How do I know if I am being called into the ministry by God

[isurrender]

Hello everyone. I need some advice. I am 20 years old and starting to wonder how do you know if you have been called by God into the ministry. I love being around young people and I feel that I am just drawn to them. I recently moved to a different city and I'm trying to find a church to attend and work in. Before I moved I worked in my church a lot with the youth and whenever I can I still work with them. I love to write. I can be put on the spot and write something 5 minutes before it is time for me to give a speech. I once wrote an speech and read it at church for our youth. I received a standing ovation. I am also a firm believer in prayer and I am called on to pray a lot in front of groups. I just want to know how to I know if God is calling me into the ministry. I am will do whatever he wants me to do and go wherever he wants me to go.

 

[MagicStar723]

I suggest a lot of prayer. My pastor did a sermon on listening to God not too long ago and I really like some of these points,
God's calling or plan always lines up with Scrpiture
It always lines up with His plan
He never changes His mind, He keeps calling!
I would say if you keep feeling in your heart that God is wanting you to do something that it is His Will.
Good luck and I'm praying for you!

 

[superdave]

Well I know a good answer to that!-
We are all called into the ministry. We are all part of the body, and we all have different functions. The question really is, where do you fit in to this body? Our church doesn't seperate the layity and the clergy. All of us have a job to do! To tell you the truth, right now I feel called to the ministry- All I know is I love Europe, I love to Sing, I love to bring people to Jesus. What I have done so far, is just submit to the local church and through serving the body- I will find my true calling. I suggest you get under someone. If you like youth ministry, go serve under the youth ministry of your church. This is the only way in time, you will know this is where God wants you.

Good luck and draw near to him,
Dave.

 

[LionOfJudah]

if when you wake in the morning and can not find anything else that will make you happy, if at the end of the day the only thing on your mind is what is happening around you, how are the lost being brought back to Christ. Can you accept living a life of want from the worlds eyes, but an abundit life by Christ standard.

Honestly if you have to ask you may not be called. every person i know at Bible College just "knew" ( i know just about everyone here, the same is at other colleges too i travel and talk to other students alot). we can not be happy doing anything else i knew i was called. its a hard thing to discern if you are not listening i guess. anyway Bible college is never a bad thing to attend for a year or two.

 

[superdave]

But according to scripture- many are called- few are chosen. I believe everyone has some part or call into the ministry- this is God's commandment to us. But this does not mean that we are all called to be pastors of some church. No for some of us our ministry may be just working at a buisness and building God's Kingdom that way. I really don't think it's anything to worry about if you are called or not- because I believe everyone has a calling--its just the fine tuning of that calling we need to work on.

When Jesus called the twelve to go out, he had them with him for 3 years. I believe God does not throw us into our destiny and our calling immediately. Instead, he works with us and chisels away rough edges and then brings us into our destiny. So he calls us, then we must be with him, and then we are sent.

This is how I think God works- and It's all in scripture.

 

[tubaboy963]

I am struggling with this thing. It's tough. I like what everyone else said and have little more to offer you. Assess your skills. God may want you to develop skills, but he won't call you into an area where you're lacking.

 

[en3r0]

keep praying!

Pray for signs

read passages related to that (im sure u can find a Bible search online, if not here)

and Don't stop Praying!!

my sugestions

God bless,
-en3r0

 

[Peter_in_Christ]

isurrender,

Write a list of your gifts, especially feedback from others, and then look at areas where you can apply them using the Word of God as your foundation, test out many areas using your gifts, in time certain doors may close or open along the way, you'll also see and enjoy serving the Lord.

Rather then spending many hours thinking about when and where, act with constant prayer and guidence from God knowing that whatever you do in light of the Gospel the Lord, bearing witness for Him, He will bless you.

Take care and God bless
Love in Christ

Peter

P.S. Do have a listen to this sermon by John Stott, a preacher from our Church (you can sign up for a free log-in), it's an exposition on the Imitation of Christ - Mission: http://www.allsouls.org/ascm/allsouls/static/sermons/showsermon.flow?id=2696

The main sermon page is: http://www.allsouls.org/ascm/allsou...l;jsessionid=D4C87B34240B45BC64E10DDBE5BF7A82

 

[tamtam92]

I think you should pray.

When you speak to youth be careful you speak for Jesus-only, not just for making beautiful phrses (even if what you say is right). I don't like the idea of a standing ovation... i think people should be led to thinking... and praising Jesus-Christ alone... I'm not judging you, i just say : be careful...

For all you who have a ministry, i just tell you : there's a hard rough field in France... even the evangelical world is going astray... it's terrible. There are more and more worldliness and deviations... But maybe it's not better in America ?

 

[isurrender]

I would like to thank everyone for their feedback. What everyone has said is really helpful. I am going to keep on praying and I ask that y'all pray for me to grow stronger in the Lord. I will also pray for everyone of you. And to tamtam92 those problems are everywhere not just France. Thanks Again Everyone!

 

[Lizzi4Christ]

Every single person is called to ministry.

The problem is the way we define "ministry."

I believe that many people believe that ministry is pastoral positions or missionaries. But there are so many more options then that.

I'm in college right now for Christian Counseling. That's a ministry.
I volunteer at a Christian pregnancy crisis center. That's a ministry.
Mowing the lawn for a neighbor. That's ministry.
Babysitting for a single mom. That's ministry.

If you really desire to do what God wants and let your heart to be open to what god had to say, then He'll show you.

Be patient. I know. It's hard. Trust me, I am VERY impatient. But it's worth it when you know when you finally know.

Be open to things going on around you and gifts that people are telling you have.

Let me just share my personal story really quick:
Financial aid covers most of what I have to pay for school. Not last semester. I needed to pay somewhere around $560. Not a lot, but still something that I didn't have. I had paid off $375 of it, but just did not have the rest to pay off. The day that I was going to give the last of what is in the bank account, the financial director called me in and told me that he had given me $200 for the rest of my bill. Wow.

The same day I went to the pregnancy crisis center to talk about volunteering. After talking with the leader a while, I found out that they needed counselors. My major: Christian Counseling.

Pay attention to things like that. But also, don't think that everything is a sign.

Pray, pray, pray.