Reasons Why The Lord Let Our Enemies Stay

I. EXORDIUM:

Did GOD trained us to win wars and be trained by our spiritual experience?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To show that GOD is our Trainor in life, experience and war, all spiritual in nature.

IV. TEXT:

Judges 2:22-3:1 (New International Version)

2:22 I will use them to test Israel and see whether they will keep the way of the Lord and walk in it as their forefathers did."

2:23 The Lord had allowed those nations to remain; he did not drive them out at once by giving them into the hands of Joshua.

3:1 These are the nations the Lord left to test all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan

V. THESIS:

Thank You very much, LORD JESUS, for You enabled me to receive the victor's crown of life for I've stood the test and got approved, for You are the One who taught my hands to war.

VI. TITLE:

Reasons why the LORD let our enemies stay

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: unknown, but tradition attributes it to Samuel

B. Date written: 1086 - 1035 B.C.

C. Purpose: To review Israel's history following the conquest and prior to the Monarchy; and to demonstrate the consequence of sinful rebellion, in spite of God's repeated gracious provision of political and spiritual leaders.—Thompson Chain - Bible Book Outlines

D. To whom written: The nation of Israel

E. Main Theme: The History of Israel during the times of the fifteen judges.—Thompson Chain - Bible Book Outlines

F. Key word: Apostasy

G. Key verse: Judges 17:6 (Amplified Bible)

17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. To test Israel and see whether they will keep the way of the LORD

"2:22 I will use them to test Israel and see whether they will keep the way of the Lord and walk in it as their forefathers did."

2:23 The Lord had allowed those nations to remain; he did not drive them out at once by giving them into the hands of Joshua."

Deuteronomy 8:2 (Amplified Bible)

8:2 And you shall [earnestly] remember all the way which the Lord your God led you these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and to prove you, to know what was in your [mind and] heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.

Deuteronomy 8:16 (Amplified Bible)

8:16 Who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and test you, to do you good in the end.

Deuteronomy 13:3 (Amplified Bible)

13:3 You shall not listen to the words of that prophet or to that dreamer of dreams. For the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with your entire being.

Like in the case of the devil, if GOD is so Powerful how come He just won't say the word and the devil is forever destroyed? No, He doesn't need to do this, the devil will destroy himself later on with the things he has already done to us, but in the meantime, GOD is so Powerful enough that even His enemies can be used by GOD.

No human, however strong is he/she, can really say, I'm using my enemy to do my bidding, only GOD can.

GOD is reserving His enemies for the day of destruction, but while we're waiting for JESUS to come, He recycles first His enemies to be used by Him.

Job 21:30 (Amplified Bible)

21:30 That the evil man is [now] spared in the day of calamity and destruction, and they are led forth and away on the day of [God’s] wrath?

Malachi 3:2-3 (Amplified Bible)

3:2 But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap;

3:3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and He will purify the priests, the sons of Levi, and refine them like gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord offerings in righteousness.

That's why it's GOD's responsibilities to revenge on His enemies and it's our responsibilities to love our enemies.

Romans 12:19 (Amplified Bible)

12:19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for [God’s] wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay (requite), says the Lord.

Matthew 5:44 (Amplified Bible)

5:44 But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Proverbs 25:21-22 (Amplified Bible)

25:21 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;

25:22 For in doing so, you will heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord will reward you.