Put on your own Gospel armour

“David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee. And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him. And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.” 1 Samuel 17:37-40

Saul was King of Israel and he thought that his way was the correct way of working. This is the way we’ve always done it. We fight with a full armour. He had no concept of another way, but David did. Why did David reject Saul’s armour? Firstly, David knew that he didn’t need any earthly protection in order to gain the victory. He had slain a lion and a bear in the past without any armour. His method was tried and true for himself. It worked for him. Armour is heavy and would have inhibited the free movements of his limbs in order to accurately and quickly dispatch the stones from his sling. David’s method may not have worked for another soldier who did not have the accuracy with a sling as did David. Other soldiers needed armour and sword for victory, but David did not. David had to fight with his own weapons; weapons he had proven for himself.

In God’s work it is the same. We can’t fight with someone else’s armour, we have to fight with the armour that God has given to us. We each must have on the gospel armour, but we are not all robots made from the same mould. We are not to wear the armour of another person. Our armour will look similar as Christians, as is the case in any army today, however each has their own individual armour fitted.

What fits one person, will not fit the next.
There is the danger that leaders and missionaries decide that their methods of labour are the best methods and must be followed by everyone. They want to put their armour on all the members and other missionaries. However this is not correct. Leaders have a duty to educate the people in various lines of work – they are to educate the people to put on their own gospel armour not dictate to them which armour to wear.

“The inexperienced ones should not be sent out alone. They should stand right by the side of older and experienced ministers, where they could educate them. But they should say to them, ‘You must not copy my gestures, nor the tone of my voice, so that nobody will know whether you are speaking or whether I am speaking. You are to stand in your own armour, with your own phase of character, sanctified by God. You are not to take my phase of character, nor my gestures, nor my tone of voice, nor my expressions, nor my words.’

“When one of these men who have not an experience in the work stands by your side he is not to think in everything just as you think, and look at everything just as you look at it; that if you should give up the truth he would say, ‘I might as well give it up.’ Let them stand to obtain a symmetry of character from the God of heaven; not that they should have your ideas, and you have a moulding influence on them; but you should carry them right to the Bible as their pattern. The importance of these things has been shown me so many times that I feel a burden on this point.

“God never designed that one man’s judgment and plans should be regarded as supreme. He says, Ye are labourers together with God. Let no man undertake to repress or discourage. Let him not seek to put his armour upon his brother, for he has not proved it. . . And the ministers are never to copy any man’s gestures, his habits, his attitude, his expressions, the tones of his voice. They are to become no man’s shadow, in thought, in sentiment, or in devising and executing the great whole. If God has made you a shepherd of the flock, He has given you qualification to do that work.” Ev. 684/685. Each member and worker must be taught to put on their own armour and to think and act for themselves. It is the duty of the ministers and leaders to educate the members to use their talents for the Lord.

We all have different duties to perform that the Lord requires of us and never are we to judge another because they are not doing the same duty as we are in exactly the same manner as we are.

“Let me tell you that the Lord will work in this last work in a manner very much out of the common order of things, and in a way that will be contrary to any human planning. There will be those among us who will always want to control the work of God, to dictate even what movements shall be made when the work goes forward under the direction of the angel who joins the third angel in the message to be given to the world. God will use ways and means by which it will be seen that He is taking the reins in His own hands. The workers will be surprised by the simple means that He will use to bring about and perfect His work of righteousness. Those who are accounted good workers will need to draw nigh to God, they will need the divine touch. They will need to drink more deeply and continuously at the fountain of living water, in order that they may discern God’s work at every point. Workers may make mistakes, but you should give them a chance to correct their errors, give them an opportunity to learn caution, by leaving the work in their hands.” TM 300

LAY MEMBERS

As lay members there is often the danger of not picking up our armour to join the battle. It is easy to put on the leader’s or minister’s armour or even not put one on at all; to feel that the leader can do all the fighting in the Christian warfare. The missionary battles are often left to the ministers. As lay members we need to remember that we are all equal in the eyes of God. We are all brethren. No one is in a lower position or less important than the minister, they simply have different duties. We have a different armour and a different area to work in. For us to be a missionary in our work place is of equal importance as the minister and Bible worker who is ministering in their field of labour.

