The difference between school and life:
In school, you are taught a lesson and then given a test.
In life, you are given a test that teaches you a lesson.
When God 'anoints' a person (for a specific task/work to be done); a pattern of testing appears to take place at specific times in the person's life......
God might often take such a person, -through some of the following major tests to determine if that person will 'achieve God's ultimate call' on his or her life.
You might ask, "Why does God need to test us?
Doesn't He know everything, including what we would do in every situation?" Yes, God knows - but we don't know ourselves!
God doesn't test us in order to find out something He doesn't already know.
He tests us so that we can learn about ourselves and His love, power and faithfulness.
The person's response to these tests is the deciding factor in whether they can advance to the next level of responsibility in God's Kingdom.
(.......else the test is periodically repeated, -until 'passed', -before one can advance; almost like the so-called CBT: Competency Based Training )
Every test involves obedience in one way or another.
When God tests us, He reveals the true state of our hearts.
Are we obedient to His will, or are we self-willed?
We might think we know the answer, but we would never truly know unless we were tested.
Control - Control might be one of the first tests.....
Saul spent most of his time as king trying to prevent others from getting what he had.
Saul never got to the place with God in which he was a grateful recipient of God's goodness to him.
Saul was a religious controller....
It led to disobedience and ultimately being rejected by God because Saul no longer was a vessel God could use.....
Bitterness - Every major character in the Bible was hurt by another person at one time or another.....
Jesus was hurt deeply when Judas, a trusted follower, betrayed Him.
Despite knowing this was going to happen, Jesus responded by washing Judas' feet....in stead of (normal human), -retaliation
Every anointed person will have a Judas experience at one time or another....!
God watches us to see how we will respond to this test.
Will I take up an offense?
Will I retaliate?
It is unfortunately one of the most difficult tests to pass.......
Power - Power is the opposite of servanthood.
Jesus had all authority in Heaven and earth, so satan tempted Jesus at the top of the mountain to use His power to remove Himself from a difficult circumstance......
How will I use the power and influence God has entrusted to us?
Do I seek to gain more power?
There is a common phrase in the 'South African' community,
"He who has the gold rules."
Jesus modeled the opposite.
He was the ultimate servant-leader.
Greed - Money has the ability to have great influence for either good or bad.
When it is a 'focus in our life', it becomes a tool of destruction.
When it is a byproduct, it can become a great Blessing.
Many people started out well - only to be derailed once prosperity became a part of their life. There are thousands who can blossom spiritually in adversity; (only a few (especially Afrikaners), -can thrive spiritually under prosperity)
I/We must be aware, we are being tested, when adversity occur in repeated patterns in certain areas of our life .........
(It will nevertheless affect & influence ALL aspects of our Christian / Spiritual walk..!)
You can be confident that each one of these tests will be thrown your way if God calls you for His purposes......
Will I/you pass these tests?
God sent trials (tests) NOT to Impair us, ........but to Improve us !
Ask for God's Grace everyday......... to walk through these tests, -Victoriously......!
Shalom
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