Can You Bribe YAHWEH?
We cannot bribe Elohim neither can we trick HIM. He is Jehovah El-Roi; God who sees more than you think. HE sees your heart, so HE knows whether you love Him or you are just praying and fasting to appease Him so He can bail you out of the predicament you are in.
Some time ago, two people came to me to agree with them in prayer on certain issues. When I started praying with one of them, the Holy Spirit told me to ask certain questions, which I did. The Holy Spirit made me to understand that one of these people had simply been memorising some verses in the bible to make brethren feel that she loved God and was a friend of God. This person wasn’t only pretending to be Godly but was also living a sinful life; even though she was always in the church, praying and fasting, and served in different capacities within the Church she attended.
Do you think Yahweh, ‘The Existing One’, is going to answer the prayer of this type of a person? The answer is NO, unless they repent, and God grants them mercy.
The other person was waiting on the LORD for the fruit of the womb and was faithful to God. The Holy Spirit told me about this faithful daughter of Zion’s spiritual issue. After the fervent prayers and fasting of this righteous and virtuous woman, Good looked down on her in HIS mercy and defeated her enemies, delivered her from the snare of the fowlers, and opened her womb just like Hannah.
Yahweh-Tsedek (Tsidkenu), ‘The Lord our righteousness’ answers prayers, most especially when you truly humble yourself before HIM.
Your fasting is to humble your spirit man before God, our merciful father. God will not humble you, but HE can humiliate you. Humility is an effective prerequisite for answered prayer
The book of Philippians, chapter 2 verses 5 & 9 talks about how God sent HIS son Yeshua Ha’Mashiach to us in human form, emptied himself, became a servant, humbled himself and became obedient even to the point of death. Therefore, Jehovah highly exalted Yeshua and gave to Him the name above every other name.
God will exalt the humble in heart.
Yeshua explains prayer and fasting to us in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 6:5-6 & 16-24; part of the prerequisites for God answering prayers when you humble yourself with fasting are clearly stated in the teaching of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah in the above scripture.
This is main reason why one of the fathers in the faith, John Wesley, a leader of revival movement within the church of England Known as Methodism, now known as the Methodist Church would not ordain any believer who did not fast every Wednesday as required then.
Fasting is abstaining from food for spiritual purposes. Fasting is an appropriate way to humble ourselves by bringing our spirits and souls into submission to the Holy Spirit.
Luke 14:11 says “For everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled (humiliated), and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
Also, James chapter 4 verse 10 says that when you humble yourself in obedience to the will of God, you shall be exalted in righteousness.
Where there is pride, no matter how little it is, the Kingdom of God cannot reside in that temple. Your soul and body, and your spirit man will be far from God Almighty, El-Shaddai.
When you are a baby Christian, God can easily pardon you because of your ignorance and call you back to HIMSELF. When you start to play smart with God, you will face the consequences.
If you are obedient to the will of God and you pray, the result of your prayer will be on its way to you. God is never late to deliver His promises. Remember, you time is not God’s appointed time. Wait, in the knowledge that the answer will not tarry.
I remember the story of two brothers who we will refer to as brother A and brother B. Brother A got rich financially at an early age. He was not as close to God as brother B. Brother B was diligent in righteousness and his ways were pleasing to God. Suddenly, God opened the windows of Heaven and showered uncommon blessings upon brother B’s life, but the life of brother A was just ordinary, because of his ways that were not pleasing to Yahweh.
I remember another story in the bible, where three Hebrew boys refused to bow down to the way of life in Babylon and were thrown into the fire as a result. Jehovah Shammah appeared in their midst. Remember! YAHWEH RAAH (ROHI) promises, in the book of Psalms, chapter 23; HE will not leave you because HE is your good Shepherd. Though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you shall fear no evil. When you pray, cast your burden unto him totally with no doubt, HE shall surely show up. Yeshua said that He is with us always, till the end. In righteousness, when you pray, trust and obey, and know that your prayers have been answered.
Daniel was a righteous man, not before men, but God. Daniel’s prayer was answered from the very first day he prayed to God. The answer to his prayers came to manifestation after three weeks. So, the fervent prayer of the righteous availed much. Do not stop praying until you get the answer.
Remember, praise Yahweh more than you pray. There is victory in your praise.
A prayerless Christian is powerless. Your stomach is a very good and obedient servant when you are a disciplined Christian, but a terrible master when it’s in control of you. When you say that you are a Christian and find all sort of excuses not to fast, you will be weak, spiritually. Yeshua said “when we fast,” not “If you fast.” Have you forgotten, Yeshua Ha’Mashiach said in Mark Chapter 9, verse29; “This kind can come out by nothing except by prayer and fasting”? Do you have any excuse not to pray nor fast in righteousness?
What are the qualities of Effective Prayer & Fasting?
You are to totally surrender your life to God by accepting Yeshua the Messiah as your Lord and Saviour. You are to obediently live a righteous life. When you truly pray in humility, with fasting, miracles happen. Here you can start claiming the benefits and promises of Jehovah.
Leviticus chapter 16, verses 29 to 31; When your day of atonement (YON KIPUR) comes, after repentance, your true prayer of forgiveness with fasting and submission to Jehovah’s will, shall ring about deliverance from the pains of this world. Your sins are forgiven in Yeshua’s name. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but El-Shaddai delivers him from them all. In the Messiah you will be at peace no matter what your situation is, your Jehovah Shalom will never leave you nor forsake you.
When you pray and fast, God’s protection is upon you. You can see this in the book of Ezra chapter 8.
According to Nehemiah chapter 9, When you are fasting, praising Him for all HIS wonderous acts, in HIS mercy, (Nehemiah 1), prosperity shall come from God.
In your righteous living, you will not be anxious about this world, but be selfless like Anna in Luke chapter 2. As you obey God, being full of the unfailing spirit of servanthood, Jehovah will take care of you needs. Remember, HE is your shepherd and supplier, Yahweh JIREH. God will surely supply your needs according to HIS riches in glory, in Yeshua the Messiah. Philippians 4:19
In Isaiah 58; God’s answer exceeds your expectation when you fast and pray with an unshakeable faith, and with obedience to HIS will, giving alms, helping the needy and living together in harmony. Verses 5 & 6 states clearly the type of fasting God delights in.
When you are about to make a life changing decision, you need to pray and fast for God’s direction. Many Churches today appoint spiritual heads, leaders and elders into an office of spiritual influence without seeking God’s face for direction. Thus, there is no more power in the church.
We see in 2Corinthians chapter 6, 11 & 13; the apostles prayed and fasted for God to choose who to replace Judas and who to send on the spiritual mission. This is an evidence of the power of positive prayer and fasting.
Direction for your new assignment will be clearer. When you are in true relationship with Yahweh, the Holy Spirit will be giving you clear directives in your servanthood journey with Adonai. This is what happened to Peter in the book of Acts chapter 10. Clear directives.
Finally, brethren, you are walking with El-Shaddai, and the All Sufficient God will be your provider in times of need. He will be your Jehovah Shalom when you are in distress, and your El-Shammah when you are lonely. HE is your Rapha-El that heals your mortal body, heal you emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually. He is Jehovah Sabaoth, God of Hosts, your avenger. He is Yahweh Tsuri, your rock of protection. He is also Jehovah Nissi, your banner of defence. And guess what? Abba Father, Jehovah is your IMMANUEL. HE will always be with you.
SHALOM, SHALOM, & SHALOM Aleikhem.