Armorbearers International

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. —1 Peter 4:11-12

There is a need for more people clearly functioning in the ministry of helps and more specifically as an armorbearer. God is at work building the correct image of His armorbearers and servants in the Body of Christ. We have recently covered what I consider the main ministry functions of an armorbearer including being an assistant, intercessor, and a helper in the battle with their leader.

You were encouraged with 7 principles to become a God-appointed assistant. The intercessors were commanded to stand in the way for their leaders. And last but not least, armorbearers were strengthened to become God’s helpers in the battle with their leaders. Yet, there remains work to be done to build the correct image of God’s armorbearers.

Let’s look at an illustration that possibly reflects the general attitude of the Church toward a position of helps. Consider that Father God looks throughout the land (your Church) for a heart fully committed to him to use in ministry? He is developing His apostles, prophets, teachers, evangelists, and His pastors.

Now, He is looking for His ministers called to help. He has looked, prompted, and called. Nevertheless, very few seem to take Him serious. “Nah! God wouldn’t be calling me to be a helper,” they say, “Is it a worthy calling to only assist the leader?” I believe it is. Jesus told us that if we as His representatives only give a glass of water to a disciple of his, we would receive a disciple’s reward.1

Referring to the illustration above, I am cautious with speaking for God, yet I believe He is looking for men and women that will take the call to help seriously. When we do not take our Father’s call seriously, we mistakenly think we are not being held accountable. We show up any time we feel like it. When we do not feel like it, we don’t. We do not make timeliness a priority. We quit helping without asking God what He thinks. Woo! Let me move on before you stop reading.

In Old Testament days, God appointed Bezalel, grandson of Hur, and filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and skill in constructing the Tabernacle and everything in it. Alongside him, he appointed to help him Oholiab, son of Ahisamach. Moses later revealed that God had gifted Beazalel and Oholiab to teach others their skills. Moses called a meeting and told the people to bring their offerings to God to build the Tabernacle.

The Spirit of God stirred the people. Some brought materials and others supplied their time and their skills to the building of the Tabernacle. Soon, more than enough materials were gathered, and then Moses told Bezalel, Oholiab, and all others who felt called to begin work. When it was finished, they brought the tabernacle to Moses. Moses inspected their work and blessed the Israelites for they had done just as the Lord had commanded.

Each person heard the call for his or her place of service. God them blessed them as a people for a job well done because of their unity and each individual serving where God called them. I pray that our hearts would be stirred for each to take the place God has called him to in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man.2

To effectively take your place and grow in ministry, decide to periodically examine yourself and your actions. Am I faithful in interceding? Am I watchful in spirit? Does my Lord consider me a good ambassador of Him as well as my leader?

I even examine why I am doing what I do. Maybe you do too. It is good for us to examine ourselves in this area. Each time I do this, I remember my ministry is as 'nto my Lord'. To continue to develop and grow in the ministry of an armorbearer, remember to do these things:

1. Take your place seriously. Others will follow suit. Often we don’t gain the respect we deserve because we have not learned to respect our place in ministry.

2. Be a faithful intercessor for your leader. Make the choice to be faithful to God by being faithful in your calling to intercede. Stand in the gap for your assigned leader until the victory comes.

3. Maintain a watchful spirit. Be a watchman on the wall. Remain ready and willing to assist. The servants who the master left in charge started out good, but when it took a long time for their master to return, they got lazy, started partying and beating the other servants…7

4. Decide to be a good ambassador. Remember you represent Christ and your authority. Represent them well. Maintain a gracious spirit, seeking to uphold the attributes of love.8

5. Stay in the battle. As armorbearers, we battle with and for our leaders. Hold up your leader’s arms when it counts.

There is no replacement for a person who knows what he or she has been called by God to do. The support ministries need the focus and intensity you bring to your uniquely formed position as an armorbearer.