Empowered for Supernatural Living

By Riaan Engelbrecht

Over many years the Lord has continually pressed it on my heart that the church is called to lead a supernatural life. We need to be reminded that as disciples of Jesus, we are sons and daughters of the Most High God. We are called to live in the supernatural and by the supernatural.  As followers of Christ, we are challenged to demonstrate God’s power in the supernatural acts of God. Jesus wants us to live the reality of His Word and Presence. What would the church look like today if we had never limited and lost the supernatural demonstration of the power of God? The reality is that we want to live more like Jesus, we cannot ignore His supernatural ministry. The supernatural life is the everyday life the Christian lives under the influence and leading of the Holy Spirit. It is the ability to live victoriously by the power of the Holy Spirit and assailing the challenges of life. It is a life sold out to God, a life yielded to the impossible. Yet is a life dedicated to God and His Kingdom. So why would anyone choose to live in the natural realm, on a low, low level, when we can live in the supernatural realm and soar in the Spirit?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Riaan Engelbrecht
• Release date: Feb 2, 2023
• ISBN: 9791222059198

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- 9

In Pursuit of God Series Volumes 1 -16

The Holy Spirit Series Volumes 1 - 3

The Discipleship Series Volumes 1 - 7

Deliverance Series Volumes 1 – 6

Crossroads to Freedom Series Volumes 1-5

The Kingdom of God Series Volumes 1- 5

The Prophetic Series Volumes 1-5

End-Time Series Volumes 1-7

Apologetics Series Volumes 1-7

Empowered to Live a Supernatural Life

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

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

Table of Contents

Called for supernatural living, not the mundane

Empowered for signs, wonders and miracles

Enjoying supernatural protection

Receive the Holy Spirit to be empowered for service

Supernatural story of the disciples

Give me power!

Empowered to walk in a different spirit

Empowered to walk in provision

Empowered to be whole

Infused with radical faith

Born to raze hell

Embrace holiness to manifest resurrected power

Bless the Lord with every breath

Empowered in suffering to glorify God

Die to the self to abide in resurrected power

Called for supernatural living, not the mundane

This is a simple book , but it carries a big punch. Over many years the Lord has continually pressed it on my heart that the church is called to lead a supernatural life. We need to be reminded that as disciples of Jesus, we are sons and daughters of the Most High God. We are called to live in the supernatural and by the supernatural.

To describe God's attributes or characteristics, three important terms are used: omnipotence (unlimited or very great power), and omniscience (all-knowing). and omnipresence (being everywhere). So God always knows, always sees and always understands. And He has unlimited power to act upon what He sees, knows and understands. And He is everywhere to know, to see and to act. This is the God whom we serve. Our God is mighty. Our God is glorious. There is none like Him. The entire Bible attest to a great and mighty God. He is divine. Nothing is impossible with God. He is the Lord who made all. Everything. Such is His nature. Do we truly think God does not intend for us to lead a supernatural life?

Matthew 14 says, 1 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. 24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. 25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a ghost! And they cried out for fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid. 28 And Peter answered Him and said, Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water. 29 So He said, Come. And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, Lord, save me! 31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt? 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, Truly You are the Son of God."

Jesus in Matthew 14 showed how mighty He is. He challenged His disciple to adopt a similar mindset that all things are possible with God. He wanted them to step out of the boat of fear, of the mundane, the possible and the ordinary to stand in faith and to embrace a life of the impossible, of the divine and the extraordinary! We simply need faith. Let us make this clear. God wants us to lead a life of supernatural health, provision, and protection. But even more importantly, He empowers us through the Holy Spirit to be witnesses of His Gospel. There is nothing ordinary about God, so we are not called to be ordinary.

Question is, are we prepared to get out of the boat, wallowing in fear and the ordinary, or are going to take God on His Word? Jesus said in Matthew 4: 4 But He answered and said, It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ " God's Word is supernatural (for Jesus is the Word - John 1) and if we live by it and obey it, we shall be sustained by its divine and supernatural promises and divine qualifies.

For Jesus the supernatural was natural. This included His birth by a virgin (Luke 1:34, 35; Isaiah 7: 13-16; Matthew 1: 22-23), all His miracles and powerful deeds (Matthew 11:20; 13:54; Mark 6: 2), and His resurrection (Matthew 16:21; 17: 9, 23; Matthew 20:19; 26:32; Mark 14:28; Luke. 9:22; 14:14; John 2: 19-22; 5:21; 6: 39-40; 11: 1-44; 14:20; 21:14). Some of the miracles Jesus performed included multiplying food to feed a multitude, casting out evil spirits out of demon-oppressed people, healing all kind of infirmities and physical sickness, turning water into wine, controlling the elements, catching a multitude of fish, and raising the dead.

As followers of Christ, we are challenged by His unblemished character and morality to do what is right, but also to demonstrate God’s power in the supernatural acts of God. Jesus wants us to live the reality of His Word and Presence. God’s Kingdom is not just knowledge, it is knowledge mixed with wisdom and truth. The power of Jesus’ words lies in obeying them. In the Book of Acts, we see how the disciples did not just make study of Jesus’ words, they lived and obeyed them. The power of the New Testament is its first-hand witness accounts of what God was doing in the midst of ordinary people who were willing to live this Jesus way of life. When Paul wrote his epistles he was not trying to speak of something that must still happen, he was reflecting theologically on what was physically supernaturally happening before his eyes.

