LOVE  TABERNACLE MINISTRIES  INTERNATIONAL
SCHOOL: Foundation
Helps Ministry

I Cor     12:28
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.

 DEFINITION:
The greek means "laying hold of", in the idea of grasping tightly and not letting go.  The idea here is that you grasp tightly to what God has laid in your heart to do, the way to serve, the way to love the Body of Christ. 

This is your door of ministry (service) to work your motivational gift, and thereby, find satisfaction, fulfillment, and fellowship in the work. 

You must recognize that all gifts are for giving to others.  A gift is not given to a person for his/her own selfish use.  As a matter of fact, most gifts will not manifest unless they are in the act of giving to others (i.e., loving others). 
1 Cor 12:7
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
So, you see, the gift is the channel of love, the flow of love, through you to others.  Your fulfillment (and your very life) is in the flow of the gift of love to others. 

The Helps Ministry presents opportunities to serve the others, in love, with your gifts, talents and abilities.  We believe that everyone in the body has a specific purpose and task assigned by the Lord. You may not be called to a fivefold ministry, but everyone has the ability to serve in the Ministry of Helps.  Helps can be thought of as

Having
Enough
Loving
People
Serving.
Matt 20:28
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister,
and to give his life a ransom for many.
The Ministry of Helps is seen in the New Testament as one of helping the afflicted, the poor,
and the windows in need. 
Acts 6:1-8
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. 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. 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. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. 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: Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
This service or ministry is what is spoke of the motivational gift "ministry" (Rom 12:7).  Also, the greek word "diakonos" means "deacon" or "one who serves".  You should recognize that through the loving service of the Ministry of Helps:
 Many times a particular Helps Ministry will be called an "auxiliary".  If a person wishes to be the head of an auxiliary, they should be:
TYPE OF WORK:
Helps were to assist the five fold where needed.  This is seen as Elisha waited (ministered) on Elijah, cooking his food, and washing his hands, before Elisha received the double anointing.

                Phil       1:1
                Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus
                Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus
                which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

Notice in 1 Timothy 3, that Paul states guidelines for Bishops and deacons:

      (1) deacons were for ministering to the needs of the poor, afflicted, or
          widowed.  They were not to "rule" nor appoint the five fold, but to
          serve under them, even serving tables!  See Acts 6:1-8.  Note these
          men were men of faith and of wisdom, honest and baptized in the Holy
          Spirit before they started as deacons.  Stephen did great wonders and
          miracles (Acts 6:8), acting probably as a evangelist and teacher.
          Philip went on to be an evangelist.

      (2) the "music ministry" is a ministry of helps.

                II Kings   3:15-16
                But now bring me a minstrel.  And it came to pass, when the minstrel played,
                that the hand of the Lord came upon him.
                And he said, Thus saith the Lord, Make this valley full of ditches.

                I Sam     16:23
                And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul,
                that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed,
                and was well, and the evil spirit  departed from him. 

      (3) the gift of helps would include also include items like cleaning up the church,
           moving the lawn, repairs, cooking, etc....


COMBINATION OF GIFTINGS:
Most likely gifts active in this work:
Motivational:         Ministry (i.e., to serve others), give.
Five Fold:             None (though a Five Fold minister can serve in Helps, Helps is
                            supposed to be assisting the Five Fold with their purpose)
Charismatic:          Could be any one or any combination of.


LOOK FOR:

EXAMPLE:
Examples include:
COMMENTS:
Every ministry gift is a gift of giving.  Giving out what God places in you.  The gift of healing is not for the possessor of the gift, but for those to whom he ministers.  The gift of prophet or apostle is not for the possessor to receive those ministries, but to dispense or distribute as the Spirit of God directs.  God gives gifts to the church.  He stores those gifts in chosen reservoirs (divinely selected ones) so that the gifts may flow out of them to touch His people as He directs.  The gift is not theirs, they are but an executor of God's will, distributing the gifts of God as the Spirit of God directs.


One minister illustrates the Ministry of Helps with the following acronym:

H - having
E - enough
L – loving       
P - people
S - serving others

Having enough loving people serving others aptly expresses the intent of the word "helps".  Ministry takes work when properly supplied.  The more excellent the ministry, the more work required to maintain the excellence.  A vision cannot be borne on the shoulders of just one.  It carried by the hearts and hands of many.

Helps would be defined as the act of giving or supplying aid, assistance, remedy or relief as one who is actively involved in service of or supply of assistance to another.  A person not possessing one of the Five Fold Ministry gifts who through their assistance, service, aid, remedy, relief or direct intervention, make it possible or easier for the one possessing the ministry gift to operate that gift.

