The slogan (“The gift that keeps on giving") has been identified with a number of things: An organ donation, love, knowledge, greeting cards (I don’t understand…look at it, that’s nice, pitch it in the dresser drawer), just criticism, salvation is definitely "the gift that keeps on giving."

Well, there is another gift that keeps on giving…it’s a spiritual gift, and it’s called “the gift of helps”…(Paul role-models it for us). But let me explain spiritual gifts in general first…

• A spiritual gift is not a natural ability, but a divine enablement given by the Holy Spirit to every Christian. It is simply a channel through which the Holy Spirit ministers and edifies the body of Christ. And every gift is a characteristic of Jesus Christ. If you are a Christian, you have a spiritual gift. The question is, are you using that gift to benefit the whole body? In order for the church body to be healthy and look more like Christ, every believer must be a functioning organ exercising his or her gifts. Our physical bodies are never as healthy as they could be if our organs are not operating.It’s the same in the spiritual realm.

In order for the church of Jesus Christ, the body, to be healthy, every Christian must be a functioning organ exercising his or her gifts. God saved you to serve (We’re 3 and half years old here at Harvest, and this subject is very, very important). If we want to look more like Christ and be mature, and growing spiritually, than all of us must prayerfully identify what our gift or gifts are, than wholeheartedly serve Christ by ministering to others. Do you have…?

Gift of showing mercy- to exercise deeds of loving-kindness. It is a compassionate ability to lesson the afflictions of others. Is that what you have? Use it!

Gift of evangelism- a heavenly gift from God to mightily preach the gospel to lost people (we are all to share our faith…this goes beyond). It is a gift that challenges others to witness; that is involved in church planting.

Gift of teaching- a God-given ability to explain Scriptural truth clearly to others. It is a gift recognized by others in the church (i.e.-Andy is being ordained…He has this gift)

Gift of administration (to lead)- a divine ability to provide leadership in & outside the church. Do you have that on

Gift of exhortation- This is the capacity to come alongside fellow Christians and encourage them in the Lord. Are you doing that? People need…the devil is working overtime

Gift of giving- All believers are commanded to give; however, this spiritual gift goes beyond to assist those in need. It is a complete denying of oneself for the sake of others. Do you have that gift? Are you using it

Gift of discernment- God has raised up certain believers who help protect the church from false doctrine and discern between good and evil. This gift goes beyond natural insight and human wisdom. Now it’s not a gift that helps someone promote his own agendas or pet peeves in the church…erroneous doct./disunity

Gift of faith- This is often called the gift of prayer. Every saint is to have faith, but this gift speaks of those who have extraordinary confidence in God. These are prayer warriors

Gift of prophecy- This gift refers to preaching. Prophecy means to “tell forth and declare.” It does not refer to predicting the future (it’s proclaiming). I’ve said this before, but it’s possible that church musicians could be included here as they declare the Word through song, which is an act of worship. They are telling others, through music, about the character of God, etc.

But what I want to focus on this morning…Gift of helps- It is a gift that humbly serves other people…and most of the time, it is done behind the scenes.

The Gr. Word (“helps”) means… “to aid; to support; to deliver and rescue” (see this in Paul’s life)

Paul aided Barnabas in the ministry - Acts 11:25-26 (read)

Barnabas helped Paul in ch. 9… This was early on in Paul’s life…just several years after he fled Jerusalem and became a Christian. I think this was the secret of Paul’s success…early on he’s using his “gift of helps”…his life is wrapped up in other people, not himself (What about you? Is it always about you…your hurts, your needs, your wants?)

I was talking to a preacher friend of mine two weeks ago who gave me the “seed thought” for this message…John,ever seen that bumper sticker (“practice random acts of kindness”)…Cindy Elliot, lived out in the dessert…came in to LA one day, saw all the random acts of crime and graffiti…now there are symbols everywhere…worth millions…Princess Diana before she died (people loved her- she was kind, aided people, concerned, a helper) I heard Cindy Elliot didn’t accept a dime…

Folks , how much more should you and I be involved in practicing random acts of kindness and aiding people in and outside the church? (helping a neighbor move, helping a co-worker, a nice smile…i.e.- I’ve been helping coach my son’s baseball team recently…just assisting and helping the head coach has opened up many doors of future evangelism…(we need to get out there and meet people…doors of ministry open up)

Paul was ready to aid and help Barnabas…Are you ready to help and aid someone?

You say, “I don’t think I have this gift”…I believe it’s possible everyone has this gift…

TURN TO I Cor. 12:28 (explain)

There are 9 listed gifts of the Spirit here…the 6 th one is “helps”…it’s the only one that aids all of them…you can’t do the rest if you don’t have this one. It makes all the others work…

If you really want to study this out…Go back to Gen. 2:18…Not good man be alone, I’ll provide a help meet…Heb. Word means- “aid and help” (as a wife…)

Paul aided Barnabas in the ministry

Paul supported other team members in the ministry - Acts 20:34-35 (read)

What a blessing it was to see so many of you out yesterday for the work day…using your “gift of helps”…supporting your fellow believers here at Harvest. The way this place looks is a reflection on our Lord.

Paul loved to help and support whoever was on the Gospel Trail…In Acts 16:9, the spirit gave him a vision of a man who said, “Come over into Macedonia and HELP US”. (Result- Gospel went to Philippi, Thessalonica, Athens, Corinth…)

This is the gift that keeps on giving…when you help& support your fellow believers here at HBC with Rescue Mission ministry, Evergreen, Vineyard, Lakeside, Millersville U, visitation….(it pays eternal dividends… but it will require a sacrifice, the Jews conspired to kill him)

TURN TO Rom. 12:4-8 (read)

Are you exercising your spiritual gifts? Supporting others?

QUICK REMINDER: There are two different categories of gifts: permanent and temporary. The permanent gifts are used to build up the body of Christ. They began in the early church and continue to function today. The temporary gifts of miracles, healing, tongues and interpretation of tongues have ceased (I Cor. 13:8-13). They were never used to edify the body, but to authenticate the God-inspired words of the apostles and prophets.

Paul said: “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away (v. 8).”

Remember we said, “helps”, means to aid, support, and deliver or rescue…Paul aided Barnabas in the ministry; Paul supported other team members in the ministry…

Paul rescued Onesimus in the ministry- Philemon 10-11, 17-18 (Read)

Paul used his gift to rescue and deliver Onesimus, a runaway slave who fled to Rome (who had hit rock bottom)…Paul led him to Christ…he appealed to Philemon, his owner…receive him back, forgive him, put his expenses on my account…He went to bat for this man.

Brethren …you and I should be involved in the ministry of rescuing and delivering other people from the devil’s grip.

Just yesterday, I received a phone call from a man who attended here two times…remember me, I’m in prison…he didn’t ask for money, just help me spiritually…I must confess, my first thought was…Paul never gave up on people! The gift of helps provides relief for people…it helps deliver and rescue people…this is what the ministry of Jesus was all about! Jesus rescued you from the penalty of sin.

It was Dwight Moody who said, "I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And that which I can do, by the grace of God, I will do." With that simple commitment, God used Moody to bring revival to England and America…and deliver 1000’s of people from a devil’s hell.

Conclusion :

It is the gift that keeps on giving…THE GIFT OF HELPS

It aids, it supports, it rescues and delivers…

Are you using this gift? Are you using your other gifts? And we do it for the glory of God.

Listen to what I Cor. Says…

“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”