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- Herausgeber: Riaan Engelbrecht
- Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
- Sprache: Englisch
God is rising up an army that refuses to be silent, who will not flinch in times of trial or tribulation, will not shy away when faced with evil and will not compromise His Truth. Such an army is right now being formed on the earth, the remnant that will arise out of the ruins of religiosity and carnality. They are like the 7000 faithful who God said to Elijah refused to bow the knee before Baal. Yes, this is a dangerous remnant, filled by the Spirit of God, for they will be like the first apostles and disciples. They are dangerous for they are not unsettled by Baal, do not fear man, and laugh along with God who loves His enemies. They are dangerous for they love the truth, and they know the battle belongs to God.
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Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023
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Series of work by the same author:
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Perilous Times
In Pursuit of God
The Holy Spirit
The Disciple of God
Deliverance
Crossroads to Freedom
The Kingdom of God
The Prophetic
Apologetics
End-Time Remnant
Table of Contents
Title Page
A Dangerous Church Vol 1: Faith in a Mighty God (End-Time Remnant, #1)
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 may 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
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 – story of Moses
Stand firm in the true liberty of Christ
Undervaluing the Gospel, overplaying hell
Be dangerous as Covenant-keeping believers
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About the Author
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 may 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
Be dangerous as Covenant-keeping believers
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 itself 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 was 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 was 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, that 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 empires 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 victory, but we experience even more victory when God uses our hardships to turn them 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 were 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 come 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-edged 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 stood with God. And despite all the obstacles, they remained dangerous, just as Daniel remained dangerous to the Babylonian Empire!
Let the true dangerous Bride of God arise
MANY YEARS AGO, THE Lord showed me two important visions. This first was of a battlefield. This was shown in 2008. The battlefield was a large open field surrounded by trees. I could see the forces of darkness on the one side, and on the other, I knew this was the Church ready to engage in conflict. I also knew this was not some sort of physical end-time battle, but simply a reality of the continuing spiritual war (Ephesians 6).
I watched from a lofty position how these two ‘forces’ engaged on the battlefield. And to my horror, I watched as the army of darkness (a better term I cannot find) started winning! I watched in shock as the Church on the field was overrun and driven back! How could this be? And then, to my surprise, I heard a loud trumpet and I watched as a different army emerged from the trees surrounding the field. I saw mighty warriors joining the battle. These were not angels, but mortals ready to engage in the fight. Mesmerized I watched as the army of darkness faltered and started losing ground.
And as I watched the Lord spoke that those on the battlefield were not the true Bride of Christ. They appeared pious and godly, yet as 2 Timothy 3 says they “deny the power”. I immediately understood some are right now playing ‘church’, yet who do to walk in the full authority, power and glory of God. They carry the title of Christian but not God in their hearts. It is the reality of “Matthew 7:21 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
After all, for a long time we have seen how the church has become tainted by the world, introducing heresies, flirting with idolatry, openly rebelling against God and allowing secularism into her midst. It is the reality of Ezekiel 8 all over again. No one can truly deny that the church has opened its doors to witchcraft, and we see this reality in the form of divination poses as prophecy. There is so much flesh in the church these days and far too little Spirit of God!
For a church of the flesh and elfish ideals hold no danger to the enemy, just like Saul held no danger for Goliath. It is a church of compromise and one that is but lukewarm. It is the reality of apostasy as spoken out in 2 Thessalonians 2, for God’s order, truth and will have been so often replaced by man’s ways, will and truth. And then there is the Bride of God, which is strong in the world as the remnant. These are the sons and daughters who have forsaken all, even religion and traditions, to fight on the side of the Lamb. They walk in the true authority and power of God. They shall not be driven back. They shall not be overcome or compromised. They serve God and God alone, and they are the dangerous ones as David was a danger to the giant.
When the Lord showed me the vision, He said at this moment (this was in 2008) that the army of darkness was engaged in a fight with an army of bulk and quantity. Yet as the enemy of darkness toil and fight in their vain grandeur, they do not know that the foe they are driving back is not yet the true and great army of the Lord, called the Bride of God. This great army still needs to be deployed and brought into battle (and I believe this has been happening more over the last decade).
For the time will come says the Lord when the true army of the Lord will be deployed and the true army of the Lord will show up on the battlefield (again, I believe this has been happening throughout the world as religion, traditions and legalisms in the church is being shaken to its core). Yet for now, the Lord has kept this army hidden, almost away from the eye of the enemy. Just in the days of a great battle and in the days of great glory when the great commanders used brilliant strategy to defeat the enemy, so does the Lord, who is the greatest of all commanders, work. For just in the days of great battles, great commanders would employ their greatest men and warriors in the most glorious of ways, causing them to appear out of nowhere, unexpected, causing the enemy to harbour a false sense of victory.
To understand this, picture a battlefield where the current warriors do battle, yet they are driven back for these are the ones who have not yet fully given their lives to the Lord and they are undecided and full of doubt and fear. Yet just when the enemy deems their victory is assured and their glory is secure, then from the forest and the valleys and the mountains, at the greatest and the most perfect of timing, the army of the Lord will rush into battle.
This is the true warriors, the true watchmen and the leaders - it is the ace in the pack of cards, the coup de grace, the zenith of power – this army will pour forth like the hammer of God with the thunder of the Lord in their heart. They are now waiting in the wings.
For now says the Lord the enemy is not yet aware of this great and true army of disciples who have forsaken their old ways and who have denied themselves to the glory of God. They will rush in as the Spirit rushes upon them to fulfil the Great Commission and engage in true spiritual warfare as outlined in 2 Corinthians 10. Yet the enemy is unaware for the Lord has kept His greatest force hidden (but not so anymore in the year 2021) and they have almost been veiled from the enemy’s eyes. For as the enemy now fights, it believes it is winning, yet it is unaware of the moment of glory when the forces of light charge in. This is not the physical Armageddon; this is the true and great spiritual battle. This is the battle to bring those into the obedience of truth and in alignment with the King’s covenant. This is the battle for souls and glorifying the King.
