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Do you know Rick Joyner and his books? I love them! They are full of adventure and passion, you simply cannot put them down! His insight, the way he sees the church as an army that is preparing for the battle is so inspiring. I have a great respect for this man of God, this great general of His army.

So imagine my excitement as I saw a scene while praying, that would just so fit in one of his books. I was shocked and honored to get a glimpse of a spiritual battlefield. I was in the middle of an army camp. I was invisible, I could move freely, I could even approach people and watch their faces closely without them noticing anything. It was a small camp in the middle of a forest, it was just before the dawn. Soldiers were still sleeping in their tents, only two watchmen were awake, sitting by the fire and chatting. Then all of the sudden a sharp sound of trumpet broke the silence. Sleepy, tired men started coming out of the tents, they were moving around in a very slow pace. After a while they gathered in the middle of the camp, the general in the front already fully prepared and waiting for his men to show up. I could see many soldiers staying back in their tents to sleep, thinking: „Oh, I will be the only one who won´t show up, they will not notice. They can do this without me, it is surely nothing important.“  But many were thinking the same. So it resulted in only about ca. 2/3 of the army getting ready to fight. Then I saw how awkwardly were the warriors dressed and equipped. Many were missing a piece of armor – some of them had no helmet, some had no shield or sword and some were barefoot of wearing just one boot. It was really a pitiful picture.

But then a Lion covered in a bright light entered the camp, He came out of the dark forest and stood right next to the general facing the army. And then He roared. At His first roar the ground started shaking and immediately everyone was awake, the rest of the soldiers came out of the tents in a hurry, grasping their weapons and quickly joining the others. Now all the empty positions in the army were filled. Then the Lion roared for the second time. This time, the positions in the army were re-arranged. Some warriors from the back moved to the front and some from the frontlines had to step back, until everyone found their right position and were still. Finally, the army started resembling a real army. There was a firm structure in it. And then the Lion turned toward the general and roared for the third time. In this roar I could hear: „Teach them My Discipline!“ After this the Lion turned around and disappeared in the forest. At this point I realised there is no battle to fight right now, this was a warning, an instruction for battles to come. Needless to say, I was relieved, that the army had some extra time to be trained. To learn more about His principles, strategies, His discipline.             

I believe to be a disciple has a lot to do with discipline. In Luke 14:27 Jesus says: „And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.“ The word FOLLOW just jumped out at me. What does it actually mean to be a follower of Jesus? I started looking up the meanings of the word follow. The simpliest explanation was FOLLOW = LISTEN + OBEY. In the KJV Dictionary there are 17 meanings of this word, some of them are:

1.     to go after / behind a person, move or travel in the same direction                                                                                                                                                

2.     to pursue / chase

3.     to accompany

4.     to be consenquential

5.     to pursue with eyes fixed on a moving body

6.     to imitate / copy

7.     to embrace / adopt a model or pattern

8.     to obey – act according to an instruction

9.     to pursue as an object of desire – pay close attention to

10.  to adhere to, to honor, worship, serve

11.  to be lead or guided by    

In verse 33 Jesus continues: „Those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.“  Does it sound harsh? Was Jesus a fanatic? I believe He was saying it out of the neverending Love for us. He wants to prepare us for what is coming, He wants to protect us, He wants to tell us there is a price to be paid. But on the other hand, if you have nothing, if you hold on to nothing on this earth, the enemy will have no power over you! Isn´t it a beautiful exchange?  He wants to have our full attention as we have His full attention. Day and night. If you get distracted in the middle of the battle, just for a short time, it you take your eyes off Him, it can have serious consequences, it can even cost you a life! And additionally you can put others around you in danger! No Jesus was not being harsh or fanatic, He just doen´t want to loose any of His beloved children. Not because of disobedience, not because of unreadiness, not because of distraction. If you surrender, you will be moved, your body, soul and spirit as one, by every Word He says, by every gesture He makes. And you will simply follow Him wherever He goes, in whatever He does. Just because of who He is to you.