Discerning your call

TruthSeek3r

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Should all calls look like this:

Acts 9:3-20 (ESV):

3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened.
Acts 13:1-3 (ESV)

Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.​

How to know our calling? Should we all expect an encounter with Jesus or an explicit word from the Holy Spirit telling us what we are called to do?
 

OldWiseGuy

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Should all calls look like this:

Acts 9:3-20 (ESV):

3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened.
Acts 13:1-3 (ESV)

Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.​

How to know our calling? Should we all expect an encounter with Jesus or an explicit word from the Holy Spirit telling us what we are called to do?

I was called to belief at the age of three or four, baptized at age 32, but I didn't know what my 'ministry' was until I was forty.
 
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TruthSeek3r

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I was called to belief at the age of three or four, baptized at age 32, but I didn't know what my 'ministry' was until I was forty.

And how did you know what ministry you were called to? Did you have a vision or hear the Holy Spirit calling you or something like that?
 
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OldWiseGuy

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And how did you know what ministry you were called to? Did you have a vision or hear the Holy Spirit calling you or something like that?

I didn't hear such a call (epiphany), so I knew that what I was already doing (my job) was my ministry.
 
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SchmedlytheGreat

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Each calling has certain of the gifts associated with it.
For instance, Paul said his ministry has certain signs that followed it:

2 Corinthians 12:12 KJV
12. Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
A prophet will have revelation gifts.
A pastor may have healing and tongues and interpretation of tongues.

I think Romans 12 expands this out. The "grace that is given to us" means the calling, or the part of the body we are called to.

Romans 12:4-8 KJV
4. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
5. So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
6. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
7. Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
8. Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
 
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jiminpa

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Sometimes it's an epiphany, or lightning strike. Sometimes it's seeing a need that you can't help yourself from wanting to meet. Sometimes you look around and find out you've been living your calling already. Each person is not like the next guy, and God knows that.

For me, I think my calling is what I want to do both the most and the least. It was what I was taught by family members to be terrified of. Hopefully, you don't have that to face.
 
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ARBITER01

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How to know our calling? Should we all expect an encounter with Jesus or an explicit word from the Holy Spirit telling us what we are called to do?

Your born again experience could include an encounter with Jesus,... but your calling is varied. GOD knows how to work with each person, so it's always going to be different. Some folks might given an understanding shortly after they are born again, some folks will not really understand till years later.

A lot of it is preparation by GOD, some folks have trials to go through,... others might not, again it all depends on GOD.
 
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Sunshinee777

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How to know our calling? Should we all expect an encounter with Jesus or an explicit word from the Holy Spirit telling us what we are called to do?

My experience with being led by the Holy Spirit is more subtle. You just ”know” you need to do something and you just ”know” it came from God. And before it happens you have been feeling frustrated and feeling like being in cross roads, and suddenly you get the answers. Of course you need to ask for answers. (Seek and you will find, Knock and it will be opened)
 
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OldWiseGuy

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But that will look different for each person that is trying to do it God's way.

If you are doing it properly you are doing it God's way.
 
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OldWiseGuy

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I'm not sure what you're trying to say there.

This is a good start.

Ecclesiastes 9:10
"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might..."

1 Corinthians 14:40
"Let all things be done decently and in order."

One would think this would be rather restricting but I find it quite liberating. Like the old doctor I once met at a deer camp; he said that he never had to agonize over what he was going to eat for breakfast, as it was always...oatmeal. ^_^
 
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jiminpa

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This is a good start.

Ecclesiastes 9:10
"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might..."

1 Corinthians 14:40
"Let all things be done decently and in order."

One would think this would be rather restricting but I find it quite liberating. Like the old doctor I once met at a deer camp; he said that he never had to agonize over what he was going to eat for breakfast, as it was always...oatmeal. ^_^
So, are you saying that rather than seeking the counsel of the Holy Spirit for our decisions we should just blindly put our hand to whatever we happen to stumble into, even if it is a snare set by the enemy?

Are you saying that it's not good to seek what we are best meant to do, rather than wasting ourselves on some futility?
 
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OldWiseGuy

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So, are you saying that rather than seeking the counsel of the Holy Spirit for our decisions we should just blindly put our hand to whatever we happen to stumble into, even if it is a snare set by the enemy?

Are you saying that it's not good to seek what we are best meant to do, rather than wasting ourselves on some futility?

I pretty much know what my calling is. It's good to be free of uncertainty in this regard.
 
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