Jesus and His disciples were supported by believers. Luke 8:1 3; Mt. 27:55; Mk. 15:40 41.
The Apostles received houses, lands, money from believers.The Apostles asked the church to choose men to take care of the ministry to the widows because THEIR TIME needed to go prayer and the Word. Acts 2:44 45; 4:34 37; 5:1 11; 6:1 7.GOD appoints/ordains apostles, prophets, evangelists, preachers, pastors, teachers and GIVES THEM AS GIFTS TO THE CHURCH for the purpose of edifying the church, etc. Eph. 4:11 16; Mark 3:14; 6:7 12; Acts 1:20 26; 1 Cor. 14:3; Mt. 10:1 42; 1 Cor. 12:4 11, 27 31; Lk. 6:12 16; 9:1 6; 10:1 20; 1 Cor. 9:1 19; 16:1 3,6 7,10 18; Acts 8:18 21; 15:1 41; 24:17; Rom. 15:24 32; 2 Cor. 8:1 24; 9:1 15;10:8,18; 11:5 13; 12:13 14,17 18; 13:10; Eph.6:19 21; Ph. 2:19 30; 4:10 19; Col.1:28; 4:7 17; 1 Tm. 1:3,12; 2:7; 3:1 15; 4:11 14; 5:3 20; 6:17 19; 2 Tm. 1:11; 2:6; 4:1 5, 9 12; Tit. 1:5 11; 2:15; Hb. 13:7,16 17,24; 1 Pt. 4:10; 5:1 4; 3 Jn.5 8; 2 Th. 3:7 12; 1 Th. 2:9; 3:1 2,6 10; 5:12 13. The Church recognizes/or refuses to recognize (Rev.2:2,14 15,20) men who claim to be the above. (1 Jn.4:1; 2 Cor. 11:13 15; Eph. 6:24; Ph. 3:2,18 19; 1 Tm. 4:1 3; Tit. 1:16; 1 Pt.2:1 3; 2 Jn. 7,9 11; Jd. 4.The Church receives designated offerings and distributes them as so designated. Paul took offerings for certain things and made a POINT to do it honestly, out in the open, AS IT WAS SO DESIGNATED. The GIVERS give to WORKERS through the church. The Givers, through their designated offerings set the BUDGET of the church the vote is by their own offerings. THE GIVERS are the budget committee. Non givers have NO say.None of the above (pastors, prophets, teachers, evangelists, etc.) are EMPLOYEES of the church. They are SERVANTS of the LORD and of the church; and they use their gifts (talents) to edify he church and reach the lost. The Church recognizes their gift by allowing believers to designate offerings to them, called “communicating” in the A.V. Bible. People individually or corporately as a church, give to God’s workers because they RECOGNIZE they are DOING THE WORK OF GOD, giving DOUBLE HONOR (double offerings) to thos who labor in Word and Doctrine.
Below are some of the same scriptures as quoted above, and also others related to these same points. Scripture is our only set of by laws or rules, and we go as closely to them as possible. 2 Tim. 1:11; 1 Tm. 5:17 19; 5:8; 1 Cor. 14:3 (what a N.T. prophet is); Eph. 4:11; 2:20; Rev. 2:3; Acts 13:1 (prophets/teachers); Rom. 12;6 (prophesying); 2 Cor. 9; Hb. 13:16; 1 Tm. 6:18; Col. 3:8 (communicate); 1 Tm. 5:8 (provide for own house); Ph. 4:15 (one church gave to Paul concerning giving & receiving); Rom. 11:15; Try the spirits (1 Jn.). Dt. 16:17; Ez. 46:5,11; Mt. 10:42; Rom. 12:8 (do it with simplicity). 2 Cor. 8:5; 9:7; Isa. 24;2; Eph. 4:28; Jms. 2:16; 1 Pt. 4:11; Eph. 4:28; 1 Th. 4:11 12; And etc.