Paying for prayer???

 Praise the LORD!!!

    I pray all are well this morning and no, I'm not going to ask you to pay for these prayers!!! You may be saying to yourself right now, "What?", but I will explain.

   Recently I received an email, asking if I were in need of prayer and being that there are many current needs both for the ministry and myself, I sent them a request. In a short time I received a short reply, most likely an automatic reply, that they'd received my request and would be praying for my request. It was the next day that I received a short, basically two lined prayer in an email. Which, though only hitting the major request and very briefly, was sufficient in my eyes.

   Now comes the kicker, that which has disturbed me. An email requesting assistance in funding their "work." My first reaction was "What?", just like yours may of been with my first line:) Now, I'm far from new to the internet or ministry(or life) and I know that it takes money to operate in this world. My question though, is that if this group is Christian and has been graced with the ability to utter a simple prayer, how can they seek payment for it? In my mind, and heart, this is basically prostituting the faith!!! Putting a price tag on that which every single Christian is called to do.

   When JESUS sent out the disciples, after anointing them with power (Matt. 10:7,8 ), HE gave them this command. To give and to give freely as they too had been given. One of the foundational principles of my ministry is along these lines, for we'll not ask for money, but only put out the information about our needs and allow the LORD to lead people from there. Numerous times I've been asked, when talking about the work I'll be doing, "what would you like to be paid?" My answer has always been the same, "nothing, I'm doing these works to reveal JESUS' love for you and HIS love for me is ample payment!"

   Now, I don't know about you, but to me, selling services or anything that the LORD has blessed me with is wrong!!! HE has blessed me with abilities, understandings and wisdom and these are not for sale, no matter what. I've spent many an hour out in the weather, doing the works of the ministry in a disaster area and never once mentioned a price for my labors. Most of the work that I've done, the only request has been that the homeowner supply the materials needed for the work. I've worked in the construction trades for the most part of my life and my abilities would require a pretty good cost, yet it has all been freely given. Sure, I've received payments at time, but I've told them that it was being accepted as being a donation alone and they should treat it as such.

   It is very disheartening to me to see so many in the faith, that make their livings off the WORD of GOD, the wisdom that the LORD has blessed them with, or the abilities HE has graced them with. The faith has been blending too long with the world  and it's love of money and needs to withdraw itself. We as believers in JESUS have been set apart by the LORD and are to lead a life differing from that of the world. Isn't it time we start acting in the manor which we've been called to? Isn't it about time, we stop thinking about the price we pay for our service? After all, isn't about the price HE paid and that alone???

 Matt. 10:7,8
7 As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’  8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
Use these verses, but don't stop with them, cross reference and seek out GOD from within HIS WORD!!!

Prayer request can be sent to: prayers@vineofchrist.org  (and there is no price to anyone:) )

GOD bless and good day,

Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine of CHRIST Ministries