God gifts the Minister of Helps with a special love I Corinthians 13 and submissive spirit so that they may give themselves in service to a minister or ministry, performing whatever task possible to take the load off that minister or ministry. To free up the hands of the one they are helping; to lift up the weary hands of the one they are helping. To remove stumbling blocks, traps or pitfalls from the one they are helping; to cover with prayer and to provide a buffer or wall of covering for the one they are helping.

Helps fills voids, performs tasks, carries burdens, defends, assists, aids, remedies, repairs, covers, prepares and whatever else is necessary to provide ease for the gifts of God to flow unfettered in the Body of Christ, the local Church.

The Ministry of Helps is about serving, helping, following and covering.  It is work, but it provides great rewards. It is about serving and assisting so ministry can take place in someone else's life.  It is about making an investment in the life and ministry of others.

You are whatever you are today because of the service and commitment of others through the ages.  You are the recipient of their service and their commitment of service.  Will you now become a benefactor for those who follow you?  Will you make a place for others or simply enjoy the place others have made for you?

Many ministers today are burdened with the day to day tasks required to keep the ministry functioning.  Ministers are familiar with all the responsibilities and have become proficient at being all things to all people, while covering every thing possible that can go wrong or needs attention during a service.  Interestingly enough, that is not the mandate of their ministry.  The call of the ministry is to prayer and preaching of the word.  God has made provision for the many tasks that are required to keep the Church running efficiently and it is called the Ministry of Helps

But we that are the Five Fold ministry must make room for, organize, train, and encourage the Body of Christ to be engaged and active in the function of Helps. 

Acts 6:2-7 is the narrative of the beginning of the ministry of helps in the New Testament Church.  The ministry of waiting tables set the Apostles free to do the work of the Gospel and was the beginning of bringing order to the church.  This is one of the foundational scriptures, which demonstrates "helps" ministry in the New Testament Church.

A foundational example of the Ministry of Helps is found the Old Testament. Joshua led a battle against Amalek.  Moses covered the battle as God's anointed leader with his hands lifted to the Lord.  As long as the Ministry of Helps provided by Aaron and Hur physically held up Moses' hands, the spiritual work of ministry went forth and the battle was successful, but if they had allowed Moses hands to fall to his side, the battle would have been lost.

The Helps Ministry of Aaron and Hur allowed the plan and purpose of God to be fulfilled through Moses and Joshua.  One might ask which of the ministries was most important.
Was it Moses who God had given the leadership over Israel?  Was it Joshua who was charged to do battle and win? Was it Aaron and Hur, who provided support to Moses?
This is one of the great examples found in the scriptures of team ministry. 

How Does One Get Started in the Ministry of Helps?:

In the business community there is a saying, "find a void and fill it."  It is that simple to get started.  There are no shortages of opportunities to assist the Man of God, the Woman of God; the People of God, the Work of God or the fulfilling of the Vision delivered through the Minister of God. Very often, you will find yourself drawn to a need in the Body.  Depending on your Church organization, you may find others are busy working in the area you are drawn to.  You will have this compulsion to join them.  At other times you may see a need no one if addressing.  Never the less, you are drawn to "help" in this area.  The greatest enemy of those who are drawn to "helps" is waiting for someone to tell you…help!  If you are sensitive to the Holy Spirit, you will see "need" everywhere.  The parking lot needs to have trash picked up, the church needs the lawn mowed or the bush trimmed or flowers planted.  The hostesses need help serving lunches. The Pastors wife needs some one to baby-sit or help clean her house once a week.  The Pastors grass needs to be cut, their car needs to be washed.  The church office needs to be cleaned and trash emptied. 

We are referred to Proverbs 18:16: which reads, "A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men." Every Christian is called to the "helps" ministry.  It is our service to God.  Accepting this fact allows your gift to make room for you.  Your responsibility to put your hand and help in any capacity you can.  Often we find individuals have natural talent that is useful in the Church, at other times, you may feel led to do something for which you feel unqualified to do.  Listen to the drawing of the Holy Spirit and trust that inward witness.

Following are some things to consider about submission, service and helps ministry. 
A.    Attitude - Matthew 25:40 "As you have done unto the least of these you've done it to Me."  Serving anyone in the Kingdom of God is serving God.  Helps ministers always think about ways to serve others!

B.    Invest - Luke 16:10 "If one is faithful in the little things they can be trusted with more."  Faithfulness brings promotion in the ministry!

C.    Work - Ecclesiastes 9:10 "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might."  Helps ministers find and fill a void submitting themselves to the task!

D.    Duplicate - Philippians 4:9 "What you've learned, received, heard and seen in me, practice these things."   Helps ministers become disciples and then disciple others!

