A Dangerous Church Vol 1: Faith in a Mighty God

By Riaan Engelbrecht

The two volumes of work on A Dangerous Church explores the call of God for the Church to take up her rightful identity as being a light-bearer, a carrier of God’s glory, the deliverer of God’s message of hope and the guardian of God’s Gospel here on earth. As a church, we are supposed to be dangerous to the kingdom of darkness, to lies, deception, spiritual corruption and chaos. We are dangerous for the One whom we serve is greater than the one in this world! David struck and Goliath fell. Just so, the church is dangerous to any form of an idea, thought or teaching that exalts against the Kingdom of God. We are dangerous because the truth still sets us free. Joshua marched around Jericho and the walls fell. We are dangerous to every spiritual, emotional and psychological stronghold because God is real, alive and remains the hope of glory unto all. It is time for the church to become dangerous says the Lord. Let us be dangerous in our love. Dangerous in our faith. Dangerous by our walk in the supernatural. Let us be dangerous in our hope and to always dare than with God all things are possible. The church is supposed to be radical. Supposed to be bold. Supposed to be fearless. Oh yes, and very dangerous!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Riaan Engelbrecht
• Release date: Jun 25, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005940126

Riaan Engelbrecht

Ps Riaan Engelbrecht is the founder of Avishua Ministries, the vice-president of Lighthouse Ministries International and the station manager of Lighthouse Radio. His ministry deals primarily with the prophetic, but he also has a passion to teach the Truth of the Lord Jesus and His Kingdom for only the Truth of the Lord sets us free (John 8:32).  He is also a qualified and seasoned journalist.

Book preview

Also by the same author:

Perilous Times Series Volumes 1- 10

In Pursuit of God Series Volumes 1 -12

The Holy Spirit Series Volumes 1 - 3

The Disciple of God Series Volumes 1 - 5 (Vol 2 Part A and B)

Deliverance Volumes 1 – 3 (Vol 1 Part A and B)

Crossroads to Freedom Volumes 1-4

The Kingdom of God Series Volumes 1- 4

The Prophetic Series Volumes 1-4

A Dangerous Church Vol 1: Faith in a Mighty God

This is a distributed edition from Avishua Ministries

The author’s intellectual property rights are protected by international Copyright law. You are licensed to use this digital copy strictly for your personal enjoyment only: it must not be redistributed or offered for sale in any form.

Scriptures quotes from the New Kings James Bible, Amplified, and the New International Version.

For more free study material and audio visit http://www.avishuaministries.wix.com/avishua

Table of Contents

GOD IS CALLING FOR a dangerous church    

Stay dangerous       

Let the true dangerous Bride of God arise   

A dangerous church does not let the world bully it   

Dangerous faith in a great God      

God of creation        

The greatness of Life        

True life, not artificial flows only from God    

Dangerous and radical Love      

It is all about Jesus       

Greatness of God’s grace and mercy     

The greatness of a relationship-building God  

God is a Jealous God, so way we know our place   

Empowered to glorify the Lord      

Set your love on Jesus – the Name above all    

Remember the Lord at all times    

Let us praise the Lord Almighty    

In God’s Shadow day and night      

Out–of-the-ordinary Jesus upholds all    

Praying to an awesome God    

God is our mighty deliverer    

Dwelling in the courts of the Lord    

In God and God alone we flourish, live and grow  

God upholds His Word       

Because it rained       

God who delivers from the pit and dungeon   

Resting in the sovereignty of the Lord 

Nothing is impossible with God     

Stand firm in the true liberty of Christ    

Undervaluing the Gospel, overplaying hell

When the going gets tough, the tough get going  

God is calling for a dangerous church

THIS MAY SOUND STRANGE, but the problem is that for a long time the Church it seems has been struggling with a victim mentality. We have often and more often than not considered ourselves as a victim of the negative actions of the world and the devil. Yet, we are not victims. How can we be if we serve the living God unto whom belong all power and dominion?

