THE CHURCH : THE HELPER

GEN 2:18 Then the \Lord\ God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him." Eve was made or literally "built" to be a helper to Adam. Make him a helper refers to making Adam a helper. Eve was designed specifically to be a helper that would match up and correspond to Adam. An assistant president means that he is assisting the president. Eve then was assistant man. She was designed to assist Adam in fulfilling the purpose of God for their life. She was deceived into taking a starring role in daily activities and they both fell from the purpose of God. Instead of just assisting Adam after he made the decision, she made the decision and acted on her own. She ate and then she gave to Adam and he ate. She took the initiative and made the decision.

Now Eve is a type of the church. 2CO 11:2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, that to Christ I might present you {as} a pure virgin. 2CO 11:3 But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity {of devotion} to Christ. From the type it is clear that the church was designed to be a helper to Jesus in carrying out the purpose of God. She was not designed to initiate, design, plan, set direction or create schemes for success. The serpent is always tempting the church to act independently, to make plans and then come to Jesus to get Him to participate in what she has designed. However, like Eve, the church was not created to design but to help. Not help design but to help Jesus Christ to accomplish what was already designed before the foundation of the world.

The church has taken on more of a management position rather than a helper position. The church is more likely to plan and then ask Jesus to help her accomplish the plan. The logic is that if it is a good plan, Jesus will be happy and help us. All we have to do is name it and claim it and Jesus will be obligated to help. This soon puts the church in the same position as Eve. She is participating in forbidden things because it appears to be a good idea.

JOH 1:3 All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. JOH 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing. ROM 15:18 For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, ACT 19:11 And God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 2CO 6:1 And working together {with Him,} we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain COL 1:29 And for this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me. MAR 16:20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.] [{ And they promptly reported all these instructions to Peter and his companions. And after that, Jesus Himself sent out through them from east to west the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation.}]

From all these scriptures it should be clear that God has designed the church to be His helper and not His activities director. This is what the term "servant" means. A servant of God is one that helps God. The servant of God doesn't initiate. He just does what he sees the Father doing. God works and we work with Him to assist Him.

If we have walked with the Lord very long, we have seen that unless God works we are wasting our time. We know that our work just produces wood , hay and straw. When this revelation first comes to us that we are helpless and totally ineffective in ourselves, we are devastated. We think that at very least we can do something. Maybe not miracles but surely not "nothing". JOH 5:19 Jesus therefore answered and was saying to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless {it is} something He sees the Father doing; for whatever {the Father} does, these things the Son also does in like manner. If Jesus could do nothing out from Himself, is it any wonder that we can do nothing out from ourselves?? This is not a disgrace or embarrassment. We just cannot do anything but help Him do what He is doing. JOH 1:3 All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. The fact is that nothing is still coming into being without Him. This is an eternal fact.

How, then, how does this revelation affect my life and service? First: There is no more pressure upon me to perform and accomplish something "for the Lord". I am at last free to just go along and be there to assist "if I am needed". He becomes the "worker" and I become the helper. That is a peaceful position. MAT 11:29 "Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. MAT 11:30 "For My yoke is easy, and My load is light." He is the one who does the pulling and I am the one who helps. However, the work is easy and light.

If the labor is hard and heavy it simply means that we have started some activity that is of our own doing and are trying to finish it the best we can. Since it was our idea, it would be embarrassing to quit, so let me struggle on " for Christ's sake". If there is no rest for your soul, there must be struggling with some "man made work" for the hands and some " man designed" walk for the feet and some "human struggle" with the mind. Jesus is not in it and He is not working with us. When He is not in the yoke, the burden is beyond our ability. The reason is "Without me you can do nothing". Nothing here means "nothing". We cannot even lift the yoke and begin and hope He shows up to help. NOTHING.

Second: If we set out to work "for the Lord" all the burden is upon us. We first have to plan a "work" and then make a program to get it done. We need to plan the financing and try to get people to help that want to assume a part of the burden. The work needs to be assigned to satisfy everyone's ego and we must try to find a work that corresponds to their ability. Prayer meetings must be organized with leaders that have a confidence that they can get God to do what they want Him to do. Then an intrigate set of instructions must be prepared for the Lord so He won't get mixed up on the timing the progress of the work. In short it is a very complicated process and adds much labor before the real work begins.

Some strategists figure a three year plan in order to organize and break down all the barriers and resistance. In South America they use a year to inform everybody so they will participate. Another year for prayer. The third year they organize an army of street fighters to go into the highways and byways to win souls and compel them to come in. I am not saying this is wrong but there may be a less laborious way. Just find out what God is doing and help Him! Of course the other way makes more work for more people and adds to the fellowship. However, many arguments arise about correct methods and various substitute plans. Much work is involved in preparing alternate programs to include those who disagree with the method. Someone must be assigned to keep encouraging the participants to stay faithful.

For many this is a difficult and heavy yoke, but if it is "for the Lord", it is worth it. Nevertheless, if Jesus evaulates it as "nothing" it is very disappointing.

We are not saying we should not labor but that our labor should be to help Him and not some ego designed work.