There are many reasons why we should know whether or not we have been called. First, it has implications for our own salvation. We need to know now while we still have time to make adjustments, whether we are a part of God’s team or not. Second, it is a critical topic for the end-time churches. All of the signs described in the Bible as warning signals for the end are already here. Mark 13:4-8, for example, gives us a good idea. There will be many false teachers and prophets claiming to be the Christ and even predicting falsely when the end come. According to Mark, "…Take heed lest any man deceive you…For many shall come in my name, saying I am Christ; and shall deceive many." Therefore, it is important that we know definitely whether we have been called by God or by man.

While we may be asking the right questions, we are seeking answers in the wrong places and applying the wrong criteria. The correct place to look is the Bible and it says in Matt. 7:20 that by their fruits you shall know them. God does not leave his children in the dark. He said clearly, that by their fruits you shall know those whom He has called to serve. So, if you find a person who claims to be called living a life of unrighteousness, a life of darkness as opposed to light, a life of evil as opposed to goodness, a life not fit for a child of God, that person was not called by God. Or, if you find a person that claims to be called living a life of dejection and sorrow, and confusion, that person was not called. It doesn’t mean that a child of God will not have good or bad days. It does mean, however, as 2 Corr. 9:8 tells us, that our God has an abundance of grace such that we, having all "sufficiency," can live a life dedicated to good works. It also means, as 1 Corr. Chapter 10 tells us, that God never allows us to suffer more than we can bear. Therefore, remaining perpetually in a particular adverse condition or lifestyle could signal that a person claiming to be called has in fact not been called. That person is doing his own will not God’s will (Rom.10:3).

We are applying the wrong criteria in trying to understand what it means to be called, that’s why there is some confusion. The only criterion should be whether or not this person is doing the will of God and whether there are spiritual signs that bear witness to a person’s calling. It is not whether a person has a position in the church, or holds a title in the church. None of the disciples of Jesus Christ was worthy of being called. Jesus called them by grace to preach the gospel to all creatures, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost. Not everyone has been called to be a shepherd. It is ignorance to think that everyone who is called must be a shepherd. Eph. 4:11 says that “he gave some apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers...for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ...” Therefore, ignorance of the word is the reason that we are looking for answers in the wrong places and applying the wrong criteria. The word of God admonishes us to know the truth in order to be set free. Freedom and liberty in Christ Jesus are signs that one has been called. You are not called if your life is weighted down by the yokes and bondage that characterize the life of the unbeliever. As you meditate upon His word, I pray that you are set free in the name of Jesus.

The New Testament tells us that when Paul’s calling to be apostle was challenged by the Corinthians, he turned to the word. Consequently, he wrote 1 Corr. 9:1-2 that "Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are not ye my work in the Lord? If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord." Let's analyze what Paul is saying. He told the Corinthians that those who were challenging his authority (and calling) were the same people whom God redeemed through his ministry. He reminded them that their changed lives were the result of his effectual prayers and intercessions on their behalf. Therefore, the Corinthians were the product of his calling. So if they were concerned about his calling, they should not have come to him for prayers. Simply put, Paul was saying to them, God used me to heal, repair, mold, and comfort you when you needed help. Now, after your restoration you want to know whether or not I was really called. Relying on the word of God - a primary characteristic of those who are called - Paul neutralized the contrary spirits that sought to distract him from doing what he was called to do.

God has been calling people since the days of Abraham. The Old Testament story of the nation of Israel, for example, began with the calling of Abraham. In Gen. 12:1 God asked Abram (before his name was changed to Abraham) to leave his country and his kindred and proceed to the lands that he will later inherit. Abram did as God commanded and God will later used his obedience to bless him and make his name great. The Bible tells us in Genesis 13 that God so blessed Abram, Sara his wife and Lot his nephew that there was not enough space for their blessings. They had to part ways with Lot in order to have room for God's blessings. So, Abram was called, he obeyed God in all things and God blessed him and his family.

In the New Testament, God continued to call his people. Jesus called those whom God had prepared for his ministry, who would preach his word in every corner of the world and form the foundation for the early church. Christians are called to salvation, to eternal life, to a life of peace and to a life of constant renewal by the Holy spirit. 2 Thess. 2:13 - 14 tells us that God called us to salvation and into the glory of Jesus Christ. In 1 Tim. 6:12 we read that we are to hold on to eternal life as the reason for which we are called. 1 Peter 2:21 reminds us that Christ suffered for us and left us a legacy that we should follow. 1 Corr. 7:15 says that we are called unto peace, and 1 Thess 4:7 says that we are called unto holiness. So, there should be no confusion as to whether or not someone is called. Rather than wasting our time questioning the authenticity of a person’s calling, we should be asking God through prayer and supplication what his purpose is for our life and whether or not we are fulfilling that purpose. Do you know God's purpose for your life?

