Scripture
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You’ve been married your entire life, you just didn’t realize it. This lifelong companion has always been by your side, at night when you retire, she is there. In the morning when you get up, she is there, always faithful. This companion will never leave nor forsake you. She will be with you until death do you part. I am speaking of TEMPTATION–Your life long companion.
Solomon had two distinct advantages: he was filthy rich and he was a king, a sovereign who ruled with absolute power. He did not have to give an account to anyone and he had the power of the state at his disposal. Solomon lived a very promiscuous life in terms of his sexual behavior. He had 700 wives and 300 mistresses. I doubt if he slept will all but who knows. It seems a bit ironic, if not outright hypocritical, for him to lecture us on chaste behavior but I am convinced that he is giving us personal testimony in Proverbs 5. I know that he didn’t live to be an old man, I don’t call 55 old and I think he died with a STD because he describes the agony of such a life…In the end you will groan in anguish when disease consumes your body. Lets just face the facts, if you sleep with a thousand different women from all over the world, you are bound to catch something.
Our victory over temptation is in knowing the truth of scripture. Jesus used scripture to defeat Satan and He did this for our benefit. I’m a sequential learner or a list maker and here is a list of things the word of God teaches about temptation
- It is common: I Corinthians 10:13–No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man. We are all tempted, there are no exceptions.
- Temptation is the convergence of need and lust. Our need makes us vulnerable. Satan could not have tempted Jesus with bread had Jesus not been hungry.
- Temptation is enticing: James 1:14–“But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust…If temptation were not appealing if would not be temptation.
- Be prepared for Temptation. Paul said in Romans 14:13, But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. Don’t let Temptation sneak up on you. Be prepared mentally, it is coming. It is not a matter of if, it is when, it is going to happen.
- Pride goes before a fall: Matthew 26:41, “The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” You cannot handle temptation on your own. You need God’s grace to help you resist. If you try to handle it on your own, you will fail.
- Always remember, you are not an exception: Proverbs 3:7–Do not be wise in your own eyes. David thought that his power and privilege made him an exception but David was wrong. He could not escape the consequences of his sin even though he was king.
- Always keep the end in mind. Numbers 32:23–“Be sure your sin will find you out.” This was Solomon’s mistake. He did not consider how it all would end. I not just talking about 700 mother-in-laws; I am talking Gonorrhea and syphilis. It is a painful way to die and it is what Solomon describes in proverbs 5. I know the argument: I do not know for a fact that Solomon died with an STD but do you know for a fact that he didn’t. If you mess with a thousand women; your asking for trouble. It would be a miracle if you didn’t catch something. Use your brain–think long term.
What a day; what a glorious day–75 degrees. I ran around in a T-shirt–with pants of course. Rode with my window down. Thank you Jesus.
Larry did get moved to the nursing home in Decatur and he is doing better, slightly but better. Senior Adult Fellowship today. I could use a corn bread maker if anyone wants to volunteer. June has made a pot of white bean soup and it goes good with corn bread. We eat at 4:00 with BINGO and dancing to follow. Just kidding, no dancing.
I got to see two boys yesterday that I have not seen in over 40 years. Jerry and Wesley Stroud. They mom and dad attended the WBS last week at Sardis Springs. I saw them at the COLS of Luther Smith. I had to look at Wesley twice but Jerry I recognized the moment I saw him. They were good boys in R.A.’s and they turned out to be outstanding men. Their dad Wesley Sr. worked at Wolverine for years.