When did you know that God wanted you to Preach?

I first felt the nudging of the Spirit soon after I was saved, but I avoided it (OK, I ran from it). After about seven years, I was all ran out, and I surrendered to the call to preach. And my life promptly fell apart.

I blamed God for everything that was happening, and tried to hold on to my grudge. Thankfully, God is merciful and never let me go. I finally came to God about 4 years ago, and things have really changed.

Even though it took around 10 years, I am where He wants me to be (as far as the direction God wants my life to be pointed in). He is beginning to open doors, and all I can do is praise His name.

In Christ,
Trotter

 

I knew from the moment I was saved that preaching was what The Lord wanted.It wasn't until I was saved,however, that I understood that it was to be preaching from the scriptures.To explain:-- God, in His "prevenient grace" was directing even before I was saved. As a young man of about 18-20 I remember standing in the living room of the parsonage of the church I was attending and the pastor's wife said; "Dave- if you don't go into the ministry you're going to miss you're calling."At the time I was not saved, I was interested in many other things in the world, and this was a very liberal church that did not preach the scriptures in a direct way.My time in the army passed,I got married and two children came along. My wife and I were still active in a church (liberal) and I served as scoutmaster and tried to "teach" a Sunday school class. Then, my wife and I met Christ at a John Wesly White Crusade, and it all came together that night.(39 years ago)The Spirit confirmed what I had heard from this lady some years ago. I began my studies, was ordained by The Evangelical Church Alliance, and now serve The Lord as pastor/teacher.It's the "hardest job I ever liked", and definitely a calling- not a profession.
Blessings. Resting in Him!

 

He called me shortly after I was married (at 25)and like Brother Trotter, I acted like Jonah and ran from Him. Then when He had me cornered, I made like Moses and made excuses. Finally,(age 37) in June of 2002, He got me to shut up and stop running long enough to make it clear that I am called and He did not ask or request or any other such thing. He calls and we either obey His calling or we rebel. He, being the loving Father that He is, chastises His rebellious children. He has blessed my family so much since I stopped rebelling.

However I have heard it said that He does in His own time...So we surrendered at the right time, Brother Trotter, if you cotton to that line of thinking. The run was perhaps our breaking-in period...

 

Brothers Trotter and j_barner,
I am struggling with this also... HOW, what was it that actually convinced you, and how did you know that it was God calling you? What was the experience of "hearing the call" that turned you around? We are always told to "follow Christ" and "listen to God and obey". How? What does the call sound like? How did you know that it was His voice and not your own?

 

JamesJ,

How? Let me tell you, preaching is the last thing I would ever WANT to do. It shares me to death! It is something that I would never volunteer for.

And yet, for all those years, everytime I turned around, God was giving me nudges in the direction He wanted me to go. People would strike up convrsations about preaching, preachers, and being called. I would turn on the radio to a Christian station, and there it would be. Every time I opened a Bible, it pertained to it.

But those are not the main things. I picture it as a "siren's song" to borrow an image from mythology. God was constantly, and I mean CONSTANTLY, wooing me to Him. And I wouldn't perceive it. I know how sinful I am. I know what goes on in my mind and in my heart. I know I could never be worthy to stand and proclaim the word of God.

God finally got me to shut up long enough to tell that He already knew that, and that if I'd quit whining and get up off the ground, He would lead the way. After that, well, I'd like to say things have been peachy-keen, but I'd be lying. There have been so many brick walls, so many closed doors, so few opportunities. But God is still wooing me, and I am still following.

In Christ,
Trotter

 

In school, I almost failed English class because I tossed my lunch all over my teacher's shoes and nylons when she demanded that I get up and deliver my book report orally. I could never stand to speak publicly.
In college, one of the required courses ( it was computer related tech school) was public speaking. The instructor insisted we give at least 2 speeches. I almost did not survive it. But, he was cool and knew I was going to die, (at least I thought I would) so he was kind to me and gave me an A just for doing it.

I still get so nervous when I am going to deliver a sermon that I can hardly breathe. Before I go up to the pulpet, I pray that when I open my mouth, He will fill it. He has not let me down and I actually feel at peace (mostly).

I had a burning compulsion to outline passages and even rehearsed sermons from the time I was 20 or so. I knew then that He was calling me even though I denied it. I had 4 men whom I respect tell me at different times that God was calling me to preach and that I had a pastor's heart. They never have met each other. I, of course, denied it. We went to a church and my wife was going to teach Sunday school. I ended up surrendering to His will and accepted the youth Sunday school class. Hey, we had 2 youth and they were cool, easy stuff... God grew that ministry till we had 10 youth and I was called youth director.
We left that church to help with a mission work and again I surrendered and prayed, Lord I am willing to be used in any way you want for VBS. We ended up with 1st and 2nd grade... even though we would have preferred the youth... By the end of the week He had me. That moment of surrender was the opening He waited for and before I knew what was happening, I was at the Alter during invitation, at the Sat night closing ceremony, surrendering completely to His will for my life. It was an irresistable draw. I could not stop myself. The pastor and I prayed together and I just knew that I was going to become a pastor. He later told me that he saw knew something was happening all week. That was June of 2002 and the church voted on last Wed. to license me as a minister of the Gospel.

Soon I will stand before the congregation and answer to them about my beliefs on doctrine. They get a free shot in an open forum to ask what they will. A sermon would be easier on my nerves... But I know I can go to our Lord and He will give me the strength and insight to bring glory to Him. And He has provided some good men here on the board who I am sure will pray for me when the "grilling" convenes.

[ February 03, 2004, 09:25 PM: Message edited by: j_barner2000 ]