Sounds a little ancient, right? Armor bearer? What exactly is an armor
bearer? Is there a modern day need for armor bearers? Let's first look at some
key scriptures to get a firm grasp on this awesome responsibility and answer
those questions.
In 1 Samuel 14, we see a glimpse of the armor bearer. King Saul and his army are camped on the outskirts of Gibeah and were "shaking" in fear of the Philistine army. Some of the Israelite army even "hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns". There was a shortage of weapons among the Israelite army. While the soldiers of the Israelite army were hiding...Jonathan, Saul's son, asked his young armor bearer to go with him to the Philistine outpost. The request was outrageous, at least to the natrual mind. I can imagine most responses, "You want me to go with you into the outpost of the enemy?" Or, "Uh, you want me to march to my death?" Or maybe, "Um, say what? You want me to go with you where?" How about, "Yeah right...me and you walking up to the those giant serial-killers of the Philistine army?" But this wasn't Jonathan's armor bearer's response. Instead, he responded to Jonathan, "Do all that you have in mind, go ahead. I am with you heart and soul." Scripture shows us as Jonathan passed by Philistine soldiers, they fell before Jonathan. His armor bearer followed behind and killed the Philistine soldiers. Jonathan's armor bearer wholeheartedly followed Jonathan into the camp of the enemy.
Now how about 1 Samuel 16.17-21, "So Saul said to his attendants, 'Find someone who plays well and bring him to me." One of the servants answered, "I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with him." Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, "Send me your son David, who is with the sheep." So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them with his son David to Saul. David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers.22 Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, "Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.' Saul enjoyed David's ministry of armor bearing (in this case ~ playing ministering to Saul with music) so much that he would call for David to minister to him when he was discouraged and distressed.
And look in Exodus 17:12 "When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset." The passage tells us as long as they held Moses' hands high, Israel was victorious. Moses was GOD's man ~ being supported by GOD's men (who I believe were his close ministry partners).
With this idea of armor bearing in mind...what if Pastors/Leaders today had armor bearers who would stand with them? What if there were men/women in position beside their respective leader, fighting till the death? What if every Pastor/Leader had armor bearers with the attitude that said, "do all that is in your heart". Imagine the limitless ministry that could be accomplished! Imagine the hungry that could be fed...the needs that could be met...the hurting that could be helped...the naked that could be clothed...the lost that might find Christ. Ultimately, we are maximizing our potential by partering with our Pastor/Leader.
Where are the armor bearers? Among us...you and I may be armor bearers to our Pastors/Leaders. Get on board with your Pastor/Leader and support him/her. Pray for him/her. Serve him/her as they serve Christ. Take some of the load from him/her. If you do...get ready for a major shift in the culture of your church/ministry.
In 1 Samuel 14, we see a glimpse of the armor bearer. King Saul and his army are camped on the outskirts of Gibeah and were "shaking" in fear of the Philistine army. Some of the Israelite army even "hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns". There was a shortage of weapons among the Israelite army. While the soldiers of the Israelite army were hiding...Jonathan, Saul's son, asked his young armor bearer to go with him to the Philistine outpost. The request was outrageous, at least to the natrual mind. I can imagine most responses, "You want me to go with you into the outpost of the enemy?" Or, "Uh, you want me to march to my death?" Or maybe, "Um, say what? You want me to go with you where?" How about, "Yeah right...me and you walking up to the those giant serial-killers of the Philistine army?" But this wasn't Jonathan's armor bearer's response. Instead, he responded to Jonathan, "Do all that you have in mind, go ahead. I am with you heart and soul." Scripture shows us as Jonathan passed by Philistine soldiers, they fell before Jonathan. His armor bearer followed behind and killed the Philistine soldiers. Jonathan's armor bearer wholeheartedly followed Jonathan into the camp of the enemy.
Now how about 1 Samuel 16.17-21, "So Saul said to his attendants, 'Find someone who plays well and bring him to me." One of the servants answered, "I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with him." Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, "Send me your son David, who is with the sheep." So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them with his son David to Saul. David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers.22 Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, "Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.' Saul enjoyed David's ministry of armor bearing (in this case ~ playing ministering to Saul with music) so much that he would call for David to minister to him when he was discouraged and distressed.
And look in Exodus 17:12 "When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset." The passage tells us as long as they held Moses' hands high, Israel was victorious. Moses was GOD's man ~ being supported by GOD's men (who I believe were his close ministry partners).
With this idea of armor bearing in mind...what if Pastors/Leaders today had armor bearers who would stand with them? What if there were men/women in position beside their respective leader, fighting till the death? What if every Pastor/Leader had armor bearers with the attitude that said, "do all that is in your heart". Imagine the limitless ministry that could be accomplished! Imagine the hungry that could be fed...the needs that could be met...the hurting that could be helped...the naked that could be clothed...the lost that might find Christ. Ultimately, we are maximizing our potential by partering with our Pastor/Leader.
Where are the armor bearers? Among us...you and I may be armor bearers to our Pastors/Leaders. Get on board with your Pastor/Leader and support him/her. Pray for him/her. Serve him/her as they serve Christ. Take some of the load from him/her. If you do...get ready for a major shift in the culture of your church/ministry.
