Raising Up A Benjamite People

Rev Irvin Rutherford
14-10-2018

We have been invited to a romance of the ages. It is a Father looking for a bride for His Son, that He might have a family that worships Him in spirit and in truth.

But before He can have this family, He must kill His Son on the cruel cross to defeat the wicked overlord of darkness. It is called the conflict of the ages. It was taught by prophets and by sages and its fury is still upon us today.

It is the Kingdom of light defeating the kingdom of darkness. Sometimes it seems darkness is winning and that light is not overcoming it. But I want to remind you that the Kingdom of light is always defeating the kingdom of darkness, even if you can't see it in your own life, your own family, your own business, your own physical body. 

This Kingdom of light was always spoken of in the Old Testament. It was coming. With Jesus, it did come. And it's future glory of beauty is coming when we stand fully complete as spirit beings set free from the realm of the world in time and in our own energy, fully in the presence of God. 

Daniel 2:44 New King James Version (NKJV)
44 And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall [a]break in pieces and [b]consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.

I have chosen an Old Testament story to show a picture of God's kingdom through us.

Genesis 43:33-34 New King James Version (NKJV)
33 And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth; and the men looked in astonishment at one another. 34 Then he took servings to them from before him, but Benjamin’s serving was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank and were merry with him.

5 things about raising up a Benjamin people:

1) A Benjamin people are provided a new identity.

Genesis 35:16-19 New King James Version (NKJV)
Death of Rachel
16 Then they journeyed from Bethel. And when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel labored in childbirth, and she had hard labor. 17 Now it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, “Do not fear; you will have this son also.” 18 And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name [a]Ben-Oni (Son of My Sorrow) ; but his father called him [b]Benjamin (Son of the Right Hand). 19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).

Our heavenly Benjamin who stands at the right hand of the Father has given us a new identity.

We are no longer pain and sorrow because of our sin and failure. We are the redeemed, the church of the Firstborn; we are the overcomers, the apple of His eye. He loved us so much and wanted to prepare us for a future that He has in store for our lives.

We are Benjamin--sons and daughters with a new identity. We have the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead who has quickened us and dwells with us and he who has the same Spirit has the reality of life through Jesus Christ. We are Benjamin.

Every time Israel was in trouble, they call upon the Benjamites to come and rescue them.

Our identity is not only the identity that's new in Christ Jesus but our identity is also that we are a warrior people.

Judges 20:15-16 New King James Version (NKJV)
15 And from their cities at that time the children of Benjamin numbered twenty-six thousand men who drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who numbered seven hundred select men. 16 Among all this people were seven hundred select men who were left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair’s breadth and not miss.

Judges 20:16 The Message (MSG)
16 There were another seven hundred supermarksmen who were ambidextrous—they could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.

As Benjamites, we are a warrior class people who wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and spiritual wickedness in high places. We know how to perform warfare in the name of Jesus. With our right hand and with our left hand, we can say be healed in the name of Jesus. We can say we have a mental health that can get us out of depression, hurts and mental issues in our lives. We are people who know how to war in things that have to do with the spirit in our society. With our right hand and with our left hand, we are able to split the hair right down in the middle for the glory of God. We are a warrior people.

Church, take your hands out of your pockets, spiritually. Allow the Holy Ghost to use your right hand and your left hand in this new season in Malaysia to bless the communities, to lift up the fallen, to teach the young people, to have bible courses and seminars that cause people to understand who they are and what God created them to be. We are a warrior class of Benjamites. We can bring help and healing with our right hand and our left hand.

2) As Benjamites, we have the protection of the Father.

Genesis 42:4 New King James Version (NKJV)
4 But Jacob did not send Joseph’s brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, “Lest some calamity befall him.”

Genesis 42:38 New King James Version (NKJV)
38 But he said, “My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he is left alone. If any calamity should befall him along the way in which you go, then you would bring down my gray hair with sorrow to the grave.”

Jacob had a father's fear. As far as he was concerned, he had lost his son, Joseph.

Now the baby boy Benjamin was required to go with his brothers into Egypt and to face this government leader who required they bring him back down there and Jacob said, "No way. You bring down my gray hair to the grave in sorrow. I have lost one son. I do not want to lose a second one."

We too have a father's fear. But God does not invite death, disease and discouragement. But when it does come on and rains on the just and unjust alike, He invades it with His Father's love and power. Therefore we have a jaw-dropping reverence and awe that God is our Father; that God is for us, He is not against us.

It is the reverence and fear of the Lord that is the beginning of wisdom in life. Therefore, we are a people who have a Father's fear, awe and reverence that God is for us and He is leading us and doing good in our lives. We have a Father's fear that protects us all the days of our lives. God says He is for us so who can be against us?

We are surrounded by the angels of the Lord for protection.

We are surrounded by the Word of God for comfort.

We are surrounded by the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

We are surrounded by the broken body and blood of Jesus Christ.

Our Father's awe and reverence have given us something wonderful and beautiful.

It protects our dignity and destiny. This Father's fear is a glorious reverence that keeps us in the palm of His hand.

You, your children and your grandchildren are under our Heavenly Father's protection. They will not have to go to the dark temple. They will not have to listen to the lies of the enemy. The Word of God will be strong in them. The anointing of the Spirit will be heavy upon them because they are under the Father's protection as Benjamites. That's who we are--people under the Father's protection.

3) Benjamin receives five times as much.

Genesis 43:33-34 New King James Version (NKJV)
33 And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth; and the men looked in astonishment at one another. 34 Then he took servings to them from before him, but Benjamin’s serving was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank and were merry with him.

The Egyptian lord seated them in their birth order, from the oldest to the youngest. And they said to themselves, "How does he know?" They didn't know this was their long-lost brother.

