Introduction:

1 Corinthians 12:28 – Romans 12:7

  I.     The Quiet Ministry.

       Because there are so many things that need to be done if a church is to sustain a full ministry, I think the gift of helps is one of the most important in the body of Christ. 

       We are prone not to place much honor upon this gift.  Oftentimes it goes unnoticed and unrecognized because we tend to notice those who are up front, and we magnify the gift of teacher or evangelist.  But I believe God placed the more abundant glory and honor upon the gift of help (1 Corinthians 12:23-24).  Who do you think keeps the grounds clean at our church?  Do you know what time they get here on Sunday?   

A.     Those Who Have The Ministry of Helps.

1.       They don’t have to be asked to do things.

a)        Open Your Eyes & Look Around!  See What Need Doing!

1)        Does the trash need to be emptied?  Bulletins need to be folded?  Chairs to straighten?  A little cleaning up in the classroom to be done?   Overhead ministry?  Whatever it is, do it.  Don’t wait for someone to tell you, this is a big blessing to others. 

2)        Be creative.  Put yourself in the place of the members of this church and ask yourself, what would make you most comfortable if you were them.

1.         What would make new Jr. Highers feel at home in our class?

2.         Do they have a Bible, if not get them one.

3.         Be kind & considerate to them, talk to them, be a greeter!

4.         When you do the ministry of helps, do not do it for recognition.

2.       They do not do it for recognition.

a)        Take Heed You do Nothing To Be Seen of Men (Mathew 6:1)

1)        Guard Our Hearts and Be Alert to the Deception of giving & doing good.

(a)      Giving—Praying—Fasting (Matthew 6:1-18)

1.         Jesus Characterizes the Pharisees (Matthew 23:1-12)

2.         Beware of the scribes Jesus said (Luke 20:45-47)

"And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. (Matthew 23:12 NKJV)

"How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? (John 5:44 NKJV)

Though you ascend as high as the eagle, And though you set your nest among the stars, From there I will bring you down," says the LORD. (Obadiah 1:4 NKJV)

Three things can be said about the person who chooses man’s reward over God’s reward:

(1)   he has chosen the poorest reward;

(2)   he has cheated himself; and

(3)   he can expect no more. What a terrible fate! To have no more reward than what this world offers.

b)        The Right Motives

1)        Give (serve) Unconsciously

2)        Do it out of an inner compulsion to give and help, out of intense love, out of genuine concern.

3)        Keep your mind on the need, not on what you are doing and the benefits you may receive.

4)        Just love and care and be concerned as you give and do good.

Thought 1. There are three forceful lessons in this point.

1)   A servant of God is to be immersed in God and in the needs of the world.                                               There is no time for centering attention upon himself if he wishes his life to be focused on God and to be spent saving his world.

2)   A servant of God must get out into the world where the needs are. There is no time for the right hand to be explaining and receiving applause from the left hand.

3)   The servant of God must not become entangled with the affairs of this world (2 Tim. 2:4). He quietly and diligently goes about pouring himself into helping others.

B.     Serve With Joy.

1.       Never Do Anything Out of Duty or Obligation.

a)        Whatever You Do, Do it for the Sheer Joy of Knowing it is for the Lord.

1)        Colossians 3:17 cf. 1 Corinthians 10:31

(a)      Exercise your gift for the glory of the Lord and as to the Lord.

(b)      Realize that He wants us to exercise our ministry joyfully.

(c)      If you find yourself resenting the work you are doing, then it would be best to stop.

(d)      God doesn’t want “clenched teeth service.”

Those with the gift of helps are always excited & thrilled that they can do something for the Lord.  They bubble over with gratitude to think that God would even use them, & appreciate that He’s delighted to let them serve Him. 

2.       Helps in the Scripture.

a)        Those who were Faithful Servants—the right hand man. 

1)        Joshua had the gift of helps.

(a)      Moses gave him orders and Joshua stood by to carry them out.

(b)      When Moses died God chose & ordained Joshua to take over the leadership of the nation.  

2)        Timothy was a servant of Paul.

3)        Priscilla & Aquilla (Romans 16:13)

C.     Our Ministry Leads to Another.

1.       Be Faithful to what God has given you.

a)        Faithfulness to God (1Corinthians 4:2)

God’s faithfulness should be so deeply reflected in the lives of His people (Gal. 5:22) that they can be called simply "the faithful" (Ps. 31:23).

