Commitment # 3 - Intentionality & the Holy Spirit

Living "intentionally" means living on purpose, not just "putting it out there" and hoping it all comes together some day in the great somewhere. Living and working intentionally is only possible with an objective purpose clearly in mind.

In order to live intentionally, a JourneyMan understands the need to embrace his own God-given purpose. He knows that vague living will not move him towards the sort of intentionality that makes a real difference, seven days a week. As he understands and embraces his God-given calling, a man can transform ordinary life into purposeful, intentional, Great Commission living.

Those who have undertaken the "on purpose" lifestyle find it immensely satisfying. They also discover that their own personal strength will take them only so far. Intentional living based on personal calling places a man in direct day-by-day partnership with the God who assigns, calls and equips him.

What could be better than living "on purpose", intentionally working out our personal calling each day, and depending on the Holy Spirit every step of the way? This approach will produce results, " 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty". (Zechariah 4:6)

Notice the balance between intentionality and reliance upon the Holy Spirit as exhibited by the shepherd boy David, who was assigned, called and equipped by God:

"David said to Saul, 'Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.' Saul replied, 'You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth.' But David said to Saul, 'Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.' " …(then, after a very brief fight)… "David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine's sword and drew it from the scabbard. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword. …" (I Samuel 17: 32-37 & 51)

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Commitment # 4 - Challenging, Encouraging, Equipping and Serving our Families and Brothers in Christ

We JourneyMen take our vocations seriously. We understand that God Himself assigns, calls and equips us, and we know that all of our vocations are sacred pursuits.

Of all our vocations, none is more sacred than family vocations. We are called into families as husbands, fathers, brothers, sons, and so on.

The Bible has plenty to say about this. For example, we are instructed in the strongest terms to provide for our families. We are also admonished to love our wives as Christ loved the church, to honor our mother and father, and to raise our children in the training and instruction of the Lord. God intends for us to place high priority on our family roles and relationships.

Have we considered the fact that all of these instructions concerning the family can be applied to our church family?

The apostle John wrote: "… to all who received Him, to those who believed on His name, he gave the right to become children of God - children not born of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." (John 1:12-13)."

When Jesus said "I will build my church," He announced the establishment of our extended family!

Our family vocations and responsibilities do not stop on our own front porch. When we were "born again", we are adopted into a literal family, with God as our father and other believers as our brothers and sisters. We are called to be family men, not only at home, but also in the church.

God made us brothers, and as JourneyMen we stand together, side by side and back-to-back.

(Ref. I Tim. 5:8, Eph. 5:25-33, Eph. 6:2-4, Col. 3:18-25, Prov. 22:17, Matt. 20:25-26, Mark 10:43-45, John 1;12-13)

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