Matthew 10:8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
The gifts and callings of God are irrevocable . God freely distributes His gifts, and does not withdraw them. Romans 11:29 and 1 Corinthians 12:4-11.
We have received the gifts of God to serve others with them, helping to establish the Kingdom of God. The gifts are not for sale. In the old testament, Aaron and his sons were given the gift to serve as Priests to God's children - Numbers 18:7 But only you and your sons may serve as priests in connection with everything at the altar and inside the curtain. I am giving you the service of the priesthood as a gift. Anyone else who comes near the sanctuary is to be put to death." It was a free sacred gift. God did not want it defiled in anyway so instructed that any other person who tries to imitate them be put to death. God regards disrespect to His gifts as sacrilege.
Under the New Covenant, which is based on faith through Jesus Christ, we who believe in Jesus are all priests. 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Jesus has also set some apart for various offices - Ephesians 4:7-13.
We have freely received these gifts for service to God - to heal the sick, cleanse the impure, drive out demons and raise the death. We have freely received the ability to prophesy, to unravel the truth in God's Word, and to deliver the oppressed. Just as Jesus called out to mankind to come and drink from Him, so has He commissioned His Church to freely quench the thirst of the weary with the gifts He has deposited in her - Isaiah 55:1 "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
Beloved we must be careful not to sell what we have freely received from God for monetary gains. Do not prophesy for money or use any gift of God primarily for money. Do not let money be your driving force or your motivation to exercise the gift of God in you. This is an abomination before God. Just as Aaron and his sons, as you serve God at the altar, certain sacrifices and offerings will come as your designated portion , that is different. But don't make it a point to extort things from those you serve.
On the other hand, anyone receiving from a servant of God ought to know the gift is free. As a Christian it is equally wrong on your part to patronise the giftings of God on sale. Acts 8:9-24 tells us about Simon the sorcerer, who converted to Christianity and tried to offer Peter money so he could receive the authority to operate the gift of God. Peter rebuked him saying - “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! “You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. “Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. “For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.” But Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”
Whenever we offer money or ask for money in regards to what God has freely given, our hearts are not right before God, and are in the bondage of iniquity. Let us eschew this evil, and freely share in what God has freely given to us.
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