“The essential lesson of contented industry in the necessary duties of life, is yet to be learned by many of Christ’s followers. It requires more grace, more stern discipline of character, to work for God in the capacity of mechanic, merchant, lawyer, or farmer, carrying the precepts of Christianity into the ordinary business of life, than to labour as an acknowledged missionary in the open field. It requires a strong spiritual nerve to bring religion into the workshop and the business office, sanctifying the details of everyday life, and ordering every transaction according to the standard of God’s word. But this is what the Lord requires.” MYP 215

“Because they are not connected with some directly religious work, many feel that their lives are useless, that they are doing nothing for the advancement of God’s kingdom. If they could do some great thing how gladly they would undertake it! But because they can serve only in little things, they think themselves justified in doing nothing. In this they err. A man may be in the active service of God while engaged in the ordinary, everyday duties–while felling trees, clearing the ground, or following the plough. The mother who trains her children for Christ is as truly working for God as is the minister in the pulpit.” PK 219.

Their own armour is different, but they are equally doing a valuable work for the Lord and should not be told that their armour is not the correct one and they need to adopt one that is identical to the leader’s armour, doing their missionary work in an identical fashion to that of the leader.

CHURCH EMPLOYEES

Once a member in the church becomes a minister, does this make him officially an administrator in God’s church? Is he to only give Bible Studies and do administrative work and that is all? If these are our thoughts then we have it all wrong. Employment in God’s church is not a hierarchy as it is in many businesses in the world. It is not to be viewed as a system with different levels of employees with the canvasser in the lowest position in the church. Once a person has proved himself as a canvasser, he receives a promotion and a wage increase. He is now a Bible worker.

Once he has proven faithful for many years as a Bible worker, he receives another pay increase and is ordained to be a minister. It is now that he has reached the pinnacle of his career. This is not correct thinking. The reality is that the duties of church employees overlap to a great degree. Every employee should be giving Bible Studies as well as canvassing. The amount of time spent at each duty may differ, however there is an equality amongst the missionaries in the church. They simply have different duties – a different armour of service. Not one armour fits all employees.
“I sincerely hope that no mind will receive the impression that it belittles a minister of the gospel to canvass… I have been shown that the most precious ministry can be done by canvassing, and that by ministers… The canvassing work is an important field for labour: and the intelligent, God-fearing, truth-loving canvasser occupies a position equal to that of the gospel minister.” TM 317

And no missionary can dictate to another missionary the exact methods that must be used for the work of the Lord. Working with souls is an individual work. While the employees are to be educated as to the best methods of labour, they are not to be given the armour of another soldier to wear. There needs to be freedom to allow the Holy Spirit to work. As stated above, “the intelligent, God-fearing, truthloving canvasser should be respected; for he occupies a position equal to that of the gospel minister. Many of our young ministers and those who are fitting for the ministry would, if truly converted, do much good by working in the canvassing field.

And by meeting the people and presenting to them our publications they would gain an experience, which they cannot gain by simply preaching. As they went from house to house they could converse with the people, carrying with them the fragrance of Christ’s life. In thus endeavouring to bless others they would themselves be blessed; they would obtain an experience in faith; their knowledge of the Scriptures would greatly increase; and they would be constantly learning how to win souls for Christ.” 6T 321. They would be putting on their own gospel armour.

EDUCATION

Another important duty of the minister is to train young workers to work. The minister, or church employee, should not be expected to do all the missionary work in the church. They should not preach all the sermons, give all the Bible studies, but they should be an educator for volunteer missionaries also. “Let ministers put to use all their ingenuity in devising plans whereby the younger members of the church may be led to co-operate with them in missionary work. But do not imagine that you can arouse their interest merely by preaching a long sermon at the missionary meeting.