Our elder brother Jesus knows everything about us. He knows every details of our lives. He knows every cell in our body. He knows every hair in our heads. And He can sense it in the order of life that we need to know.

Five is the number of grace. Five is the number of gifts. And five is the number of government (apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher). It is the government of God that brings things to fruition in the Kingdom of God. And God says, "I want to give you five times as much."

Joseph was so overcome by seeing his entire family there, seated according to their birth order, that he got out of the room and went into another room with his entourage following him and he wept out loud. They were so stunned. And Joseph said, "That's my family."

It reminds us of our heavenly Benjamin at the right hand of the Father.

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here four days ago, my brother would not have died." And Jesus said to Martha," I am the resurrection and the life. I know he will arise on the last day." And Jesus wept because she didn't understand the heavenly order of grace, government and the Gifted One--the resurrection and the life that was before them. And then Jesus raised His voice and with five times as much authority, He said, "Let Lazarus come forth!" (John 11:17-36)

That's why we as Benjamites receive five times as much of God's portion poured into our lives. You can feast and drink freely because God has declared over your life  and over this church and over your destiny five times as much of God's blessing, grace, authority and government over your life.

We are Benjamites with five times as much.

4) A Benjamin people raises up powerful leaders.

1 Samuel 9:1-2 New King James Version (NKJV)
Saul Chosen to Be King
9 There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of [a]power. 2 And he had a choice and handsome son whose name was Saul. There was not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.

Philippians 3:4-6 New King James Version (NKJV)
4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

Here are two great Benjamite leaders.

A Benjamin people imparts training and equiping and releasing the powerful leaders.

Saul was the first King of Israel who died in battle.

The second Saul changed his name to Paul. His pastoral letters to the churches still inspire and encourage to this day.

A Benjamin church raises up great leaders. That's why you have in-house training and courses.

A powerful Benjamin people raise up powerful leaders for the future. That's what God wants for His people, His church, this nation and the nations around you.

Learn to pray in your leaders and prepare for leaders and pronounce upon them their destiny as leaders.

5) A Benjamin people may be wounded but not conquered.

Judges 3:15-25 New King James Version (NKJV)
15 But when the children of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for them: Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a left-handed man. By him the children of Israel sent tribute to Eglon king of Moab. 16 Now Ehud made himself a dagger (it was double-edged and a cubit in length) and fastened it under his clothes on his right thigh. 17 So he brought the tribute to Eglon king of Moab. (Now Eglon was a very fat man.) 18 And when he had finished presenting the tribute, he sent away the people who had carried the tribute. 19 But he himself turned back from the [a]stone images that were at Gilgal, and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.”

He said, “Keep silence!” And all who attended him went out from him.

20 So Ehud came to him (now he was sitting upstairs in his cool private chamber). Then Ehud said, “I have a message from God for you.” So he arose from his seat. 21 Then Ehud reached with his left hand, took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly. 22 Even the [b]hilt went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, for he did not draw the dagger out of his belly; and his entrails came out. 23 Then Ehud went out through the porch and shut the doors of the upper room behind him and locked them.

24 When he had gone out, [c]Eglon’s servants came to look, and to their surprise, the doors of the upper room were locked. So they said, “He is probably attending[d] to his needs in the cool chamber.” 25 So they waited till they were embarrassed, and still he had not opened the doors of the upper room. Therefore they took the key and opened them. And there was their master, fallen dead on the floor.

Here was a Benjamite who was left-handed. God raised him up to be the second judge of Israel and to carry a tribute to Elgon, the fat Moabite king. Before he left that day, he was incensed, righteously, because this fat Moabite king was eating up the prosperity of Israel and he hated the fact that he had to carry this tribute. So he came up with an idea to make a special knife and fastened it on his right thigh. And he will get rid of the king.

Our first parents, Adam and Eve, introduced the principles of sin and disobedience into the world. First, Adam disobeyed and brought the principle of sin.

God spoke to the second Adam, Jesus, "Because of Your obedience, I am defeating the principle of sin at the cross." When Jesus said, "It is finished," He was declaring the principle of sin no longer having the authority over people who are covered by the blood and walk in obedience to the spiritual Christ.

Therefore, the devil was also cursed. God said to him, "From now on, you will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust." What are we made of? Dust. Therefore, every time you feed the devil on the dustiness of your anger, addictions, fleshly habits, rebellion, running from the will and destiny of God, the devil gets fatter and fatter off of your dustiness. He eats up your prosperity and your future destiny and He becomes the fat Moabite king that is eating up your pleasure in God.

The devil will mock your weaknesses, your destiny and the fact that you lost direction for God.

For some reason, Ehud lost his courage. His righteous indignation flared up inside of him and headed back towards the fat Moabite king. He said he had a secret message for the king and the king sent everybody out. Ehud said he had a message from God and the king leaned closer. Ehud reached for the stiletto and rammed it into his fat belly, went all the way up to the hilt, his fat covered it up and said to the king, "You have mocked me. I may be wounded but I am not conquered!"

Church, today you have to be a Benjamite Ehud and say, "I have been wounded by false lies and failures but I am not conquered! I ran from the will of God because of church problems and toxic Christianity but I am back to say to the devil that I have been wounded but I am not conquered!"

You need to lay hold of the Sword of the Spirit and plunge it into this world and declare: "By the Word of God, I will overcome. The Word of God feeds me and strengthens me. I have been wounded but I am not conquered! I am a Benjamite who overcomes in the name of the Lord."

Tuhan Yesus yang mahakuasa, tolonglah mereka yang dengar firman Mu untuk percaya kepada Engkau sebagai Juruselamat manusia.

Father, speak by Your Spirit, raise up Benjamites today!