Seven True Tests of Ministry

1. The Test of Conviction –

You will be tested on whether you really really believe that God called you. Options will come to tempt you to opt out & distractions will come to derail you. You will be tempted to trade the priceless for the urgent. Like Esau, there are days you will feel like doing a trade off and walking away from what you know to be your destiny. Don’t do it.

2. The test of Humility –

You will be tested on whether you can wait on God humbly to lift you without you scheming on how to get ahead and grow in influence. You will be tempted to connive your way up, you will be tempted to look for a short cut to elevation that excludes humility. Don’t do it…stick to the slow and proven way of meekness.

3. The Offense Test –

People will wound you, use you, gossip about you and spread lies about you. You will be tested on whether you can keep your heart pure and free of bitterness. In ministry, being offended is mandatory. You can’t escape the whip of unjust criticism. Yes, people that you do good will do you wrong and feel justified to do it. Learn to forgive in advance. Free your heart for destiny, don’t harbor bitterness.

4. The Patience Test –

Success will not happen as quick as you want it to. It will take longer than you expected and cost you more than you expected. No vision delivers except patience is first matured in the visionary. True greatness is slow, you can’t microwave it. It’s like cooking with charcoal. You have to wait. Sometimes I chuckle when I hear people making declarations about acceleration…Jesus was prepared for 30 years to be used for 3 years…That should tell is something about why we.must develop patience.

5. The Test of Isolation –

Many times you will be alone. God will sometimes remove people you depended on so that you can learn to walk with Him alone. In this seasons you will come to know that He is the friend that sticks closer than a brother. Many times, your unwillingness to walk alone is what will delay what God wants to do in you and through you.

6. The test of being Misunderstood –

Every true minister worth his salt goes through a season of being misunderstood. People will question your motives. Family will misunderstand your moves and friends will misunderstand your choices. That’s perfectly OK. Outstanding people are often misunderstood before they are celebrated. Show me a person that became great, I will show you someone who endures the whips of misunderstanding.

7. The test of Motive –

Unless your motive is verified, your breakthrough will never come. You will walk through season where you will be tempted to operate by wrong motives, don’t do it. Keep your heart pure. Keep your motives right. Keep your journey authentic. Keep checking your heart, keep allowing the word of God to prune you and allow God to really make you.