What Many Don't Know About Prophetic Promises

One of the major difficulties people experience when receiving prophecies about their future come from an insufficient understanding of prophetic promises. Commonly there is an assumption that whenever God speaks there is a 100% guarantee that it will come to pass. After all, God said it. 

While this may have the appearance of great faith, it actually significantly misses the mark biblically.  

When we look at scripture we find that when God speaks His promises can be categorized (3) ways. In this video I want to share the (3) Types of Prophetic Promises. 

1. Decree—it will happen.

2. Conditional—it will happen if____.

3. Invitation—it can happen.

God speaks in decrees—it will happen. 

It is true, there are times in scripture where God speaks in decrees. That is, what He has spoken will absolutely come to pass. Decrees are acts of God that are not contingent on human partnership or faithful obedience. We see this in creation. God said ‘let there be light’. And there was (Gen. 1:3). While God may use human actions to bring these promises to pass, decrees are not conditioned upon human partnership. Decrees can be identified in our process of testing the prophecy with the Lord.

God speaks conditional promises—it will happen if...

God does give promises that are conditional upon our faith, obedience and active partnership with Him. The Bible is full of conditional promises. One of the most famous being 2 Chron. 7:14 If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their sin, THEN I will hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land. One of the most epic promises of revival in the Bible is not a decree, it’s a conditional promise—it requires specific human partnership for it to come to pass. 

God speaks invitations—it can happen.

God sometimes speaks in a way that is meant to elevate our faith for what can happen with Him. I call these invitations because they carry with them an opportunity to join God in His work toward His preferred future. The Father in Psalm 2 gives a decree, You are My Son today I have begotten you (v. 7) but he then follows with an invitation, Ask of Me and I will give you the nations as you inheritance and the ends of the earth as your possession (v. 8). Invitations elevate us to God-possiblities.  

There you have it, (3) Types of Prophetic Promises. 

For more on this topic, check out How to Test Prophecy.

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