The entire Old Testament speaks of a great and wonderful God. It speaks of so many supernatural signs and wonders, including the feats of Samson, King David and so many others. God is a supernatural and awesome God, and we need to embrace the supernatural through faith. There is nothing ordinary about God. This is a God who parted the Red Sea, provided food for 40 years in a wilderness and sustained Israel in the Promised Land. God is not small. Let us not make His cheap because of our lack of faith. God wants us to run with Him, and soar in faith in the miraculous and the divine.

What would the church look like today if we had never limited and lost the supernatural demonstration of the power of God? The reality is that we want to live more like Jesus, we cannot ignore His supernatural ministry. It is central to who He was on earth. It is precisely these supernatural parts of His life that have caused the most controversy over the centuries. The biggest part of the church ignores and justifies the cessation of the supernatural. Others falsify the supernatural and use it, like the money changers, to attract people and make more money. The perversion and falsification of the supernatural are why some churches and believers rather avoid it. Others obsessively chase after supernatural experiences instead of what the Bible promise, which si that signs and wonders will follow us.

The Body of Christ on earth is not at an organisation [physical] but a spiritual organism, which is alive and breathing, with its blood being the Blood of Jesus, with its breath being the breath of God and with its heartbeat being the heartbeat of God. We follow a Faith and not a religion. We follow not mere dogma and teaching, but a living God who is the alpha and the omega of our faith. To understand the mysteries and depths of moving into the spiritual realm, thus functioning and operating in the Holy of Holies, we need to come to an understanding that there is a far deeper divine working of holiness within the Church, but such working is within the spiritual fabric, and not within the physical. It is a working where the very fabric and nature of the Bride are transformed into the likeness of God, and into the supernatural, by the ordinary and extraordinary power of God.

Once we move beyond the scope and limitations of being interwoven into the physical nature of attending a church and thus following a set of rules that make up a religion, we can then move into a state of beholding as regards to our spiritual nature and will we move and operate as a Body according to the glorious manifestations settled in the Holy of Holies. The Lord pressed it on my heart that we as the church are functioning and operating within the boundaries and limitations of the physical fabric, but we remain unable to be flexible and pliable within the spiritual realm, where the church was formed. And through the physical, the flesh has upstaged the spirit, and by the flesh, we have become enslaved and have been captured by temporary temptations and gratifications.

In regard to the secret place where the Church was formed, and in regard to that fabric and state of being and beholding, we must return here and now to move within the complexities and the liberating power of the Spirit to function as intended – to function as a living organism, spirit-driven, spirit conscious and spirit liberated. We need to move past the physical fabric of the body/flesh and into the secret place beyond the veil, under His Shadow, so that we by texture are interwoven into the Blood by Grace.

Indeed, we live in a time and age where the church embraces more and more cessationism, which is the belief that the miraculous, including various spiritual gifts, ceased early in Christian history. We need the Holy Spirit to awaken believers to reality and the necessity to walk again in the supernatural. God wants to work the same miracles through us. It is about faith, but it is also about yielding and submitting to a great and awesome God. Matthew 6:33 says, But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Read that again. It says ALL THINGS SHALL BE ADDED. Problem is, we need to know what the Kingdom is. We need to know whom we serve. The Kingdom after all is "not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).

Jesus lived a supernatural life while on earth. While on earth, He was constantly in touch with His Father. He lived in total obedience to His Father’s will. He never did anything outside of the Father’s will; what He saw the Father do, that He did. That way, He lived a Spirit-controlled life. Thus, the supernatural life is a life that is lived in complete obedience to the will of God.

Daniel’s story is another example of supernatural life. Daniel was full of the Spirit of wisdom and excellence, which enabled him to live a supernatural life in Babylon. When Nebuchadnezzar threatened to eliminate all his spiritual advisers unless they told him the dream he had and the interpretation, Daniel and the three Hebrew children sought the face of God for His intervention. God intervened by revealing Nebuchadnezzar’s dream to them and the interpretation. Daniel was then able to tell Nebuchadnezzar what his dream was and the interpretation. That was evidence of supernatural life. Daniel’s wisdom and insight were God-given. Daniel’s survival in the lion’s den was another evidence of the supernatural life he lived.

The supernatural life is the everyday life the Christian lives under the influence and leading of the Holy Spirit. It is the ability to live victoriously by the power of the Holy Spirit and assailing the challenges of life. It is a life sold out to God, a life yielded to the impossible. Yet is a life dedicated to God and His Kingdom. So why would anyone choose to live in the natural realm, on a low, low level, when we can live in the supernatural realm and soar in the Spirit (Isaiah 40)? With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can crucify the flesh (Galatians 5:24) and renew our minds to the Word (Romans 12:2). We can be spiritually minded and experience life and peace.

