Let's begin with a little quiz on the subject of fasting:

1. Who was the first person who fasted in the Bible?
2. What was the longest length of time of a fast?
3. Who were the three people who fasted for 40 days each?

1 Moses was the first recorded faster in the Bible

                         2the longest time of fasting was for 80 days

(Deuteronomy 9:9,18)

Jesus	40 days	Matthew 4:2
Moses	40 days	Deuteronomy 9:9,18-19 Exodus 34:27-28
Elijah	40 days	I Kings 19

There you go Angel take over your turn

Matthew 16:19, "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven..."

There are many ways of obtaining the keys to the Kingdome. Praising, praying, Worship, Intercession, etc. Fasting is just one of the ways.  Fastin has many health benefits, which lead me to believe God knew (of course) exactly what He was doing when we were told to fast. We feel better, our bodies exact a natural cleanse after a few days of fasting, we are refreshed. Health experts today are begining to exhort the benefits of fasting, however we do not fast for health reasons, we fast for spiritual. It stands to reason if we get physically refresed and our bodies become cleansed after a fast how then does our spirtual life do any less. It doesn't. We see lcearer, hear the Lords voice clearer feel spiritual closer to the Lord. there are many kinds of fasting, which we can touch on later

"Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear son.

1. We gives thanks to the father by sacrificing in our own way as Jesus did for us.

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32

2. He has always meant for us to have the Kingdom. it is ours as His children

"Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly."matt 5 16-19

3. he does not say if we fast he says WHEN Fasting has always been a part of Gods plan for us. it is to be done secretly, between us and Him so we can reap the personal benefits of it in His presence.

 Joel 1:14, "Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry unto the Lord."

4. There are exceptions of course when as a group we are fasting for a joined plan, such as the tsumani or a joint project.

Next.......