Anyone who aspires to what some call “full-time” ministry is probably well aware of the idea of receiving a “calling” from God. What this means is that such a person knows, senses, or believes that God uniquely chose him or her for some ministry responsibility. It may be a general sense of calling or very specific. Having a strong sense of calling can be very important when, not if, things get rough. One missionary who lost his wife and family on a foreign field told me that the only thing that kept him going then was his “calling.” How do I know if God has called or is calling me to some leadership or ministry responsibility in the local church or wider kingdom of God? This article is my attempt to answer that question.

A good place to start is with the general call regarding which every child of God receives and responds. Paul wrote about this call in his letter to the church in Rome.

For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30  And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. Romans 8:29-30 (NLT) 

How does this call come to us? Usually it is through reading or hearing the gospel message. It might even come via a dream or vision, as is the case in many Islamic countries. This might be labeled the “outward” call, which many people hear without ever responding in faith. When the outward call comes our way, if it is going to make an eternal impact on us, it must be accompanied by what some have designated the “inward” call, which is the hidden or invisible work of the Holy Spirit in our lives drawing us to Christ. Jesus spoke of this.

For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up. John 6:44 (NLT) 

Everyone who has put his or her faith in Christ did so after receiving an outward call combined with an inward call from God. Some were aware of the process. Others were not. Some who are born into a family with parents who are disciples and hear the gospel from infancy often quite seamlessly start believing in Christ at a young age without any critical moment of decision. Others of us, who never really heard or understand the gospel until later in life, as was my case having been raised in a Roman Catholic family, have a decisive born-again experience, which enables us to compare our “before Christ” experience with our lives after being saved.

Here is my first point: every genuine disciple of our Lord has been called by God.

We can divide this general call into three parts, about which I have written previously: the call to belong, the call to allegiance, and the call to mission. The call to belong to God’s family is the first one each of us receive. This corresponds to knowing Jesus as Savior. The call to allegiance draws us to surrender our lives as best we can to Jesus the Lord. Water baptism is our outward declaration of allegiance to him. The call to mission challenges us to consciously enlist in God’s Great Commission army of disciple-makers. We receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit to empower and embolden us for this task.

In other words, every single follower of Christ is called to serve in the completion of the Great Commission and to minister in some fashion or another, and this ministry is “full time.” There is no clergy-laity divide in the kingdom of God, no elite status of people who are “above” the rest. We are all servants.

Jesus said that he only did what he saw his Father doing. (John 5:19) In other words, our heavenly Father has great interest in our lives and shows his children what he wants us to do. This is what it means to be led by the Spirit. Following the Spirit takes faith because the invisible Spirit of God often communicates in very subtle ways. We must learn and be open to the ways God communicates to us, which is another subject about which I have written. In short, he speaks to us through the words of the Bible, through his indwelling Holy Spirit, through other people, and circumstances. The most reliable way for us to hear God is through the words of the Bible, but even then we need the indwelling Spirit of God to help us properly interpret those words. The impressions we get from God’s Spirit are also very reliable, but it takes practice to discern and properly interpret them. This is why we need to turn to the Bible and other people to help us. God often uses people to communicate his will to us. The prophetic ministry is a great example of this. When this happens, it should always be confirmed internally by what God is speaking or has spoken to us. Circumstances are the least reliable, and it is important for us to interpret their meaning, too. Sometimes circumstances are against us because God is allowing our faith and resolve to be tested. At other times, contrary circumstances may suggest God is not in a particular venture. Likewise, when things are easy, it not always clear what that means either from a guidance perspective.

The takeaway is this: God does not leave us to our own devices. “God with us,” Emmanuel, is well able to communicate his will to us; although, sometimes it can be a challenge for us to understand it. We have this promise, however: if we seek him, we will find him. If we ask for his help and wisdom, it will be given to us.

This brings us to the topic of this article. Are some of us called to a level of leadership or ministry that is beyond the general call on all disciples to serve? If so, what is the nature of this ministry and how can we know if we are called?

There are various kinds of ministry found in most local churches. The first person that probably comes to mind is usually called the pastor or shepherd. This person is looked to as the spiritual leader of the church under Christ. Other leaders and ministers(servants) function in harmony, hopefully, with the pastor – elders, deacons, worship leaders, Sunday School teachers, small group leaders, etc. In addition to that, we have the leadership God places in each family. Fathers and husbands are the “heads,” and mothers and wives function alongside and in harmony with their spouses. Does every one of these ministry “positions” have to receive a unique call from God, or just the pastor?

