HOW TO KNOW IF YOU ARE CALLED
And What To Do About It
Through the years, I have met many people who felt called to ministry. This fits in with what Jesus said about many being called. The word called simply means to be invited. We need to be personally invited by Jesus Christ. But Jesus didn’t only say, “Many are called,” He tacked something else on the end of the same verse. He said, “Few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14). To be chosen means to be appointed to an assigned task. This becomes evident when He gives us a place to minister. A different way of saying Jesus’ statement from Matthew 22 is, “Many are invited, but few are given a placement."
There is another place where Jesus used the word few. He said, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (Matthew 9:37). On both occasions, Jesus seemed to be saying that there is a shortfall of people entering the ministry. The problem, though, is on our end and not His. Even today, there seems to be a shortage of people entering the ministry. And once again, the problem is on our end and not His.
Obviously, something has to happen between the time the invitation is extended and the appointment is granted. This study is about what takes place in that time between when we first feel called and when we are finally released into ministry. The many that Jesus talks about, who aren’t appointed, fall somewhere in this gap. Regretfully, there are many who never see the backside of a pulpit or stand on the foreign soil they envisioned, not because God doesn’t let them, but because they didn’t cultivate the call they had been given. Perhaps, they failed to take the steps necessary to lead them into what God had for them, or maybe they failed to wait for the process to be completed. As I talk with people about preparing for ministry, I have found a third reason for this. They often tell me that, short of going to seminary or Bible school, they don’t know what other steps to take to cultivate the call that beats within their chests. These notes are based on the steps I took long before I went to Bible school. These helped me prepare for ministry. I trust they will inspire and encourage you to go the distance and come into the purpose you have envisioned for your life.
This little brochure can impact your life in a big way.