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<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="CENTER">“<font size="3"><b>TWO
ARE BETTER THAN ONE” MINISTRIES</b></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="CENTER"><font size="3"><b>Jim
& Marie Watt</b></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="CENTER"><font size="3"><b>Tel:
253-517-9195 - Email: <a href="mailto:jmbetter@gmail.com" target="_blank">jmbetter@gmail.com</a></b></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="CENTER"><font size="3"><b>Web:
<a href="http://www.2rbetter.org/">www.2rbetter.org</a></b></font></p><p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="CENTER">August 15, 2011</p><p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="CENTER">
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<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="CENTER"><b>BENJAMIN UPDATE - THE
TRIBE OF TEAM-SPIRIT - 2011-08-15</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="LEFT"><b>1. Genesis 35:18
(35:16-21) BENJAMIN: HIS NAME CHANGED. “And as her soul (Rachel)
was departing (for she was dying), she called his name Ben-oni (son
of my sorrow); but his father (Jacob) called him Benjamin (son of the
right hand)” (ESV). </b><span style="">Of his
twelve sons, Jacob named but one, the last. The name Ben-oni would
have continually reminded him of the loss of his favorite wife. Our
Father in heaven has set His only begotten Son at His right hand,
just as Jacob set Benjamin there. </span><b><i>Hallowed be your
:name!</i></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="LEFT"><b>2.
Genesis 49:27 (49:1-27) BENJAMIN: A RAVENOUS WOLF! “Benjamin is a
ravenous wolf, in the morning devouring the prey and at evening
dividing the spoil.” </b><span style="">The
tribe of Benjamin was a very fierce, left-handed, tribe. Saul,
Israel's first king was of this tribe, who made 21 attempts upon the
life of David. Saul of Tarsus who became Paul the Gentile apostle,
was also of this tribe. In the beginning he had a fierce hatred of
the early Christians. But Benjamin through Paul has brought great
blessing to the church. </span><b><i>Your :kingdom come!</i></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="LEFT"><b>3.
Deuteronomy 33:12 (33:1-29) BENJAMIN: GOD'S SAFETY FOR HIM. Of
Benjamin he said, “The beloved of the LORD dwells in safety. The
High God surrounds him all day long, and dwells between his
shoulders.” </b><span style="">Jerusalem is in
the tribe of Benjamin, and when the Kingdom split because of the sin
of Solomon, this tribe was given by God to Judah of David. Jerusalem
- Zion - the City of God - indeed rests between his shoulders! How
surely God's prophetic word comes to pass! Not </span><u><span style="">one</span></u><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
such word has </span></span><u><span style="">ever</span></u><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
failed! </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">Your
:will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!</span></i></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="LEFT"><b><span style="text-decoration: none;">4.
Philippians 3:4b-6 (3:2-16) BENJAMIN: FROM WHICH THE APOSTLE PAUL
SPRANG! “If any other thinks to have confidence in flesh, I yet
more: </span><font style="font-size: 8pt;" size="1"><span style="text-decoration: none;">5</span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
circumcised </span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">the</span></i></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
eighth day, of Israel's race, </span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><u>of
Benjamin's tribe</u></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">,
Hebrew of Hebrews; as touching law, a Pharisee; </span></font><font style="font-size: 8pt;" size="1"><span style="text-decoration: none;">6</span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
as touching zeal, persecuting the church; as touching righteousness
which </span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">is</span></i></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
by law, become blameless” (NNT). </span></font></b><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">Paul
the apostle in the natural - the flesh - was not ashamed of his
Benjaminite heritage. But from the vantage point of the Kingdom of
God - he set such things aside. It would do well for </span></span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><u><span style="">all
of us</span></u></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
to follow this wise and humble example of Paul. </span></span></font><b><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">Our
:daily :bread Give us this day.</span></i></font></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="LEFT"><b><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">5.
Hebrews 6:1-2 (5:11-6:8) BENJAMIN: LINKED WITH FOUNDATION TRUTHS!
“Therefore leaving the word of the beginning of the Christ, let us
be borne unto the perfection; not laying again a foundation of
repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, </span></font><font style="font-size: 8pt;" size="1"><span style="text-decoration: none;">2</span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
-the teaching of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of
resurrection of </span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">the</span></i></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
dead, and of eternal judgment.” </span></font></b><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">For
a group to move in “team spirit” - it must </span></span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><u><span style="">first</span></u></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
be well-grounded in foundation truths. The above 6 - plus a seventh
of </span></span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><u><span style="">being
borne unto the perfection</span></u></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
- are absolutely essential. To sit in the Gate of a City Church as an
Eldership or Presbytery of eight - and to </span></span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><u><span style="">function</span></u></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
under Christ's direction as an “Automated Laser-Telescope” - such
a team must walk together in unity under the full Headship of Christ!
