Discipleship: Intentionality
Discipleship
Intentionality
Sunday October 9th, 2025
Apostle Mike Herzog
Intentionality is being deliberate. God has given you a gift with the intention of distributing that gift to others. Apostle Mike provides a recap on last week’s scripture I Chronicles 14:2 about how David recognized God made him a king for the purpose of blessing people. Our eyes have been opened because of Christ for a specific reason. Darkness is ignorance. Light causes darkness to flee. We are moved out of darkness and into the kingdom of light when the light of the Holy Spirit fills us. It is important that we do not hide that light as it’s not for us to keep to ourselves, but to share with others to bring them out of darkness. Apostle Mike provides two stories out of scripture that show the importance of intentionality and understanding this assignment.
The first story begins in Acts 26:9 regarding the life of Apostle Paul when he was on trial for things people fabricated about him. He was defending himself and sharing insight on what he had done throughout his life.
Acts 26:9-18
“Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities. “While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’
Paul was an enemy to the church, and he thought he was doing the right thing. There are many religious leaders doing work contrary to the kingdom of God and they think they are doing the right thing. Paul was on his way to Damascus to continue to persecute Christians then a light from the heavens shined down upon him. Jesus shined this light to open Paul’s eyes. To show him that he will become someone who would share the things he has seen and heard. This is the responsibility we all have, to share what we have seen and heard. Christians have been saved for a reason. That reason was not only to be right with God, but also to save others. Some of us were saved from tragedy, others from word of mouth about Jesus, or perhaps you were saved by way of a supernatural encounter like Paul’s. By whatever means you came to Christ, He saved you for a reason much bigger than your own salvation.
Discipleship is done intentionally by decision, investment, and commitment. The intentionality takes both parties involved. Not just the person that has something to give, but also from the one needing to receive something. If you don’t have what you want to have, you should turn to someone who has what you want and ask how they got it. Ask them to show you what they have done to get that from God. To help someone else you don’t have to know the whole book. You can be on page two helping someone who is on page one. We retain ten percent of what we hear and ninety-five percent of what we teach. When you’re intentional about taking what you’ve learned and breaking that down to teach someone else you retain that information.
The second story from scripture about intentionality that Apostle Mike taught us was about the Prophet Elijah and Elisha. God told Elijah to disciple Elisha.
I Kings 19:19-21
So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen’s equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.
Elijah was intentional in reaching out to Elisha by taking his mantel which represented Elijah’s anointing and placing it on Elisha. Elisha decided he wanted Elijah’s discipleship. He prepared for this by distributing what he had so he could be fully committed to being Elijah’s servant.
II Kings 2:1-15
And it came to pass, when the Lord was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they went down to Bethel. Now the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?” And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent!” Then Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they came to Jericho. Now the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?” So he answered, “Yes, I know; keep silent!” Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So the two of them went on. And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood facing them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground. And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over. Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him.
Discipleship is a journey to share your life with someone else. Evidence of growth should be present. A year from now you should be able to look back and identify yourself handling situations better than you had before. Gilgal means rolling away. This would compare to Elijah and Elisha moving from bondage to freedom on their growth journey. Elisha insisted on standing by Elijah. He displayed commitment to serving Elijah. He refused to give up being discipled. Bethel in Hebrew means House of God. We need to lead people into God’s presence. Being in the House of God is how we grow. We must remain persistent and not yield. Jericho is a place of fragrance and lush vegetation. Jericho is from the Hebrew word reyach which means fragrance or scent. When we worship God, our praises are like a sweet aroma to His nostrils, and in return He blesses us with fruitfulness. As we are an Elijah to an Elisha we need to lead our disciples into the place of fruitfulness. Jordan is the name associated with transition and new beginnings. A disciple needs to stay with the person they are mentoring until they get victory in the place of new beginnings. Many of us have been pursuing promises from God, but we just haven’t been able to cross the Jordan to get to our place of breakthrough. It takes God sending an Elijah for that extra help to get you to where God intended you to go. That is what the church is for. The body of Christ is each part helping the other part. When Elijah said “If you see me when I am taken from you” he meant if you see things the way I see things. The way to see like someone else is by getting right up next to them, seeing and understanding things from another person’s perspective. How did they know the spirit that was once on Elijah was now on Elisha? The evidence of Elijah’s spirit displayed upon Elisha was the power, anointing, and presence of God. How did this happen? Through a transference of God’s power from discipleship.