Truth is, the church is not supposed to see herself as the victim. The church is supposed to be the light-bearers, the carriers of God’s glory, the delivers of God’s message of hope and the guardians of God’s Gospel here on earth. We have almost become like Saul who was left paralyzed when he was faced with the taunting of the giant Goliath. Saul focused so much on himself, on the physical and on the circumstances he forgot whom he served. It took a young boy to set the record straight. We are not supposed to be bullied by any Goliath. Or to be treated as victims, for we are supposed to be dangerous to the kingdom of darkness, to lies, deception, spiritual corruption and chaos. We are dangerous for the One whom we serve is greater than the one in this world!

David struck and Goliath fell. Just so, the church is dangerous to any form of an idea, thought or teaching that exalts against the Kingdom of God (2 Corinthians 10). We are dangerous because the truth still sets us free (John 8:32). Joshua marched around Jericho and the walls fell. We are dangerous to every spiritual, emotional and psychological stronghold because God is real, alive and remains the hope of glory unto all. It is time for the church to become dangerous says the Lord. Let us be dangerous in our love. Dangerous in our faith. Dangerous by our walk in the supernatural. Let us be dangerous in our hope and to always dare that with God all things are possible! It is time for the church to rise from the ashes of self-pity and to become a giant of conviction, faith, of hope and strength in God. We are dangerous because we serve a dangerous God! Oh yes, He is a God full of love, mercy and grace, yet He will not tolerate wickedness, rebellion and the mockery of His Name or the eternal Kingdom.

For you see, Goliath was big in body, yet the true giant on the field was David for David served the Lord. Pharaoh in his Egyptian might also realised that compared to God he is nothing, for God shook the Egyptian power to its core with 10 plagues. King Nebuchadnezzar, who was known as being the most powerful and longest-reigning ruler of the Babylonian Empire, realised he is nothing compared to God. In the Book of Daniel, we learn he was driven from men and did eat grass as oxen. He was humbled by God for boasting about his achievements, lost his sanity and lived like an animal for seven years. We serve a dangerous God – He who is an all-consuming fire – and He is calling for a church to arise in God’s splendour to remind the world of who God is.

The church is supposed to be radical. Supposed to be bold. Supposed to be fearless. This was evident in the days of Acts, even though the disciples faced persecution and hardships. Paul was fearless, unapologetic and served with conviction despite so many troubles and suffering. Why? Because the fire of God burned in their bones! Because they were on fire for God! They were led by the Spirit of God, and no matter the battle, or the obstacle or the threat, they remained the greatest threat to the Roman Empire and the traditions of man! True faith in Christ remains the greatest threat to religion, period! Have we lost our conviction, our boldness and strength in our faith?

The church has sadly allowed itself to be reduced from being a giant to being small in stature. We have at times made God cheap because we have allowed our ideas, agendas and programmes to overshadow us, instead of the Spirit of God overshadowing us! We have allowed this world to blind us and for circumstances to fool us. So we sit with a church that keeps on apologizing for the Bible, with a church that keeps making excuses and with a Church that is riddled with fear, dread and panic. Yet, 2 Timothy 1:7 says we have not been given a spear of fear! Yes, we have been called to walk in power, in a sound mind and love. Isaiah 8 says 12 Do not say, ‘A conspiracy,’ concerning all that these people call a conspiracy, nor be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. 13 The Lord of hosts, Him you shall hallow; Let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread." We are no longer walking by faith, yet by sight. It is time to arise from our slumber and be dangerous in faith, and dangerous in our conviction of such a mountain-moving faith! Did Jesus ever apologise? Did the first disciples ever make excuses?  For redemption lies in the Gospel, and thus in the truth of the Kingdom. Dilute such a Gospel we dilute the power to heal, to deliver and to set free. We dilute the very radical nature of being a disciple, for we have been called to storm the gates of hell and to be witnesses of God’s all-consuming love and power. 

