Johannes Sieber - The mission remains!

He actually likes it, it looks appealing, and the colors and the high rooms are beautiful. Already at the entrance he is greeted friendly. Since he is obviously recognized as a visitor, he receives some documents about the church and a voucher for a free coffee. He does not know what a coffee is, but he thinks it is nice. Now he is really looking forward to sharing with the believers what they are experiencing in this age with his Master Jesus and how the revival is progressing, and he is looking forward to praying and praising God with them. He is jolted out of his thoughts as someone wants to show him his seat to sit on. But he does not want to sit at all! He is disconcerted by the fact that all the chairs are facing the same direction and he cannot look into the faces of the faithful. Suddenly music resounds from everywhere – a great experience. Andrew suspects that this is the new way of praising God. He gets fully involved. The Holy Spirit is so strongly present that he praises God with strong tears and praises Him in foreign languages. Great! Now things are really going to take off! Andrew is looking forward to how people will be healed and delivered and how they will want to repent. He is looking forward like a little child to what will happen now.

All of a sudden, everyone in the room sits down on their chairs. Andrew is confused but does what the others do. He waits eagerly for the total eruption of the working of the spirit, as he has experienced so many times. Now a good-looking young woman comes on stage and announces various events. Andrew finds this alienating and inappropriate, but perhaps it has to be that way in modern times. Finally, another good-looking man comes on stage and tells stories about his life with his children and his wife. The man urges the people in the room to take control of one area in their lives in three steps and to love their neighbors more. Andrew is irritated; he can remember Jesus’ life-changing and confrontational sermons. He himself preached countless sermons, but none of them were so focused on people’s well-being. After the service, he walks out a little sad, thinking that he can now pray with the faithful. Instead, sipping free coffee, people talk about his special clothes, sports, and working. Quite sadly, he leaves the building and never returns there. Andrew has a burning question: How on earth does one get from what Jesus told and exemplified to what he saw here?

For Andrew, church is a community of radical followers of Jesus who are willing to lay down their lives for their Master. This community is powerful, loving, and the ultimate goal is that people become followers who in turn are able to share the good news.

For someone who has experienced the book of Acts themselves, it would probably be difficult to comprehend what we are doing in our churches today. I think many things that are done in churches are amazing. I know some churches and have been part of such a movement myself, where people regularly come to faith and signs and wonders happen. The commitment some are making to the kingdom of God is impressive and worthy of emulation. But I also think that we should find our way back to this simple and powerful life of Jesus. At least this is true for me. A change is also needed if the next generations are to be reached. More about that later. That is why I ask the question here: Who is my role model? After whom do I align my life and thus my actions? Do I look to the original or do I look to the copy from the copy of the copy? Personally, I want to follow the original. I want to follow Jesus. I want to live like Andrew. I want to change something today.

Do you feel the same way? Then you have come to the right place! In this book you will find answers to what Jesus, the original, can look like today. Prepare for this book to make you think and want to change certain things in your life. Welcome to the adventure.

Do you know the feeling when other people want to put you in a box that you don’t fit into? I experience this from time to time. Furthermore, I often don’t feel understood because I’m from a different generation. We function differently, have different values, and our future plans look different. If you’re my age or younger, you’ve probably experienced this too.

Some time ago, someone wanted to instrumentalize me and told me that I should fit into a system, but I did not want to give myself into it. I respect and honor that person very much, so it did not pass me by without leaving a trace. It stirred me up and I was restless. Later in the day, I withdrew and asked the Holy Spirit what this was all about and if I was indeed on the wrong track.

Suddenly I found myself in a vision. I don’t know how that happened, but what I saw thrilled me:

I am in a city. This city is bombed and broken. The buildings are empty and some look like ruins. The streets are deserted and things are lying around everywhere. Debris of houses and junk are lying on the street. The ruins of the buildings make an inanimate and desolate impression. It doesn’t look like there are any people left in this city. Suddenly I am outside the city and there is a big army. This army is lined up in a clear order. Further back, I see a large, gloomy structure that is getting closer and closer. It looks like it is the enemy. As I approach the army, which is in battle order, I see how well equipped it is: everyone has good equipment and nice armor. It seems clear that everyone knows their exact place. However, one senses a fear emanating from these well-armed soldiers. The closer you get to these soldiers, the more you get the impression that they have never been in a battle before. Up front, in front of the battle lines, sits the king on a powerful horse. This king radiates enormous majesty. Among the soldiers, I sense that they have great reverence for this king. They do not know him but are simply his soldiers. The whole scene is like a movie. It is immediately clear to me that this king is Jesus.

Suddenly, a loud call from the king resounds. This call is suddenly everywhere and penetrates everything. It almost feels like an audible, all-pervading sonar. It is a call as if to awaken or evoke something. Indeed, something now moves everywhere in the rubble of the city. The city comes alive and here and there people come out. They run out of the city and move nimbly through the good-looking army. At first glance, these people have the appearance of vagrants. Some of them have only clothes-like fabrics wrapped around their bodies. On closer inspection, you can see their massive muscles. These are not vagrants, but well-trained men and women who have a determined look, as if they know how to go to war. Some of them are holding very rudimentary weapons, others have nothing at all. As they pass through the army to get to the front, it becomes clear that these people are outcasts. They are not let through kindly by the soldiers. The dislike is clearly expressed.

As they arrive at the front, they stand next to the king and greet him. They greet him like a friend and as if they are about to experience something familiar and adventurous together. They have respect for the king, but it appears that he is more their friend. It is obvious that the king and these outcasts have been successfully in battle together many times before. With these warriors, one does not sense fear, but rather a joy before battle. This group, which now stands in front of the battle lines of the handsome army, looks more like a horde of savages.

The difference and tension between these two groups is enormous, some look great from the outside but are afraid of fighting and do not know the king personally. The others, who look like outlaw tramps, are experienced in war and know the king personally. What could this mean?

For me it is clear in which direction this vision is to be interpreted. I think it also became clear to you that some represent the institutionally organized church that is well ordered and well armed. The others are wild outcasts who have no place in the system. However, these are the very ones who are ready for battle. A soldier follows orders that he may not even understand. A soldier doesn’t have much to lose, because there isn’t much at stake for him. A warrior, on the other hand, fights out of passion. A warrior puts everything into it. Therefore, he can either lose everything or win everything. The question is obvious: would you rather be a soldier or a warrior?

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