Dean Mitchum: "What Does It Mean to Resist the Bling?"

Shortly after consenting to David facing Goliath, Saul offered him his armor. His armor was no ordinary, standard-issued armor. It was the armor of the king.

"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." (1 Sam. 17:38 NKJV)

It could have been tempting for David to accept Saul's armor and parade around like a newly-signed NFL rookie, holding up his team jersey with his name on it. But after having tried to use these armor components, David earnestly said to Saul that he could not walk in them for he had not tested them. These items were not his weapons of war. He had not perfected them.

"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." (1 Sam. 17:39 NKJV)

What he had perfected was a relationship of trust with God and a slingshot. He knew that he and God had formed a battle-tested partnership. God used the skillfulness of his hands to win in battle and his record was proof—the lion, the bear, and now Goliath.

So what does it mean to resist the bling? Consider these thoughts from differing perspectives.

For Those Who Serve

• You don't have to act like others to serve them well.
• Trust in your relationship with God and the history He has made with you.
• What has worked for others may not work for you.
• You don't have to perform every worship song you hear and love.
• You don't have to sound like your worship leader to be a good worship leader.
• What was designed to fit others may not fit you.
• Sometimes good intentions cause more harm than good.
• Don't be afraid to earnestly speak up when things don't fit.
• Don't abandon your preparation and the processes that got you to this moment.
• Don't let the weight of honor and position of those you serve cloud the judgment and discernment you need for battle.
• There is a difference between mantles and armor.
• Mantles and anointing can be transferred and imparted but many times armor is fitted to the individual.

For Those Who Lead

• When the weight of our involvement contradicts what God is doing in those we lead, we should have the wisdom to let them roll.
• When our methods don't position our people for success or growth then we shouldn't force our help on the situation.
• If the armor we place on others impedes the confidence they have in God then it's not necessary that our armor be used.
• Sometimes we put on others the procedures and practices that were important to us but they may not be needed by the ones who serve.
• It's true that soldiers need weapons and armor but we must remember that even with our good intentions it's okay if they don't do it the way we did it.
• There are different kinds of weapons and different types of soldiers.
• "Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and 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." (1 Sam. 17:40 NKJV)

So with serving and leading we need to resist the bling and allow God to work through one another in order that each one can fulfill the destiny God has for us. If the giants are slain then there's plenty of bling!

Dean Mitchum, Worship Leader
Vision Church at Christian International
Email: dean@deanmitchum.com 
Website: www.deanmitchum.com

Dean Mitchum serves as the director of Worship Ministries for Bishop Bill Hamon of Christian International and as the worship pastor for Apostles Tom and Jane Hamon of Vision Church at CI. He is a powerful, prophetic psalmist specializing in writing for the current moves of God, playing prophetically, and leading worship that changes the atmosphere. Dean is the author of Apostolic Kingdom Praise, The Tabernacle of God, and along with his wife Lisa, is the co-writer of more than 100 worship songs. Dean and his wife Lisa have been married 32 years and have five children and four grandchildren. They make their home near the beautiful emerald coast on the Florida panhandle.

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