How Can I Know For Sure This Is God’s Calling?
Samuel Ling
Many Christians who have dedicated their lives to the full time ministry have faced this question. Many others who are praying about the full time ministry hesitate to make a decision because of this question. Perhaps right now you are confused on this issue.
How do you go about finding the answer? What is the answer? Let us explore a few biblical principles on God's calling.
First, the calling is God's calling (I Corinthians 1:9). This means that it is not you who have done anything, or will do anything. God does the calling. Our part our commitment, our dedication is a response to God's calling. It is our obedience to God's call.
Second, God calls you with His Word. Have you responded to God's call because you understood what His Word declares to you? Perhaps you have heard a challenge from the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:1820). Perhaps you, like me, were challenged to turn our lives over to Christ for cleansing and rededication. While many other people have heard the same message, you felt God was speaking to you specifically. The Spirit of God uses the preached Word to move our hearts.
God's Spirit never works apart from, or independent from, His Word after all, He is the author of His Word! God's will is never contradictory to His Word. God's final will is revealed in His Word (Hebrews 1:12, II Timothy 3:1617).
Third, God's Word comes to you in the Holy Spirit. Sometimes we are bothered by the fact that all of this is so "subjective." Yes, there is a subjective element in our understanding of God's call (cf. Romans 8). This is because it is our understanding of God's call, not God's infinite understanding. But the Holy Spirit does work in our lives. We can rest assured that God is leading. He is in control. He is on the throne, still! (Psalm 46)
Fourth, God the Holy Spirit calls you with His gifts (I Corinthians 12:7). You need to continuously discover yourself as a person, as a receiver of God's gracious gifts. To everyone whom God calls, God equips them with spiritual gifts. To everyone to whom God has given gifts, God has called. Calling and gifts are inseparable.
Meditate about this. Try to evaluate yourself critically often. Get help from brothers and sisters who know you best. They can help you to affirm what the Spirit has given you and what He has not!
Fifth, our response is one of faith. We don't say, "God told me Friday night He wanted me to be a preacher." Rather, we say, "God has spoken to me in His Word. I believe His Spirit is working in my life. My fellow Christians have given me encouragement. I trust all of this in God's hands and step out in faith. I believe He will honor my decision." Instead of saying, "We will go to this city or the next," we learn to say, "if the Lord wills..."
There is an element of risk involved! Of course! When I get married, I don't know if my marriage will work out or not. Risk is involved in every act of commitment. This is the truth of "commitment."
God wants us to rely on Him, believe in Him, rest in Him, and turn our commitment over to Him. When you see Christ on the cross, risen from the empty grave, you will praise Him again for what He has done. Will you be sure? Yes, if you have heard His Word, obeyed His Spirit, discovered His gift to you, and believed in His faithfulness. A life long process of discovery awaits you. All power to you (Acts 1:8)!