While it is true many of the faith have died as martyrs, and while it is true that the church still today suffers from persecution, the reality is that this is not a sign of weakness or defeat, but rather a retaliation out of fear. Why? Because the Church is the antipode to spiritual malnourishment, poverty and deception. The Church as the carriers of the Good News walks by supernatural resurrected power, declaring that Jesus is the hope, the truth, the power and the glory. The church is the greatest threat to any form of disorder, chaos and corruption. The church is the greatest threat to all lies, deceptions and rebellion against God. The church is the greatest threat to the work of the enemy, thus the work of his cohorts and all forms of darkness. The church is not being threatened or bullied or persecuted because it is a victim, it is being bullied because it is the most powerful force on earth! For even the gates of hell shall NOT prevail against the Church!

The devil knows the greatest threat is the church, birthed on Pentecost, and whose covenant is with Jesus who comes from the tribe of Judah. Thus Revelation 12 says and the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. 5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. Yes, the dragon is the devourer, but God is the conqueror! He might wish to devour, but by the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony we shall overcome. The devil knows the threat of the Bride, yet do we? These days it seems the church is running away from the devil, instead of running towards the man at the tomb to set him free from the legion of devourers. We are the carriers of God’s glory. We are His vessels. Why then fear? Why then make excuses? By God’s Word and power the devourer shall be devoured by God’s mighty hand and by the mighty strength of His Truth!

We are the most powerful force because we are supposed to be carriers of revival. In such revival, there is life and life in abundance. There is no lack! There is growth and there is liberty in the Spirit! Such life counters the hopelessness of this world, and it counters the terrors, the perils and the wrath of any devourer. For while the devil seeks to steal, and to destroy and to kill, our God gives life and by such life, there is hope and joy!

By the Blood of Jesus, there is healing, deliverance, and there is restoration, redemption and salvation. True power rests not in money. Not in political influence. It rests in the redemption of a man’s spirit, in the restored power of his soul and the regeneration of his flesh. True power rests not in all our inventions, technological advancements and industrial breakthroughs, it rests in the love of God to heal the brokenhearted, to comfort those who mourn, and to set the captives free from afflictions in spirit, soul and body.

The problem is, the church sees itself as a victim instead of being a conqueror. The Latin phrase ‘Veni, vidi, vici’ that means ‘I came, I saw, I conquered’ is a Latin phrase popularly attributed to Julius Caesar of Rome. As the church, we have also been called to see (we see the Kingdom as a reborn child of God – John 3) and to conquer. Jesus came to conquer and to show us to be conquerors. Of course, we are not talking about conquering earthly kingdoms, or empire or invading the land. We are not talking about waging earthly battles or war or overthrowing governments. We are talking about conquering the hearts of man with the Gospel of Jesus. We are talking about conquering the minds of man with the Good News of Salvation. We are talking about tearing down the work of spiritual darkness. We are talking about conquering what has been broken, forgotten, mistreated, enslaved and corrupted, all through the love, grace and mercy of Christ. We, like Caesar, have been called to conquer, and not be conquered by fear, by hate, bitterness, rejection, the works of darkness or the corruption of this world.

To conquer is to be victorious over an adversary. To be more than a conqueror means we not only achieve victory, but we are overwhelmingly victorious. Humanly speaking, Israel was no match for their enemies. But God cautioned them not to be afraid, that He would fight their battles for them. Exodus 14:14 says, The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still. The Lord told Jeremiah that He was bringing armies against the rebellious Israelites as punishment for their disobedience, but even then, 'They . . . will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,' declares the Lord (Jeremiah 1:19).  Glory to God, we serve a mighty God.

Oh yes, the church has many adversaries, but the greatest is the devil, who is the father of lies. He sends all kinds of life-defeating, joy-stealing attacks to threaten the well-being and faith of God’s children. Paul encouraged us to stand firm in our faith when those attacks come (Romans 8), reminding us that not only will we win in the end, but Jesus enables us to win now. We are more than conquerors! Nothing we face worries God in the least. If we are His children through faith in His Son, then we have His pledge of love and protection. In John 10:27–29, Jesus said, My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.