We have all been made by God, and within all of us, there is a cry for the extraordinary. You could say a cry for the supernatural. We were made for God. We were not just made for the ordinary, yes, none of us, but we have exchanged the supernatural for the ordinary because we have exchanged God for the world. Jesus came to call on us to get up out of the boat and see what he could do supernaturally in and through us. Christ's supernatural power is so great, so comprehensive, that he can actually work in the everyday ordinary ebb and flow of life and do supernatural things, things of eternal consequence in the way you think, in the way you speak, in the way you work, in the way you play, in the way you do family, and even in the way you treat other people.

We have all who are in Christ been called for a supernatural life. Christ is in us, indwelling in us, in us the hope of glory. He calls us the temple of the Holy Spirit of God. These are the bodies we are presenting to him daily as living sacrifices. And we're called on to be more than normal, ordinary people.

Paul writes the following to the church in Ephesus: Ephesians 1: 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.

Paul prayed that the believers would by wisdom, revelation and understanding of the knowledge of Christ come to grasp the exceeding greatness of God’s power, which works according to God’s mighty power. And that power and might of God that works within all believers by the Holy Spirit is above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion! There is, therefore, no power or authority that is greater or stronger than God. And such power works within the believer.

We need to understand that we can serve and love God with all our might and strength, free from the worldly influences and negative destructive forces of this world because His strength and power that is greater than anything else that works within us! Yes, by that power all creation was formed, and such power is vested in God who resides within the believer through the Spirit of God. For this reason, we can overcome, be joyous, victorious, and be at peace.

Paul also writes in Ephesians 3: 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love. We are, therefore, strengthened by God’s glory to lea d a life to His glory, and we are strengthened by the Spirit of God according to the spiritual riches (treasures) of His glory. And such glory speaks of God’s very nature, and the weightiness of His divinity works within the believer when we yield and submit to His will. Glory to God, for when we abide in His presence by His strength, we then are grounded in glorious love so that we may love and serve God with all our strength!

Philippians 4 says, 9 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. Take note, according to His riches in glory. We shall enjoy a life of blessing, hope, triumph and provision when we seek His glory above all when we seek to abide in such glory (read John 15) and we seek to honour God’s glory with our strength in our conduct, speech and faith.

May we step out of the boat. May we be brave enough to believe in the extraordinary and the supernatural. Let us not be confined and be limited to this world, but let our lives be defined and moulded by a God of the impossible and the miraculous!

Empowered for signs, wonders and miracles

Listen to what the Lord said to His disciples (and keep in mind He is speaking to believers) in Mark 16: 15 And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach and publish openly the good news (the Gospel) to every creature [of the whole human race]. 16 He who believes [who adheres to and trusts in and relies on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth] and is baptized will be saved [from the penalty of eternal death], but he who does not believe [who does not adhere to and trust in and rely on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth] will be condemned. 17 And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages; 18 They will pick up serpents; and [even] if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well.

Glory to God! Jesus commanded His disciples to preach the good news openly without fear. And what happened when the disciples did exactly as the Lord commanded? Signs and wonders followed! There was a great move of the Spirit! There was revival! There was salvation! There was healing and deliverance! Why? BECAUSE THEY OPENLY PREACHED THE TRUTH OF GOD WITHOUT FEAR OF MAN OR WHAT MAN WILL SAY OR THINK OF THEM! SIGNS FOLLOWED BECAUSE THEY STOOD UP FOR GOD AND NOT THE WORLD!

Take a look again at Mark 16. We are not called to run after signs, wonders and miracles. Signs and wonders, such as healing and deliverance follow the true disciple of God, for God’s power will flow through them to fulfil the purpose of the message. Signs and wonders follow the disciples who are sold out for God, who seek Him, who want to become more sensitive to His Spirit, and who yearn for His Presence. Such disciples must remain humble, pure of heart, and completely yielded to God. We may live in perilous and intense times of danger and threats, but intense also will be the power of God working through His disciples! After all, Revelation 1:20 reminds us that the stars are held in Jesus’ right hand, which reminds us that the Lord Himself protects, upholds, and guides those who serve Him with His strength and wisdom.

A disciple follows Jesus. This in a nutshell is what a disciple is all about. It says in Matthew 4: 19 Then He said to them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 They immediately left their nets and followed Him. Thus a disciple is called to follow the Lord, never man, or any other idea, philosophy, religion, mind-set or way. For when we follow the Lord, we follow in His Way, for He is the Way, Truth and Life. This is what it means to be a disciple. To follow. Thus to follow what Jesus says, and does. To follow in His Path. And those who believe, therefore, follow, shall know the supernatural path of God.

A disciple does not determine the path or the scope or way of the narrow road, but the disciple follows and listens. It is written in Psalm 63:8: My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me. And this is how it should be for the disciple, keeping so close to the Lord that your very soul is close behind Him. Thus your will, your mind and your heart must be in step with the Lord, under His shadow, guarded and submitted to His Lordship. Such is the nature of the disciple. This is the reality of Psalm 119: Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. God is our light, so as we stay close to Him, He shall guide and direct our every steps.

It also says in Proverbs 15:9: The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but He loves him who follows righteousness. So