1)        Be A Marathon Runner In Your Service to the Lord.

(a)      Many Christians are spiritual sprinters—they get involved, serve for a while with all their energy, but then go into spiritual retirement.

(b)      God is looking for marathon runners—people who will run a long distance.

(c)      2 Timothy 4:6–7

1.         Do not become uncaring about your commitment to God.

2.         Do not become bitter and self-centered. In contrast, it’s beautiful to see a person grow old and continue in a life of faithful service.

3.         A faithful Christian always makes a priority of worshiping, serving, and praying consistently. It’s sad when people are distracted by other things and don’t keep their priorities right.

2)        Faithfulness is a Characteristic of Saints.

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: (Ephesians 1:1 NKJV)

To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse (Colossians 1:2 NKJV)

These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful." (Revelation 17:14 NKJV)

3)        Your Faithfulness is Exhibited in You Service to God (Matthew 24:45-51).

(a)      The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30)

D.     Ministry as a Help.

1.       Ministry is An Outgrowth of the Gift of Helps.

a)        What Is A Minister?

1)        Three Greek Words Are Translated Minister:

1.         diaknons literally means “servant,” from which we get our English word “deacon.”  Jesus used this word (Mark 9:35 “servant” diakonos)

2.         leitourgos is also translated “minister” or “servant.”  In ancient times, this term usually referred to a wealthy person who gave himself for free public service. 

3.         hyperetes (hyper means “under” etes means “rower” 1Corinthians 3:5).  These men were an under rower of a ship, the lowest and a very dangerous position. 

b)        Ministry is a Gift and Calling of God.

1)        Paul was Put Into the Ministry (Ephesians 3:7; 1 Timothy 1:12).

Paul had received his ministry from the Lord Jesus and he was determined to see it through to the end.  You don’t do that unless you know you’ve been called to it.

2.       Examples of Ministry in the Bible.

a)        The Example’s  of Timothy & Epaphroditus – Philippians 2:19-30

1)        We Must Get Involved in the Service for God (1Tim.4:12)

1.         Why does God demand that we labor?  (1Thess.4:11-12)

2.         Labor for Christ’s name sake (Revelation 2:1-7)

3.         Labor in order to support the weak (Acts 20:35 cf. Eph.4:28)

4.         Labor in prayer (Colossians 4:12)

5.         Labor night and day to preach the gospel (1Thess.2:9)

6.         Labor because you love Christ so much that you labor more abundantly than others (1Cor.15:10).

7.         Labor 100% till Christ returns (Luke 19:16-17)

2)        Nowhere In the Bible Are We Told To Slow Down and Take It Easy.

(a)      David took it easy and committed adultery (2 Sam.11:1)—Must be about our Fathers business.

1.         to press on toward the goal (Philippians 3:13-14)

2.         do not grow weary in doing good (2 Thessalonians 3:13)

3.         run the good race in such a way to win the prize (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)

4.         run the race with endurance, looking unto Jesus, not becoming weary and discouraged in your souls – (Hebrews 12:1-3)

5.         finish the race and ministry with joy (Acts 20:24)

6.         be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58)

7.         fight the good fight of faith, laying hold of eternal life (1 Timothy 6:12)

8.         be watchful in all things… do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry (2 Timothy 4:5)

b)        The Lord Jesus Christ.

1)        Jesus even ministered while on the cross.

1.         The attitude of prayer—the word of forgiveness.  His public ministry opened with prayer (Lk.3:21) & closed with prayer. 

2.         He granted eternal life to a dying sinner who believed in Him (Luke 23:26-43)

3.         He did not overlook the responsibility to make provision for His mother (John 19:25, 26).

4.         He was not to weary to take upon Himself the sins of the world (Matt.27:45)

2)        When Jesus went to the cross, He endured all that it demanded (Hebrews 12:1-3)

1.         He despised the shame and accepted it willingly.

2.         We to are to go to the cross daily denying ourselves & following Jesus (Luke 9:23)

3.         He looked forward to His Father’s reward and the joy that anticipation of this reward brought.

4.         As we run the race of the Christian life, we can run in the anticipation of our reward

“Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (Matthew 25:21)

“Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8 NKJV)