In Bible imagery, we have always depicted the eternal struggle between good and bad as a ‘Battle’ and we use the appropriate military terminology to illustrate each analogy.  We talk about swords, spears, shields, and so on as the metaphorical weapons used to wage the war against evil.

• The Whole Armor of God

The best illustration of this battle analogy is found in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians in [Chapter 6: 10-18]10 Finally, build up your strength in union with the Lord and by means of his mighty power. 11 Put on all the armor that God gives you, so that you will be able to stand up against the Devil’s evil tricks. 12 For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age. 13 So put on God’s armor now! Then when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist the enemy’s attacks; and after fighting to the end, you will still hold your ground. 14 So stand ready, with truth as a belt tight around your waist, with righteousness as your breastplate, 15 and as your shoes the readiness to announce the Good News of peace. 16 At all times carry faith as a shield; for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One. 17 And accept salvation as a helmet, and the word of God as the sword which the Spirit gives you. 18 Do all this in prayer, asking for God’s help. Pray on every occasion, as the Spirit leads. For this reason keep alert and never give up; pray always for all God’s people. where he depicts the word of God as a sword, faith as a shield; and so on. The concept here is that we are at all times ready for battle if we always carry the spiritual weapons and armor.

• God’s Armor Bearers

Who then is an armor bearer? If you are standing with  some spiritual warrior with your Bible [sword] in your hand, with your faith and your conviction of salvation,  ready to pray or counsel or whatever may be required, you qualify as an armor bearer of God. You might be a counsellor in an outreach with some evangelist; you might be part of a support group in your pastors ministry/visitation team; Hopefully we are using our spiritual (body) gifts 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. as defined in Romans 12: 4-8; and when we find ourselves in a support role, we can be said to be God’s armor bearers whereas if we are doing the teaching or the evangelising ourselves then we are warriors, not armor-bearers.

• The importance of an armour bearer.

Be aware that a warrior cannot function alone, nor can armorbearers fight the battle.  They are totally interdependent. So go forth to the battle, knowing what is an armor bearer, and be prepared to don the breastplate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation; and with truth as a belt, faith as a shield and the sword of the spirit in your hand  and you will have put on the whole armor of God.