A preacher can know he is called through a combination of inward conviction, external confirmation from the church, and a sense of constraint he feels towards preaching.
Determining a call to preach is multifaceted. High Calvinist thinkers point out that while an inward call is essential, it must align with external confirmations from the church or other believers. This means that a clear sense of divine pressure must be corroborated by affirmation from the community, suggesting that the church plays a vital role in discerning and acknowledging a man's fitness for preaching. Additionally, many preachers report a palpable sense of constraint - a feeling that they cannot withhold preaching any longer, despite their initial reluctance or self-doubt. This interplay of personal conviction, communal recognition, and a compelling inner drive becomes the defining structure of one’s call to ministry, signifying that one is not alone in their decision to preach God’s Word.
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