Acts 8:18 "And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money."

Peter told Simon the magician that Simon's heart was not right. There is a time to receive monetary blessings and a time to refrain. [2 Kgs 5:26,27] The apostle is to impart the heart of our Father God unto apostolic sons and daughters. When their hearts are changed, they will be of a ready heart to supply the needs of the apostle. The Lord loveth a cheerful giver. The inception of the relationship should not be predicated on promises of future financial remuneration.

2 Cor 12:14 "Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

16 But be it so, I did not burden you ..."

Even the third time, Paul did not take pledges from the very church he founded and pastored!

He discerned that the Corinthians were still babes not able to receive strong meat, who still

needed to be fed by the parent. They were not mature apostolic sons and daughters yet.

Paul as an elder had the right and authority to be compensated by the churches he established.

In his writings he says:

1 Tim 5:17 "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour [physical and spiritual blessings], especially they who labour in the word and doctrine."

In meekness, the apostle often chooses not to exercise even the standard authority due all members of the fivefold. This is because of the grave responsibility that especially rests on the high calling of all apostles. He is an example among examples.

To balance this issue, it needs to be stated that faith is required to enter into full-time ministry. Sometimes preachers work "moonlight" secular jobs, because of fear of financial failure. Ministers that are in full-time ministry must have faith in the Lord as supplier, and not faith in hints, or faith in long-term formal covenant relationships. Proceed as you are led, but above all things, guard your heart, for out of it flow the issues of life. Jehovah Jireh shall supply.

********************************

Some benefits of bivocational ministry that the Apostle Paul points out in

Scriptures. Level01@completebbs.com

********************************

1 Cor 9:11-14

11 If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap

your material things?

12 If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more?

Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder

the gospel of Christ.

13 Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things

of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of

the altar?

14 Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live

from the gospel. (NKJ)

In verses 11-12 from above, the Apostle Paul points out that even though he

had the right as an Apostle to make a living from the Gospel, he willingly

refrained so that others would not be hindered from receiving the message of

God from him by thinking he was after their money. In the same way today, many

accuse the Church of being the same way, always wanting money. In 1 Thes. 4:12

Paul states that if someone refrains from making a living by the Gospel, they

will command the respect of the outsiders, especially those who think that

Gospel ministers are only in ministry for how much money they can get. Paul's

Apostleship was constantly under attack, and the proof of his pure motives by

not always requesting money to meet his needs from the Saints proved his

integrity. I believe that this is a tactic that we can use today to silence

the false accusers, but we must be willing to live like the Apostle Paul and

"endure all things (including bearing the load of working full or part time and

working full time in ministry) lest we hinder the gospel of Christ."

In verses 13 & 14, the Apostle Paul points out the right other ministers have

also stating "that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the

temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the

altar"; and he points out and emphasizes that THE LORD HIMSELF "has commanded

that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel." Both examples

are scriptural and neither side is in the wrong.

********************************

IN THE PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE BELOW, PAUL STATED THAT HIS BIVOCATIONAL POSITION ENABLED HIM TO LIVE AN EXAMPLE TO THOSE WHO WOULD ACCUSE HIM OF BEING FALSELY MOTIVATED IN SUCH A WAY THAT ENABLED HIM TO WIN MORE TO CHRIST.

1 Cor 9:18-19

18 What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may make the

gospel without charge, so as not to use to the full my right in the gospel.

19 For though I was free from all (men), I brought myself under bondage to

all, that I might gain the more.

********************************

IN THE FOLLOWING PASSAGES, PAUL STATES THAT HIS "WAY" OF LIVING IN THE GOSPEL AS A BIVOCATIONAL MINISTER WAS AN EXAMPLE THAT OTHERS COULD FOLLOW AND STILL BE SCRIPTURALLY IN THE WILL OF GOD.

II Th 3:7-9

7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not

disorderly among you;

8 nor did we eat anyone's bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil

night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you,

9 not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of

how you should follow us.

(NKJ)

********************************

IN THESE SCRIPTURES, THE APOSTLE PAUL DEMONSTRATES THAT THE GRACE OF GOD WAS ON HIM SO GREAT THAT HE WAS NOT ONLY ABLE TO MEET HIS OWN NEEDS, BUT MEET THE NEEDS OF THOSE WHO MINISTERED WITH HIM AS WELL.

Acts 20:33-35

33 "I have coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel.

34 "Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my

necessities, and for those who were with me.

35 "I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must

support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It

is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

(NKJ)

********************************

TO AVOID GOING TO THE EXTREME, I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT TO YOU THAT THE APOSTLE PAUL DID ACCEPT FINANCIAL AID ON OCCASION.

2 Cor 11:9

9 And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for

what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything

I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself. (NKJ)

Phil 4:15-17

15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I

departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and

receiving but you only.

16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.

17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. (NKJ)

(back to ! Apostolic Hot Topics !)