Throughout Europe during medieval times, warriors called knights fought battles for the king. The process of becoming a knight can shed light on the process of true armorbearing.

The "shining armor" a knight wore offered him protection from the enemy. For some knights, this attire was very interesting: Some knights wore chain mail. This term mail referred to a mass of chains made into articles of clothing. This "mail" was sometimes able to protect a knight's body from an approaching arrow. Knights also wore helmets made of iron and gauntlets or iron gloves. A knight wore a breastplate also made of solid iron. In other words, they were covered from head to toe with armor, which was very useful and important to knights. Along with the armor, a knight depended on a shield, constructed of iron and made to block blows from an enemy's sword.

To become a knight, you had to be lucky enough to be a noble, and then you had to find someone who would take you as a "page" on your seventh birthday. Only noble families could afford to have their child become a knight. As pages, these children were trained to serve under a knight and learn good behavior and manners. When a page turned fourteen, he became a squire. The word squire is French, meaning "shield-bearer," or armorbearer. A squire could watch a knight practice his fighting, and in that way, could also learn to fight. Using a pel, a wooden pole used for slicing, a squire could practice his sword fighting. Some squires practiced with weapons double the size and weight of the real thing in order to develop strength. Finally, at the end of the training period, a "dubbing ceremony" was held, and the squire became a knight. By the thirteenth century, the king or the squire's teacher would touch the young man's shoulder with a sword, symbolizing promotion. The king or teacher would then fasten his sword and spurs on their protégé. After the ceremony, a celebration was held in which the new knight could show off his acquired skills.

This is an incredible picture of how some armorbearers are forged. There is a process to becoming one of God's true armorbearers. Much like the squires of old, many armorbearers learn how to "fight" by watching the knights whom they serve. This fighting can come in the form of spiritual warfare, or it could be a form of executing ministry and the call of God upon their lives. Like the training of the squire, some of the greatest lessons learned come through the armorbearer's watching their leader practice fighting, or be engaged in battle, over a period of time.

As did the squire, during the training period, the armorbearer often has the opportunity to practice or prepare with weapons double the size and weight of the real thing in order to develop strength.

In my own life, I have found in my own life that serving as a committed armorbearer often brings about a heavier trial and a greater test. Don't be afraid if this happens to you. These tests come in order to build strength in you. Perhaps your finances seem to be attacked more than anyone else's and still you're serving faithfully. Perhaps other areas of your life are difficult to bring into balance right now. God is working strength in you! He didn't cause the doubling of the size or weight of the real thing, but He certainly allows those loads to work strength in you.

Hold on and remain steadfast, no matter how long the preparation period or the practice session. Whether you're called to be an armorbearer for a lifetime, or if this preparation is for further ministry, remain committed. Be effective. Why? Because a coronation service is in your future.