"Armor Bearers" (Bible Study 3/2/2010

ARMOR BEARERS

Definition of Armor Bearer - One who carried the protective gear (armor) and weapons of a warrior

Armor Bearers played a significant role in Biblical times and I believe they play an equally pivotal role in the lives of Christians today. Actually, I firmly believe armor bearers are a vital component for the fulfillment of callings in our lives. **”The three basic elements of the art of warfare are mobility, firepower, and security. Weapons alone seldom determined the results of battle, particularly when both sides were evenly matched. The skill with which strategy and tactics were deployed, the spirit of the commander in directing his troops, and the precision with which the troops handled their weapons were important factors in many of the battles mentioned in the Bible. Yet the Bible makes it clear that the most decisive factor in Israel’s success was her obedience and God’s will.”-referenced from iLumina**   We all know that we are in a spiritual war... (2Corinthians 10:3 ”We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. And after you have become fully obedient, we will punish everyone who remains disobedient.”).

Armor Bearers of today serve in very similar roles as those in Biblical war time.
 #1)Protector in Prayer (Battle/War Wager Mode)- God will raise people up to cover us in prayer. This gives us mobility because we don’t have to spend 16hours in prayer, praying a hedge of protection around ourself before we can go minister somewhere. *Don’t misunderstand, however, our personal prayer life is essential to our spiritual growth & ministry* The prayers of armor bearers allow us to go where God has called us and to be about the Father’s business without worrying about being covered in prayer from the attack of the enemy. Also this prayer covering provides firepower protection!!! Firepower in that it covers us from the attacks launched by the enemy so that the attack we bring against the kingdom of darkness is more effective. (i.e. If a minister is preparing to preach an awesome God inspired, life changing Word to a congregation and just prior to him preaching, the enemy can stir up strife or division through someone close to that minister (like family members) and try to get the minister into offense, do you think he’ll be able to concentrate as effectively and minister as effectively if he hadn’t gotten into offense? No!!! Don’t get me wrong, the anointing takes up our slack and enables us to do all things!!! My point is, the message may still change lives and be great, but how much more powerful could it have been if that attack of offense had been deflected by an armor bearer through prayer & never occurred in the first place!!! The prayers of the armor bearer also serve as a direct assault of OFFENSIVE firepower against the kingdom of darkness. Each prayer is like a missile attack launched at the enemy... weakening his defenses. Many times the assault of the armor bearer will allow a minister to then come in and deliver the knock-out blow that topples the enemy and brings his defeat. Just like a war in the natural, it’s an important team effort of everyone working together for a common goal.
#2)Supporter and Encourager- God will send people into our lives that we can talk to, be encouraged by, pour into our lives and provide support for any situation we encounter; someone we can ALWAYS count on (better than a best friend). This provides the security part of the equation mentioned previously. There is comfort in knowing that you ALWAYS have someone in the Lord that you can turn to for support and encouragement and that will stick with you in the heat of battle. Our success as warriors in the Kingdom of God will be determined by our skill at using the weapons and equipping provided by God, our ability to follow God’s leading, as well as, the effectiveness of our armor bearers.

I. Examples of Armor Bearers in the Bible

A) 1Samuel 14:1-15

Verse 6& 7.
Jonathan had mustard seed faith and a crazy notion that with God all things are possible! :) He just needed the support of that one person who said....”Yes, God is faithful & I’m with you!!!” Jonathan’s armor bearer’s response of support and faithfulness was exactly what Jonathan needed to confront and defeat the enemy. What if this armor bearer had responded with doubt or negativity? Would Jonathan have went into the enemy’s camp or would he have been discouraged and given up? Our role as supporters and encouragers of each other is vital!! It’s obvious by the armor bearer’s response in verse 7 that he had faith not only in God, but trusted in Jonathan and was in a covenant, submitted relationship with him. If this armor bearer had not been committed to Jonathan and had faith that God could pull off such a crazy plan, his response would’ve been a LOT different. **Note that Jonathan’s armor bearer served in both of the above mentioned roles. He not only encouraged & emotionally supported Jonathan...he forged headlong into battle with him; fighting alongside him helping defeat the enemy (the tag-team attack).


B) 1Samuel 16:21

At one point, David was Saul’s armor bearer. Although David may have went out into battle with Saul and served in the typical role of an armor bearer in Biblical times (carrying a warriors weapons), I’ve never read of any such account of that in the Bible. The only role as armor bearer I read of David serving as is that of a support/encouraging position. David would play the harp whenever a tormenting spirit would come upon Saul. When most people were probably running out of the room to get away from Saul’s crazy, out of control outbursts of rage and insanity, David stayed. He sat calmly playing the harp, until Saul was calm and at peace again.


