"Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be, sanctified [set apart] and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work."
2 Timothy 2:21 (NKJV)
• If God placed His call on someone for a particular assignment, the person in question is not ready yet for the assignment (Acts 13:1-2).
- God does not put novices to work (1 Timothy 3:6).
- God will work on the person, train him or her, in preparation for the assignment: "But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless" (1 Timothy 3:10).
• God will prepare the vessel He chooses by taking him or her through tests—challenges of life.
- "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
- knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience [endurance or perseverance].
- But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing."
James 1:2-4 (NKJV)
- God will prove the heart of the person He wanted to use (2 Corinthians 4:7-11).
- The test mainly is to build godly character in the chosen vessel (Romans 5:3,4).
~ God will teach him or her how to be patience and how to rely on Him [God] for everything (Proverbs 3:5,6; John 15:4,5).
~ He can only trust someone whom He has tested and approved; with power, wealth, fame and what have you (Genesis 22:1,2,15-18).
• God has the habit of testing the people He wanted to bless, promote, use for a particular assignment or the other.
- How you fare in God's test determines how fast you move on the ladder of leadership.
- Test for promotion occurs at every stage or phase before God moves you from one level to another on the ladder of leadership—you have to pass His tests.
• God is not partial, He wants to put to work those whom He has prepared and equipped for the assignment at hand (1 Timothy 3:10).
- The process of testing and promotion is also called brokenness. God will not promote you, put you to work, if you are not thoroughly broken.
- The level of your brokenness determines the measure of the anointing placed on your life.
- It also determines the magnitude of the work committed into your hand.
• The process will produce submission in you (Hebrews 12:10,11).
- God can only use a vessel that is submissive to Him.
- Your level of submissiveness determines your height in God's kingdom—God's vineyard.
- God will deal with every manifestation of flesh. He will break your ego.
- He will not use someone who is full of himself or herself, a self-opinionated.
- God wants to put to work, anoint, elevate, the person who will ascribe the glory of his or her success to Him—God (1 Corinthians 2:26-29).
- God wants to put to work, someone whom He will command, instruct, to do something and will obey promptly (Genesis 22:3,9-12).
• God does not promote arbitrarily, He tests before He promotes; and you have to pass His test before He lifts you up (Genesis 22:1,2,11,12,15-18).
- God is a disciplinarian, He wants His Word obeyed to the letter. And obedience is learned through suffering!
- "though He was a Son, YET HE LEARNED OBEDIENCE BY THE THINGS WHICH HE SUFFERED.
- And having been perfected, HE BECAME THE AUTHOR OF ETERNAL SALVATION to all who obey Him."
Hebrews 5:8,9 (NKJV)
• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
Peace!