elections!
(To watch the full interview, click here.)
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Brenda Kunneman
One Voice Ministries
Email:Â hankandbrenda@ovm.org
Website:Â www.hankandbrenda.orgÂ
Brenda Kunneman is co-founder of One Voice Ministries and pastors Lord of Hosts Church with her husband, Hank. She is a writer and teacher who ministers nationally and internationally, seeing lives changed through the prophetic word and ministry in the Holy Spirit, coupled with a balanced and relevant message. Brenda has authored several books, including The Daily Prophecy, The Truth About Praying for Civic Leaders and Government, War on Sickness, and her Daily Decree Series, which has decree books for Government and Nations, for Children, for Family Blessing and Breakthrough, for Divine Healing, and the first in the series, The Daily Decree. Together with her husband, she co-hosts a weekly TV program, New Level with Hank & Brenda.
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