Title: Importance/Essentiality of the Ministry of Helps

Text: Acts 6:1-7, Ex.18:13-27, 1 Sam 22:1-2

Key verse: Ex 17:12
Introduction
Every assignment that God gives a man is always God-sized assignment hence,
except one is God, it requires more than a man’s capacity. Hence every man with
Gd given assignment need the support of the ministry of helps. Since one of God’s
names is the Helper, He has packages of people with resources that will be
required for every given assignment whom He sends or sought out by request to
Him who makes and knows all men. The bible encourages us to give ourselves to
the doctrine of Christ. Then what is a doctrine? Doctrines of Christ are practices
found in the OT and practised by Jesus. One of these doctrines is the ministry of
helps. Yes, It is a divine strategy.

The origin of help ministry

God instituted it (Gen 2:7-8,18) when He gave the earth to one man to manage.
Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed
into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Gen 2:8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put
the man whom he had formed.
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.
God continues using it, when He gave an assignment to Moses. He raised Aaron,
Hur and Joshua as ministers of help.
Caveat: Not all helps are ready made
David and his mighty men. In 1 Sam 22:1-2, Different people with different
problems gathered around David to support divine calling upon his life however
God built them up through David to become mighty men. They were fearful people
1 Sam 23:1-3 but turned mighty 1 Sam 30:9, 2 Sam 23:8-16.
1Sa 22:1  David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and
when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to
him. 
1Sa 22:2  And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and
every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a
captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men
1Sa 23:1  Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against
Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors. 
1Sa 23:2  Therefore David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite
these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines,
and save Keilah. 
1Sa 23:3  And David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah:
how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines? 

1Sa 30:8  And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this
troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely
overtake them, and without fail recover all. 
1Sa 30:9  So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and
came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed. 
1Sa 30:10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred abode
behind, which were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor. 

Jesus Christ and the disciples. Jesus Christ carried out part of his ministry by
utilizing chosen helps. Mat. 4:18-19; 10:1-4. He made them to do some of the
things that has to do.
Mat 4:18  And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon
called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were
fishers. 
Mat 4:19  And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 
Mat 4:20  And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. 

Mat 10:1  And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them
power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness
and all manner of disease. 
Mat 10:2  Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is
called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his
brother; 
Mat 10:3  Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James
the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; 
Mat 10:4  Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. 

The importance/essentiality of help ministry Acts 6:1-7

Act 6:1  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.
Act 6:2  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.
Act 6:3  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.
Act 6:4  But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the
word. 
Act 6:5  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: 
Act 6:6  Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid
their hands on them.
Act 6:7  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.

1. To prevent misconceptions in the ministry Acts 6:1a…. murmuring of the

Grecians against the Hebrews
2. To take care of the neglect in the church Acts 6:1b …. widows were
neglected in the daily ministration. It minimises/removes omission.
3. To prevent a man of God from distractions which comes from support
services Acts 6:3-4 …. 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.
4. To discover hidden gifts Acts 6:5….and they chose Stephen, a man full of
faith and of the Holy Ghost
5. To increase the Word’s quality, number of disciples and obedience to
leaders Act 6:7…. 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.
6. It also brings encouragement to servants of God and prevents them from
breaking down. Exo 18:18  Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this
 people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able
to perform it thyself alone. 
Conclusion
As children of God, we need to make ourselves discoverable as humble gifts of
God. In what role are you a help minister? On the other hand, since we are human,
we are limited in resources to fulfil our God given visions hence our completeness
is embedded in the provided vessels (help ministers) in our lives and ministries.
Employ this knowledge to move the church forward.
Onboarding Exercise
If you have been searching for your calling/ministry, the journey begins from
offering help, yes, you are a personified help to someone who at your reach.
Remember Elijah and Elisha
And if you are yet to surrender to the call of God to become his child through Jesus
Christ, this treasure of being a blessing to a frontline servant may not be unlocked.
Jesus is calling you today.