Wrestling With The Call To Ministry. Finding Direction.

Back in my Boy Scout days is when I first learned how to use a compass, our scout master pointed out there are four cardinal directions or main points. We know these directions as north, south, east and west. A few years ago while hiking during the late Spring in the Colorado mountains near Leadville, my cousin Ben and a couple of my friends while trekking through deep snow 4-6’ feet deep were “post holing” where each step in the snow created a deep hole similar to that of a post hole, and somehow we got a little off course. We had a map which included elevations and a few markings, I pulled out my compass and Ben was able to determine which direction we should traverse based upon the combination of using the markings on the map and the direction provided by the compass. So how does this relate to a man considering a call to the ministry? Clearly, a Christian man’s map is the Bible, it is his guide, and if he follows the directions as distinctly defined in the Scriptures it will lead him to follow Jesus Christ. His compass is always pointing towards Christ no matter where he may be, and in this case can be likened to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

It is the Holy Spirit working in man’s heart which provides clear direction. The power of the Holy Spirit has influenced many a man seeking God’s will to determine if the purpose of his life is to follow the call and proclaim Jesus to world as pastor, preacher and teacher. Paul and Barnabas were two such men as noted in Acts chapter 13.

“As they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off. So being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus” (Acts 13:2-4 Christian Standard Bible).

In this chapter found in Book of Acts, Luke noted there were several wise men at the church in Antioch, and they obviously were worshipping the Lord through fasting and prayer. It had become apparent to these men, Paul and Barnabas were chosen, “set apart by the Spirit’s command” and they laid hands upon them commissioning them to make their first missionary journey. Notice in this scripture, Paul and Barnabas did not volunteer, rather the Holy Spirit sovereignly called them to become full-time missionaries. Likewise, it is important through obedience of fasting and prayer to seek the Lord to discern his plan for your life. There may be men to provide you with wise counsel, those praying for you and providing spiritual direction which may commission you through the Spirit to advance forward with the Lord’s call upon your life. Your encounter with the Holy Spirit may not match Paul’s Damascus Road experience, but that does not make it any less powerful.

Jason Allen noted in his book, Discerning Your Call to Ministry: “a call to preach or teach the Word is the distinguishing mark of a call to ministry.”[i] He also wrote, “ this is the biblical pattern God calls – God commissions.”[ii] If the leaning of the Holy Spirit upon your life is so undeniable there is nothing in your life you would rather choose to do than to herald the Word of God as Martyn Lloyd Jones suggested, then your answer may be clearly revealed. Magnifying God is about have a heart of worship just as all those men mentioned in Acts 13:1. Those men were very devout in their intent to seek God’s will. They worshipped and prayed so intently they forgo eating and fasted asking for the Lord’s hand upon their efforts to advance the gospel. A part of finding direction is focusing upon the immediate tasks before you to magnify the Lord in your work, and either in small or large ways, he will reveal his will.

In Acts chapter 9, Jesus revealed his will to Paul in a very dramatic way, and there were men like Ananias and other disciples who poured into Paul.

“Saul was with the disciples in Damascus for some time. Immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: “He is the Son of God” (Acts 9:19-20).

As you discern your call, pour yourself into the Scriptures, pray asking for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead you in your life, seek wise counsel and surround yourself with Godly men, and continue to magnify the Lord in all your work. Put off your old self, and put on your new self and God will change you and mold you into what he desires as his instrument for service.

1. Jason K. Allen, Discerning Your Call to Ministry, (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Publishers, 2016), 22.

2. Ibid., 23.