2. God uses the tests of ministry preparation to build and make grow, not to tear down those whom He called.

3. To assess and examine the true inner attitudes and motives of those whom He calls (1 Timothy 3:10)

4. To sort out those who are really called by God To equip those whom God called with spiritual understanding needed to help people

5. The leader’s patience is tried The purpose: Illustration: Abraham (Gen.12-18) Ishmael was born when he was 86 Isaac was born when he was 100 for growth in faith

6. The leader experiences circumstances that seem to nullify the written or living word of God The purpose: Illustration: Joseph Genesis 37-45 to depend on God alone

7. The leader’s worldly character must be eliminated The purpose: leader’s own true inward self be exposed and must call more on God’s grace Illustration: Samuel (1 Sam. 2-3)

8. The inner and outer forces influencing his decision making process are tested to disclose in a leader his inner drives and The purpose:

9. Illustration: Balaam, (Num. 22-24) purify them into desires for the glory of God The purpose:

10. The leader’s humility is tested by asking him to do menial tasks that seem below his high calling in God to discern the leader’s commitment to service

11. Illustration: Elisha (1 Kings 19) The purpose: if he really desires to help and to serve or to be popular

12. The purpose: The leader is put in a materially and spiritually dry or desolate place to appreciate the good things God has put in his life and

13. The purpose: to strip the leader of all the wisdom and ways of the world and to teach him the ways of His Spirit Illustration: Moses (Exodus 2-3)

14. The purpose: The leader’s expectation is not fulfilled on time for all the leader’s right be yielded to the Lord Jesus Christ

15. Illustration: Noah (Gen. 5-7) The leader’s expectation is not fulfilled on time -at 500 years, start building the ark -At 600 years, flood came

16. The leader’s ministry and life’s goal can’t be achieved to re-examine his spiritual priorities Illustration: Paul (2 Corinthians 11) The purpose:

17. Illustration: Elijah (1 Kings 19) The purpose: The leader is place in a disheartening situation that will deprive his courage in the Lord to meet God in prayer

18. Illustration: The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 26) The purpose: The test wherein God’s will counters with man’s plan to subject man’s will to God’s will

19. The purpose: The leader is put on the shelf leader depends too heavily on his actual service rather than the Lord himself for joy and spiritual fulfillment

20. The purpose: - to humble the leader - to purify the motives of the leader - to deepen the message of the leader Illustration: John the Baptist (Matt. 3 Mark 1, Luke 1, 3, John 1)