Pastor Lindell Ballenger

Let what you see in your future be the motivation to prepare yourself and grow to maturity in the present!

The Apostle Paul was a naturally talented and gifted man. Even before he met Jesus Christ, he was well-known and respected in important Jewish circles. He was from the tribe of Benjamin, a member of the Sanhedrin, and was a nationalistic extremist for the cause of Israel. Because of his education, he had become one of the greatest intellectual minds of his time.

When Paul accepted Jesus Christ as his Messiah, it should not surprise us that he thought, if anyone deserved to be a leader of the Christian community, it should be him. He was saved one day and almost the next day he was in the City of Jerusalem, trying to make his way into the circle of believers. He was still so new to the faith, they weren’t even sure if he was really saved!

Acts 9:26-27 says, “And when Saul (that’s Paul) came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.”

Barnabas believed Paul’s testimony, but the disciples did not send out advertisements that the world’s greatest Christian killer had been saved, nor did they immediately launch him into an itinerant ministry to reach the world for Jesus. They were wiser than that!

Instead, Paul was put on a ship and sent back to Tarsus, his own home town. There, he probably shared the news of his salvation with his family and took care of any personal business that needed attention. What happened with his family no one can say for sure. But one thing is certain! Paul’s public ministry didn’t begin until nearly thirteen years after his salvation experience!

In those thirteen years, Paul served God and the members of the apostolic team who were nestled in Antioch. He studied the Bible, gained new and incredible insights into the Lord Jesus from the Old Testament, and began to mature in his character.

Finally, it was time for him to be sent out onto the mission field, but even then he was not sent out alone. He traveled with Barnabas, the man who first brought him to the apostles in Jerusalem and had taken spiritual oversight of him as he was growing in his walk with the Lord.

This is why Paul is able to tell us, “Lay hands suddenly on no man”   (1 Timothy 5:22), and do not use a novice or new believer, because they aren’t ready for leadership yet (see 1Timothy 3:6). This is why Paul demands that elders and deacons be men of character who have already^­ proven their sincerity and stability in the local church before they are promoted into visible positions of leadership (First Timothy 3:1-13). He was actually speaking from personal experience!

Concerning himself, Paul told the Thessalonians, “But as we have been approved of God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, who test our hearts.” (1 Thessalonians 2:4)

I want you to notice this part of the verse, “But as we have been approved of God…”

“Approved” is taken from the Greek word “dokimadzo.” Historically, this word was used to depict a man who had undergone many rigorous tests and trials to determine whether or not he had enough character to be placed into a position of leadership. If he could not pass a number of character tests over a period of time, then he was deemed unfit for public service and eliminated from ever being used in that way. Strength of character was more important than gifts or talents!

Therefore, when Paul says, “But as we have been approved of God,” he is making a powerful statement to us about his own walk with the Lord. Rather than being thrust into a position of leadership quickly after his new birth, he had been put through a myriad of grueling character tests which would prove him fit or unfit for leadership in the kingdom of God. Though he was called to the ministry, God would not allow him to move into a visible position of leadership in the Body of Christ until his strength of character had been developed, tested, and shown trustworthy.

Most likely, part of the process of gaining maturity was learning to sit quietly and listen to the more spiritually mature men of Antioch, perhaps less educated than him, but more knowledgeable and experienced in spiritual matters. He was also learning to serve in unnoticed ways, which he may have thought were far below his abilities and an insult to his intelligence, learning to simply be a brother like everyone else.

Promotion did not come quickly for Paul. Thirteen years later, after a lot of dealing with his flesh, pride, and strong will, God finally deemed him fit to enter the full-time ministry. In Acts, chapter thirteen, Paul at last heard the prophetic words he had been waiting for! “Separate me Barnabas and Saul (Paul) for the work to which I have called them” (Acts 13:2).

The Holy Spirit said, “… for the work to which I have called them.” Paul knew he was predestined for this! He could remember the prophecies which were spoken over him when he was first saved, prophecies which said, “He is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings, and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15).

From the very outset of his life in Christ, Paul knew he had an important destiny. He knew he would play a major role in the kingdom of God. But it took thirteen years of preparation before those prophetic words would begin to come to pass in his life. During that time, his character and moral flaws, his pride, and his attitudinal faults were exposed, dealt with by God, and confronted by the men whom God placed over him.

At the end of those thirteen years, Paul said, “We were approved of God to be put in trust…” (First Thessalonians 2:4).

The phrase “to be put in trust” is an old Greek phrase which means “to be put in public office, such as a mayor or governor.” By using this phrase, Paul is telling us, “It took a long time, but after a series of hard trials and tests through the years, God finally deemed me fit to be used by Him in a public capacity.” In other words, he passed his leadership test, and God saw him fit to be trusted in ministry.

But that wasn’t the end of the tests and trials for Paul’s life! Paul concludes this verse by saying, “not as pleasing men, but God, who test our hearts.” He is telling us, “After all the trials and tests I’ve been through in my past, God is still trying my heart today, making sure I remain fit for public service.”

This means our leadership fitness is always being monitored and reviewed by God. He is watching to see how we respond to situations, how we are walking in love toward people, how serious we are about the positions He has assigned to us, and how we handle His Word. “After passing all of those earlier tests,” Paul says, “the tests aren’t over yet! God is still trying our hearts.”  You must always remember tests are temporary and they are necessary because they measure our progress and provide opportunities for improvement.

Do not be discouraged if it takes time for your dream to become a reality in your life! God never gets in a hurry, because godly character is more important to Him than gifts, talents, or temporary successes in the eyes of our contemporaries. You need time to prepare, change, and grow right now, so that when you are finally promoted into a visible position of leadership, you’ll have what you need internally and spiritually to keep you in that place, established with the right heart attitude.