Men become the spiritual heads of their homes when they marry. It automatically happens, whether or not we are aware of it or embrace it. Husbands and fathers have a responsibility from God to provide, lead, teach, protect, and model Christ to their families.

Leadership and ministry always include responsibility. We receive grace from God to carry the weight of whatever responsibility he assigns to us. If God asks us to take more responsibility in his kingdom, we want to make sure it is something he wants, or we will not have the grace to do it.

Usually, if not always, we have a desire to do what we think that God is calling us to do, even if it is layered over with fear and doubt at first. For example, Moses took upon himself to be a leader of Israel before God called him to do it. He flopped miserably because he got ahead of God’s timing, which drained him of all self-confidence. When God appeared to him in the burning bush many years later and called him to lead his people, Moses protested to the point of disobedience because of his fear and doubts, not because he did not want to lead. He was a “natural” leader, but God had broken him of all self-confidence. Now he needed to replace self-doubt with God confidence. This is my point.

If we have a desire to lead or minister in God’s kingdom, this is likely an indication that we are called. Most people do not have this inclination. But this is not foolproof. Sometimes we may misunderstand what God wants, or we may simply have a form of unholy ambition.

John the apostle wrote about such a person named Diotrephes, who loved to be the leader, but in whom something was not right. (3 John 1:9) He had not been appointed by God, or if he had, he did not have the character required. Character often determines whether we will succeed or not. Anointing is a gift that can be torpedoed by a lack of godly character. Character plus anointing will produce great results. (E.g. Moses was denied the privilege of leading Israel into the Promised Land because of a character defect – anger. Joshua, who represents Jesus, did take them in. He had no marked defects character wise.)

So, if we have a desire to lead or minister, what is next? Paul tells us that such a desire is good, as long as it is submitted to God.

This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be an elder, he desires an honorable position.” 1 Timothy 3:1 (NLT)

If a person is called by the Holy Spirit to be an elder, it will be recognized and confirmed by others in the church. When this happens, elders are “installed” or “ordained” by other recognized leaders in the church, usually accompanied by the laying on of hands, which is symbolic of the anointing or grace for leadership being conferred to them. Elders have a greater responsibility in the church and receive greater grace.

A general principle is that we should only lay hands on those upon whom we recognize that God has singled out, called, or given them grace and ability for ministry or leadership. In other words, if we are called, other leaders and the people will see it.

Those who are truly called by God to leadership and ministry in the church will have the grace, character, ability, humility, faith, and courage to accept the call and fulfill its responsibilities – all the while very much depending on God’s ongoing help and support. None of us is truly adequate to the task.

Whereas elders are called by the Holy Spirit (Acts 20:28), other important ministries, called by some “five-fold ministries” and by others “ascension gift ministries,” are appointed by Christ himself. These include apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. (Ephesians 4:11-12) Five-fold ministers have the responsibility of leading and equipping the church to fulfill its ministry. Those who end up leading or “pastoring” local churches are usually one or another of the five-fold ministry. They will also be part of the eldership, sometimes called the “lead” elder, at least in churches that follow the New Testament model of church government by elders. How do I know if I am called to this kind of ministry and leadership?

Moses received a unique call to leadership which was unmistakable and directly from God himself. He was also given the very great responsibility of leading Israel out of captivity in Egypt, through the desert, and into the promised land of Canaan. Moses did not have the privilege of being surrounded by other godly leaders who could mentor him. He had to get it all from God directly. This is one way men and women are called to ministry.

Another way we enter this level of leadership and ministry was modeled by Joshua, Moses’ understudy or servant. Joshua served Moses for years and spent large amounts of time with him and in the presence of God. He was privy to much of the interactions Moses had with God. When it became time for Moses to turn over leadership due to his impending death, God told him to lay hands on Joshua and transfer his leadership anointing to him.

O LORD, you are the God who gives breath to all creatures. Please appoint a new man as leader for the community. 17  Give them someone who will guide them wherever they go and will lead them into battle, so the community of the LORD will not be like sheep without a shepherd.” 18  The LORD replied, “Take Joshua son of Nun, who has the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him. 19  Present him to Eleazar the priest before the whole community, and publicly commission him to lead the people. 20  Transfer some of your authority to him so the whole community of Israel will obey him. Numbers 27:16-20 (NLT) 

We have no record of Joshua receiving a direct message from God calling him to replace Moses. Instead, the Lord chose to use his mentor to relay that instruction. The same dynamic took place between Elijah and Elisha. Elisha apparently was the son of a well-to-do farmer who was out supervising the plowing of their fields when Elijah called him to prophetic ministry.

