INTENTIONAL CHRISTIANITY

A lifetime of servitude to Jesus Christ cannot necessarily be planned and implemented by reading a book on discipleship. You can, however, gain an overview of some of the things that lie ahead and capture special information necessary to help you stay close to Jesus, be led by the Holy Spirit and be obedient to His call on your life. Not everyone is 'called’ to an be 'ordained' minister, but everyone has a ministry or calling of some sort and needs to learn as much as he can about living and being a real Christian. He also needs to learn to minister for Jesus regardless of his situation, calling or circumstances.

Our study, throughout this book, provides bite-sized portions of data that can move you, step-by-step to maturity (perfection, Heb. 6: 1). Following through on these guidelines can help you become the anointed minister of competence God has called you to be. You have a lot to learn about being a disciple of Jesus before you can become a capable minister and a mature Christian. This graded, step-by-step approach to discipleship you can allow you to assemble all these necessary elements without being overwhelmed by them. Pace yourself and proceed at your own speed.

This study provides many of the things so necessary to your spiritual growth. It can save you from having to plow through so much unnecessary garbage that others have had to endure. Unfortunately, without proper, structured and accountable leadership many disciples have become dropouts in the school of Jesus Christ. They were overloaded with too much garbage of unnecessary pressures, overwhelming temptations, excessive demands and false teaching. This garbage came too early and too fast for the disciple to assemble and absorb it into the immature and ever fluctuating levels of growth in his/her life.

There are pit stops, detours and service stations all along your journey. Whether it is addressed in this book or not, some of these stopovers are necessary and some may not be. Hopefully, with a dedicated and prayerful study of this material, you can steer clear of many of the potholes and pitfalls in the road ahead.

Earlier, we targeted a person that this study was designed for. I said, "Could that individual be you?" If, indeed, you are that individual, I do not want you to play with God. He is not a toy. Christianity is not a game people play. It is a life and death situation. God is serious about this matter. He expects you to be serious about it also. If you are indeed serious about this, 'life and death' situation with God---go ahead and read, mediate, study and take Godly counsel from this journal. If you are not serious, give the book to a friend. He may be serious about his personal relationship with Jesus Christ. In Mark 12: 28, 29 & 30 (Amp.), Jesus quoted from the Law of Moses to answer a lawyer who desired to know which was the most important of all the commandments. Jesus replied:

The Lord's answer to this question posed by the lawyer is definitely scriptural (Deut. 6: 4 & 5). But it was also well known among all the Jewish community. Because of its utmost importance this commandment could be quoted by memory by every Israelite, young or old.

Take time out right now and read the entire context of Deuteronomy 6: 1 - 9. Glean from it why Jesus would say this is "The first and principal one of all the commandments," even though it is not included in the Decalogue (The Ten Commandments). Many scholars have called Deuteronomy 6: 4 & 5, "The Great Commandment." Please note this: The Great Commandment and The Great Commission have one predominant theme, "Teaching" or "Discipleship."

At this particular juncture, in Jewish history, during Israel's wilderness wanderings from their Egyptian bondage and just prior to their entrance into the 'Promised Land,' God gave this very important message, or command (Deut. 6).

The Lord God knew that heathen people possessed the land. He knew that their heathen practices held a 'bulldog-grip' on the inhabitants. He desired to preserve His teachings about Himself and, therefore, help His children gain and maintain their knowledge and fellowship with Him, as well as their love for Him. The best way to retain and maintain these precious commodities among them, would be to teach them to their own children. The Jews knew this passage of scripture, that Jesus put His stamp of approval on, as the primary commandment, as the "Shama." The word, "Shama'' (pronounced 'sh ma') comes from the first word of verse 4, "hear." Certain variations of the Hebrew word, simply mean, "To hear intelligently, often implied as/with attention and obedience."¹ God wanted the "Sh ma" to be permanently printed on Israel's hearts and minds.