Do You Have A Band Of Brothers?

You have probably seen a war movie that shows a unit of soldiers walking along on a mission to rescue or find someone that is behind enemy lines?

Here are guys risking their lives for what they feel is the right thing to do?

They may not even know the guy, but feel that it is their duty as soldiers to bring him home.

This unit has formed a bond that goes beyond each man’s personal agenda. They each have a different personality and at times may even disagree and fight with each other; but they would do just about anything to help and save one of their fellow brothers in arms that was in trouble.

This is the “BAND OF BROTHERS” we hear so much, especially when we talk about men's groups, clubs, or even gangs.

In episode 52, I will share about several men in the Bible that had a Band of Brothers that helped in times of crisis and how that applies to you and me and the men we have or need in our lives. 

Hello, I’m Ryan Hare and welcome to the 318 Project.

As I described that scene in the introduction, you may have had a picture in your mind of a specific movie or event that really stood out to you of a group of guys that were a band of brothers working together for a cause.

So, the question I want to ask you is “Who do you have as a band of brothers to help and protect you?”

When the enemy attacks and brings accusations, is there a brother by your side?

Do you have an armorbearer? 

In the Bible, you only see an armor bearer mentioned in the Old Testament, but the same duties and responsibilities continue on even today.

An armor bearer was a young man that would carry the weapons and shield of the man he was under, much like a knight's squire that would carry the weapons into combat, but also use the shield to protect his master. Over time he would train and even be able to fight alongside the warrior or knight. 

Sometimes the armor bearer would use the shield or weapon to protect or defend the flank of his master. 

In 1 Samuel 14: 1-14 we read of Jonathan and his armor bearer defeating the Philistines. Starting in verse 6 it says

6 Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for us. For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few.”

7 So his armorbearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Go then; here I am with you, according to your heart.”

8Then Jonathan said, “Very well, let us cross over to these men, and we will show ourselves to them. 9If they say thus to us, ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stand still in our place and not go up to them. 10 But if they say thus, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up. For the Lord has delivered them into our hand, and this will be a sign to us.”

11So both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, “Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden.” 12Then the men of the garrison called to Jonathan and his armorbearer, and said, “Come up to us, and we will show you something.”

Jonathan said to his armorbearer, “Come up after me, for the Lord has delivered them into the hand of Israel.” 13And Jonathan climbed up on his hands and knees with his armorbearer after him; and they fell before Jonathan. And as he came after him, his armorbearer killed them. 14That first slaughter which Jonathan and his armorbearer made was about twenty men within about half an acre of land.

We see that David became Saul's armor bearer in 1 Samuel 16:21

But it isn't just about having one person, there are times you need a full garrison of brothers. 

The foundation of the 318 Project comes from Genesis 14:14. Here we see that Lot was taken captive and Abraham raised up with his 318 men and servants that were trained in his household to go and rescue Lot. 

That is what brotherhood is about. When we see a brother that is facing a trial, dealing with a situation or sin, maybe has walked away from his faith or even family, that you will go and fight for them and help restore them. 

Proverbs 17:17  says " A friend loves at all times, but a brother is born for adversity." 

When you are looking for those men to have in your life, you don't need to look for "YES" men that will agree and follow along with everything you say or do; but you need men who will hold you accountable and speak truth into your life even when it brings correction. 

When anyone talks about men's ministry or discipleship the verse that is always quoted is Proverbs 27:17 "As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friends."

To sharpen a sword or weapon means that it has been used in a battle and has been dented, chipped and gotten dull from hitting against the enemies armor and shield. 

When you talk to anyone that works with metal and forges knives they will tell you that if you repeatedly sharpen the blade that after a while you are shaving away the steel from the knife or sword and the blade gets smaller, but to help maintain the size and shape actually comes when the blacksmith would pound out the dents and flaws with a hammer. Then once this was done they would go and sharpen the blade and smooth out the remaining flaws. 

As an armor bearer and brother in arms that is what we are required to do for our fellow brothers. We may see their flaws, just as they see ours and through guidance and prayer allow the Holy Spirit to mend us. 

The thing is that Satan doesn't just attack us from the same direction. He may first  come at us with a frontal assault then the next time a sneak attack from behind or end tries to side swipe you or me, that is why we need brothers praying for us on all sides, almost like we are covered in a box on all six sides.

Going back to David, Over time he rose from being just a young shepherd that became King Saul’s armor bearer,  to became King David that had his mighty warriors that stood out as his elite force of mighty men that is stated in 2 Samuel 23:8-36. Many of these warriors risked their lives because they believed in King David.

He even had his army of 600 men that followed him when he was running from King Saul. 

As a firefighter the one movie that is required viewing is "Backdraft". There is a scene near the end of the movie when Kurt Russell's character is trying to save a fellow firefighter. Even  though the other firefighter had done some bad things he is holding on to his arm when the other firefighter tells him to "Just let me go" when Kurt Russell says "You go, we go." That is what brotherhood should be, that you will do everything in your power to help and save a brother. You may get cuts, burns and scars; but you aren't going to give up on them. 

Unfortunately I have seen it many times that when a brother goes through a divorce, caught in adultery, deals with a drug or alcohol addiction that most men will just walk away and abandon that brother instead of reaching out to help. 

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 talks about the value of a friend.. When you and I read it, we tend to associate it with marriage , but this also applies to any friendship. 

9 Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor.

10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For he has no one to help him up.

11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm;
But how can one be warm alone?

12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. 
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

This is that unity and bond that when the enemy comes and attacks you, there is strength in numbers to overcome and defeat Satan.

So as I am coming to a close, my challenge to you is to start praying about and looking for those brothers that you can unite with that will be your band of brothers, but also that you can be theirs also. It isn’t just to say that you have a brother by your side, but to also know that they won’t abandon you in times of trouble. I want to encourage you to really search for that man that will be a mentor and brother in your life, but to also look for those men that you can be a mentor and brother to help encourage them.

I want to thank you for taking the time to listen to this episode and be sure to share this with other men so that they can be encouraged also. And as always I want you to have a blessed and wonderful day.