NOT FOR SALE!

"BEHOLD, I AM SENDING YOU OUT AS SHEEP IN THE MIDST OF WOLVES, SO BE AS WISE AS SERPENTS
AND AS INNOCENT AS DOVES."
Matthew 10:16

"There is nothing new under the sun..." The words of Solomon ring truer than ever this morning as I write.  I have continued  reading through Daniel this week.  Prideful Nebuchadnezzar has learned to honor the Most High King of Heaven after being stripped of his reason and forced to live like an animal for a time.  Below are his last words recorded in Scripture:

                             "All His works are right and His ways are just;
                         and those who walk in pride He is able to humble."

In chapter five Nebuchadnezzar's son Belshazzar now reigns in  his father's place.  Unfortunately Belshazzar has not learned from his father's mistakes.  He hosts a feast for thousands of his lords and subjects.   We might assume he has had one too many glasses of wine when he orders his servants to fetch the gold and silver vessels (Holy to the Lord) which had been taken from the Temple in Jerusalem.  Belshazzar and his concubines drink wine from the holy vessels and 'praise the gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood and stone.'

Suddenly a hand appears, writing a cryptic message on the plastered wall.  The king pales, knees knocking.  He cries out for someone to interpret the 'handwriting on the wall.'  Only Daniel can deliver.  He is brought before the king, who promises wealth, power and prestige in exchange for the interpretation. 

Daniel's response caught my immediate attention:

                                               "Let your gifts be for yourself,
                                          and give your rewards to another."

Daniel made it perfectly clear that...

    THE GIFTS AND SERVICES OF GOD ARE NOT FOR SALE!

Let's take a look at a few more passages.  In 1 Kings 5,  Naaman, the commander of Syria's army has contracted leprosy.  He seeks Elisha the prophet, desperate for a cure.  The prescription is not as sensational as Naaman has hoped.  He is merely told to go and wash himself in the Jordan river seven times.  After throwing a tantrum he relents and dips himself in the river as instructed.  His flesh is restored to that of a little child.  Understandably grateful, he gives glory to God and offers Elisha a gift for his services.  In the words of Elisha:

                "As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none."

In Acts chapter eight Peter and John have been sent from Jerusalem to Samaria to pray for new believers there.  As Peter and John lay hands on their new brothers and sisters the Holy Spirit descends on them.  There happens to be a well known magician standing nearby.  His name is Simon.  He offers to pay for the gift of the Spirit:
                                               
                                                 "Give me this power also,
                                      so that anyone on whom I lay hands
                                              may receive the Holy Spirit!"

Peter's retort echoes for us today and we would be wise to take heed!

"May your silver perish with you,
because you thought you could
obtain the gift of God with money!"

As the Apostle Paul is on his way to Jerusalem (Acts 20), he calls for the Ephesian elders to meet with him in Miletus.  He has serious words of warning for them:

"Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with His own blood.  I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock, AND FROM AMONG YOUR OWN SELVES will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away disciples after them..."  (Acts 20:28-30)

Brothers and sisters, there are countless 'ministries' today that are peddling what they claim to be the power of God for HUGE profit!  I will not name names or draw conclusions for you, but beg you to evaluate these 'ministries' through the lens of God's Word!  
Yesterday I did a bit of research on a  'supernatural' ministry/school located  on the West Coast of the U.S. whose influence is spreading far and wide.  According to their website their aim is to teach students to:

          1)  EMBRACE THEIR ROYAL IDENTITY
          2)  LEARN THE 'VALUES' OF THE KINGDOM
          3)  WALK IN THE AUTHORITY AND POWER OF THE KING

This school typically enrolls 1,300 first year students and 650 second year student each year.  Tuition per student, per year (which does NOT include room and board) is $5,250.00 per year.  I did the math. 

The total amount of tuition collected each year, just from first and second year students is...ARE YOU READY FOR THIS???

$10,237,500.00

Read it aloud:
   TEN MILLION-TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-SEVEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED
                                                      (dollars per year)

One cannot help but ask whose 'KINGDOM VALUES' they are peddling!  I suspect the craving for the sensational is rather an indictment on this generation:

"An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign,
but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah..."
Matthew 16:4

"BEHOLD, I AM SENDING YOU OUT AS SHEEP
IN THE MIDST OF WOLVES,
SO BE AS WISE AS SERPENTS
AND AS INNOCENT AS DOVES."
Matthew 10:16

P.S.  For clarification I AM NOT saying that those who serve the Lord are not worth their wages!  We must not muzzle the ox that treads the grain.  My grave concern is for naïve and unsuspecting sheep who may not recognize a wolf then they see one.