Developing Effectiveness within the Spirit of Armorbearing

In Him we also were made [God’s] heritage (portion) and we obtained an inheritance; for we had been foreordained (chosen and appointed beforehand) in accordance with His purpose, Who works out everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His [own] will.
Ephesians 1:11 AMP

One of the first ways to solidify your service and become more effective as an armor bearer is to zero in on God’s purpose for your life with regard to this function. The Scriptures tell us that we have obtained an inheritance because we have been chosen and appointed beforehand in accordance with God’s purpose. When you discover that it is God’s will for you to function in the spirit of an armor bearer, you will develop effectiveness. However, you will lose the edge of effectiveness if you are unsure of God’s purpose for your life. Once you discover your purpose, you must familiarize yourself with that purpose. This is done by studying the Word of God and reading accounts of those who successfully walked in this spirit. It is also good to find living examples of people with like purposes. Ask them questions. Observe the way they function.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
Matthew 13:44

Another way of developing effectiveness in the spirit of armorbearing is by being faithful in the service in which you currently find yourself. The “hidden treasures in a field” are those things that are found in the process of being in the “field” working—being faithful. The “Hidden treasures” are the giftings and talents we discover while we are busily serving others. I know this so well. I never knew that I was an author until I worked on the tenth book for my own pastor. My own leadership skills weren’t clear to me until I had faithfully served my own leader for years. This is the joy of a man who discovers treasures while working in the field.

And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.
2 Kings 3:11b

How would you like to be remembered? By the effectiveness of your service or by your title?

I hope to be remembered by my service. Elisha is known by two different descriptions:

(1) the son of Shaphat, and
(2) the one who poured water on the hands of Elijah.

The first description speaks of where he was born. Where are you from? Your origin is very important. Who raised you? Who’s your daddy? What is your spiritual heritage? But even more important, what are you known for? Who have you served? Elisha developed his effectiveness through his commitment, loyalty, faithfulness, character and integrity while serving Elijah’s ministry. Elisha’s reputation preceded him. His service brought validation to his own ministry.

There are four powers that are linked to an armorbearer’s effectiveness:

(1) Initiative Power. This is the power of creative works, which causes an armorbearer to take the initiative in service. This is the power of the one who doesn’t wait to be asked to do things, but through observation, discernment, wisdom, and understanding possesses the initiative power to get the job done.

(2) Producing Power. This is the power that kicks into gear after initiative power has run out. After an armorbearer has initiated a task, producing power backs up what is to be done. This power causes an armorbearer to be productive and fruitful. They aren’t just making attempts to do things; fruit is manifesting in their life.

(3) Staying Power. This is the power of longevity. It grounds an armorbearer in the truth that their spiritual walk is not magical, but is a process. This power allows an armorbearer to stay the course. Despite obstacles, setbacks, and disappointments the servant is able to push on further because they possess staying power.

(4) Capacity Power. This is the power to receive the mandate of God and more. The armorbearer’s capacity power controls how much they can bear under pressure. Their degree of effectiveness is directly proportional to the vastness of their capacity. God enlarges them so that they can effectively serve those whom they have been ordained to serve. How does this enlargement take place? God doesn’t do it publicly. He enlarges their capacity inwardly through experiences, trials, and tests that the armorbearer endures in their own personal life. I like what king David said in Psalm 4:1b, “thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress.” In other words, when we are experiencing tough times in life, God is stretching and enlarging us.

When You Have Been Put on Pause!

“In His Quiver Hath He Hid Me”

A true armorbearer can enjoy a long wait until the chosen time that they go forth in a leadership capacity. The “quiver experience” is difficult for many armorbearers, especially if they feel they have already taken the necessary steps of preparation to be elevated into leadership. Those who have endured bitter experiences successfully and have responded correctly to their calling, their word, their preparation, their time of hiding under God’s hand, and their polishing may ask, “Why the waiting period now?” This is a time when the armorbearer learns patience. Because of this important lesson, the quiver is no less a place of preparation than the sanding block. The importance of the quiver experience lies not in the external, but the internal. This is almost always the hardest test for any armorbearer of the Lord, but each must realize that God’s timing is perfect.

But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law. Galatians 4:4

The Lord Jesus was sent forth “in the fullness of time.” Jesus came to earth at the perfect moment in history. This arrow, Christ, had been waiting at least four thousand years to be sent forth. But Jesus, the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world, waited patiently for the “fullness of time” in which He would be made known to the world.

David was destined to be a king of Israel. He was anointed to be king when he was about seventeen years of age, but he did not take the throne until he was thirty. David had to wait in the quiver for thirteen years. Several times, David could have killed Saul to gain the throne by natural means, but the Lord gave him the grace to know that He would open the throne to David in His own time.

David chose to wait for God’s timing, not man’s or his own. Every armorbearer has a special season set aside by God in which they must hide in the quiver. Their ministry will only be revealed at His appointed time. Temptation and pressure will come to every armorbearer, both from without and within, urging him to run ahead of God’s timing, but God’s armorbearer must take great care to avoid tampering with the perfect timing of the Lord. There is no set age for the release of an armorbearer. There is no set pattern for an armorbearer to follow regarding release into ministry. The time and manner of release is different for every armorbearer. This is why no armorbearer should compare themselves to another. Each should wait patiently for the timing of the Lord, for He is the only perfect marksman.

Those armorbearers who have an idea that God will use them further in ministry, like Joshua, David, or Elisha, should serve their Moses, Saul, or Elijah as if it were the last thing on earth God wanted them to do. What you do to help bolster the ministry of another person now will open the door for your own ministry in the future.

