Kingdom Character-1

KINGDOM CHARACTER-I—1Kings 3:16-28

AKA—Motherhood Potential

HINT—!!Take this sermon to the next level by focusing upon every Christian’s potential!!

Attention:

Some may consider themselves as unworthy of being a mother.

Perhaps they never found the right man to be their husband.

Or perhaps she married but could not bear children for whatever reason.

She has not necessarily been cursed by God. She is not necessarily receiving her ‘just due.’ She is not necessarily a sinner living on God’s ‘bad side.’

Perhaps she’s had an abortion, & is carrying that crushing weight everywhere she goes. It effects her every thought & action.

Perhaps due to her circumstances, she has convinced herself that “I wouldn’t have made a good parent anyway.”

I can easily imagine how such ladies beat themselves up because of their internal heartache. I have heard it from many.

If you have never had kids or even if you have, it is always pertinent to examine a woman’s motherhood potential. This is because such potential, & anyone’s potential, is ever directly & indirectly related to one’s spiritual condition.

Is God leading you or has the devil been allowed access to your world because of the way in which you approach your potential?

Background/Context:

YaHWeH had approached Solomon “in a dream by night” saying, “Ask! What shall I give you?”(:5).

King Solomon recognized his own inability to rule properly because he saw himself as “a little child” who did not even know how to go out or come in”(:7). On top of that, he was also taken with & humbled by the sheer numbers of God’s people. Also tied into this was an understanding that Solomon’s charge was to lead God’s chosen people(:8). The expectations/responsibilities upon Solomon were great & he felt their weight.

Therefore in answer to God’s question, Solomon requested “wisdom” from the LORD. Solomon knew he needed “an understanding heart to judge” YaHWeH’s people, that he might be able to “discern between good & evil”(:9). He was concerned that he be able to “judge” the people of God wisely & with equity.

Solomon’s desire “pleased” God(:10) so that He responded,

3:11“Because you asked this thing, & have not asked long life for yourself, not have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, 12 behold I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise & understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. 13 And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches & honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. 14 So if you walk inMy ways, to keep My statutes & My commandments, as your father David walked, than I will lengthen your days.” 15 Then Solomon awoke; & indeed it had been a dream. And he came to Jerusalem & stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, offered up burnt offerings, offered peace offerings, & made a feast for all his servants.”

The result & proof of God’s bestowing His wisdom upon Solomon was immediately manifested to everyone as follows in our text(:16-28)...

MOTHERHOOD/Mothering POTENTIAL-I—1Kings 3:16-28

Recognizing Motherhood

The events surrounding one of Solomon’s official judgments revealed the mothering potential of a harlot.

A woman’s character reveals her mothering potential.

*How does a woman’s character reveal her potential as a mother?

How does a woman’s character reveal her potential for motherhood?

9 ways in which motherhood/mothering potential is measured.

1—Motherhood/Mothering Potential is manifested in a woman’s...

Approach to PERSONAL SIN(:16)

Explanation:(:16)

:16—“Now two women who were harlots came to the king, & stood before him.”

These “harlots,” had means to maintain a private(?) household. The children mentioned here were probably born of their trade. There is no mention of husbands.

The most tragic ‘side-effect’ & ‘collateral damage’ of prostitution is the birth of children.

Born of unknown or uncertain lecherous/degenerate men. Such men pay money for sexual gratification. They have no concern & take no responsibility for the living result of their momentary, hormonally & emotionally-driven actions.

Ungodly men come & go in these children’s lives yet they have no father in their home. No support for their mother. They grow up with no idea of true love. And their only hope for understanding God’s love is a mother who has chosen, either directly or indirectly, to willingly offer a perverted semblance of love! Such a child’s love comes by means of a whore!

People are so perverted that a buzzword in our society today is ‘human trafficking.’ Children, both boys & girls are forced against their will, into harlotry. They grow up as slaves...being told that wrong is right & right is wrong!