Tests of Leadership
Time Test

A work and move of God in your life takes time!! The time test tries your patience and resolve as you learn to wait on God. It forces you to trust in God’s faithfulness to fulfill His call on your life, but in His way and His timing. Jesus built cabinets for 30 years before he started God’s plan. Imagine the Son of God waiting! Jesus had to wait for God’s perfect timing and you will too. Learn to cooperate with God as you wait and develop a strong faith that can stand the test of time!

 

Word Test

You can be for certain that contrary circumstances will arise that will seem to nullify the Word that has been planted in your heart. The cry of your heart at this time is, “How can the will of God possibly come to pass in my life?” Many believers think that as long as they don’t habitually sin they will live a life free of confusion and darkness. But the truth is, even spirit-filled believers experience times of confusion and doubt in their walk with God. Learn to rely on God during times of doubt and He will be faithful to see you through.
*A Word or Promise makes suffering and disappointment bearable. Promise generates hope in the midst of despair and provides endurance in tribulation.

 

Character Test

Everyone will have an opportunity to have their character put to the test. Satan the tempter will diligently pursue ways to bait you into sin. Not only will the enemy tempt, but our fallen nature (flesh) will have to be contended with constantly. Character is an inward quality that must be fed by external sources. That is why it is important to stay rooted in God’s truth and constantly fellowship with Him. God will also “test us” to see if we will remain faithful and walk in the integrity of our heart. Remember, when you fail (notice I didn’t say if), be quick to repent and humbly submit yourself to God. He will exalt you if you do!

 

Motivation Test

This test asks…

Why do you do what you do? What influences your decision making?

God will allow you to be in situations that provide an opportunity to examine your intentions, values, priorities and thoughts. Sometimes what appears to motivate you from an outer perspective may be completely different from your true internal motives. God uses this test to expose your inner drives and purify them. The Kingdom of God must continually remain at the forefront of our lives.

 

Servant Test

A servant wants and desires to serve. It doesn't really matter what the job is a servant is given as long as he gets to serve. Sometimes God will have you do seemingly menial tasks that seem beneath His high and holy call on your life (like clean toilets, take out trash, stack tables and chairs and mow the grass). God will test your willingness to serve because you can’t lead if you don’t know how to serve. This test is to show you if you are doing what you do to be in the public eye or if you truly are a servant.

It’s kind of hard to relate to those seemingly menial positions if you have never experienced those feelings yourself.

 

Wilderness Test

This test will find you in spiritually dry times. This is a difficult place for every leader because during this time you’re not seeing much, if any, fruit coming from your endeavors. You read the Bible and get no revelation; you pray and feel no connection; you seek God and He seems hidden from you. During this test it feels as if God forgot all about you and your calling. It can feel as if God has no direct involvement in your ministry or your life. The wilderness test is meant to increase your appreciation of the good things God has already done for you. This test also reveals if the Lord is really the one who sustains you, or if you look to sources outside of Him to meet your need. These dry times will exhaust your reservoir and cause you to seek out fresh manna instead of stale, old ways.

 

Misunderstanding Test

You will be misunderstood by people if you are goin...