Called into the ministry

[Ddavid from NC]

Many people describe an event in their Christian walk as the "Call into the Ministry." Usually, we think of this as the abandonment of secular career partially of fully in preference to a life of Christian vocation of some description. While I have personal experiences and observations, I would like to hear across the wide diversity of this forum your take on this journey. Is there a "Call to the Ministry" that not everryone experiences? Is it a specific to a certain area of ministry? Would everyone have this experience if they submit fully to sanctification? Is it an encounter or a thought process or both? Are these lifetime assignments? Can you lose the call? Are some people decived about their calling? I think you get my point. I want to discuss this from every angle according to what your bias may be.

[Blien]

You can definitely loose the calling.... this video explains how you can do that..

http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-77...h&plindex=0

But as for how to recognize it? I'm not sure... I think I may have been called to it too but I'm not so sure... because I don't have this jealousy for the role some people said they had.

[David of Derby]

I believe I've been called to the ministry. Not long after I returned to the Church after being a lost sheep for many years I had the idea of becoming a priest. At the time I put it down to the fervour I was experiencing as I'd recently returned to the Church and felt the presence of God, and forgot about it. Or so I thought. Every few weeks as I went to Church to attend the Eucharist on Sunday I watched the priests and wondered if I could do their job, and invariably I thought I could. The idea never really went away and as time wore on it become more obvious I was being called to be a priest. I didn't hear any voice in my head, I didn't recieve a visit from an Angel, nothing like that. I just "knew" I was meant to become a priest. I prayed about it many times and the idea didn't go away.

So eventually, about three months ago now, I saw my vicar and asked about it. I'm waiting to hear from the DDO about it to this day.

[Blien]

No idea bro, I wish I could help you. Watch the video provided though, he talks about how you can find your calling. I've struggled with it but it may not be a struggle for you and might possibly be a blessing towards you.

As for seeing Angels. I've seen 4 already, be careful because all 4 I have seen were demons in disguise.. test them heavily if you come across them (according to the tests mentioned in the Bible). Don't get too excited just because you've seen them.

[EricH]

Everone is called to ministry

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20 CSB)

Sometimes God calls us to a specific place or people, but we have all been called to do ministry

[Blien]

But specifically called to ministry EricH... meaning being a pastor/priest or associate pastor/priest

[OneLight]

In 1 Peter 1, we are given step by step instruction to follow to make sure that our calling and election is where it should be, doing the will of God. Without these steps, we can find ourselves out of Gods will and in our own desires.

[EricH]

But specifically called to ministry EricH... meaning being a pastor/priest or associate pastor/priest

Every vocation should be viewed as a calling.

[Blien]

You guys are totally not getting what I am saying........

[Hunterpoet]

Greetings David,

" Would everyone have this experience if they fully submitted to sanctification ".

I'm not understanding what you mean.

Sanctified..to make holy or sacred, to be separate, set apart.

It is my understanding, from what I have been taught and how I understand the scriptures, that the very moment we are saved in CHRIST we are sanctified ( made Holy ), and we are " set apart " for GOD.

1Cor. 1:30, 1 Thess. 4:3, 2 Thess. 2:13, 1 Peter 1:2.

I have not been called to the ministry to preach the Gospel, but the LORD has burdened my heart in the past concerning certain things. I think if the LORD wanted me to preach the Gospel, that He would burden my heart in the same fashion.