Understanding the Purpose of Ministry Testing
Explore the significance of testing in ministry preparation. From defining testing to its role in assessing attitudes, motives, and spiritual calling, discover how God uses testing to equip and build individuals for service. Embrace the truth that testing is not a hindrance but a necessary step towards divine promotion and spiritual growth.
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LESSON 6: LESSON 6: TEST OF TEST OF MINISTRY MINISTRY PREPARATION PREPARATION
A DEFINITION FOR TESTING An opportunity which challenges the leader to demonstrate his/her potential & maturity.
THE TRUTH ABOUT TESTING We all experience test at each stage of our growth. Our goal should be to pass every test. Testing always precedes promotions. Self-promotion & human promotion can t replace divine promotion. Just as a product is never used until it tested. So it is with us.
THE USE OF THE TEST OF MINISTRY PREPARATION God uses the tests of ministry preparation to BUILD BUILD and make GROW, not to TEAR DOWN those whom He called.
10And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 1 Peter 5:40
PURPOSE OF THE TEST 1. The assess and EXAMINE INNER ATTITUDES INNER ATTITUDES and motives of those whom He calls. (1 Timothy 3:10) EXAMINE the TRUE TRUE
10They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. 1 Timothy 3:10
PURPOSE OF THE TEST 1. The assess and EXAMINE INNER ATTITUDES INNER ATTITUDES and motives of those whom He calls. (1 Timothy 3:10) 2. To SORT OUT SORT OUT those who are REALLY CALLED CALLED by God. 3. To EQUIP EQUIP those whom God CALLED SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING needed to help people. EXAMINE the TRUE TRUE REALLY CALLED with
PURPOSE OF THE TEST Testing is built in into the system of faith. It is not a demonic activity. Testing of your faith is God s pre-requisite for trusting you. He will never trust someone whom He never tested.
DEEP VALLEYS THAT EVERY LEADER MUST FACE: 1. TIME TIME test The leader s PATIENCE The purpose is: FOR GROWTH IN PATIENCE is tried. FOR GROWTH IN FAITH. FAITH.
Illustration: Abraham (Gen.12-18) He was called at age 75 Became impatient, made Eleazar his heir. Ishmael was born when he was 86. Isaac was born when he was 100.
DEEP VALLEYS THAT EVERY LEADER MUST FACE: Our patience reveal the measure of our faith. Faith is our commitment, belief, conviction, and creates confidence.
Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him. Your faith is manifested by the test you encounter. It is not how high when you climb, but when you fall, how high you rise. Job 13:15
That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. 1 Timothy 1:12
God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. Hebrew 6:18
DEEP VALLEYS THAT EVERY LEADER MUST FACE: 2. WORD WORD test The leader experiences CIRCUMSTANCES that seem to NULLIFY NULLIFY the written or LIVING WORD LIVING WORD of GOD The purpose: TO DEPEND ON GOD ALONE TO DEPEND ON GOD ALONE CIRCUMSTANCES GOD. . Illustration: Joseph Genesis 37-45
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4
DEEP VALLEYS THAT EVERY LEADER MUST FACE: 3. CHARACTER CHARACTER test The leader s WORLDLY CHARACTER WORLDLY CHARACTER must be eliminated. The purpose: leader s own TRUE INWARD SELF INWARD SELF be exposed and must call more on GOD S GRACE. GOD S GRACE. Illustration: Samuel (1 Sam. 2-3) TRUE exposed
DEEP VALLEYS THAT EVERY LEADER MUST FACE: 4. MOTIVATION MOTIVATION test The inner inner and OUTER FORCES his DECISION DECISION making process are tested. to DISCLOSE DISCLOSE in a leader his INNER INNER DRIVES PURIFY PURIFY them into desires for the glory of God Illustration: Balaam, (Num. 22-24) OUTER FORCES influencing The purpose: DRIVES and
DEEP VALLEYS THAT EVERY LEADER MUST FACE: 5. SERVANT SERVANT test The leader s HUMILITY him to do menial tasks that seem below his high calling in God. to DISCERN DISCERN the leader s COMMITMENT COMMITMENT to SERVICE if he really DESIRES to SERVE SERVE or to be POPULAR Elisha (1 Kings 19) HUMILITY is tested by asking The purpose: SERVICE DESIRES to help POPULAR help and Illustration:
DEEP VALLEYS THAT EVERY LEADER MUST FACE: 6. WILDERNESS WILDERNESS test The leader is put in a MATERIALLY SPIRITUALLY DRY SPIRITUALLY DRY or DESOLATE MATERIALLY and DESOLATE place.