Plan ways whereby a live interest may be kindled. Let all have a part to act. Train the young to do what is appointed them, and from week to week let them bring their reports to the missionary meeting, telling what they have experienced and through the grace of Christ what success has been theirs. If such reports were brought in by consecrated workers, the missionary meetings would not be dull and tedious. They would be full of interest, and there would be no lack in attendance.” AH

487. We all are missionaries; all have an armour to wear even if not a full-time paid employee in the church.
A missionary, whether a Bible worker, minister or canvasser should not have as the main focus of their work giving Bible Studies to, and visiting and counselling regularly, the established lay members, but rather instructing them on how to do missionary work. “God has not given His ministers the work of setting the churches right. No sooner is this work done, apparently, than it has to be done over again. Church members that are thus looked after and laboured for become religious weaklings. If nine tenths of the effort that has been put forth for those who know the truth had been put forth for those who have never heard the truth, how much greater would have been the advancement made! God has withheld His blessings because His people have not worked in harmony with His directions.” 7T 18

The Jews in Jesus’ day were jealous and angry when Jesus went to spread the gospel to those they deemed unworthy. They would have been much happier had Jesus spent His time and energy on them rather than for those who did not know the truth.

“Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?” the Pharisees asked Christ’s disciples. And the Saviour responded: “I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Matthew 9:11, 13.

“Our ministers are not to spend their time labouring for those who have already accepted the truth. With Christ’s love burning in their hearts, they are to go forth to win sinners to the Saviour. Beside all waters they are to sow the seeds of truth. Place after place is to be visited; church after church is to be raised up. Those who take their stand for the truth are to be organized into churches, and then the minister is to pass on to other equally important fields.” 7T 19
“Just as soon as a church is organized, let the minister set the members at work. They will need to be taught how to labour successfully. Let the minister devote more of his time to educating than to preaching. Let him teach the people how to give to others the knowledge they have received. While the new converts should be taught to ask counsel from those more experienced in the work, they should also be taught not to put the minister in the place of God. Ministers are but human beings, men compassed with infirmities. Christ is the One to whom we are to look for guidance.

‘The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,… full of grace and truth.’ ‘And of His fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.’ John 1:14, 16” 7T 20. The ministers must instruct the members on how to put their own armour on and engage in the battle with the strength of the Lord. “It is not the Lord’s purpose that ministers should be left to do the greatest part of the work of sowing the seeds of truth. Men who are not called to the ministry are to be encouraged to labour for the Master according to their several ability. Hundreds of men and women now idle could do acceptable service. By carrying the truth into the homes of their friends and neighbours, they could do a great work for the Master. God is no respecter of persons. He will use humble, devoted Christians, even if they have not received so thorough an education as some others. Let such ones engage in service for Him by doing houseto- house work. Sitting by the fireside, they can–if humble, discreet, and godly–do more to meet the real needs of families than could an ordained minister.” 7T 21

It is also incorrect for one employee in the church to dictate to another one regarding the manner that he is to work. One man’s methods are not suitable for everyone.

THE YOUTH

From the example of the Waldenses, we can gain precious lessons on the methods of instruction for our children and young people to put on their gospel armour. The youth are the future of the church and need to be instructed from their earliest years, to be prepared to fill the places of the old Christian soldiers who are becoming weary with age. The Waldensian youth were taught to put on their own armour that the Lord has provided them with and go to battle against all the forces of Satanic darkness in the Dark Ages. The ministers and gospel leaders trained the Waldensian youth to do a mighty work for the Lord. They had a beautiful training ground that was safe and secluded; a place where, for a time, they were relatively safe from the enemy. The mountain fortresses of the Alps, was the place that God provided for them. Fleeing from the wrath of the Papacy they left houses, lands, relatives and friends to a place where they could serve God according to their own conscience.

