The Role of John in the New Testament
In one of the gospels, John wrote and referred to Jesus as the son of God, son of man, divine actor, great soul winner, great physician, bread of life, water of life, defender of the weak, light of the world, the good shepherd, prince of life, King, servant, counselor, true vine, giver of the Holy Ghost, great intercessor, model sufferer, uplifted Savior, conqueror of death and restorer of the penitent.
He was the author of the gospel according to John, the first, second and the third epistles of John, and he finally authored the last book of the Bible, which is the book of Revelation. He identified himself with other believers during Domitian’s great persecution, who was also a Roman emperor. John was arrested, detained and thrown into a boiling drum of oil. But he came out of the boiling oil alive. Finally, he was imprisoned at the isle of Patmos where he was expected to be eaten up by wild and sea animals. He was about 90 years old at that time and Christ appeared to him and gave him the accurate revelatory account of the end times.
Jesus commanded John to write down all he would see and hear, and he did. John’s writing became the famous book of Revelation. But when John wrote up to the 17th chapter, something happened. The queen of heaven, the mother of all abominations upon the earth, distracted him. So, John abandoned his God’s given assignment to admire this evil woman. What he needed to do was to decree against this evil woman, but his admiration for this mother of all harlots increased greatly instead. When he needed to decree a word, he could not. Sadly, John dropped his writing materials to admire an enemy of God, a woman that was sitting upon people’s destinies, marriages, businesses, etc.
Before he could come back to himself and pick up his writing materials, it was almost late. Thank God that an angel of God intervened and spoke on his behalf. Your ministry, marriage, business or career could remain in mess if you continue to remain quiet, refusing to speak. Open your mouth and decree a thing. John’s ministry would have been aborted had the angel of God not spoken on his behalf. We all may not get the chance for an angel of God to speak for us all the time. That is why it is so important that you learn how to decree for yourself.
The Importance of Participatory Prayer
“And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. And the angel said unto me, wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. And he saith unto me, the waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues” (Revelation 17:6-7, 15).
Many believers still approach prayers from a spectator’s point of view rather than participatory. It is not profitable to attend prayer meetings to watch how people prayer instead of participating in praying. That is why great ministers and ministries have converted more attendees and admirers of prayer than participators. You must learn how to utter decrees without being apologetic. If John, who knew so much about Christ, could be affected in such a manner, and almost lost his ministry, then we must be careful. We must be watchful and re-examine our lives always.
Are you sure, you are still in the ministry that God put you? Have you been distracted by worldly cares and material things, without reference to Christ? Have you been building empires for yourself or for Christ? If John, who saw resurrected and glorified Christ, could come so close to losing his ministry, then we must watch out for ourselves. Have you stopped praying and decreeing as you were commanded?
“Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set” (Proverbs 22:28).
The Power of Decrees in Faith and Perseverance
In the days of ancient prophets, they never closed their mouths or stopped believing God until miracles took place and their words confirmed. No one or any situation was able to distract them, not even dire consequences that trailed their lives. Nothing could change their convictions. They stopped the rain, and prayed down rain. The threats of Ahab or Jezebel, and their likes, did not shake. They did not give up easily. The dryness of the earth was not enough evidence to prove their prophecies were defeated. They believed God for change, regardless of how long afflictions continued.
“And Elijah said unto Ahab, get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain. So, Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, and said to his servant, go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, there is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand. And he said, go up, say unto Ahab, prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not. And it came to pass in the meanwhile, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel” (1 Kings 18:41-45).
Those who know how to decree a thing do not give up easily. They do not regard of evil reports, regardless of how evident they seem. They always win, in life or in death. Such people believe in asking, seeking and receiving, and do not subscribe to failures. Even after death, they are still winners.
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8).
At dying hours, people, who know how to decree according to God’s Word, still trust God for miracles. They understand there is only one physical life, and are determined to live their physical lives to the glory of God. Such people do not believe in cheap means of success. Nothing can separate such people from the love they have for Christ. Even as they go through tribulations and persecutions, words of decree remain evident in their mouths. In distresses, they do not surrender to the wishes of their enemies. In famine and persecution, they decree words of faith. In nakedness and peril, they remain steadfast. Death, life, angels, principalities or powers can never persuade them change their love for Christ. Even in prosperity, people of decree continue with continuous decrees of faith, while maintain positive outlook about life.
Prayers for Freedom & Victory
- Any power that is eating up my joy and peace, die, in the name of Jesus.
- By the power in the name of Jesus, I command my deliverance to appear, in the name of Jesus.
- O Lord, release Your divine favor into my life by fire, in the name of Jesus.
- Every seed of evil in my life, come out and die, in the name of Jesus.
- I cut my life off from powers of darkness assigned to waste my life, in the name of Jesus.
- Every bondage of poverty in my life, break, in the name of Jesus.
- Every evil foundation, laid by my ancestors, collapse, in the name of Jesus.
- Let territorial powers that have captured my progress release it and die, in the name of Jesus.
- I walk out by fire from every satanic yoke, in the name of Jesus.
- I refuse to be a servant to my servants, in the name of Jesus.