I do all this for the sake of the Gospel, that I may share in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last for ever. Therefore, I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. (1 Corinthians 9.23-27.)

Verse 1: Am I not free? An apostle – have I not seen the Lord – are you not the result of my work in the Lord? – He did see the Lord in a vision; as a Pharisee he was opposed to Jesus, stood by when Stephen was stoned to death, and persecuted the early Church.

Even though he may not be an apostle to others, he was an apostle to the Corinthians – ‘you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.’

Paul has come under criticism. I also was rejected when I came out of prison for Bible smuggling. But I had to go back and resume my ministry in the former USSR.

Paul said in verse 4: ‘Don’t we have the right to food and drink? Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas? Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living?’

When I stepped out independently from my church, I had to support myself. The expansion of the Bible smuggling was supported by my travel company. There are those who seek to gain a major reward out of serving God; I didn’t just give a tithe; I set a target to give God 90% and live on 10%.

Some of the biggest miracles I’ve seen where when I was supporting everything as an individual. It was in my heart to give God everything.

Paul was a tentmaker, an important occupation, he did it everywhere he went. Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the Gospel should receive their living from the Gospel.

Before I set up a charity to support my vision, I used to borrow money to fund the evangelism. But then the work grew so big I needed the support of fellow believers; yet I don’t think those of us in ministry should profit because of the generosity of others – our needs should be met, but we shouldn’t be making a fortune out of Christian work, rather, plough the money back into the mission field.

‘But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast. For when I preach the Gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel! If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the Gospel, I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the Gospel. (Verses 15-18.)

Like Paul, I am compelled to the preach the Gospel. I can’t stop. I’m 93; I do everything to win some by all possible means. “Lord keep me faithful to the end.” We are all in this race to win the reward we will receive in the Kingdom.

To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the Gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last for ever. Therefore, I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. (Verses 22-27.)