What kind of training was given to these young people? “Pure, simple, and fervent was the piety of these followers of Christ. The principles of truth they valued above houses and lands, friends, kindred, even life itself. These principles they earnestly sought to impress upon the hearts of the young. From earliest childhood the youth were instructed in the Scriptures and taught to regard sacredly the claims of the law of God. Copies of the Bible were
rare; therefore its precious words were committed to memory. Many were able to repeat large portions of both the Old and the New Testament. Thoughts of God were associated alike with the sublime scenery of nature and with the humble blessings of daily life. Little children learned to look with gratitude to God as the giver of every favour and every comfort.” GC 67

These mountain regions are comparable to our churches today. They are places where we can hear the truth preached in its purity; a place to regain spiritual strength for the battles of life we have to face during the week; a place we can draw near to God as we draw near to one another in unity of spirit and truth. After the church services and fellowship we go our separate ways to be beacons of light to the world. Hopefully the truth continues to shine brightly during the week and we seek to draw others closer to our Redeemer. There is a time of trouble soon to break upon our world; a time when we will perhaps not have a Bible in our possession to bring us comfort and counsel. It would benefit us to do as the Waldenses did and commit large portions to memory while we still have the time. We will then be ready for the battles of life for we will be armed with the sword of the Spirit and the full armour of God. This training we must begin with our children when they are quite young. They need to put on their own gospel armour, not their parent’s armour or the church leader’s armour.

“Parents, tender and affectionate as they were, loved their children too wisely to accustom them to self-indulgence. Before them was a life of trial and hardship, perhaps a martyr’s death. They were educated from childhood to endure harness, to submit to control, and yet to think and act for themselves. Very early they were taught to bear responsibilities, to be guarded in speech, and to understand the wisdom of silence.” GC p. 67

They were taught the extreme sinfulness of sin. “The pains of duty and the pleasures of sin are the cords with which Satan binds men in his snares. Those who would rather die than perform a wrong act are the only ones who will be found faithful.” 5T 53

The Waldenses understood self-denial “for the truth’s sake, and with persevering patience they toiled for their daily bread.” GC 67. Precious lessons were taught to their children. These were not lessons of ease and pleasure. From the earliest years, “economy and severe self-denial formed a part of the education which the children received as their only legacy. They were taught that God designs life to be a discipline, and that their wants could be supplied only by personal labour, by forethought, care, and faith. The process was laborious and wearisome, but it was wholesome, just what man needs in his fallen state, the school which God has provided for his training and development. While the youth were inured to toil and hardship, the culture of the intellect was not neglected. They were taught that all their powers belonged to God, and that all were to be improved and developed for His service” GC 67, 68. They were taught to think and act for themselves. While the Waldenses were neatly hidden away in the mountains the young were raised, not with the false idea that they were to remain in the mountains where they were safe. “While the Waldenses regarded the fear of the Lord as the beginning of wisdom, they were not blind to the importance of a contact with the world, a knowledge of men and of active life, in expanding the mind and quickening the perceptions. From their schools in the mountains some of the youth were sent to institutions of learning in the cities of France or Italy, where was a more extended field for study, thought, and observation than in their native Alps. The youth thus sent forth were exposed to temptation, they witnessed vice, they encountered Satan’s wily agents, who urged upon them the most subtle heresies and the most dangerous deceptions. But their education from childhood had been of a character to prepare them for all this.” GC 69, 70

They did not attend these universities for the sole purpose of obtaining an education and a Degree upon completion. While they felt this was an important part, they also carried with them the precious pages of the Bible which they were always seeking for opportunities to share. Often the Papal leaders were mystified as to how this ‘heresy’ (as they termed it) was permeating their entire university.

Most importantly the Waldensian youth were taught that their first duty was to God and their fellow men. They were taught the importance of missionary work. We want our youth also to have the spirit of Christ and “the spirit of Christ is a missionary spirit. The very first impulse of the renewed heart is to bring others also to the Saviour. Such was the Spirit of the Vaudois [Waldensian] Christians. They felt that God required more of them than merely to preserve the truth in its purity in their own churches; that a solemn responsibility rested upon them to let their light shine forth to those who were in darkness;…

The missionaries went out two and two, as Jesus sent forth His disciples. With each young man was usually associated a man of age and experience, the youth being under the guidance of his companion, who was held responsible for his training, whose instruction he was required to heed. These co-labourers were not always together, but often met for prayer and counsel, thus strengthening each other in the faith…

