When is the last time you told yourself No?

Solomon was one of the greatest and wises Kings of all time. If asked most what was his downfall, many would respond it was women. As this was one component, the main culprit of his fall was his appetite for overindulgence. Solomon failed to exercise temperance, a key part of the fruit of the Spirit.

Ecclesiastes 2 (The Message Bible)

9-10 Oh, how I prospered! I left all my predecessors in Jerusalem far behind, left them behind in the dust. What's more, I kept a clear head through it all. Everything I wanted I took—I never said no to myself. I gave in to every impulse, held back nothing. I sucked the marrow of pleasure out of every task—my reward to myself for a hard day's work! 11 Then I took a good look at everything I'd done, looked at all the sweat and hard work. But when I looked, I saw nothing but smoke. Smoke and spitting into the wind. There was nothing to any of it. Nothing.

…  An unmanaged appetite equals danger

o   Appetite brought about the fall of man in the Garden of Eden Genesis (3:6-7). The devil approached Jesus when he was hungry to temp the Lord through His appetite (Matthew 4:1-11). We must deny ourselves and sacrifice the things our flesh desires and strive to apprehend the things of the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-17).

As a young man King Solomon prayed to God for wisdom and understanding to rule and judge His people. The motive and intent of King Solomon’s heart pleased the Lord and He blessed him with riches and honor as well (1 Kings 3:4-14). Decades passed by and King Solomon accomplished many great things and continued to prosper, many traveled from far lands to witness his wisdom and bless the King (1 King 10:23-27).

…  What you feed the most will be strongest

o   The first ten chapters of 1 Kings, Solomon displayed great zeal and love for the Lord but his consistency eroded and his self-indulgence began to turn his focus away from the things of God.

1 Kings 11 (King James Version)
1 Kings 11:1 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites:
1 Kings 11:2 Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.
1 Kings 11:3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.
1 Kings 11:4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.
1 Kings 11:5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
1 Kings 11:6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father.

…  Battle one of your greatest enemies – yourself!

o   Solomon was his own greatest enemy.
o   In peace time, no war brought him to a place to self-indulgence. Are you in peace time right now? Too busy with the cares of this world to wage war against your flesh or with the enemy? They both never cease to attack you and your loved ones!

What is the remedy to the affliction of overindulgence? King David gave this formula to his son before he passed away. King David’s instructions for his son Solomon applies to our life today!

1 Kings 2 (King James Version)
1 Kings 2:1 Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,
1 Kings 2:2 I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man;
1 Kings 2:3 And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:
1 Kings 2:4 That the Lord may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.

Formula: Be Strong, Keep the charge of the Lord, walk in His ways, obey His Holy Word, share His testimonies = You will prosper in ALL that you do, success will be all around you!