How to Know if God Called You to Ministry

Has God called you to ministry? Though all Christians are called to serve the cause of Christ, God calls certain persons to serve the church as pastors and other ministers. Writing to young Timothy, the Apostle Paul confirmed that if a man aspires to be a pastor, “it is a fine work he aspires to do” (1 Timothy 1:1, NASB).

Likewise, it is a high honor to be called of God into the ministry of the church. How do you know if God is calling you?

First, there is an inward call. Through His Spirit, God speaks to those persons He has called to serve as pastors and ministers of His church. The great Reformer Martin Luther described this inward call as “God’s voice heard by faith.” Those whom God has called know this call by a sense of leading, purpose, and growing commitment.

Charles Spurgeon identified the first sign of God’s call to the ministry as “an intense, all-absorbing desire for the work.” Those called by God sense a growing compulsion to preach and teach the Word, and to minister to the people of God.

This sense of compulsion should prompt the believer to consider whether God may be calling to the ministry. Has God gifted you with the fervent desire to preach? Has He equipped you with the gifts necessary for ministry? Do you love God’s Word and feel called to teach? As Spurgeon warned those who sought his counsel not to preach if they could help it. “But,” Spurgeon continued, “if he cannot help it, and he must preach or die, then he is the man.” That sense of urgent commission is one of the central marks of an authentic call.

Second, there is the external call. Baptists believe that God uses the congregation to “call out the called” to ministry. The congregation must evaluate and affirm the calling and gifts of the believer who feels called to the ministry. As a family of faith, the congregation should recognize and celebrate the gifts of ministry given to its members, and take responsibility to encourage those whom God has called to respond to that call with joy and submission.

These days, many persons think of careers rather than callings. The biblical challenge to “consider your call” should be extended from the call to salvation to the call to the ministry.

John Newton, famous for writing “Amazing Grace,” once remarked that “None but He who made the world can make a Minister of the Gospel.” Only God can call a true minister, and only He can grant the minister the gifts necessary for service. But the great promise of Scripture is that God does call ministers, and presents these servants as gifts to the church.

Consider your calling. Do you sense that God is calling you to ministry, whether as pastor or another servant of the church? Do you burn with a compulsion to proclaim the Word, share the Gospel, and care for God’s flock? Has this call been confirmed and encouraged by those Christians who know you best?

God still calls … has He called you?

I am always glad to hear from readers. Write me at mail@albertmohler.com. Follow regular updates on Twitter at www.twitter.com/albertmohler.

上帝呼召你去传道吗？虽然所有的基督徒都被召唤为基督的事工服侍，但上帝呼召某些人作为牧师和传道人去为教会服务。使徒保罗写信给年轻的提摩太，他确认如果一个人渴望成为一名牧师，“他希望这样做是一项很好的工作”（提摩太后书1：1，NASB）。

同样，上帝呼召人去教会做事工也是一种荣幸。你怎么知道上帝是否在呼召你呢？

首先，有一个内向的呼吁。借着祂的灵，上帝对那些呼召他作教会的牧师和传道的人说话。伟大的改革家马丁路德将这种内心的召唤描述为“上帝借着信心听到的声音。”上帝呼召的人通过领导，目的和不断增长的承诺来了解这一呼召。

查尔斯司布真确认上帝呼召传道事工的第一个迹象是“对工作的强烈，全部的欲望。”上帝所呼召的人感觉到越来越强烈地宣讲和教导圣经，并服侍上帝的子民。