God's Full-Time Ministers

See how beautiful upon the mountains
Are the feet of those who bring glad tidings,
Who tell of mercy's redeeming fountains;
How the blood of Christ man's sins overriding!
There is a special grace about the ones
That preach the gospel's redemptive powers;
Who fearless go in vales the wise man shuns,
Who reveal Christ in remotest bowers,
Where brave men fear to speak and walk in dread!
Theirs the Kingdom they tell others about;
Theirs the King whose love they so tireless spread;
They win fruit that invokes heaven to shout!
Harm not those who in the Lord's vineyard toil----
They're God's soldiers, and Satan's work they foil!

A man or woman does not "choose" to be a preacher for Jesus unless Christ "calls". Jesus told His apostles they did not choose Him, but He chose them. He called Paul to be a witness to the Gentiles. Before he was called by Jesus Christ, Paul/Saul was a zealous persecutor of Christians, arresting them for trial, prison, and execution by the Jewish religious authorities. On the road to Damascus to make more arrests he was called.

"I saw a light from heaven brighter than the sun blazing around me and my companions. We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying in Aramaic, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads [Evidently Christ's Holy Spirit had been tugging at Saul's/Paul's heart to repent and accept Jesus as Lord, even as He does to lost people's hearts today but Saul had stubbornly resisted]. Then I asked, 'Who are you, Lord?' 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied. 'Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you.'" (Acts 26:13:17)

Not everyone considering full-time ministry will experience such a dramatic call from Christ, but the person will experience a definite, describable intervention from God. If he does not have such a call, it is best not to begin preparing for full-time service. Such a person that enters service without a call will fail or not be happy. A believer should pray long and hard for guidance in the choice of career, spouse, and everything contemplated in life anyway, but full-time Christian ministry requires His approval and a sign supporting His desire for your service.