DEEP VALLEYS THAT EVERY LEADER MUST FACE: 6. WILDERNESS WILDERNESS test The purpose: to APPRECIATE APPRECIATE the GOOD THINGS has put in his life and to STRIP of ALL ALL the WISDOM WISDOM and WAYS WORLD WORLD and to TEACH TEACH him the ways of HIS SPIRIT HIS SPIRIT. . Illustration: Moses (Exodus 2-3) GOOD THINGS God STRIP the leader WAYS of the ways
DEEP VALLEYS THAT EVERY LEADER MUST FACE: 7. PATIENCE PATIENCE test The leader s EXPECTATION FULFILLED FULFILLED on time. EXPECTATION is NOT NOT
DEEP VALLEYS THAT EVERY LEADER MUST FACE: 7. PATIENCE PATIENCE test The purpose: Christ. - at 600 600 years, flood came. - For 120 120 years, he preached repentance with no one repenting. for ALL YIELDED YIELDED to the Lord Jesus ALL the leader s RIGHT RIGHT be Illustration: Noah (Gen. 5-7)
8 Saul waited there seven days for Samuel, as Samuel had instructed him earlier, but Samuel still didn t come. Saul realized that his troops were rapidly slipping away. 1 Samuel 13:8-12
9So he demanded, Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings! And Saul sacrificed the burnt offering himself. 1 Samuel 13:8-12
10Just as Saul was finishing with the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet and welcome him, 1 Samuel 13:8-12
11but Samuel said, What is this you have done? Saul replied, I saw my men scattering from me, and you didn t arrive when you said you would, and the Philistines are at Micmash ready for battle. 1 Samuel 13:8-12
12So I said, The Philistines are ready to march against us at Gilgal, and I haven t even asked for the Lord s help! So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering myself before you came. 1 Samuel 13:8-12
DEEP VALLEYS THAT EVERY LEADER MUST FACE: 8. FRUSTRATION FRUSTRATION test The leader s MINISTRY GOAL GOAL can t be ACHIEVED to re-examine his spiritual priorities. MINISTRY and LIFE S ACHIEVED. . LIFE S spiritual The purpose: Illustration: Paul (2 Corinthians 11)
DEEP VALLEYS THAT EVERY LEADER MUST FACE: 9. DISCOURAGEMENT DISCOURAGEMENT test The leader is place in a DISHEARTENING situation that will DEPRIVE DEPRIVE his COURAGE in the Lord. DISHEARTENING COURAGE to MEET MEET God in PRAYER. PRAYER. The purpose: Illustration: Elijah (1 Kings 19)
DEEP VALLEYS THAT EVERY LEADER MUST FACE: 10. SELF WILL SELF WILL test The test wherein GOD S WILL with MAN S PLAN. MAN S PLAN. GOD S WILL counters The purpose: to SUBJECT SUBJECT man s will to GOD S WILL. WILL. GOD S Illustration: The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 26)
DEEP VALLEYS THAT EVERY LEADER MUST FACE: 11. USAGE USAGE test The leader is PUT PUT on the SHELF. SHELF. The purpose: Leader depends too heavily on his ACTUAL SERVICE ACTUAL SERVICE rather than the LORD LORD himself for joy FULFILLMENT FULFILLMENT. . joy and SPIRITUAL SPIRITUAL
DEEP VALLEYS THAT EVERY LEADER MUST FACE: 11. USAGE USAGE test The purpose: - to HUMBLE - to PURIFY - to DEEPEN HUMBLE the leader. PURIFY the motives DEEPEN the MESSAGE motives of the leader. MESSAGE of the leader. Illustration: John the Baptist (Matt. 3, Mark 1, Luke 1, 3, John 1)
