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This point came up in another thread, and since I can't get it off my mind I guess I should talk to others about it. Maybe someone else has the answer that escapes me. How do you know if you have been called into "Ministry". What is a real calling, from God, not just ego... I know better... Nobody else is doing it right, but I can. What would you say is a calling into "Ministry". Forgive me for leaving this vague, and open, but I don't want to spoil the answers.
This point came up in another thread, and since I can't get it off my mind I guess I should talk to others about it. Maybe someone else has the answer that escapes me. How do you know if you have been called into "Ministry". What is a real calling, from God, not just ego... I know better... Nobody else is doing it right, but I can. What would you say is a calling into "Ministry". Forgive me for leaving this vague, and open, but I don't want to spoil the answers.
We are all called.
"Let your light so shine among men, that them seeing your good works, shall glorify your Father in heaven".
Live according to the example of Christ and you'll always know His will.
Matthew 5,6,7 spells out clearly His ways and example.
I would think that if you ask God to show you which specific ministry you are called to do, He will lead you in the right way. Maybe if God has given you skills and talents in a particular area such as singing, organizing, teaching, working with the elderly, crisis intervention, ect. and if you have an strong interest in the area this would give you further indication that God has blessed you in these areas for His service. Just some thoughts. God bless.
I believe that we are overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit,a thirsting to want to follow and to serve Him and to preach the gospel in His name. One that is called is a passion that is so strong that one would be willing to lay down their worthy possessions to follow Him
I would hope the OP could define ministry. Saving souls? All. Preaching? All. Prayer? All. Sacrificial giving? All. Anyone called Christian can fulfill any role. Will there be some doing it better than others? Sure.
All are the body, all give in some way. And some are 'merely' doorkeepers. I would say it is being faithful. The voice of G-d is always speaking, it is a matter of hearing and fulfilling.
Beyond this, define successful ministry. What is that? Husband and wife providing spiritual sustenance to each other? A monk meditating in the wilderness? A cricket chirruping at night, providing comfort to a child with it's voice? A preacher for whom there are never respondents to altar calls?
And to follow ideas from other threads - what about disreputable ministers? If I in ignorance listen to one and am blessed, not knowing they are in sin, are about to be revealed as an aldulterer, a sham, etc., is that a minister engaging in successful ministry? Jim Baker's PTL club in 78-80 was quite uplifting, and he was simultaneously being investigated for corruption and infidelity. I enjoyed Jim. Shocked to find he was a retched man. Was my blessing from that ministry an indication of his success, G-d's success, or what?
Yeah, we can continue if you can define ministry, but then that is not being vague anymore. There are certain command requirements for engaging in dialogue on this one. Ministry is waaaaaaaaaaaay too vague.
I think the answer to your question will differ quite a lot depending on what denomination it comes from.
I certainly agree with some of the previous posts that as Christian we are all called to live as followers of Christ and to use to the best fo our abilities the gifts we have been given.
But I think it is also true that sometimes God calls some people for some specific ministries and you are right in thinking that this calling is not always clear or easy to understand. It is a journey that we can't do alone, we need help in the discernment to avoid precisely what you were saying about mistaking God's calling with our own inner agenda.
Some of the more traditional churches such as the Roman Catholic and Anglican (Episcopalian in the States) invite people who feel that they might be called to a particular ministry in the church, to enter a period of discernment with the help of a Spiritual Director and more involvement in the life of the Christian Community they belong to.
The spiritual director will guide the person through bible studying, meditation, prayer, the community will help him/her to ground everything and will seriously test the vocation.
May God bless you in your search.
"Let your light so shine among men, that them seeing your good works, shall glorify your Father in heaven".
Live according to the example of Christ and you'll always know His will.
Matthew 5,6,7 spells out clearly His ways and example.
Quote:
I would think that if you ask God to show you which specific ministry you are called to do, He will lead you in the right way. Maybe if God has given you skills and talents in a particular area such as singing, organizing, teaching, working with the elderly, crisis intervention, ect. and if you have an strong interest in the area this would give you further indication that God has blessed you in these areas for His service. Just some thoughts. God bless.
Quote:
I believe that we are overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit,a thirsting to want to follow and to serve Him and to preach the gospel in His name. One that is called is a passion that is so strong that one would be willing to lay down their worthy possessions to follow Him
Totally agree and believe with the insights in the above quotes.
I have also seen where the Lord has used individuals who had no ability in some of the above descriptions. When there was a need (calling) at a moment of time He gave the ability to accomplish that need (calling) for a season.
But I do believe every christian has a calling all the time. Sharing the love of God!!! Sometimes standing in a line at the grocery store and the person behind you looks like they need a smile. Or the Lord brings an individual into your heart and speaks about sending a card!!
It is a on going thing! And ususally it is a prompting of the heart to share. And we are not even aware what we have been called that day to show His love. We just automatically respond to His promptings (calling).
Blessings
I think the answer to your question will differ quite a lot depending on what denomination it comes from.
I certainly agree with some of the previous posts that as Christian we are all called to live as followers of Christ and to use to the best fo our abilities the gifts we have been given.
But I think it is also true that sometimes God calls some people for some specific ministries and you are right in thinking that this calling is not always clear or easy to understand. It is a journey that we can't do alone, we need help in the discernment to avoid precisely what you were saying about mistaking God's calling with our own inner agenda.
Some of the more traditional churches such as the Roman Catholic and Anglican (Episcopalian in the States) invite people who feel that they might be called to a particular ministry in the church, to enter a period of discernment with the help of a Spiritual Director and more involvement in the life of the Christian Community they belong to.
The spiritual director will guide the person through bible studying, meditation, prayer, the community will help him/her to ground everything and will seriously test the vocation.
May God bless you in your search.
Thanks for the view this, the underlined part, is what I'm talking about. By some of the other posts I guess I should have been more specific about this being not the call to live a Christlike life. This post got what I meant as a calling to open, start, or join a "ministry" or "church". I come from a Church of Christ back ground and the only spiritual counseling concerning a calling to vocation in the church is you should. If God wants you to be a preacher you will succeed, if not no one will come.
On the same topic, consider all the persons that died in the wilderness, when Moses was leading them through. They probably questioned if Moses was the right leader. Jonah didn't follow the call, got swallowed by a whale. He came back, preached to Nineveh, the whole place got saved. Noah followed the call, lead his family of 8 persons total out of the flood. Before the rains came, persons probably questioned his sanity - build a boat where? David was laughed at when he put a stone in the sling, killed Goliath. Samson was mocked, had his hair cut and eyes burned out, he pulled the walls down. Different prophets were held in derision, mocked, etc., but they were called. Some of Ezekiel's visions were terrifying, persons could have guessed he was psychotic, he listened to the call. Abram took the worse piece of land (after Lot chose the better portion), he was called. Jacob was underhanded, he was called.
Your ultimate success depends on who you listen to. G-d choses the foolishness of the earth to show G-d's power, and to prove it was by G-d's power that these things happened. It's not in the lightning, thunder, or earthquake, but in the still, small voice.
Having said all that, the need (which sounds like the call) is NOT the call. And anyone who thinks that's true should know there's a lot of toilets that need scrubbing, lawns mowed, and churches vacuumed. It's funny some of the highly qualified overlook these very humble jobs, which reflect mightily on the congregation (its the congregants who make this stuff dirty, too).
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