</span></span></font><b><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">And
forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors!</span></i></font></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="LEFT"><b><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">6.
Judges 20:4-7 (19-21) BENJAMIN: NECESSARY, IN SPITE OF SIN! And
the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and
said, “I came to Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin, I and my
concubine, to spend the night. </span></font><font style="font-size: 8pt;" size="1"><span style="text-decoration: none;">5</span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
And the leaders of Gibeah rose against me and surrounded the house
against me by night. They meant to kill me, and they violated my
concubine, and she is dead. </span></font><font style="font-size: 8pt;" size="1"><span style="text-decoration: none;">6</span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
So I took hold of my concubine and cut her in pieces and sent her
throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel, for they
have committed abomination and outrage in Israel. </span></font><font style="font-size: 8pt;" size="1"><span style="text-decoration: none;">7</span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
Behold, you people of Israel, all of you, give your advice and
counsel here.” </span></font></b><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">It
would be well to reread these 3 chapters of Judges again. In spite of
the judgment that fell on Benjamin for the above sin, the 11 tribes
used of God in this judgment - did </span></span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><u><span style="">not</span></u></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
rejoice - but mourned! For they knew that it took </span></span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><u><span style="">all
12 tribes</span></u></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
for God to make use of them. They therefore contrived to supply the
remaining 600 men of Benjamin with wives! Else we would have missed
Paul the apostle and his 14 epistles! </span></span></font><b><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">And
bring us not into temptation!</span></i></font></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="LEFT"><b><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">7.
Judges 3:15 (3:12-30) BENJAMIN: A DELIVERER IN EHUD! “Then the
people of Israel cried out to the LORD, and the LORD raised up for
them a deliverer, Ehud, the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, a
left-handed man. The people of Israel sent tribute by him to Eglon
the king of Moab.” </span></font></b><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">Here
again we see why one linked with the tribe of Benjamin, like Saul of
Tarsus, needs desperately to be saved! Spiritually speaking, I am
linked with this tribe. I </span></span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><u><span style="">know</span></u></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
how desperately </span></span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><u><span style="">I
needed</span></u></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
to be saved. God used Ehud, and He can use any of us! </span></span></font><b><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">But
deliver us from the evil </span></i></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">one!</span></font></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="LEFT"><u><b><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2">NOTE</font></b></u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>:
</b></span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">Next
to Jesus of God and the Tribe of Judah - is Paul of the tribe of
Benjamin. And </span></span></font><u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="">what</span></font></u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
is one of the outstanding features of the apostle Paul? For me - it
is his humility in “Team-spirit”. </span></span></font>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="LEFT"><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">Once
the Lord Jesus arrested him on the road to Damascus, there was a
growing and complete transformation that took place in his life. He
let Jesus Christ be his all-in-all according to Galatians 2:20! His
complete life: body, soul and spirit - was </span></span></font><u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="">now</span></font></u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
at the full disposal of Jesus through His Spirit. Rees Howells,
George Muller, Oswald Chambers and George Whitefield among many
others, joined Paul in this complete surrender. </span></span></font><u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="">This</span></font></u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
is what the Lord desires from </span></span></font><u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="">each
one of us</span></font></u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">.
We are not saved to be blessed! We are saved to serve, and live at
the full disposal of God. For </span></span></font><u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="">His</span></font></u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
pleasure we are created!</span></span></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="LEFT"><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">Of
all Bible characters - Paul most completely portrays the plan God
would have each one of us to walk in. Remember Acts 13:48 (13:42-52)
</span></span></font><b><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">GOD'S
BACKGROUND FOR </span></font><u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2">OUR</font></u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
SALVATION. “And as the nations heard </span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">this</span></i></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">,
they were glad, and glorified the word of :God: and </span></font><u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2">as
many as were ordained to eternal life</font></u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
believed!” </span></font></b><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">It
is </span></span></font><u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="">good</span></font></u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
to remember that before our conception, God not only foreknew us -
but He also </span></span></font><u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="">appointed</span></font></u><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
us to eternal life. Then when this Good Message was clearly delivered
to us - we followed God's plan through, and believed! Our God is
Sovereign. The biography of George Whitefield by Arnold A. Dallimore
makes this eminently clear. It can be obtained as a reasonable used
copy on Amazon.</span></span></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="LEFT"><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">One
friend of mine had difficulty in determining who to put first in
importance: Joseph or Benjamin! Both are born of the same mother -
Jacob's favorite wife. Joseph is linked with Jesus in so many
parallel ways. Yet Benjamin and the significance of “team spirit”
in his history - is gripping. Look again at Paul. How he depended on
the prayers of others - and coveted them! How he appreciated his
fellow team members, that he mentions so often in his epistles.</span></span></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="LEFT"><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">So
- you be the judges - and decide! J.A.Watt</span></span></font></p>
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