In the New Testament Paul was called to be an apostle and to travel abroad to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. In Exodus 3, God called Moses to prepare him for deliverance work in Egypt involving Israel - God’s children. He was to be the vessel through which God's work was to be perfected. The calling of Samuel is documented in 1 Sam 3:16-21. After Samuel narrated to Eli what God told him concerning his calling, Eli, without hesitation declared “it is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good.” If it is God who is calling you, according to Eli, let him have his way in your life. In Is. 6:1-9, God called the prophet Isaiah. The passage tells us that Isaiah knew that he was not perfect and God knew it too. But by grace God sanctified Paul and made him God's mouthpiece. Therefore, God can call anybody but only He has the power to do so not we ourselves. Isaiah was sure that he had been called. Do you know that you have been called? Are you fulfilling the purpose for which you have been called? Or are you too busy questioning God about others?

In the New Testament, Jesus called Simon, Andrew and James all in one day according to Mark 1:16-20. “He said I will make you fishers of men. And in mark 2:14, Jesus simply said to Levi, “follow me” and he did. So, amidst all the confusion about being called, I come to remind you that God is still in the business of calling people and that those he calls may not fit your mold of those who should be called. But then, you are not God. Only God has the authority to call those he wants to use. Infact, Is. 8:8 reminds that us our thoughts are not God’s thoughts, neither are his ways our ways. What we must do is wait upon the Lord and not second-guess Him.

Throughout the New and Old Testament, God did not choose everyone he created. He has the power to choose everyone but he limited his choice to a few. For example, He chose Abel and not Cain; Isaac and not Ishmael; Jacob and not Esau, and Joseph and not his brothers. These people were not chosen for their godliness or greatness. They were chosen by grace. In Deut 7:7-8, Moses reminded the children of Israel about something that all of us should always remember. God's love is never conditional. Therefore, it is by grace and mercy not by works, that God has called us to serve. So, the next time you have the urge to question whether or not a person is called, ask yourself instead whether you have been called.

So, what does it mean to be called? Turn with me to Luke 9 : 57-62.

There are two types of people who come to God’s vineyard. First, there are those who have called themselves, and second, there are those who were called by God. Those that invited themselves have their own agenda, and not surprisingly, that agenda does not include salvation. They are not interested in being saved or preaching the good news about salvation. These people are in fact thieves and robbers because they did not enter the vineyard through the right gate - Jesus Christ. In John 14:6, Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” No one can be called to serve except by Jesus Christ. Those who were called, on the other hand, are those who according to John 1 have received from Jesus Christ the power to belong to Him. They are those who according to 1 Corr. 2:15, can discern the mind and heart of Christ because they are spiritually minded. They know God and God knows them because the Holy Spirit is in them. Their lives reflect the fruits of spirit listed in Gal. 5:22.

In the text we have just read - Luke Chapter 9 - Jesus is teaching as he did throughout his ministry and suddenly a young man volunteers to follow him. Jesus did not call him. He volunteered to follow Jesus. But, Jesus, sensing that the young man although filled of enthusiasm did not know what he was asking stopped and spoke in parables. Jesus compared the life of a vineyard worker to that of the homeless who spent the night where ever the night met him or her. And then quite abruptly, Jesus brushed off the young man and moved on. Jesus went to someone else who did not even seem interested in following him and asked him to follow the Savior. Why did Jesus ignore the first young man? Many theologians have asked this question but no agreement on what the right answer is. What did Jesus see in him that no one else saw? I have examined this question in the spirit and here’s what I found. Turn your Bibles to another passage, Matt 13 : 20-21. Like in the previous passage, here you see that there are those who receive the word of God with enthusiasm when they hear it. They are glad and shout for joy. But they also lose the word just as quickly as they received it. Why? Because they have no foundation, no roots that are grounded in Jesus Christ. They go to church, they pay tithes, they sing, they may even hold offices. But they have no relationship with Jesus Christ. Therefore, as soon as these People heard the word, the enemy (Satan) takes it out of their hearts. It is possible, therefore, that Jesus ignored the young man who wanted to follow him because Jesus saw in him no foundation, no roots and no relationship with God. Enthusiasm is not enough. We must have a meaningful relationship with God - one that is grounded in truth.

