Sermon: Have You Been Lied To?
The Gift of Helps and the Duty of Intercession

Opening Text:
1 Corinthians 12:7 KJV
“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.”

  1. The Difference Between a Gift and a Duty

1 Corinthians 12:4–7 KJV
“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit…”

 

1 Corinthians 12:9 KJV
“To another faith by the same Spirit…”

Ephesians 2:8 KJV
“For by grace are ye saved through faith…”

Point:
Faith is listed as a gift.
Every Christian has faith.
But not every Christian has the same measure of the gift of faith.

Transition:
Service / helps is listed as a gift.
Intercession is commanded as a duty.

  1. The Gift of Service / Helps

1 Corinthians 12:28 KJV
“And God hath set some in the church… helps…”

Romans 12:7 KJV
“Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering…”

Romans 12:7 ESV
“If service, in our serving…”

1 Peter 4:10–11 KJV
“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another…”

Galatians 5:13 KJV
“By love serve one another.”

  1. Martha: Service Can Become Cumbered

Luke 10:40 KJV
“But Martha was cumbered about much serving…”

Luke 10:41–42 KJV
“Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful…”

Meaning of cumbered:
Entangled.
Distracted.
Troubled.
Burdened.
Obstructed.

Point:
Martha was serving, but her service became distracted and troubled.
The problem was not service itself.
The problem was cumbered service.

Main Line:
The gift of helps is not anxious service.
The gift of helps is Spirit-led service.

  1. The Sinful Woman: Unofficial Service That Honored Jesus

Luke 7:44 KJV
“I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet…”

Luke 7:47 KJV
“Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much…”

Point:
Jesus was in the Pharisee’s house.
The Pharisee had the position.
The Pharisee failed to honor Jesus.
The sinful woman had no title.
She served Jesus out of love.

Main Line:
The person with the title did not serve Jesus well.
The person with the forgiven heart did.

Application:
The gift of helps asks:
What does love require right now?
What need is in front of me?
How can I honor Jesus by helping?

  1. Sheep and Goats: Jesus Sees the Heart of Service

Matthew 25:35–36 KJV
“I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink… I was sick, and ye visited me…”

Matthew 25:37 KJV
“Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee?”

Matthew 25:40 KJV
“Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

The sheep served without keeping score.
They were not serving for recognition.
They simply helped.

  1. The Duty of Intercession

1 Timothy 2:1 KJV
“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.”

James 5:16 KJV
“Pray one for another, that ye may be healed.”

Ephesians 6:18 KJV
“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit…”

Point:
Intercession is prayer on behalf of others.
Intercession is not listed as a spiritual gift like helps.
Intercession is commanded.

  1. Four Categories of Intercession

A. Intercession for the Lost

Romans 10:1 KJV
“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.”

Point:
Paul prayed for lost people to be saved.

Pray for:
Lost family.
Lost friends.
Lost neighbors.
Lost coworkers.
Prodigals.

Main Line:
Do not only talk to lost people about God.
Talk to God about lost people.

B. Intercession for Believers Under Attack

Luke 22:31–32 KJV
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you… But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.”

Point:
Jesus prayed for Peter before Peter denied Him.
Jesus prayed that Peter’s faith would not fail.

Pray for believers facing:
Temptation.
Fear.
Bitterness.
Pride.
Discouragement.
Confusion.
Spiritual attack.

Main Line:
Intercession sees the battle and brings the person before God.

C. Intercession for the Sick and Suffering

James 5:14–16 KJV
“Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church… pray one for another, that ye may be healed.”

Point:
The church is called to pray for the sick and suffering.

Pray for:
Healing.
Strength.
Comfort.
Peace.
Endurance.
Wisdom.
Faith.

Main Line:
The suffering need more than sympathy.
They need intercession.

D. Intercession for Leaders, Churches, and Nations

1 Timothy 2:1–2 KJV
“Intercessions… be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority…”

Point:
Christians are commanded to pray for those in authority.

Pray for:
Pastors.
Elders.
Churches.
Families.
Communities.
Cities.
Nations.
Government leaders.

Main Line:
It is easy to complain about leaders.
It is biblical to pray for them.

  1. Jesus Is the Great Intercessor

Romans 8:34 KJV
“It is Christ that died… who also maketh intercession for us.”

Hebrews 7:25 KJV
“He ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

1 John 2:1 KJV
“We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

  1. Jesus Prayed for Peter Before Peter Fell

Luke 22:31–32 KJV
“But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not…”

 

First Prayer of the Continental Congress, 1774

The Prayer in the First Congress, A.D. 1774The Prayer in the First Congress, A.D. 1774

O Lord our Heavenly Father, high and mighty King of kings, and Lord of lords, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers on earth and reignest with power supreme and uncontrolled over all the Kingdoms, Empires and Governments; look down in mercy, we beseech Thee, on these our American States, who have fled to Thee from the rod of the oppressor and thrown themselves on Thy gracious protection, desiring to be henceforth dependent only on Thee. To Thee have they appealed for the righteousness of their cause; to Thee do they now look up for that countenance and support, which Thou alone canst give. Take them, therefore, Heavenly Father, under Thy nurturing care; give them wisdom in Council and valor in the field; defeat the malicious designs of our cruel adversaries; convince them of the unrighteousness of their Cause and if they persist in their sanguinary purposes, of own unerring justice, sounding in their hearts, constrain them to drop the weapons of war from their unnerved hands in the day of battle!

Be Thou present, O God of wisdom, and direct the councils of this honorable assembly; enable them to settle things on the best and surest foundation. That the scene of blood may be speedily closed; that order, harmony and peace may be effectually restored, and truth and justice, religion and piety, prevail and flourish amongst the people. Preserve the health of their bodies and vigor of their minds; shower down on them and the millions they here represent, such temporal blessings as Thou seest expedient for them in this world and crown them with everlasting glory in the world to come. All this we ask in the name and through the merits of Jesus Christ, Thy Son and our Savior.