God is in the business of executing His plans and purposes in our lives. Joseph is out case study of God's dealing with His Children. You will not be able to grow in the knowledge of Christ.
Here are the seven tests of Joseph.
1. Service: God had to put him to work; if you are not ready to use the wisdom and skills within you to service, you will not grow in Christ. There is no enthronement without service. This kind of service is not within the Church alone, it includes the way you serve your siblings, parents, spouse, friends and the society. This service is all about being solution oriented and intentionally add value to people's life. You have to use the best God have invested in you to become useful to God, to your self and to people.
2. Hindances: This is God's way of hiding you, stretching you, building you, training you and forming you to develop the capacity and character that will befit His counsel for your life. In this kingdom, hindances will always come but you must be sensitive to know what God wants to use them to do in your life. As long as you cooperate with God, you can not be disadvantage. The hinderance is not your problem; you inability to cooperate with God in the midst of the hinderance is the problem. Even thou Joseph experience hinderances, he held on to God. Follow that example too.
3. Discouragement: The abundance of God's love and plan for your life will not stop discouragement from reaching. They will be moment your moods and every human knowledge will make life look impossible. When things dont go your own way or as you expected, hold on to God. Discouragement is a mere feelings that is temperory. In the midst of discouragement, remember the promises of God. Will you leave your Father's call? Joseph felt discouraged but never submitted to what he felt. His eyes were on God.
4. Faithfulness: Proverb 3, reveals the benefits of staying faithful in God calling. Even in the midst of all the unanswered questions of Joseph, he remain Faithful to God. He had the chance to enjoy his master's wife sexually but stayed faithful to God that he had to run out naked. When no body is seeing you, will you remain faithful unto your Faith in Christ Jesus? You must embrace this if you must become all God wants for you.
5. Blessing: Will you still continue to work for God, when the blessing comes. When your prayers request are met, will you still attend Church, study your Bible, and worship God? The blessings of God are resource materials or tools for you to serve him and add value to the people around you. Never see the blessings of God as a stage or arrival mentality. The blessings of God given to you is not for yourself. Even thou it will benefit your welfare but it's not mean to feed lustful desires and carelessness.
6. Jealousy: Will you work for God when others are getting bless before you? This is another test Joseph passed and you have to pass it as well. If you must become all God have ordained for you, you must be selfless and walk away from jealousy and enviness. It takes humility from the Spirit of God to attain this virtue.
7. Test of Faith: When your experiences becomes the opposite of the promises of God to you, will you still have Faith in God? Overcoming all obstacle and battle through the knowledge of God's Word is part of your walk in Christ. You must learn to walk by Faith, and through the instructions of God's Word in every situation.
As a believer of Christ, you must be able to walk through and become conformed to the image of Christ.
KINGDOM DESTINY MINISTRY