So Elijah went and found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing a field. There were twelve teams of oxen in the field, and Elisha was plowing with the twelfth team. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak across his shoulders and then walked away. 20  Elisha left the oxen standing there, ran after Elijah, and said to him, “First let me go and kiss my father and mother good-bye, and then I will go with you!” Elijah replied, “Go on back, but think about what I have done to you.” 21  So Elisha returned to his oxen and slaughtered them. He used the wood from the plow to build a fire to roast their flesh. He passed around the meat to the townspeople, and they all ate. Then he went with Elijah as his assistant. 1 Kings 19:19-21 (NLT) 

Eventually Elisha, as was the case with Joshua, had his own personal encounter with God that confirmed that he was indeed called by God himself, not just his mentor. I give examples of both below.

After the death of Moses the LORD’s servant, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant. He said, 2  “Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them. 3  I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you— 4  from the Negev wilderness in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, including all the land of the Hittites.’ 5  No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. Joshua 1:1-5 (NLT) 

As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven. 12  Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!” And as they disappeared from sight, Elisha tore his clothes in distress. 13  Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak, which had fallen when he was taken up. Then Elisha returned to the bank of the Jordan River. 14  He struck the water with Elijah’s cloak and cried out, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” Then the river divided, and Elisha went across. 2 Kings 2:11-14 (NLT) 

It is no secret why serving a leader can lead to being the leader eventually. One of the most important qualities of any true leader is a willingness to serve the Lord and the people one leads.

But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26  But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27  and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28  For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:25-28 (NLT) 

Servants are willing to devote themselves to helping another person be successful and to be called to greater responsibility by the one they serve.

We all serve the Lord, but in the church he distributes his authority among various leaders and ministers.

The ability to see the Lord’s delegated authority in others who lead is a mark of a true servant.

This is the reason behind why wives are asked to submit to their husbands as to the Lord. (Ephesian 5:22) It is not because their husbands are superior in some way; rather, it is because God has chosen to distribute his authority through husbands and fathers. Any woman who properly submits to her husband’s authority does so because she understands that in so doing she is indirectly submitting to God. This gives her safety because she knows that, if her husband misuses that authority, he will answer to God, not her. It takes great faith to lead and to be led.

This brings us back to the question with which we began. How do we know if we are called by God to some ministry or leadership responsibility? Let me summarize what I believe are some key points to remember.

1. God calls some of us directly and some indirectly through the one we serve.
2. Normally those who have a calling also have a desire or an aspiration to have ministry or leadership responsibility, but this in itself is not proof of their calling. However, it is a good indicator. (E.g. If someone tells me they feel called to pastor, I take that very seriously because it is not “normal.”)
3. If God calls us directly, other people should be able to recognize and confirm this calling. If we believe we are called, but no one else sees it, we should wait until others do. Timing in God’s kingdom is crucial. We can really foul things up if we get ahead of God. Take for example, Moses.
4. If we are tapped to serve a leader, realize that it may or may not lead to taking the leader’s place one day. If it does, God will confirm our role as leader when the time comes. Until then, or perhaps always, we should be content to serve another.
5. Whether we are called directly by God or indirectly through men, God will give grace to us to fulfill our leadership and ministry responsibilities. This grace often comes at the point of ordination, when hands are laid on us and we are commissioned to the work. No matter when and how the grace comes to us, it is vital for our success in serving God. We do not have the resources within ourselves to pull it off. We all depend on the Lord, whether we are leading or following.
6. All of us are servants of the Lord and one another. Whether we lead or follow, we are servants. Leaders serve those they lead, just as surely as those who follow serve the Lord and his delegated leaders. No one ever stops being a servant.

I have been carrying the “weight” of leadership in the local church for about forty years. I look forward to stepping aside soon to turn over this responsibility to another. In so doing, I plan to become a very good follower. As a pastor, I understand how crucial it is for people to be willing to humble themselves to follow another person. All leadership success depends on this, whether in the family, at work, in government, or the church.

We should all make it our goal to serve to the best of our ability, whether it be as a follower or a leader. This is a key way we serve and glorify the Lord.

Prayer

Lord, I am willing to serve or lead in your kingdom. I consecrate myself to your will. Use me as you see fit. I trust that you will make clear to me and others what my role is to be now and in the future. I trust you to provide the grace for me to be faithful in what you ask me to do. Amen.