The Ministry of “Helps”

1 Corinthians 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.”

Many, when preaching about church government and the strength of a church body, will begin with Ephesians 4:11, instead of the above passage. Both Scriptures focus our attention on the gifting of members, while Paul writes to the Ephesians, he makes the bold statement about what the list of five are for…

Ephesians 4:12-13, “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ”

There is a slight difference in message to the church in Corinth. It seems that the emphasis isn’t as much on perfecting and growing as it is in nurturing and allowing the gifts to work within the church body.

The English word “Helps” is only used twice in all of Scripture. The one used here to the Corinthians has a root word that indicates “Relief”. Each individual is to use our gifting to help by providing relief to the rest of the body. The other time “Helps” is used is found in Acts 27:17, and its root meaning has more of a binding up or securing or supporting by using ropes or chains. The Passage in Acts is when the ship was about to fall apart and “Helps” were needed to keep the ship from inevitable destruction.

As I looked at these passages in light of the work of a Chaplain, the Lord began to impress upon me that we are to become “Helps”. It should be our goal to be a balm that brings relief to members of the body…and at times, when disaster hits people’s lives, a chaplain becomes spiritual ropes and chains that bind and secure the hurting and broken.

We are “Helps”! We may not be listed as one of the five elite ministries, but the steady work of a Chaplain will bind up the wounded and help bring relief to stressful situations. Where we will shine the most is when we are needed the most. Because we will bring a calming to a stressed member of the body.

Pray that you may become “Helps” in these trying days where the enemy would desire to kill, steal, and destroy the weakening vessels.

Chaplain Hardin
Azusa StreetRiders International Chaplain