A Disciple is…...

I woke up this morning at my usual time 4:45, but I woke up with excitement.  I wanted to get to church as soon as possible, because I wanted God to speak to me today.  Somehow, I just knew there was a message that he wanted to share with me.  I got out of my apartment in record time, and drove to church.  Usually I pray that God send more intercessors to join us, but not this morning, I just wanted to be alone with God.

Shortly after beginning prayer, he gave me this five part vision.

First I see a person, dressed in ordinary clothing, standing with his arms out to the side, resembling a T or a cross.  Then the body is lifted up and maintaining the same position, is turned on his side.  Then I realized this person was me.

Next, I see a man holding a large stack of white printer paper, the over sized 11x17.  It was a 3" thick stack.  The man stood, and held the paper to his chest, as if it were a large picture book that a kindergarten teacher would display while reading to her young students.

Then I see a rolled up white bath towel with a long word embroidered in black, across the edge.  I can't make out the word, because the word is upside down to me.  But then I hear the word spoken, it was the word, "Compulsory."

After that, I see a woman wearing a very feminine flowing dress with a design in two colors.  The design was of irregularly and randomly placed patches of color, in yellow and black, like an Indian painted pony.

In the last part of the vision, I see a man holding two white pillows next to his chest as if he were hugging them.

I believe that this vision is for everyone, not just myself.  I believe that God is laying out his expectations for us as his followers.

In the first part of the vision, I believe that the person, who was standing with his/her arms out to the side, is a follower of Jesus.  The person is stretched out as if he/she were placed on a cross.  I remembered this passage of scripture:  Then he said to them all, "If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.  For what does it benefit a person if he gains the whole world, but loses his soul."  Luke 9:23-25

When the person was lifted up and then turned on his/her side, this represents death.  "So then, brothers and sisters, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh (for if you live according to the flesh, you will die), but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live."  Romans 8:12-13 

We as the American church, must realize that there are many people, men, women and even children that are dying a real, physical death for their faith.  We need to see that this part of the vision may not just be speaking figuratively about dying.  But the dying to ourselves is where we must begin.  Unless we can put to death the sinful nature, when real persecution comes to our country, we will never be able to face the potentially real and painful natural death.  

The next part of the vision, showing the man turning the white pages of a stack of paper, like a book, I believe means this:  The white pages represent the days ahead in my life and yours that have not yet been written.  God holds the future in his hands, and reveals his plan for our lives one page at a time.  As children he wants us to  see that he is the creator of the book.  We can scribble on its pages, but if we are to be completely obedient, and trusting in him. we will give him the pen and the authority that he deserves, to write in our books, what events, people and circumstances that he will bring into our lives.

The third part of this vision, the white rolled up towel, with the embroidered word "Compulsory," written on its edge, brings to mind this scripture:  "he got up from the meal, removed his outer clothes, took a towel and tied it around himself.  He poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to dry them with the towel he had wrapped around himself."   John 13:4

Jesus was demonstrating to his disciples, what it means to be a servant leader. "Do you understand what I have done for you?  You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord' and do so correctly, for that is what I am.  If I then your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, you too ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example - you should do just as I have done for you.  I tell you the solemn truth, the slave is not greater than his master, nor is the one who is sent as a messenger greater than the one who sent him.  If you understand these things, you will be blessed if you do them."  John 13:12-17

The word "Compulsory," means obligatory.  required, necessary, not optional.  Jesus made it clear to Peter that this action was absolutely necessary.   "Peter said to him,'You will never wash my feet!'  Jesus replied, 'If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.'"  

I believe that Jesus meant two things:  first that unless the Lord cleanses us with the blood of his atoning death, we cannot be saved, and we cannot be his disciples.  Secondly, if we do not humble ourselves to allow the Lord to cleanse us from sin, then we will not be capable of helping anyone else find the Lord.  This is truly God's heart, that he is leading us by the example of a humble servant, so our lives must show others by our humility, that they too can follow the Lord, as his humble servants. 

The fourth part of the vision is the woman in the black and yellow dress.  Black can represent death, sin, hidden, night, darkness.  Yellow on the other hand represents light, the sun which give life, the light which brings openness, exposure, honesty and truth,  These two colors are opposites, diametrically opposed to each other.  Paul said, "Do not become partners with those who do not believe, for what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship does light have with darkness?  And what agreement does Christ have with Beliar ?  Or what does a believer share in common with an unbeliever?  And what mutual agreement does the temple of God have with idols?  For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said, "I will live in them and will walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.'  Therefore 'come out from their midst, and be separate.' says the Lord, 'and touch no unclean thing, and I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you and you will be my sons and daughters,' says the All-Powerful Lord."  

So in this fourth part of the vision, God establishes his desire for us to live separate and holy lives.  The woman in the dress shows compromise with the world and its values.  The American church has grown too comfortable with the world.  We look the same, we do the same activities, and the statistics regarding lifestyle sin, shows that we are one with the world.  

The last part of the vision, shows a man holding two pillows.  God is revealing two aspects of resting in him.  When we have things and situations that overwhelm us, God wants us to know that the battle is his.  He wants us to know that we can trust him in all circumstances.  "Do not be anxious about anything.  Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God which passes all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. " Philippians 4:6-7  This is a rest of trust.  We give God our troubles, and we leave them with him.  He gives us in return, rest and peace.  What a trade!

The other rest is the Sabbath's rest.  Even though Jesus fulfilled all the law and the prophets, we have to acknowledge God's ways and desires for us.  He said to keep holy the sabbath, in his ten commandments.  He punished the Israelites when they did not let the land rest in the sabbath years.  God has a purpose in all this.   He wants us to rest from our work because it is good for us.  But I believe that more importantly God wants us to rest from all our pursuits that take us away from him.  He wants us to know him, but if our lives are so full of activities, and personal commitments, we will never develop the relationship that he wants us to have with him.  

I am and have been concerned for the American church.  We do not see the miracles, signs and wonders that they experience elsewhere, because we do not spend much time with God.  Without regular prayer, and fasting, reading his word, and just simply talking with him, he will merely remain a friend of a friend's friend.  We will not hear his voice, and we will not understand his heart.  If we do not take time (not just an hour or two on a Sunday) to know him, we will be very shocked when we come before him on the day of judgment, when he says to us, "Get away from me, I never knew you!"

This message for you and me, is a sober one.   In summary, he is saying:

1.  Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me.

2. Give me your life - let me write the pages.

3. Humble yourself and follow me as a servant leader.

4. Separate yourself from the love of the world and all the things the world has to offer.

5. Give your time  to God - Trust in him and he will give you rest. 

I hope you will ponder this message.  There is a lot to "chew on."  Share this with someone, and be blessed in all that your hands find to do!