"How do I know if I am called of the Lord?" This is an important question that some have asked and we do not want to err on such a vital concern in our lives. One may be seeking the will of God at the crossroads of his life. This is a relevant and profound issue that we should ponder and discuss seriously. What are then (if any)? The important considerations or evidence of a definite calling from God? Consider the following prayerfully.

Firstly, a genuine call from God is always intrinsic first. It will evidence itself as a deep internal spiritual burden and conviction of the heart and soul that only the person concerned knows. It is often not what a person sought after, but it is laid upon our hearts firmly by the Holy Spirit and it manifests itself as a crushing and heavy burden or deep spiritual conviction and compunction. It is very much an internal heart affair initially as the soul struggles with God and reasons with heaven in fear and trembling. That was my experience in 1987 after I graduated from NUS (but I did not entered full time until 1992 after a season of searching and prayer and confirmation). It is not uncommon that fear and a sense of inadequacy would overwhelm the person and some may even run away from it like Jonah or Moses of old. Moses was so affected by the calling of God through the burning bush that he wanted to shrink from the heavenly duty and started giving excuses to God (Ex 4:10-13). Jonah responded with disobedience and even tried to run away from God (Jon 1:1-10). This brings us to our second point.

Secondly, a call from heaven is also finally effectual and persistent if it is truly a summon from heaven. God will surely pursue it to the very end. Samuel had a call from God when he was a young boy. He thought it was Eli and went to the high priest. Later, he found out that it was actually God calling him and it came 3 times (I Sam 3:1-21), not just once. Together with this, it must be emphasized that a true calling will stand the test of time no matter what may happen in the interim. Unlike a sudden emotional feeling or psychological sensation, an authentic call will last and will persevere over time even in the midst of difficult circumstances. It is necessary to pray and seek the Lord and wait upon Him than to rush ahead of Him and later find, to our disappointment, that it is not the will of God. Some have made impulsive and hasty decisions and live to regret it and later realised that it was an emotional response at a meeting. Gideon wanted to make sure it was the Lord’s call and God honoured his sincere seeking with a miracle in the fleece (Judg 6:7-14). God will confirm it if we sincerely and patiently seek Him and let him guide us (Prov 3:3-7).

Thirdly, it must be emphasized here that a calling is also external. What do we mean? By this, one means that a genuine calling should be confirmed and affirmed by others as well, especially godly men who know you fairly well. David’s calling was confirmed by Samuel who anointed him as king and Paul’s was affirmed by Barnabas as the latter brought him to the Apostles (Acts 9:27). In our earlier example, Samuel consulted Eli and the latter indirectly affirmed his spiritual calling. This is a vital issue. If you feel you are called but your pastor, elder, deacon or God-fearing brethren think otherwise, pray again and do not rush into things. If you are sincerely seeking the Lord, you will find Him for he will always guide and lead us in his will if we are willing to submit in the first place. Recently a sincere and humble brother in his mid 40s came and shared with me about his calling. After much prayer, we shared and concurred together that he should consult also his own pastors and get the concurrence of his wife as well and wait upon the lord for a season. He is now studying in a bible college after one year of waiting and seeking of the Lord (and he had the consent of his pastors and his wife). This is well pleasing and proper before the Lord. By way of personal testimony to the glory of God, (and by no means normative), my calling was affirmed by three persons, namely, a pastor, an elder and my beloved wife, Angie today who is important to me and after a stint of prayer and waiting upon the Lord. Only a clear and unswerving conviction of your calling from God will be able to see you through the toughest trials in the ministry one day.

There was once a young, enthusiastic school leaving person who came to see me and said he felt called into the full-time ministry. I asked him to go through the NS training first before making a decision. He went through his 2½ years of NS training and after that he forgot everything about his so called calling. Today, he is happily working in a secular institution (which is not wrong). It is important that we be in the place that God would have us to be. The confirmation is important because God does use others to guide and direct us to the right direction. While advice and counsel from man are not infallible, they are nonetheless important and useful and especially if it coincide with the conviction of the heart, the knowledge of God’s word and the peace of mind, it is not insignificant.