How do you practically invest, disciple, and pour into someone else? First you decide and then you invest. What you invest is time. God can multiply your time so prioritize what he’s called you to do.
I Corinthians 11:1
Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ..
Topics you can choose to teach when discipling...
#1. Teach others about reading the Bible. We are transformed by the renewing of our minds through the knowledge of God’s word. Then talk about what you read.
#2. Help someone with prayer. Pray together. Teach prayer using prayer models. Example: The Lords Prayer or The Tabernacle Prayer.
#3. Family. Talk to someone about how to be the best father, mother, son, or daughter that they can possibly be and what it means to love, respect, cherish, and have humility.
#4. Integrity and the courage to do the right thing. Teach about being a person of your word and paying your bills.
#5. Purity. Discuss with someone how we guard our eyes, so we don’t let the lust of flesh drive us. Jesus said if we’ve looked upon a woman lustfully that’s as if we’ve committed adultery.
#6. Character. Who are you when no one is watching? God sees it all. He knows the thoughts and intents of the heart.
#7. Work ethic. Do everything you do wholeheartedly unto the Lord and not unto men. Scripture says if you don’t work you shouldn’t eat.
#8. Financial management. Where your treasure is, there is your heart also.
#9. Giving. Teach about generosity. Sowing and reaping. Investing.
#10. Communication and clarity. Honesty. Language. Certain words should not come out of your mouth.
#11. How to deal with your feelings. Not ignoring them, but also not being led by them. We need to listen to people and pray about them.
If you aren’t taught; how do you know? The best way to disciple is to teach and lead by your example. All these topics are powerful information, but for these to become what God wants it takes the Holy Spirit. Scripture says, “Be holy as He is holy.” Discipleship is lead by the word of God. Use scripture to reflect upon when teaching. Knowledge combined with the power of the Holy Spirit is what causes transformation.
I Timothy 4:12-16
Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
Intentionality
Sunday October 9th, 2025
Apostle Mike Herzog
Intentionality is being deliberate. God has given you a gift with the intention of distributing that gift to others. Apostle Mike provides a recap on last week’s scripture I Chronicles 14:2 about how David recognized God made him a king for the purpose of blessing people. Our eyes have been opened because of Christ for a specific reason. Darkness is ignorance. Light causes darkness to flee. We are moved out of darkness and into the kingdom of light when the light of the Holy Spirit fills us. It is important that we do not hide that light as it’s not for us to keep to ourselves, but to share with others to bring them out of darkness. Apostle Mike provides two stories out of scripture that show the importance of intentionality and understanding this assignment.
The first story begins in Acts 26:9 regarding the life of Apostle Paul when he was on trial for things people fabricated about him. He was defending himself and sharing insight on what he had done throughout his life.
Acts 26:9-18
“Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities. “While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’
Paul was an enemy to the church, and he thought he was doing the right thing. There are many religious leaders doing work contrary to the kingdom of God and they think they are doing the right thing. Paul was on his way to Damascus to continue to persecute Christians then a light from the heavens shined down upon him. Jesus shined this light to open Paul’s eyes. To show him that he will become someone who would share the things he has seen and heard. This is the responsibility we all have, to share what we have seen and heard. Christians have been saved for a reason. That reason was not only to be right with God, but also to save others. Some of us were saved from tragedy, others from word of mouth about Jesus, or perhaps you were saved by way of a supernatural encounter like Paul’s. By whatever means you came to Christ, He saved you for a reason much bigger than your own salvation.
Discipleship is done intentionally by decision, investment, and commitment. The intentionality takes both parties involved. Not just the person that has something to give, but also from the one needing to receive something. If you don’t have what you want to have, you should turn to someone who has what you want and ask how they got it. Ask them to show you what they have done to get that from God. To help someone else you don’t have to know the whole book. You can be on page two helping someone who is on page one. We retain ten percent of what we hear and ninety-five percent of what we teach. When you’re intentional about taking what you’ve learned and breaking that down to teach someone else you retain that information.
