A wise man in a object lesson gave counsel that, " You cannot prevent the crow from flying above your head, but you can surely prevent it from building a nest on it!" We are no exception to the temptation of bantering our hope for a moment of temporary happiness! The glitter of sin and the things we think it will bring! As I listened to 1 Kings 11, it reminded me that I am no exception to the trials that all men face!
Regarding temptations in 1 Peter 4:12,13 12 we are admonished, "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13* but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy."
It is not a strange thing that you are tempted! God wants you to triumph too.
We are no strangers to temptation and the allure of sin that the world presents.
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. 17* And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
The world's wisest and richest king that ever lived was no exception to the sway of sin! Five observations that I got from 1 Kings 11
(1) The first observation is that, "Strange women/wives will turn one away from God" verse 3* And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart.
(2) Strange women will turn away your heart after their gods (idols). "Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love." verse 2b
(3) It will divide your loyalty. Strange women will cause you to do evil! YOU WILL NOT go fully after the LORD. verse 6 Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and did not fully follow the LORD, as did his father David.
(4) It will lead you into action that is detrimental! verses 8, 9 "And he did likewise for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods. 9 So the LORD became angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned from the LORD God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice"
(5) You will have enemies. The LORD raised... verse 14* Now the LORD raised up an adversary against Solomon, Hadad the Edomite; he was a descendant of the king in Edom.
The LORD raised up ANOTHER ... verse 23* And God raised up another adversary against him, Rezon the son of Eliadah, who had fled from his lord, Hadadezer king of Zobah.
There is always an open door that is OPEN to overcome! - 1 Corinthians 10:13* No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
