The Gifts: Helps
Wednesday Evening Bible Study
February 23, 2000
Introduction
We’re taking a break from the list of gifts in 1Cor. 12:8-10 to look at a couple of gifts that are mentioned in another list in 1Corinthians. We’ll get back to the other list in two weeks when Jim Hesterly comes and teaches on the gift of tongues.
Helps
(1 Cor 12:28 KJV) And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
Here, Paul is giving a list of the gifts, set in the order of importance.
helps – antilepsis – a laying hold of, apprehension, perception, objection of a disputant; in NT, to aid, help. It seems to carry the idea of "laying hold of" a need and taking care of it. This is the only place in the New Testament where this form of the word is found.
It comes from antilambanomai – to lay hold of, hold fast to anything; to take a person or thing in order as it were to be held, to take to, embrace; to help, to be a partaker of, partake of (the benefits of the services rendered by the slaves)
It is found in:
(Acts 20:35 KJV) I have showed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Paul encouraged the Ephesians to take on the needs of the "weak" by working hard.
(1 Tim 6:2 KJV) And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.
Those that are masters are "helped" by those servants that are believers. They are literally "helped by the good works" of their servants.
I believe this is the same gift that Paul mentions in Romans 12:7 –
(Rom 12:7 KJV) Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering …
ministry … ministering
– diakonia ("deacon") – service, ministering, esp. of those who execute the commands of others. We’ve made the word to seem to talk about some kind of special religious person, but it really just speaks of a servant. Its focus isn’t on the relationship between a servant and master (doulos), but its focus is on the work that the servant is doing.(Rom 12:7 NASB) if service, in his serving
let us wait
– this phrase is not in the Greek text, but was added by the translators. The idea is simply, "If your gift is ministry, then do ministry"Definition
What is the gift of "helps"?
It’s simply being a servant to others. It’s being "helpful" to others. It’s fulfilling a "need" with your ability.
Yet there is something special, an extra "gifting" with those who have this gift. They do their job especially well. They find great joy in serving.
Lesson
Obligation versus gifting.
Some of these spiritual gifts are things that can only be done by those "gifted" by the Lord to do them. A person who does not have the gift of prophecy should not be claiming to "speak for the Lord". A person who does not have the gift of tongues can’t speak in an unknown language.
But some of them are also things that we all should be doing. Some will be more "gifted" than others, but we are all to do them.
There is a "gift of exhortation" (Rom. 12:8), yet we are all supposed to be encouraging one another (Heb. 3:13).
There is a "gift of giving" (Rom. 12:8), yet we are all obligated to give (Acts 20:35).
"Serving" (helps) is something we are all to do.
(Mark 9:33-35 KJV) And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? {34} But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. {35} And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.
There is none greater than Jesus. Yet He came to be a servant.
No one is beyond being helpful to another person. We are all called to follow Jesus’ example in serving others.
Examples of the gift
Craftsmen
I think something that’s related to "helps" if not the actual gift itself is the concept of "craftsmanship" found in Scripture:
(Exo 31:1-5 KJV) And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, {2} See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: {3} And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, {4} To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, {5} And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.
"and in all kinds of craftsmanship" (NAS)
Bezaleel was filled with the Spirit for the purpose of building the various parts of the tabernacle, including the Ark of the Covenant.
There are some folks in the church that don’t just know how to accomplish a task, they do it with excellence.
It’s long been my heart that Calvary Chapel of Fullerton be an "artist’s church". By that I mean that we would be encouraging those with artistic talents to flourish in the church.
Serving Women
On the day of His crucifixion, even though the disciples had all run off, there were a couple of faithful followers at the cross.
(Mark 15:40-41 KJV) There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome; {41} (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.
ministering
– diakoneo – to be a servant, attendant, domestic, to serve, wait upon.Jesus had this group of gals that followed Him and helped Him. It was these gals who showed up on following Sunday, doing their "thing" –
(Mark 16:1 KJV) And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
We have some gals in the church that are always there to help Deb out, and when they have their fingers in something, it comes out looking beautiful. When the guys go on their retreats, we’re doing pretty well just to come up with name badges. But for the Ladies Retreat, the meeting room had all kinds of decorations, just done superbly! Even the Conference Center director commented to Deb about the work of these gals, joking that he wanted to hire some of them to help decorate some of the things around the Conference Center!
Another example of "helps" would seem to be a gal named "Dorcas" –
(Acts 9:36-41 KJV) Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. {37} And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. {38} And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them. {39} Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them. {40} But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. {41} And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.
almsdeeds
– eleemosune – mercy, pity; esp. as exhibited in giving alms, charity; the benefaction itself, a donation to the poor, alms. I wonder if Dorcas had the gift of "mercy" as well as "helps".Her good works apparently included having made coats and garments for others.
Deacons
The early church began to grow and with it’s growth, the needs began to become more than the apostles could keep up with. They needed help.
(Acts 6:1-6 KJV) And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. {2} Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. {3} Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. {4} But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. {5} And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: {6} Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
business
– chreia – necessity, need; duty, business. These guys were to be full of the Holy Spirit and they were to take care of the "need". They would be "servants" or "deacons" for the rest of the church. They took care of the food ministry at church.We can see it in those who are always doing things for other people. It could be in the person who likes to cook meals for their friends, or in the person who enjoys fixing things or cleaning around the church, or the person who assists another person in their ministry.
Lesson
The Holy Spirit is practical.
If we’re not careful, we can fall into the trap of thinking that the Holy Spirit’s purpose is to give certain people in the church the ability to read your mind and come up with amazing bits of knowledge.
But Jesus said that the one true result of the baptism of the Holy Spirit was power:
(Acts 1:8 KJV) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
The word "power" is dunamis in the Greek. Though we can get caught up in saying that this is the root word for "dynamite", it’s also the root word for "dynamo" and "dynamic". Its root meaning is simply that of "ability".
When the Holy Spirit fills you, He will give you "ability". Sometimes it is the ability to speak in an unknown tongue. Sometimes it is the ability to have a special word of knowledge. Sometimes it’s the ability to be a witness for Jesus. Sometimes it’s the ability to weed a neighbor’s yard or vacuum the church carpet.