Martin Lloyd Jones wisely quipped that you will do yourself and the church a great disservice if you are not called but put yourself in the ministry by your own will. Charles Spurgeon, the great prince of preachers turned away many candidates from the Pastors’ College after examining their calling and their lives. For those in position of influence, we need to pray for godly discernment in this area that we lead and guide people in the correct understanding of God’s will for their lives not our personal preference or desires. I quote Spurgeon on this … 

If any student in this room could be content to be newspaper editor, or a grocer; or a farmer; or a doctor; or a lawyer; or a senator; or a king; in the name of heaven and the earth let him go his way; he is not the man in whom dwells the Spirit of God in its fullness, for a man so filled with God would utterly weary of any pursuit but that for which his inmost soul pants.

J M Jowett said,

Now I hold with profound conviction that before a man go into the Christian ministry, he must have the assurance that the selection has been imperatively constrained by the eternal God. The call of the Eternal must ring through the rooms of his soul as clearly as the sound of the morning-bell rings through the valley of Switzerland, calling the peasants to early prayer and praise. The candidate for the ministry must move like a man in secret bonds. ‘Necessity is laid’ upon him. His choice is not a preference among alternatives. Ultimately he has no alternative; all other possibilities become dumb only one clear call sounding forth as the imperative summons of the eternal God.

In answering whether a person is called, it is vitally important to first of all, see the evidence of grace in the life of the person – is it a life of self-denial, of humble disposition and the development the traits of the Spirit? Is there evidence of a changed life and a regenerated heart? Or is he still enamoured with the world or with Christ? Or does he sense a lasting fervour and zeal for the cause of Christ and His Word? Does the person relish worship, Christian fellowship, prayer, and evangelism or is he disinterested or bored with spiritual things? Is there a burden for lost souls? There was once a person who came and told me that he is called to serve God full-time. But there was no evidence of true evangelical repentance in his life, no interest in the things of God, no desire for prayer, no interest in the Word during worship service, messages and no burden for Christian service and ministry to others. He did not enter in the full time ministry but even dropped out of church later. Another person in his mid 20s from a charismatic church was challenged by his pastor during a meeting to serve full time some years ago. Later he was retrenched by the same pastor after serving about four years and finally admitted that maybe he is not called In the first place. He is still jobless today (at this point of writing) and was disillusioned for a season.

Some para-group organisations at certain meetings challenge young impressionable teenagers to give up their lives and serve God full-time without examining whether they are called in the first place. While they are zealous and willing to serve, we must be cautious that this is not what Paul called zeal without knowledge in Rom 10:1, 2. Beware that we do not mislead others or ourselves into doing something apparently "spiritual" but not in accordance with the will of God. Paul said in Eph 5:17, "Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is." Never rush into things of eternal concern with our prayer and the humble seeking of the lord first. Take time to pray, meditate and consult a godly man (ie your pastor, elder, deacon, parents or someone who is close to the Lord) who loves the Lord and read his word carefully.

Conclusion

Examine your own heart first and let it be a litmus test of your "calling". If God has truly called you, He will bring it to pass and you will respond in due time. If He has not, do not presume and rush into it for there are consequences as well. Pray and wait upon the Lord and authenticate your calling before God and men. It is a fearful thing to serve God and one do not want to trifle with it lightly and flippantly but advisedly and soberly in the fear of God. Do not be afraid to follow the lord wholeheartedly if it is truly His will for you, which is the best. It is our sincere prayer that the Lord will help and guide some young persons in this crucial matter of life one day (Heb 12:28, 29, Ps 27:14). We shall end with poem composed more than 12 years ago (on 22 Jun 92 in Ambleside, England) when the Lord called the author into the full time ministry.

Cuddled in the valley of serene placid lakes,
With breaths of heavenly inspiration I take,
Nestled in the unspoilt tranquil drift
To that high calling my soul I lift.

Dwelling on the Saviour’s sovereign call
How can I escape or reject at all?
Constrained by my Master’s mercies and grace
I humbly submit and seek His holy face.

Thinking of the call and ministry ahead
I soberly bow to my Lord in bed
Asking for courage, counsel and strength
Praying that He’ll lead me in His heavenly plan.

O Lord grant that I will never grow cold,
That to His kingdom I will ever be sold
To direct sinners and aid saints to grow
And in His word seeking more of Him to know

Though there are gleans of joy and clouds of doubts
In that blessed estate my soul is tossed about
In those quiet moments as I pondered His power,
I finally submitted in the enchantment of the hour.

O that I will serve Him through the years
In to the battle I ‘ll go though fraught with fears
In all the vicissitudes of life, preserve me still
O Lord of hosts, I’ll abide in thy holy will.