| Throughout Europe during medieval times, warriors | | | | sword and spurs on their protégé. |
| called knights fought battles for the king. The | | | | After the ceremony, a celebration was held in which |
| process of becoming a knight can shed light on the | | | | the new knight could show off his acquired skills. |
| process of true armorbearing. | | | | This is an incredible picture of how some |
| The "shining armor" a knight wore offered him | | | | armorbearers are forged. There is a process to |
| protection from the enemy. For some knights, this | | | | becoming one of God's true armorbearers. Much like |
| attire was very interesting: Some knights wore chain | | | | the squires of old, many armorbearers learn how to |
| mail. This term mail referred to a mass of chains | | | | "fight" by watching the knights whom they serve. |
| made into articles of clothing. This "mail" was | | | | This fighting can come in the form of spiritual |
| sometimes able to protect a knight's body from an | | | | warfare, or it could be a form of executing ministry |
| approaching arrow. Knights also wore helmets made | | | | and the call of God upon their lives. Like the training |
| of iron and gauntlets or iron gloves. A knight wore a | | | | of the squire, some of the greatest lessons learned |
| breastplate also made of solid iron. In other words, | | | | come through the armorbearer's watching their leader |
| they were covered from head to toe with armor, | | | | practice fighting, or be engaged in battle, over a |
| which was very useful and important to knights. | | | | period of time. |
| Along with the armor, a knight depended on a shield, | | | | As did the squire, during the training period, the |
| constructed of iron and made to block blows from an | | | | armorbearer often has the opportunity to practice or |
| enemy's sword. | | | | prepare with weapons double the size and weight of |
| To become a knight, you had to be lucky enough to | | | | the real thing in order to develop strength. |
| be a noble, and then you had to find someone who | | | | In my own life, I have found in my own life that |
| would take you as a "page" on your seventh | | | | serving as a committed armorbearer often brings |
| birthday. Only noble families could afford to have their | | | | about a heavier trial and a greater test. Don't be |
| child become a knight. As pages, these children were | | | | afraid if this happens to you. These tests come in |
| trained to serve under a knight and learn good | | | | order to build strength in you. Perhaps your finances |
| behavior and manners. When a page turned fourteen, | | | | seem to be attacked more than anyone else's and |
| he became a squire. The word squire is French, | | | | still you're serving faithfully. Perhaps other areas of |
| meaning "shield-bearer," or armorbearer. A squire | | | | your life are difficult to bring into balance right now. |
| could watch a knight practice his fighting, and in that | | | | God is working strength in you! He didn't cause the |
| way, could also learn to fight. Using a pel, a wooden | | | | doubling of the size or weight of the real thing, but |
| pole used for slicing, a squire could practice his sword | | | | He certainly allows those loads to work strength in |
| fighting. Some squires practiced with weapons double | | | | you. |
| the size and weight of the real thing in order to | | | | Hold on and remain steadfast, no matter how long |
| develop strength. Finally, at the end of the training | | | | the preparation period or the practice session. |
| period, a "dubbing ceremony" was held, and the | | | | Whether you're called to be an armorbearer for a |
| squire became a knight. By the thirteenth century, | | | | lifetime, or if this preparation is for further ministry, |
| the king or the squire's teacher would touch the | | | | remain committed. Be effective. Why? Because a |
| young man's shoulder with a sword, symbolizing | | | | coronation service is in your future. |
| promotion. The king or teacher would then fasten his | | | | |