Page 29 - BMIN191 Beginnning Internship

The Heart of Ministry 29

prolonged time. God’s timetable is like this; discipleship is a life-long journey
that will demand much patience.
20 When have you faced this God sees the needs and future of His church, so He helps His stewards learn
test? How did you respond? patience as they lead His people. The writhing that we create in our spirits over
who owns our time is useless, and God’s tests help us to learn this truth. Our own
impatience becomes an enemy to the work of the Lord, an enemy that the test of
time will help us conquer.

Why You Cannot Afford to Fail
There is much to learn as we wait on God. In fact, the majority of God’s great
lessons require a period of waiting. Waiting establishes dependence and helps
attribute value. That which we can have instantly is not treasured like that which
comes after a good season of waiting. The minister who cannot wait on God will
never experience the true provision and abundance God desires to give.

21 How does our ability to The leader sets the pace for those who follow. No one will believe a message
wait on God affect those we preached that is not practiced by the preacher. People face many challenges, and
lead? their desire for instant answers works against the peace they seek. The minister
who cannot wait on God must manufacture reasons for His delay—reasons that
typically work against genuine faith.
How to Get a Passing Grade
While waiting is not easy, learning to wait is even more difficult. The first
step is to identify the one on whom you depend. Have confidence in God’s love
and plan. If you know God will bring the best possible result, waiting becomes
simple. Inability to wait usually reveals a lack of confidence in God’s love and
the perfection of His plans.
Finally, if you are still struggling to wait, occupy your heart with other things.
Often when we face the test of time, we become so obsessed with our need that
we get overwhelmed and decide we can wait no longer. However, just a little
more confidence in God’s faithfulness will prove to be worthwhile. Anchor your
heart in His love and wait.
The Test of Solitude

Understanding the Test
Another common test for the minister is the wilderness experience or the test
of solitude. Every minister—young and old, experienced and novice—will face
wilderness moments in his or her tenure of ministry for God. It is inherent in the
journey, and Scriptures teach this as surely as it teaches of God’s love. Most of
us prefer the bounty and refreshing of those moments when we are experiencing
God’s love and have a clear understanding of His plan. But there will be times in
a minister’s life of spiritual dryness, and weeks may pass without any refreshing,
or so it seems.
22 Why do some people Some make the mistake of assuming that a dry period or a wilderness
reject the test of solitude? experience is evidence that they have stepped out of God’s will. However, this
may simply not be the case. Throughout Scripture, God led His servants to the
wilderness for testing and strengthening. Even Jesus was led by the Spirit to the
wilderness; it was there that Satan unleashed his greatest temptations. But the
Spirit led Jesus in and out of the wilderness!
Times of solitude make us thirsty for God’s presence. This is part of its
function. If we run from these times or give up our pursuit of God’s purposes
because the sun seems not to be shining on us, we will fail this essential test.