Who's Got Your Back?

I Samuel 14:7
“Do all that you have in mind,” his armor bearer said, “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.”

Can you remember in grade school when an occasional bully would pop up and how good it felt when you had your partner standing behind you saying, “I got your back man!” when you’ve got “people” standing behind you it makes you feel stronger and more confident. The opposite is also true. When you have to face opposition with nobody behind you, your confidence wanes and you feel dwarfed in comparison to your opposition. There’s just something about having that voice of strength and companionship that lets you know, ‘I got your back!’

Each of us needs to identify someone who has our back especially before we go into battle. It's been said that you find out a lot about yourself in a fight but you also find out a lot about who your friends really are as well.

Jonathan, who was the son of King Saul, was growing impatient by the day at the fact that the soldiers of Israel were losing morale and had dwindled down to 600 men. They were waiting on the Thousands of Philistines to come against them at any moment. Jonathan told his armor bearer, ‘let’s go get them before they get us, God is able to save us with a lot of men or just you and me…what do you say?’

First of all, Jonathan talked to the right person, his armor bearer. An armor bearer accompanied military leaders to bring along extra weapons and defensive equipment that would be expended during a battle. Who is it that accompanies you into battle with extra weapons? Mind you, the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but spiritual. Who’s accompanying you that prays for you, has good advice, has resources? Who’s got your back? Is it your best friend? Is it your spouse? Is it a co-worker? Everybody needs somebody, who believes in you and will help you fight the good fight of faith.

Jonathan’s armor bearer said to Jonathan, ‘I got your back!” Here’s how:

1. Do all you have in mind. Two men against thousands?! Is he suicidal?! NO! He’s been walking with Jonathan a long time. He’s seen God move on his life. He’s operating out of faith not fear. You need somebody who’s been walking with you long enough to know when they recognize a God move and also be able to give you wise counsel when you try to take a flesh move. The armor bearer heard God and told his leader do all that is in your mind. We need people that can push us to do all that is in our mind to do against impossible odds.

2. Go ahead! He gives Jonathan the power to lead. Even though they got your back your armor bearers still need you to lead. They can’t fight your fight but they can support you in it.

3. I am with you heart and soul. When someone has your back they are in it! They are not just there in body but their heart and soul are in it. You know when people are just going through the motions. The worst thing that can happen is to have somebody who’s watching your back whose heart and soul are not with you. If your heart isn’t in it let them know before you go to battle.

Jonathan and his armor bearer scaled a wall and defeated 20 men by themselves in an area about half an acre. God took care of the rest by throwing the Philistine army into a panic causing them to kill each other. Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered, there I will be in the midst.” All you need is one true friend and Jesus. Who’s got your back?

Dear God,

Thank you for giving me true armor bearers in the form of a praying wife, a prophetic friend, and a supportive staff. I can face anything because you give me strength through my friends and by the power of Christ that operates in me. Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. Thank you for watching my back and giving me the strength to face what’s in front of me. Today, I am more than a conqueror through Christ who gives me strength.

In Jesus Name,
Amen