To be more than conquerors means we face the trials of life with the certainty that we are not alone. We have a mighty Father who fights for us. We approach the darkest valleys with confidence, knowing that nothing can happen to us that is not permitted by our loving Father for our good (Psalm 23:4; Romans 8:28). We have His promise of eternal life (John 3:16; Titus 1:2; 1 John 5:11) and the presence of Almighty God every moment of every day until we see Him face to face (Psalm 139:7–12; Deuteronomy 31:8; Hebrews 13:5; Matthew 28:20). We may be faced with onslaughts, threats and dangers, but we shall overcome for we are more dangerous! We have been anointed, and we have the boldness to conquer! We are overshadowed by the greatness of God, and in the greatness of God, we rejoice in His splendour and hope!

Not only are we conquerors with victory over sin and Satan but over the world - over afflictions, persecutions, and trials - we are more because we can glory IN the struggles and persecutions because our faith and joy can increase as a result! By the blood of Jesus Christ, we already have the victory, but we experience even more victory when God uses our hardships to turn it around for His good. Glory to God! For surely the enemy thought he had won when Paul was imprisoned (Acts 16). But amid the struggle, he praised and prayed to God. At around midnight, Paul emerged as the conqueror in the might of God when the jailer and his household was saved by the hand of God! The devourer was devoured by salvation, redemption and the spiritual victory of a household. Yes, there is freedom, there is victory and there is power in the Name of Jesus!

God is calling for a church that is dangerous in her mindset, in her convictions, in her faith, in her love, in her praise, in her prayer, her hope, in the strength of God and in the might of His Spirit. We are not called to go quietly into the night, back down, or make excuses, but we are called to conquer, to rejoice, to keep on praising and keep on driving back the darkness. We are called to love so that hate is destroyed, to forgive so that unforgiveness falters and to show mercy in a world of cruelty and loathing.

There is no greater force than love, and the Church is the bearer of such love! So as disciples let us show love, be merciful, and walk in God's righteousness, peace and His light, for then we shall be dangerous in our radical nature to see a broken world revived and saved. 

Stay dangerous

THE LORD IS PLACING this word on my heart - stay dangerous.

Thus, dangerous to the kingdom of darkness. Be a danger to lies. Be a danger to corruption. Be dangerous to deception. Be dangerous to the work of the enemy. Be a danger by being a defender of the Truth, and upholding such Truth no matter what.

In this world, it is easy for us to allow the fire of God to dim due to so many reasons. We might be going through our spiritual wilderness, we might be bogged down by life and by problems, we may be fighting our inner demons or we may be battling complacency, boredom, or stagnation. Whatever we are going through, whatever our season, whatever our struggles, whatever our problems, whatever our spiritual walk with God, the Lord says STAY DANGEROUS. Remain watchful in the spirit, and remain discerning in the Spirit of God. In all things, always test every spirit, and stay true to the path of God.

Thus, remain spiritually alert. Remain sharp in the Spirit. Remain sharp in the Word. Oh yes, the flesh may be weak but remain so sensitive in the spirit to the Spirit of God. Remain discerning. Remain aware, and awake, and LET THE FIRE NOT DIE. For indeed, knowing the time of peril, it is high time to awake out of our sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed (Romans 13:11). Remain a threat to all things that are immoral, unholy and impure by putting on Christ, for God is a holy God and He is with the righteous.

For you see, while we may be dealing with issues and battling our battles, remember that the spiritual war does not cease. God does not slumber. The devil does not slumber. The mandate of the Church of Matthew 28 is ongoing. The mandate of the thief of John 10:10 is ongoing. We may become bogged down, or spiritually paralyzed, distracted or disillusioned, yet the war remains ongoing. It will still affect us no matter what. It will still touch those around us. It will still impact the spiritual realm every Nanosecond.