Character Development

“He Made Me a Polished Shaft”

Here, the prophet provides the picture of an arrow, indicating that the shaft of the arrow must be polished before its use. The shaft is one of an arrow’s most important components. If the shaft of the arrow is warped or misaligned in any way, the arrow will not hit its mark. A crooked shaft ultimately renders an arrow useless. The arrow’s sharp head is of little value if a malformed shaft causes it to miss its mark.

On the other hand, an arrow would also have little value if it reached its mark, but a dull head rendered it unable to stick. Both the arrow’s shaft and the head of the arrow are of equal importance. The shaft of the arrow speaks of the character of the armorbearer, while the head speaks of their function. Both the character and the function of a true armorbearer must go through a proper period of preparation.

The word “polish” means to clarify, to examine, or to purge so as to brighten. Isaiah wrote that God had made him a polished shaft. The shaft must undergo the purging, sanding, and polishing process before it can play its role in producing an arrow that will hit the mark.

During Isaiah’s time, preparing an arrow was a tedious process. Acacia wood, a strong but very rough, crooked, and knotted wood, had to be carefully straightened and sanded. All of the leaves were first plucked from the chosen piece of wood. Next, the naked piece of wood was left in a frame, using tightly placed pegs that would slowly straighten it. The shaft was then “anointed” with oil to soften the wood before its final sanding. After sanding, the shaft was then ready to receive its tip.

All of these steps in the preparation of a natural arrow speak to the process of preparing an armorbearer for his hour in the new move of God’s Spirit. The Lord will take every armorbearer through a stripping process before He uses them to “hit the mark” for His kingdom. Every armorbearer will experience both character and functioning preparation (the sharpening of the head). Although this can be a very long and painful process at times, every armorbearer can be encouraged knowing that the more God plans to use an “arrow,” the more demanding the preparation will be.

The Hidden Season

“In the Shadow of His Hand Hath He Hid Me”

The servant of the Lord may actually live in obscurity during their time of preparation. Especially if they are in training to be a future leader themselves, the servant of the Lord is often hidden from the eyes of the world, and sometimes even from the eyes of the Church. Many of the armorbearers in the Bible experienced a “hidden” period. Elisha, the great miracle worker, was hidden under the tutelage of Elijah for more than twenty years. The armorbearers whom God is raising up must learn to humbly abide under the shadow of the Almighty, in that secret place of preparation, without a spirit of impatience and distrust. Jesus, the pattern we are to follow, was hidden under the shadow of the Almighty for thirty years before His unveiling at the River Jordan. He was not released into His mighty ministry to the nation, or ultimately to the world, until after His thirty “hidden” years. David and many other armorbearers also experienced this period of overshadowing.

This principle still applies to the preparation of an armorbearer today. Many armorbearers are going through this overshadowing period right now. While some are chafing under it, others are taking advantage of it. What the Lord works into an armorbearer during this period will be revealed at the time of the armorbearer’s release as a leader. Every servant of God should take full advantage of their preparation time. It is an important period for the armorbearer’s future.

Watch Your Mouth

“He Hath Made My Mouth Like a Sharp Sword”

The armorbearers whom God is raising up in this season of preparation will have mouths as sharp as swords—not mouths to criticize, grumble, or murmur, but mouths for edification, declaration, and decree. The Word of God is spoken of as a sword (Ephesians 6:17). The Word is a sword that cuts through the flesh and the soul, down to the very intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).

Armorbearers will carry words of encouragement, edification, and sometimes counsel for the ones they serve.

The Call

“The Lord Hath Called Me from the Womb”

God’s call on the life of Isaiah was evident even from his mother’s womb. Before the prophet Isaiah’s birth, the purpose of God for his life was determined. This specific call was also fulfilled in the life of Jesus Christ and in the lives of God’s servants today. God has a purpose for each of His servants, established even before their birth. The problem is that many armorbearers are too lazy to find out what God has called them to do. They waste years trying to accomplish things that God never intended for them to do. Before an armorbearer can effectively serve, it is imperative that they know without a doubt that they have been called of God to serve. They are to know who they are to serve, and they are to know how they are to serve. That is the beginning point. It is the starting line.

Armor bearer Training - Stages of Preparation

The prophet Isaiah gave an interesting illustration regarding the periods and stages of preparation in the armor bearer training process which can provide understanding for those aspiring to be armorbearers, as well as those already in armorbearing positions.

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people,
from far; The LORD hath called me from the
womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he
made mention of my name.

And he hath made my mouth like a sharp
sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid
me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver
hath he hid me;

And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel,
in whom I will be glorified.

Isaiah 49:1–3

The Developmental Stages of an Armorbearer

And let them also be tried and investigated and
proved first; then, if they turn out to be above
reproach, let them serve....
1 Timothy 3:10 AMP

The word proved means “to be tried and investigated.” In reference to armor bearer training, the growth and maturity of every armorbearer is decided in their seasons of preparation. First of all, an armorbearer’s season of preparation will always involve the acceptance of Jesus as Savior and Lord. This is where their ministry is planted as a seed. The next step is the armorbearer’s call, which births their ministry as a sprout. The next stage is the armorbearer’s actual preparation, involving the testing of the ministry as a plant. The final stage is the armorbearer’s function. It is then that their ministry is fully matured as a fruit-bearing tree.

Many armorbearers have had problems developing past the point of identifying their specific calling in the Lord. Some have identified their calling, but then have failed to prepare for their ministries. Still others receive their calling and proceed into the preparation period, but fail somewhere in the process. Too many never fulfill their function as a servant, a true armorbearer, at all.