C) 1Samuel 10:26

This group of men were in essence serving in an armor bearer type role. They were dedicated to Saul and ensuring his safety. There heart was to support him and whatever capacity necessary. God will send these type of folks into our lives as well. I know that we have protection by angels in the supernatural, but God will also provide divine heart connections with other believers who serve as a support and prayer protection provider in the natural.


D) Judges 9:54 54 ”He quickly said to his young armor bearer, “Draw your sword and kill me! Don’t let it be said that a woman killed Abimelech!” So the young man ran him through with his sword, and he died.”

This armor bearer followed a very difficult and extreme order. A couple thing struck me when I read this is... this armor bearer was young, but he showed complete loyalty and unselfishness in following Abimelech’s order. In that moment, this young armor bearer had no self-seeking motivations or thoughts of the consequence of his action.... his only concern was assisting his “master.” Once Abimelech was dead, this young armor bearer was on his own. It was highly possible he’d be captured and/or killed. No to mention his source of supply (food, water, protection, etc) ended with Abimelech’s death. Non of that matter though. In that moment, the young armor bearer’s loyalty and dedication to Abimelech’s took precedence over his own needs.

E) 2Samuel 18:1-15

**Little background... Back in 2 Samuel 15:13 we find that Abaslom, David’s oldest son had incited an uprising against David to overtake the kingdom and replace David as King. So, David and those who chose to follow him had fled for their lives from the palace. Where we pick up with this scripture, David’s army had went out to take a stand and fight against the army of Israel who was following Absalom.**

2Samuel 18:15 ”Ten of Joab’s young armor bearers then surrounded Absalom and killed him.”

In this case, Joab (who could be considered a type of armor bearer/defender of King David) made a hard decision here and his armor bearers followed through with him in the endeavor. Joab knew that King David did not want any harm to befall Absalom, but

Joab also knew that David would not be safe or be able to return to his rightful seat of authority as long as Absalom was alive. So, even at the cost of causing David sorrow, and having consequences of disobeying King David’s direct order, he was so committed to protecting David, that he made the hard decision and did what was in David’s best interest... kill Absalom. Sometimes people get in a situation/battle in which their emotions or other circumstances may be clouding their judgement and they are heading down a dangerous, self-destructive path. Those are the times that you love that person enough to risk them being mad at you for the sake of ensuring their safety. Am I saying its okay to break covenant or divine order? Absolutely not. However, I believe this is a great example of how sometimes an armor bearer may have to bring some tough love to the person they’re in covenant with. Those are the times you have to tell them what they may not want to hear 2Samuel 19:1-8 is a perfect example of one of those times.

F) Luke 22:31-32

Here Jesus showed honesty by telling Peter what was going to happen, but then he immediately encourage Peter and assured him that he would come through that failure and wouldn’t remain defeated. Then Jesus also let him know He had prayed for him (sent that offensive, firepower attack) against the enemy that would allow Peter to deliver the final knock, blow to defeat the enemy.

Luke 6:12&13

Here Jesus was committed/submitted to following God and who God wanted Jesus to appoint as apostles. This also shows Jesus covenant commitment to God and to those he would be training up as apostles. Not only that, I believe that while Jesus was on the mountain praying, that after God told Him who the apostles were to be.... Jesus started praying for those men. Jesus went into armor bearer mode and prayed into existence all the power, strength, supply, encouragement, everything he knew these men would need to fulfill the call on their lives. Jesus prayed their endings from the beginnings, he prayed their callings successfully accomplished and all their provision & protection for the journey.

Jesus is the ultimate example of an armor bearer and how important the role of armor bearer is. Jesus felt the armor bearer role was so important that he, himself served in it!!! I think that should tell us how much of a necessity it is for us to have and be an armor bearer.



II. What are some of the Qualities/Characteristics of an Armor Bearer?

A) Covenant Commitment - you understand and operate in covenant.

**“A covenant is an arrangement between people who commit to do certain things for each other. A covenant is an extremely serious promise that requires trust, faithfulness, and loyalty in order for the covenant to be kept. When each person involved in the covenant does his part to keep it, he or she is blessed with a deep and wonderful relationship. But when covenants are not kept, the consequences are extremely severe.” -iLumina**

**“A covenant relationship is not an ordinary relationship. It is a commitment to responsibility and action.” -iLumina**

B) Faith/Trust - Faith in God and trust in the person you’re serving as armor bearer too (includes trust in your armor bearer by the one being covered by the armor bearer).

C) Overcoming, Unselfish Attitude - you have to be positive and in faith, assured of victory through Jesus; and you cannot be selfish and concerned about what you’re getting out of the deal.

D) Submitted to God - you have to submitted your life to God before you’re capable of submitting to or truly supporting a person.

E) Honest Accountability - be honest and holding each other accountable.

F) Love - if you don’t have love for others, you can’t truly be their armor bearer