The second young man to whom Jesus turned, unfortunately, did not measure up to Jesus' standards either. You see, he had some unfinished business. He wanted to go and bury his father. Jesus said to him, “let the dead bury their dead, but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.” Since he was not ready, Jesus moved on. Jesus called a third person who said he that he wanted to go first and say good-bye to his family. Please read Jesus’ response to this person - vs. 62. The clear message here is that while we do not know when God might call us, we must be ready for his call. The three people described in Luke 9 were not ready. This is why Jesus ignored the first young man who volunteered to follow him. He did not know what he was asking for. The lesson here is that some of us bring problems upon ourselves because we ask God for things that we are not ready for and when God is silent, we assume that God is powerless.

This passage is not in any way directed only to those who are in God’s vineyard or those who aspire to be there. It is also directed to anyone who desires to serve the Lord. It is directed to those who desire to establish churches or ministries, but have not been given the grace to do so. They create churches before they think about what the mission should be. On the other hand, the person whom God uses to establish a ministry may not necessarily have the gift or grace to lead it. The apostle Paul did not remain in every city where God used him to establish churches. Nor did he pastor the churches that he founded. Why? Because God did not call him to function in that capacity. He was called to be an apostle - to take the message of Jesus Christ to all the nations of the world. But God used Paul to train and equip those who became shepherds of the churches he established. Many in the church today still miss this important point. We are merely instruments of God to be used in the way that he chooses.

Do you know for sure that you have been called? Do you know what God has called you for? If not, have you asked? Tonight is your opportunity. Now is the acceptable time, the Bible tells us. Do not throw away this chance.

As I begin to wrap up, let me leave you with a few characteristics based on the word of God, that separate those who are called from those that are not.

First, when you are called, you are empowered by the Holy Spirit to do the things that are ordered by God. When the church at Corinth questioned Paul’s authenticity as an apostle, he made a powerful statement that is recorded in 1 Corr. 1: 17. He said, “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ shall be made of none effect." Paul is saying that it is not by intellect, but by the power of the Holy Spirit. And speaking of empowerment, Jesus was even more forceful when in Luke 4:18-19, he declared His mission to the whole world. When you are empowered by the Holy spirit, you make no apologies for who you are. The bible tells me that we are not given the spirit of fear, but of courage, power and a sound mind.

Second, a person called by God shows evidence of obedience and faith or belief. Faith or the evidence of things not seen is important because as Hebrews 11 reminds us, by it those who went before us received a good report. Abraham believed in God and it was counted as righteousness, according to the scriptures.

So, if a man or woman comes along and claims to be called by God but shows no sign of faith, you must ignore such a person. Hebrews 11: 6 says that without faith it is impossible to please God. He that comes to God must believe that He is. Therefore, a person called by God must believe totally in God and nothing else. Obedience comes before belief in God. Prior to being considered righteous, Abraham obeyed God in all things. He paid tithes of all things knowing that God will reciprocate. We too must have obedience and faith.

Third, Faith produces endurance. Heb.12:2 talks about Jesus as the author and finisher of our faith, enduring the pains and agony of the cross because of the joy that He knew was forthcoming. We who aspire to follow Jesus Christ must also endure the trials and tribulations of the world, believing that in the end there is joy. This is what faith is all about. Faith means that even though we have not seen God face-to-face, we know that He is who the Bible says that He is. We must wait for God to move at His own pace. Isaiah 40: 31 tells us what happens to those who wait on the Lord.

Fourth. When God calls us we must be willing to deny ourselves. In Matt. 16: 24, Jesus says that if we must follow him we must deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow him. The “cross” in this context means doing his will. This is where many have become confused too. Denying yourself and taking up his cross does not necessarily mean giving up all forms of work and becoming a liability to the church or ministry. God can ask you to give up working in some cases. And when he does, you can rest assured that he has made provisions for all your needs. We cannot be a blessing to others until we are blessed. He may give you the grace to set up a family business, or provide for you in some other way than to put your burden upon the church. But the key point is that when you are called and you are doing His will, He provides for you and you do not beg in order to eat. The Bible makes that clear in Ps. 37 : 25 . The "righteous" is anyone who is in Christ and does the will of God.

Finally, let me share with you the prayers of a man of God - St. Francis of Assissi - which sums up very eloquently what I have been trying to say to you. Here was a man who served God with all his life. But one day he prayed as a man who wanted to be sure that he was doing the will of God and not his own will. He understood the character and nature of God and wanted to be sure that his life was in consonance with the nature of God. So he prayed this prayer.