Father, I ask that you'd come and help me to weigh my words carefully and not say anything that would be unhelpful or foolish or unbiblical or imbalanced or proud.

I pray that you would grant me a discernment of your leading and help me not to be intimidated by any issue that would or should be spoken of.

And I pray that there would be in the room now a very deep susceptibility to being made bold.

And any preacher who is fearful of losing his job or a certain kind of

muteration package or standing among other clergy or an advancement, I pray that those kinds of fears would be destroyed and that you would great courage give in Jesus name.

It is remarkable that this text that we've been working over, both of us, has a verse in it that

neither of us has done anything with.

We both read it and neither have said anything about it.

And so I will read it again, namely verse 3, 1st Timothy 4.

And this is my first reason for why the issue of courage is on my

front burner most places where I'm going these days as well as the Bethlehem conference

is all about courage this coming February.

It's called courage in the Christian ministry.

The verses, verse 3 of chapter 4,

the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching.

But having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own

liking and will turn away from listening to the truth.

That bodes ill for you.

It bows well for. for secret sensitive preaching.

preaching.

preaching to felt needs is the easiest thing in the world.

Preaching to create new felt needs that corresponds to real needs is the hardest thing in the world.

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