Are You Being Tested (3)

1. The wilderness test. This test comes when we feel Spiritually dry and our joy level is low. It reveals our ability to adapt to adversity and change, and as a result enter a new level of growth. It proves we’re able to perform even when life isn’t fun. “He led you through the vast and dreadful desert… to… test you so that in the end it might go well with you” (Deutoronomy 8:15-16). The wilderness test is where we submit to short-term pain, confident that in the end it’ll produce long-term gain.
2. The credibility test. Nothing matters more than your confidence before God - and your credibility before people. When Lot tried to rescue his sons-in-law from the destruction of Sodom: “He seemed as one that mocked” (Genesis 19:4). They’d probably seen his selfish treatment of his Uncle Abraham, and heard about his shady business dealings. As a result he lost his credibility when it mattered most. Is that happening to you?
3. The authority test. Before Paul took the Gospel to the Gentiles he first went to Jerusalem and submitted his plan to the apostles, asking for their blessing. He had no: “Nobody is going to tell me what to do” attitude. God placed David under a flawed leader called Saul. It’s pretty bad when your boss wants to kill you. But you can learn as much from the mistakes of a failure as you can from the achievements of a success. Because David submitted, he qualified to sit on Saul’s throne. Want to be a leader? Learn to be a follower. Submit!