God is calling me.

How does one know that God has called them to serve as pastor/teacher of a certain church?

As this is not an exhaustive study of the topic I will seek to answer this from my own experience. A subjective response, if you would.

Upon hearing of the Princeton Church’s need for a pastor my first response was that I was doing well with my woodturning and that I did not wish to make a change at this point in my life. Each year the income and skill level has been growing, this year would be a good year, Lord willing! I enjoy turning, as well as, to some extent, the selling process. Yet, I believe that over the years God has shown that I have a gift of teaching, and I do meet the standards of godliness put forth in 1 Tim. 3 and Titus 1. An awareness of this opening in Princeton was always present with me. Further, our Tuesday evening Bible study group was just finishing the book of Judges at the time. An additional nagging thought was: would I be cowardly or hesitant in respects to stepping forward as some of the judges had been? I determined that I would not be like that, and therefore I gave the deacons at Princeton Baptist a letter asking to be considered for this position.

The Lord has graciously allowed me to have joy and peace in my heart regardless of the prospective outcome of this step. If the Lord closed this door I would take this as His will, likewise, if He opened this door for me that too would be an indication of His will. Thus I was able to approach the messages and interviews with a freedom to teach and speak what I believed. I was not doing this to please man.

Two aspects of ministry have pulled at my soul. Seemingly these are opposites, yet I think a case may be made that these two elements complement each other in the service of the Lord. First, I have never felt so unworthy and unqualified to look after the souls of others and to teach the Word of God. At times the urge to run away from the responsibilities of this service has been strong. Countering this has been the knowledge that I am most likely in the position of being the most qualified I have ever been for this task. I have, by God’s grace, a wisdom, strength and knowledge of the Word and the task of ministering that I did not have in the past. There is in my heart a sense of the man that God has been making. I don’t think this is arrogance, but is simply taking an honest look at the work of God in a person, in this case, in me. (Rom. 12:3) As this is God’s work, my understanding of my inadequacies are good and proper. May this remain until I die! Yet this is God’s work, and therefore I must press on with fear and trembling for it is God who is at work both in the willing and in the doing. (Phil. 2:12,13)

Lastly, I have had over the years people who have thought I was total off base and that I should not be in a position to teach – period. However, I have also had people who prayed with thanksgiving for God’s continued blessing upon my teaching ministries. I have not counted to see which side would have the most votes. Paul was faced with such issues from time to time. His response: ^ESV 1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. ³ But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. ⁴ I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.

It is the Lord who judges me.

My prayer: Lord, may I be a faithful servant of yours.