Passing The Test - By Os Hillman

The Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors - to David. - 1 Samuel 28:17b

When God anoints a person, a pattern of testing appears to take place at specific times in the leader's life. God often takes each leader through four major tests to determine if that person will achieve God's ultimate call on his or her life. The person's response to these tests is the deciding factor in whether they can advance to the next level of responsibility in God's Kingdom.

Control - Control is one of the first tests. Saul spent most of his time as king trying to prevent others from getting what he had. Saul never got to the place with God in which he was a grateful recipient of God's goodness to him. Saul was a religious controller. This control led to disobedience and ultimately being rejected by God because Saul no longer was a vessel God could use.


Bitterness - Every major character in the Bible was hurt by another person at one time or another. Jesus was hurt deeply when Judas, a trusted follower, betrayed Him. Despite knowing this was going to happen, Jesus responded by washing Judas' feet. Every anointed leader will have a Judas experience at one time or another. God watches us to see how we will respond to this test. Will we take up an offense? Will we retaliate? It is one of the most difficult tests to pass.

Power - Power is the opposite of servanthood. Jesus had all authority in Heaven and earth, so satan tempted Jesus at the top of the mountain to use His power to remove Himself from a difficult circumstance. How will we use the power and influence God has entrusted to us? Do we seek to gain more power? There is a common phrase in the investment community, "He who has the gold rules." Jesus modeled the opposite. He was the ultimate servant leader.

Greed - This is a difficult one. Money has the ability to have great influence for either good or bad. When it is a focus in our life, it becomes a tool of destruction. When it is a by-product, it can become a great blessing. Many leaders started out well - only to be derailed once prosperity became a part of their life. There are thousands who can blossom spiritually in adversity; only a few can thrive spiritually under prosperity.

As leaders, we must be aware when we are being tested. You can be confident that each one of these tests will be thrown your way if God calls you for His purposes. Will you pass these tests? Ask for God's grace today to walk through these tests victoriously.

~Go to our main web page and click on the TGIF for more devotions and information on Os's organization.

Conversation With My Dad

Good Morning Daddy,

What a glorious day you have painted for us to enjoy.
What did you have in mind when you designed it?
Who were you propelling your good pleasure toward in your grandeur of love?
Who were you rescuing from the clutches of evil?
Who are you delivering out of darkness into your glorious light?

I call all life giving angels to hearken to your response
   from the north, the east, the south and the west.
Perch your longing ears and listen to my request;
Wait on the Lord of Lords, our King of Kings to respond,
Then help him as you go to fulfill His grand designs.

Alone there is no rest for the weary,
But in Him our souls have eternal peace and joy.

Let's use our feet to make our way to them.
Let's use our eyes to seek them out.
Let's use our hands to reach through their darkness.
Let's use our voice to turn on their light.

Stand and seek to watch Him passing.
He is showing us the way.
The Heavenly Highway is the pathway.
In His secret abode we will all be safe.

Thank you Dad,
In Christ we ask, live and love - always,
Kisses,
C

Conversation With Dad

Journal entry 1/12/11
I pray, God, that you bless the thoughts of my mind, search my intentions and make them pure.
Enlighten me, so that I may see the truth as you have arranged.

In all ways, I thank you for your protection, provision and good pleasure toward myself and others.

Ordain my steps: the process you wish me to take-clarify the extensions of my efforts as I merge. 
No good thing will I withhold, unto them
Because you first loved me, I may too love them.

In Christ I dwell in you; in Him I exist in you 
Together we are One; through the power and the gift

To us has been given much
Let our faithful eyes behold
The beauty of our life, as we dutifully unfold
Rise up, one and all, in the life He died to live
Go forth, in one accord, to speak His truths in Love
Be gentle as you go, there is much they do not know
Be kind to all you touch, His hand is whom they feel
Be generous with the gifts you give, He provides beyond all means:
    the power, truth and skill to accomplish what He deems fit
Be bold with what you teach, yet temperate in all you say
May we never lead astray, His children on their way
Be patient while you're there, we follow the peaceable One
Be wise and listen well, only speak the truths you're told
Be faithful to what you say; be slow to commit our God:
He is the faithful and true; we serve with what we are fed
At times we must fast to provide - trusting He will always show up
He will never be late; after all........He set the time

In Peace to all
With the Love of our Christ,
Kisses,
C~