The 5 Tests Every Leader Must Pass

Mark 4:19-20 And the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lust for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.  20 But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred


1. Test 1 – Passing the Tribulation Test – Get Rid of the Quit In You

Heb 10:38-39 But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” 39 But we are not of those who draw back  


2. Passing the Persecution Test  – People Are Never Your Enemy

Heb 12:14-15 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;

 

John 15:16-17 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will last. Then Father will give you what you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.

 

John 13:35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

 


3. Passing the Cares of This World Test – The Great Distractors

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.


4. Passing the Deception of Riches Test – Are You Happy Now?

Heb 13:5-8 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you

 

1 Thess 5:22-24 Avoid every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

 

Matt 7:17-20 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

 

Acts 26:17-18 I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.

 

Phil 2:17 That you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation

 

2 Cor 6:3 We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited

 

Col 1:10-11 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

 

Ps 51:7-13 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.

 

b. God and His Word are Faithful to Finish their Work in Us  

 

Matt 13:33 He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough."

 

Eph 5:26-28 To make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

 

Phil 1:6 Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

 

John 15:1-8 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

 

Jude 24-25 To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

 

5. Passing the Lust Test – Sanctification and Fruitfulness in Ministry