E.    Will and Submission - Isaiah 1:19 "If you are willing and obedient you will eat the good of the land."  Helps ministers are first willing, then obedience follows!

F.    Reward - Hebrews 6:10 "For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the labor of love which you have shown, toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints."  Helps ministers always have a payday.  God rewards are so much greater than the worlds!

Ephesians 6:7 "with good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men."  This allows us to serve and not be easily offended or provoked.  When we perform this labor of love in the cause of the ministry we know the God who sees in private will reward us openly.

The Ministry of Helps is work done by you to alleviate the load on others, to bring order, to stop confusion, to promote the vision, and to fill a need.  The easiest way to learn is find a servant and duplicate their labor of love.  Develop an attitude of serving, helping and supporting others in the cause of ministry, and willingness to serve in submission to authority and the vision.  There is a spiritual hook up when one is willing, obedient and submissive.  Serve as unto the Lord.

The Ministry of Helps described in 1 Corinthians 12:28 is entered into when one realizes there is a ministry gifting of God to help others fulfill their ministry - to ease their load - to take busy work out of their way - to honor them by serving them.  In so doing, the Minister of Helps becomes a joint partaker in the rewards of all the ministry they serve accomplishes.

Think of Helps as God's Love manifest thru you in your work of service.  Serving opportunities include:

Follow Spiritual Authority:

Spiritual authority and submission to that authority is essential to our success as ministers of HELPS.  I cannot be effective helping the authority if I am fighting, distracting, or rebelling (changing the instructions) against the authority.  There are five basic levels of spiritual authority in the local church.  They are:

Additional Scripture:
Gen 2:18
And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
It is not good for man (either male or female) to work alone, that is why He is sending you to help, and be helped by others around you.
Acts 27:17
Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.
We are called to undergird and strengthen the ship, local church or ministry that God has put us in.
1 Cor 12:28
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.
God is setting you (ordaining, which means to set in place) to a certain work or help unto His Body, the Church of the Living God.
Heb 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
We need God's grace (capability) to help us, even to help us help others.  Ask God for His grace for what He is calling you to do in your local church.
1 Chron 12:17-18
And David went out to meet them, and answered and said unto them, If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, mine heart shall be knit unto you: but if ye be come to betray me to mine enemies, seeing there is no wrong in mine hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it. Then the spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the captains, and he said, Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse: peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers; for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.
Go to the man of God over you, and let them know you are there to help.  Then obey where the man of God sets you.  Or if there are auxiliaries with heads setup,  go to the person in charge of the area that you feel lead to work in, and commit to help them. 

Be Committed:

The seeds you sow in service to others will determine the crop you harvest or reap in life and in your ministry when you are promoted.  Sow a good, honest and sincere seed of serving the minister or ministry of God you are called to, and you can expect a multiplied crop of the same kind coming to you.

Many ministers failed to serve another minister before entering into their own ministry and so they have no harvest of the helps ministry serving them.  The Law of SeedTime and Harvest applies because they planted no seeds of service to other ministries; they have no harvest themselves.

It is important to note here that the current notion of going to a seminary or bible school and then establish yourself in a ministry is flawed.  It is true that preparation and study of the Word of God is primary and needful. What is also needful is submitting to the process of becoming first a disciple and submitting to those who can mentor and grow us up into spiritual maturity. Gaining a keen sense of spiritual authority; which provides a covering and a spiritual father who can speak into our life. Then investing a time of service in the "helps" ministry within our local church.  There is no replacement for solid on the job training (OJT) before one is launched into their ministry.  We see so many young Pastors and ministers struggling today because they have not received the fullness of the preparation needed for the five fold ministry.  We have ample examples in Elijah and Elisha, Jesus and the disciples, Paul and Timothy, etc.  The community of Israel was obsessed with the notion of mentoring.  Fathers taught their sons.

One must serve others well to be served.  Once again, no servant of God is called to stand-alone.  Others are commissioned of God to minister unto and on behalf of the servant of the Lord.  There is great reward in serving the servant of the Lord.

Do not become weary in well doing.  A servant and an automobile have an element in common.  An automobile will usually start to miss and skip before it finally quits and shuts down.  If you start to skip and miss in your service to others you are in danger of failing and quitting.  God loves faithfulness.  He is faithful to you, and cannot deny Himself.  So be faithful to Him, and to be His Loving Hands helping others.  Be blessed.

(Note:  Much of the material for the Helps section is taken from "The Ministry of Helps" manual, by the House of the Lord Fellowship Church, in Austin, TX.  May God richly bless them for their stand of "freely we have received, freely we give".)
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