Discerning the Call of God

Has God called you to ministry?  Is He asking you to step out in what seems to be a huge leap of faith? Is God calling you to plant a church?  Though all Christians are called to serve the cause of Christ, God does call certain people to serve the church and His causes in special and unique ways.  The Scriptures also point to the truth that we find our peace when we are in God’s will.  But how do we know if God is calling?  Is it possible to discern the precise will of God in our lives?

I believe that the answer to those last two questions is yes.  But getting to the yes is more art than science.

Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2:10 that there is an expectation to how we are to live our lives.  God intentionally has prepared works for each of us individually to give our time, talents, treasure, and touch to the completion of these specific tasks.

Let me suggest five steps to discerning God’s call on our lives.
 
Pray

Begin by praying for wisdom.  James reminds us that any time we face challenges and feel inadequate to discern the wise choice ahead that we should ask God, who give generously to all without finding fault (James 1:5).  In asking for heavenly wisdom, we must also come to trust God as gracious and willing to help us find answers for our prayers.  To pray to know the call of God includes asking for wisdom but also asking for the faith to trust the call of God.

Study God’s Word

To study God’s Word is to immerse yourself in it.  God will never contradict himself and much about life is already revealed in the Scriptures.  To immerse yourself in the Word of God is also to understand and come to accept God’s assessment of ourselves, humanity, and the world.  The hope of this practice is to learn to see things through God’s eyes so that we learn to value the things that He values.

Seek Godly Counsel

Proverbs 15:22 reminds us that in the counsel of others we find wisdom.  Seeking good counsel from trusted confidants is an important step that should never be ignored when searching God’s calling in our lives.  Those that know us best and love us despite our short-comings help us gain a realistic view of ourselves; our gifts, weaknesses, strengths, etc.  Open the door for others to speak on what they see in you and how it fits to this specific situation.  Allow them the freedom to speak truthfully.

Furthermore, in Matthew 18:15-16, Jesus laid out instructions for confronting sin among believers saying "But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses." I believe the same applies when it comes to God confirming His calling in our lives. He will often confirm or establish a matter by "two or three witnesses" whether they be verses from Scripture, advice from a pastor, or well-respected person, or in a non-compromising circumstance.  Through seeking godly counsel, you are taking another critical step in confirming the call of God in your life.

Look for doors

What I have found to be true, is that the door God opens will require you to live dependently on Him. God will never give us something that will alienate us from him or move us to believe we no longer need him.  Therefore, as God is working in us, through us, and around us, He sometimes chooses to help direct our paths through the opening and closing of doors.  Acts 16 and Paul’s journey to Macedonia serves as a great example of God opening and closing doors to accomplish His will.  From personal experience, I have seen God close doors to one vision to open another door to a greater vision.  If a door is hard to pry open, be sure to check yourself that you are not trying to open a door that God doesn’t want you to open.

Listen to the still small voice of the Holy Spirit

Is it possible to hear God?  Jesus told his closest followers, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come” (John 16:13 ESV).

The Spirit speaks to our hearts and leads us in the right direction when we learn to listen. Sometimes we are too busy to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. The Bible tells us that He is gentle and patiently waits for us to hunger for His presence in our lives. Being quiet before the Lord is more than just not talking. It’s quieting your anxious thoughts and meditating on His word as you wait to hear from the Holy Spirit. Thus, to put ourselves in a place where we hear the voice of the Holy Spirit, we need to find a good place where we can sit before God uninterrupted by other distractions.  Wait patiently, don’t rush… Trust with expectancy that at the right time, the Holy Spirit will speak and you will know God’s call on your life.

Ultimately, following the call of God requires faith.  However, following the five steps outlined above, it is easy to see that it isn’t blind faith.

9 Leadership Principles from Proverbs 29

I love reading through the Proverbs.  They are full of great wisdom in the most practical arenas of life.  Here are nine leadership thoughts straight from Proverbs 29.

1. Be open to Godly rebuke...there is always something you can learn.

2. Acting justly is an important mark for every leader.

3. Pick your battles wisely. Many battles are never worth fighting.

4. There are always naysayers.  Part of leadership is learning to stay tuned into the vision even when there is outside noise.

5. Choose your words wisely and when to use them.

6. Vision matters.  Without it, people flounder.

7. Pride destroys.

8. Fear can never be the driver of faith.  

9. Leave room for God to be God and trust in His leading.

Clearing the Fog on Discipleship

I have seen it too often.  Christians stuck in a spiritual fog.  They might be holding on to faith but many aren’t advancing in it.  For all too many, prayer has become dry and routine, Bible study is an imposition, and church attendance is mechanical.  When Jesus called us to discipleship and to make disciples, He had to have had more in mind than this, right?

I think part of the problem is this: We don’t know what a disciple really looks like.

As a pastor, making disciples is a part of my job description.  Actually, as Christians, making disciples is a part of OUR “job description.” The whole idea of making disciples is part of the good works God created for us to do.

But the question still lingers…. What are you looking for when it comes to making a disciple?

This is a key question that every church planter, pastor, and follower of Jesus must wrestle with.  If we don’t know how to clearly point people to a series of next steps on the journey towards Jesus, then we fall short of significantly helping them.

When Jesus says that we are to go and make disciples of all nations, the idea He was communicating was that disciples are constant learners at His feet.  With that in mind, I think there are three characteristics of a disciple:

• A Disciple is formed by Jesus
• A Disciple is following Jesus
• A Disciple is faithful to the mission of Jesus

Discipleship isn’t about the transferal of information but rather, learning and walking with the one who is truth.

How are you helping your people come to know and be formed by Jesus?  How are you helping others follow Jesus?  And what are you doing to help them live faithfully in the mission of Jesus?

When it comes to creating disciples, know what you are aiming for.