Every minister possessed a knowledge of some trade or profession, and the missionaries prosecuted their work under the cover of a secular calling. Usually they chose that of a merchant or pedlar.” GC71

For what kind of future are we preparing our youth today? Think how many Waldensian mothers bade tearful farewells to their youth as they sent them on their way, knowing full well they were facing the wrath of the enemy and knowing that they might never see them again in this life. Yet they refused to selfishly keep them at home. To them the cause of God was dearer than life itself. The sacrifice can only keenly be felt by parents as they watch their children leave the safety of their home, but if they have done their duty properly in preparation for this event, they need not fear. They’ve educated the youth to make their own experiences with God and put on their own gospel armour, not their parents’ or church leader’s armour. They’ve been taught to think and act for themselves and can be trusted in the hands of God. Not a life of ease and comfort but a life of toil and self-denial for the Master. The youth need to be educated from their earliest years how to teach the Scriptures; how to give Bible Studies; how to canvass.

They need to also be shown by example how it is done so they can put on their own gospel armour and join the Christian army, doing the work of the Lord in whatever capacity He has called them.

“The Waldensian missionaries were invading the kingdom of Satan, and the powers of darkness aroused to greater vigilance. Every effort to advance the truth was watched by the prince of evil, and he excited the fears of his agents. The papal leaders saw a portent of danger to their cause from the labours of these humble itinerants. If the light of truth were allowed to shine unobstructed, it would sweep away the heavy clouds of error that enveloped the people. It would direct the minds of men to God alone and would eventually destroy the supremacy of Rome.

“The very existence of this people, holding the faith of the ancient church, was a constant testimony to Rome’s apostasy, and therefore excited the most bitter hatred and persecution. Their refusal to surrender the Scriptures was also an offence that Rome could not tolerate. She determined to blot them from the earth.” GC 76 Are we today as much of a threat to the kingdom of Satan as were those early Waldensian missionaries? If Satan feels threatened in any way he then makes a concerted effort to attack those which are against him. Satan would not have felt threatened had the Waldenses remained in their mountain fortresses. He will not feel threatened if we remain in the safety of our “mountain fortress” and not seek to reach others with the truths that we know. In the end of time God will have a church that is pure and faithful, with each member wearing their own gospel armour. You can’t wear another man’s armour or force your armour on another person. There will be a mighty shaking just prior to the falling of the Latter Rain at which time all those that are not fully committed to the Lord will be shaken out; those who are not wearing their gospel armour; those that don’t find their greatest joys in sharing the truth with others. “Eagerly did the Vaudois missionary unfold to the inquiring mind the precious truths of the gospel… It was his greatest joy to give hope to the conscientious, sin-stricken soul.” GC 73.

I am sure that when it was time for them to lay down their armour as their life approached its end none of them thought that they had wasted their life away and not enjoyed life. They perished fully satisfied that they had lived their lives to the fullest for their Lord and Saviour who had done so much for them. Not only did they bring spiritual relief to many burdened minds but they prepared the way for the great Reformation that followed in Europe.

CONCLUSION

“Many long for special talent with which to do a wonderful work, while the duties lying close at hand, the performance of which would make the life fragrant, are lost sight of. Let such ones take up the duties lying directly in their pathway. Success depends not so much on talent as on energy and willingness. It is not the possession of splendid talents that enables us to render acceptable service, but the conscientious performance of daily duties, the contented spirit, the unaffected, sincere interest in the welfare of others. In the humblest lot true excellence may be found. The commonest tasks, wrought with loving faithfulness, are beautiful in God’s sight.” PK 219 “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.” Luke 16:10 Let’s put on our own gospel armour that God has provided and join the Christian army, putting aside our desire to relax our efforts. The end is at hand, it is time to stand up and fight. There is no time to relax our efforts as the enemy is going about as a “roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8. Our only safety is to keep our gospel armour on and soldier on in the strength of the Lord.

“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:” Ephesians 6:13-17
AMEN

Wendy Eaton, Australia