So remain dangerous. Be awake. Be alert. For remember, the devil prowls looking whom to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 says be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Oh yes, the serpent always looks for ways to devour. He looks for ways to digest. In November 2012, the Lord showed me a vision of a giant serpent swallowing a man. I was made to understand the Serpent was the Devil, and the man represented mankind. At this very moment in our time, the Serpent is more than ever busy destroying this world, devouring and killing, but the Church has the authority to counter and defeat his purposes.

Upon closer studying, it was discovered that a Serpent [specifically a large one like an Anaconda or a boa constrictor] will only really attempt to swallow such large prey, such as a human, when the prey has been neutralised – meaning posing no longer a threat. The snake will thus use any means, such as constricting the prey, until the prey loses consciousness and maybe even dies. Only then will the snake begin to swallow, thus devouring, and once devoured, the process of digesting begins. The devil seeks to first neutralise the threat by leading people away from God [deception], because if someone finds God and walks in the authority of the Blood, then he becomes the serpent’s greatest threat. So we get the process of constriction – the Serpent seeks to cut off man’s spiritual oxygen so that they become passive, restrained, lethargic and spiritually in a state of comatose.

Satan has a bag full of tricks to lead people away from God. He plays on man’s ego, on his pride, on his physical senses, on his mind, and his emotions just so that man will eventually not follow God but will resist, rebel and revolt. As soon as man follows his own will, then the Serpent’s devious plans is coming to fruition.

So we need to remain a threat to the serpent. We need to remain dangerous. We must not allow the devil or the world to lead us away from His presence, or allow anything to neutralise us as warriors of the eternal Kingdom. Yes, remain dangerous. For we are called to be consumed by the fire of God. If we are truly consumed, then nothing else can consume us. If we allow God’s fire to devour us, then the Word of God within us shall devour the devourer.

So remain dangerous and a threat by shining the Light of the Lord, by praying without ceasing, by being worshippers in spirit and truth with the high praises on our lips and the double edge sword in our hands. We are called to carry the banner of the Lord in this spiritually dying world – a world that knows too much darkness, hate, bitterness, pain and heartache. Yet God is the answer. He is the solution.

Keep standing on the Truth. Keep declaring the Gospel. Life is very tough. It is a world of storms, plagues, terrors, and famine. Yet, remain standing. Remain strong. For we may not escape the furnace, but the fire shall not touch us. We may not escape the lion pit, but God shall protect us from the devourers. Oh yes, Egypt was struck by 10 horrible plagues, including the death of the firstborn, yet millions of Israelites thrived and prospered! By the Blood, they survived. By the Blood of Jesus, we also survive, and thrive and prosper! The weapon may be forged, but shall not prosper against God’s children. The snare may be set, but God shall set us free. The arrows may be shot, but we stand in faith for our God is mighty. For we are more than conquerors in the power of God, so stay dangerous.

For God reminds me of David. Before being king, he was a shepherd who protected the sheep by killing a lion and a bear. He was a boy, yet he was dangerous to the threat. He was a danger to Goliath. He was a danger to the old and fallen rule of Saul. He was a danger to the plans of the devil. He may have sinned, but he remained dangerous for he had the heart of God. So remain dangerous, for the Kingdom we serve is not of this world. So take heart, be bold, be strong, and no matter our trials, tribulations or sufferings, be consumed by God, be consumed by His Spirit, be consumed by His Word and be consumed by His mercy and in the consuming may we arise and see the devourer shattered.

Such was the way of the first disciples - always facing dangers, threats and perils, but they remained true to the Kingdom and a danger to the spiritual corruption and deception.

They were true to God, no matter what, and thus they shook Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and eventually the entire world because of the power of God within them. They shook the gates of hell, for it is so declared the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church. They shook traditions and religion for they