The second story from scripture about intentionality that Apostle Mike taught us was about the Prophet Elijah and Elisha. God told Elijah to disciple Elisha.
I Kings 19:19-21
So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen’s equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.
Elijah was intentional in reaching out to Elisha by taking his mantel which represented Elijah’s anointing and placing it on Elisha. Elisha decided he wanted Elijah’s discipleship. He prepared for this by distributing what he had so he could be fully committed to being Elijah’s servant.
II Kings 2:1-15
And it came to pass, when the Lord was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they went down to Bethel. Now the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?” And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent!” Then Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they came to Jericho. Now the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?” So he answered, “Yes, I know; keep silent!” Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So the two of them went on. And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood facing them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground. And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over. Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him.
Discipleship is a journey to share your life with someone else. Evidence of growth should be present. A year from now you should be able to look back and identify yourself handling situations better than you had before. Gilgal means rolling away. This would compare to Elijah and Elisha moving from bondage to freedom on their growth journey. Elisha insisted on standing by Elijah. He displayed commitment to serving Elijah. He refused to give up being discipled. Bethel in Hebrew means House of God. We need to lead people into God’s presence. Being in the House of God is how we grow. We must remain persistent and not yield. Jericho is a place of fragrance and lush vegetation. Jericho is from the Hebrew word reyach which means fragrance or scent. When we worship God, our praises are like a sweet aroma to His nostrils, and in return He blesses us with fruitfulness. As we are an Elijah to an Elisha we need to lead our disciples into the place of fruitfulness. Jordan is the name associated with transition and new beginnings. A disciple needs to stay with the person they are mentoring until they get victory in the place of new beginnings. Many of us have been pursuing promises from God, but we just haven’t been able to cross the Jordan to get to our place of breakthrough. It takes God sending an Elijah for that extra help to get you to where God intended you to go. That is what the church is for. The body of Christ is each part helping the other part. When Elijah said “If you see me when I am taken from you” he meant if you see things the way I see things. The way to see like someone else is by getting right up next to them, seeing and understanding things from another person’s perspective. How did they know the spirit that was once on Elijah was now on Elisha? The evidence of Elijah’s spirit displayed upon Elisha was the power, anointing, and presence of God. How did this happen? Through a transference of God’s power from discipleship.
How do you practically invest, disciple, and pour into someone else? First you decide and then you invest. What you invest is time. God can multiply your time so prioritize what he’s called you to do.
I Corinthians 11:1
Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ..
Topics you can choose to teach when discipling...
#1. Teach others about reading the Bible. We are transformed by the renewing of our minds through the knowledge of God’s word. Then talk about what you read.
#2. Help someone with prayer. Pray together. Teach prayer using prayer models. Example: The Lords Prayer or The Tabernacle Prayer.
#3. Family. Talk to someone about how to be the best father, mother, son, or daughter that they can possibly be and what it means to love, respect, cherish, and have humility.
#4. Integrity and the courage to do the right thing. Teach about being a person of your word and paying your bills.
#5. Purity. Discuss with someone how we guard our eyes, so we don’t let the lust of flesh drive us. Jesus said if we’ve looked upon a woman lustfully that’s as if we’ve committed adultery.
#6. Character. Who are you when no one is watching? God sees it all. He knows the thoughts and intents of the heart.
#7. Work ethic. Do everything you do wholeheartedly unto the Lord and not unto men. Scripture says if you don’t work you shouldn’t eat.
#8. Financial management. Where your treasure is, there is your heart also.
#9. Giving. Teach about generosity. Sowing and reaping. Investing.
#10. Communication and clarity. Honesty. Language. Certain words should not come out of your mouth.
#11. How to deal with your feelings. Not ignoring them, but also not being led by them. We need to listen to people and pray about them.
If you aren’t taught; how do you know? The best way to disciple is to teach and lead by your example. All these topics are powerful information, but for these to become what God wants it takes the Holy Spirit. Scripture says, “Be holy as He is holy.” Discipleship is lead by the word of God. Use scripture to reflect upon when teaching. Knowledge combined with the power of the Holy Spirit is what causes transformation.
I Timothy 4:12-16
Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
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