ORIGIN OF THE CALLING: MEN'S VOICE OR THE LORD'S?

Samuel was already serving the Lord when the Lord called him to another, different kind of service. However, it took Samuel a while to recognise that the Lord was calling him to that service! (3 times! see 1 Samuel 3). Initially, he though it was just a human calling him in Eli. Three times the Lord called him, and three times Samuel mistook the voice that called him for Eli's and so just went back to what he was already doing in his original service for the Lord. How often do we ignore men's voices, simply for that fact, because they are men! Sometimes it is difficult to discern whether it's just the voice of men or the voice of the Lord, but we should be open to hearing His voice through men, otherwise we may miss it:

1 Samuel 3v8-10:

Then Eli realised that the LORD was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
v10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!"
Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."

Matthew 11v15:
Whoever has ears, let them hear

If we think it's just a human calling us to another service, we will be tempted to just rely on our own way of thinking to discern whether we should either accept or reject that call. But if we know it's the Lord's voice, we, like Samuel, will accept that we're being called to a different kind of service, and perhaps even something more than we've done in the past or are currently doing. Sometimes, even when the Lord is calling us, it takes another human being to make us realise that that is happening, and that it's not just men saying it. We need to be humble enough to hear from men, no matter how unimportant and simple their voice may be, for the Lord loves to use the lowly and despised things of the world rather than the things that are (1 Cor 1v28), for in doing so He reveals that only He is good, powerful and glorious.

So how will we know if it is the Lord's calling and not men's? Primarily, we need to ask whether the service has a Biblical foundation. Secondly, whether we have a desire for it (for the Bible tells us that it is He who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure). Thirdly, whether it will be edifying for the body of Christ. Fourthly, whether we have been equipped with something that we can actually give to others (in the way of a revelation, teaching, instruction etc -1 Cor 14v26). Fifthly, whether we know how to minister with what we've been given by the fruits of the Spirit, love, and in truth according to the Bible and its doctrines. Sixthly, whether it lines up with the talents we know we've been given by the Lord. Lastly, but most importantly, whether we've had the voice confirmed to us by the Lord himself through his Word and prayer, and to our own hearts and minds by the Spirit of God, and even by other people? This last one is very important but often requires that we allow time and prayer to properly test whose voice is speaking to us and thus what service to begin.

Generally speaking, if you've been given something by the Lord, scripture tells us, in the story of the talents, that this has been done so that we'll serve with what we've been given. The Bible tells us that the manifestation of the Spirit is given to one, for the benefit of all. Some things that we're given are just for us personally, however, the way we figure out what is just for us personally and what is also for others in the Body of Christ is simple. We only need to ask ourselves, "Would this also spiritually benefit others?"

Perhaps the Lord is calling you to another service, but up until this point you have just thought that it is man calling call you, or even vice versa! Make sure you are very careful to discern who is calling you, and be open to hearing His voice, even if it comes through men!