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!

Are You Being Tested (2)

Let’s look at some of the tests God uses to develop us:

1. (1) The test of small things. This test comes when we’re asked to do something beneath our ability and potential. It proves how faithful we are to our commitments. It also reveals whether or not we’re ready for greater responsibilities. Jesus said, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much” (Luke 16:10).
2. The motive test. This test comes to us when we are doing all the right things - but not necessarily for all the right reasons. It’s right to pray. Yet Jesus warned: “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love… to be seen by men” (Mathew 6:5 ). Sometimes we don’t even know our own hearts. That’s why we need the mirror of God’s Word: “For the word of God is… able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12 ). When you stand before Christ to be evaluated and rewarded, the question will not just be what did you do, but why did you do it?
3. The stewardship test. Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you” (Luke 6:38 ). Only when your hand is open, can you receive more from God. The practice of giving on a regular basis prevents you from being owned by what you own. Money is called currency because it’s supposed to flow through you. When you withhold out of fear or greed, you limit what God wants to give you. Want to keep the flow of blessing going in your life? Become a river, not a reservoir.

Are You Being Tested (1)

Are you going through a test? Tests demonstrate what you’ve learned. Until you’re tested you really don’t know what you know - and what you don’t know. Tests are opportunities to prove your maturity and your potential.

So remember:

1. You’ll experience tests at each stage of your growth
2. Your goal in each case should be to pass the test, otherwise you get to take it again and again until you get it right
3. testing always precedes promotion. Actually, it prepares you for it and proves you’re ready to handle it. If you cheat, or try to copy somebody else’s answers you may temporarily seem to succeed. But eventually time and circumstances will reveal you for what you are - someone who can’t handle what you manipulated your way into getting
4. Self-promotion can never replace divine promotion. So don’t rush ahead of God; wait, allow Him to open the door
5. A product cannot be safely and profitably used until it’s been thoroughly tested. Neither can you.

God’s not a hard-hearted parent who enjoys seeing His children struggle through life’s tests. If He were to visit you in person He’d probably say: “I don’t enjoy making you go through this, but it’s the only way to prove you’re ready for what’s ahead. Before I can use you greatly - I must test you thoroughly.” Generally God’s tests are about your character. And like any good actor in a stage play that doesn’t go according to the script, your job is to “stay in character!” Regardless of what anyone else does, follow God’s script for your life.

10 Principles

God knew the specific purpose you were born to fulfil, so He provided all the gifts you’d need, including the environment required to put it all together. Then He looked at you and said, “Very good.” Can you say that too? It’s important that you can. Why? Because others will treat you according to how you treat yourself! This is not pride, it’s just healthy self-esteem based on God’s opinion of you as revealed in His Word. When you have it, it affects every area of your life. Truth be told, it determines how far you’ll go in life.

Stop and ask yourself today, “How do I really feel about myself?” Before you answer read these ten principles. Better yet, keep them before you daily.

• Never think or speak negatively about yourself; that puts you in disagreement with God
• Meditate on your God-given strengths and learn to encourage yourself, for much of the time nobody else will.
• Don’t compare yourself to anybody else. You’re unique, one of a kind, an original. So don’t settle for being a copy.
• Focus on your potential, not your limitations. Remember, God lives in you!
• Find what you like to do, do well, and strive to do it with excellence.
• Have the courage to be different. Be a God pleaser, not a people pleaser.
• Learn to handle criticism. Let it develop you instead of discourage you.
• Determine your own worth instead of letting others do it for you. They’ll short-change you!
• Keep your shortcomings in perspective - you’re still a work in progress.
• Focus daily on your greatest source of confidence - the God Who lives in you!

What’s Your Dream? (2)

Pursue the dream God has given you no matter how far-fetched it may seem, for dreams are like your children; they’re your offspring. They’re the joy of your present and the hope of your future. Protect them. Feed them. Encourage them to grow, for as long as you have a dream you’ll never be old. In spite of betrayal by his family, attempted seduction by Potiphar’s wife and false imprisonment, Joseph’s dream carried him all the way to his destiny as ruler of Egypt. Now, we’re talking about God-given dreams that lead to God-honouring results, not selfish ambition. Paul writes, “Long before we first heard of Christ… He had… designs on us for glorious living” (Ephesians 1:11-12). God has a dream for you and if you seek Him He’ll reveal it to you.

But when He does, remember three things:
(1) Dreams are specific, not general; personal, not public. God won’t give somebody else your dream, He’ll give it to you. He may confirm it through others, but He’ll reveal it to you. When He does, don’t share it with the wrong people or you’ll get hurt. Like Joseph’s brothers, they won’t be able to handle it, especially if it doesn’t include them.

(2) Dreams are usually outside the realm of the expected. Often your dream will cause rational people to say, “You’ve got to be kidding!” Remember, that’s their opinion, not God’s; with Him “all things are possible.”

(3) Dreams separate winners from losers. Dreamers are always a minority. Those who walk by sight will always outnumber those who walk by faith. So today, follow your God-given dream.

What’s Your Dream? (1)

When you dream you move closer to the way God sees things; you see beyond your limitations; you move from where you are to where He wants you to be; you begin to see your goals in their completed state.

The question isn’t can you dream, but do you have the courage to act on it? If your dream doesn’t stretch you to the point of discomfort it’s probably not of God. Furthermore, God won’t miraculously lift you out of your dream and set you down in the middle of its fulfillment. The children of Israel dreamed of living in the Promised Land. But the only way to get there was through the wilderness. That’s where we learn to:
(a) trust God daily for the manna we need;
(b) discover His power in the Red Sea situations of our lives;
(c) be led by Him when there are no clear sign posts;
(d) get up every morning with our eyes on our destiny and move steadily toward it;
(e) refuse to become like those who complain and never make it out of the wilderness.

Now for a warning: someone will always try to steal your dream. Always! Often it’ll be someone who never had a dream of their own, or if they did they abandoned it. It could even be a family member who reminds you of what God couldn’t or wouldn’t do through someone like you.

What do you dream about? What has God enabled you to see that doesn’t yet exist? You’ll never out-dream God! For: “God can do… far more than you can ever imagine”
(Ephesians 3:20)

Sowing And Reaping

It’s one thing to give because it puts God on your side financially, but there’s an even greater reason: “He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” At first glance you may think, “What’s that got to do with anything?” A lot! God’s committed to healing the hurts of our world; that’s why He speaks of “gifts to the poor.”

When we get involved with God through our giving, we’re taking our place in a plan that’s bigger than our own interests - or our tiny bag of seed. We’re participating in His plan to reach the world. God’s concerned about the poor, and about sharing with every person on earth the good news of the Gospel. Those are His objectives and He’s committed to them. And they’re going to cost money. A lot of it! Now the truth is, God will get the money from somewhere, but He’d like to partner with you to accomplish it.

You say, “But I’m afraid if I give more I won’t have enough to meet my own needs!” Think about what you just said. Why would God drain you of your resources, then not replenish them to accomplish through you what He’s committed to doing? That doesn’t make sense. If you’re a partner with God why would He hinder your ability to give toward the things that matter most to Him: the needy, and winning a lost world?

The truth is, God’s going to do it with or without you. He’s just giving you an opportunity to get involved with Him. Don’t miss out on it!