Put On Your Own Armor
Have you ever tried on clothes that were either too big or too small? Maybe you tried on pants that were too long or too short? Have you ever noticed that you might have a similar body type to someone else, but that dress or suit doesn’t fit the same? You might be surprised to learn that the person you thought had the same body type as you had their clothes tailor-made. In the end, you find that it is best to wear clothes that fit you perfectly.
The same concept can be applied to our callings and giftings in the body of Christ. According to Romans 12:4-8(NKJV), we all have unique gifts.
“4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”
Though we may have different gifts, each is needed to carry out God's will.
There is a saying that goes, “Imitation is the best form of flattery.” Although that may be true in a worldly sense, it is far from the truth in the kingdom of God. Let’s take a look at 1 Samuel 17:38-40 (NKJV):
38 So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. 39 David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” So David took them off. 40 Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.
The armor specially made for King Saul was not a good fit for David. Ultimately, David had to put on his own form of armor. David, who was a man after God’s own heart, could not have possibly fought in Saul’s armor—Saul was a man who feared the people and depended heavily on their opinions. The same can be said for you. You cannot possibly wear someone else’s armor (imitate another person’s gifting or walk with Christ) because you did not go through the same making and breaking process that the individual you are trying to imitate has gone through.
Brothers and sisters, when you try to step outside of your own lane, you make yourself look like a fool.
Acts 19:11-16 (NKJV):
11 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them, and the evil spirits went out of them. 13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14 Also, there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” 16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
The seven sons of Sceva tried to imitate the anointing that was on the Apostle Paul, and as a result, they received a nasty beating from the demons. Brothers and sisters, I encourage you to be grateful for the giftings that our Heavenly Father has given you. Be sure to do a pleasing and excellent job with the little that He has entrusted to you, so that you may be trusted with more (Luke 16:10). Lastly, put on your own armor and stay in your own lane.