Early in his preaching ministry Ray Stedman sensed God giving him three principles to help him maintain humility and integrity in preaching:
First, never be concerned with how many people you’re preaching to, whether it’s two or three, or two or three hundred, preach the message God gives you. Second, never be concerned with how much they’re going to give you when you get through. Third, never be concerned with how well you think you’ve done.
“I can’t say I’ve always followed those,” Ray admitted, “but when I’ve departed from them I’ve felt the Spirit of God depart from me as well. When I’ve been faithful to them, I’ve left it up to God and He’s done His usual wonders with some very feeble work on my part.”
– from Portrait of Integrity: the Life of Ray C. Stedman by Mark S. Mitchell (page 99)
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