This is truly the charge of the light brigade says the Lord. Yet, unlike the failed military charge of the light brigade involving the British against Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava in the Crimean War, this charge of the remnant and thus the disciples, who seek no other king, shall not fail in utter defeat. For unto God belongs the battle! Yet for now, the great warriors and the great sons and daughters are veiled and placed in positions so that they will not draw the greatest of attention (it is a time of preparation that is coming to fruition). The power we believe we see and feel is held back, only to be released like never before at the appointed hour. The enemy is for now distracted and is unaware of the rush of glory.
But the time is arriving for the Lord to show His true hand. Thus hear the Lord ... we determine events and flow of battles in the spiritual realm according to Revelation. This must not say the Lord for man does not understand and man is only kept in a state of confusion when they do this.
For this and only this man has to understand: there will come a time when the darkness will be the greatest, just as darkness is greatest in the early hours of the morning. This is the time when the enemy will truly believe he has won and defeated the army on the battlefield. This is the time of the enemy’s greatest moment of pride and arrogance. Yet, before the dawn and full glory, there is a time when the darkness slowly breaks and light prevails. So it shall be. After the great darkness, the army of the Lord will appear on the battlefield, unveiled, full of power and glory, and then comes the greatest of dawns as the Son of the Lord, the first begotten, appears.
This is the spiritual battle. Understand that this is all spiritual and all of this is magnificent. For the army of the Lord will appear on the battlefield robed in the splendour of fire. It was shown that in the spiritual realm, there will be the sound of the ram’s horn when the true army will rise with power and their influence will be felt in every city and every town and every village and nation.
At this moment and time before the coming of the Lord, there will be such a manifestation of the Lord’s power and glory of earth. It will be a time of grace and mercy. It will be a time when the darkness will be struck by the power of the Lord and it will be a time for man to choose and it will be time for man to decide in the spiritual valley. There will be such magnificence display of power yet this army, which the Lord raises for this very purpose of riding into the world with a shout of glory, is not one of mass or bulk but of quality and splendour, refined by fire and trial and test.
It was shown that as this army comes pouring down the mountains onto the battlefield, bursting through the forest and charging over the valley floor, the fire of the Lord goes before them. The Lord Himself will ride ahead in every battle and every situation as the fire falls and the earthquakes and the mountains roar.
This is the time of great revival and where streams of life pour onto man. Yet there is the decision. For darkness will cower and darkness will tremble for the angels of the hosts of heaven will ride alongside the sons and daughters. They will be there where every word is preached, where every prophetic movement is felt, where healing is done, and where deliverance shakes the gates of hell.
For this world and the heavenly and the dominions of darkness will feel the full force of the sons and daughters when in their finest of hours they seek to take back what the enemy has stolen. Then the Bride will arise, then revival will break forth as the world awaits the coming of the Son. Yet the appointed time and the appointed season in duration is not known.
For those who have ever watched The Three Musketeers, they will understand. The musketeers, based on a story, were the three greatest defenders of truth and justice in France and these swordsmen were faced with greater opposition when their values were compromised by the king himself. In a modern film version of this movie, the Lord reminded me of the end of the film when these three musketeers wished to restore the order of things. Yet they faced the larger number of musketeers who had fallen from their purpose and who defended a perverted cause. The noble musketeers wore blue and the others red. Towards the end, a secret call went out, initiated by the three noble musketeers, for all those who still believe in truth and justice to again pick up their swords and join them to defeat those who wear the red coats. Suffice it to say, that many saw the secret signal displayed throughout France. What was so amazing was how the film depicted how these other true musketeers had been veiled from the eyes of the enemy.
They had become ordinary merchants and also peasants (so it seemed). Yet, when they got the call, they retrieved their blue cloaks from numerous hiding places. Then, in the showdown, as the three musketeers faced a huge army of red coats at the palace, believing no one had heard the call, then out of nowhere a great host of blue coats arrived. And these blue coats were the true musketeers, better trained, nobler, more powerful and easily drove the foe back.
This is the same scenario – the true force is unveiled yet when that calls come their true colours will be shown and it will be a gathering of the dangerous. It will be a gathering of the mighty. Fire is in their mouth and eyes. It burns and consumes. It brings life and miracles flow around them.
For this we have to understand: While the great force is partly kept from view, wherever they are right now, they are being prepared, trained and equipped like never before. Wherever the Lord places us, it can be for no other purpose than refining as allegiances and alliances are forged. Some are placed even now in strategic places to be revealed at the right time. But whatever the case, for every son and daughter called to arms in whatever form or mode, all that must be done in obedience to Him every second of every day. Jesus is the great commander and the day of dawn is coming. Let us not be over-anxious or fearful, but we need to be patient and willing to listen to His voice, for there are seasons of battle, marching, camping and training.
When the dark army believes it has defeated its enemy, then into their midst rushes the great host of earth accompanied by the great host of heaven. Many lives will be saved. The Bride will gather. The spiritual city was cleansed and prepared. Battle lines are being drawn and troops prepared by the enemy, yet still, the apostate church sits and rolls in its iniquity and simony. Too many are blinded by false teachings, guided by those teaching out of the spirit of God. They are faced with a choice, to renounce their false teachings and march with God; or to fall. How many know that war is brewing, is already happening, between God’s people and satan?
Through coming closer to God, things shall be revealed, glory shall be given to God and at the same time, battle shall be waged against evil forces. God wants us at His feet so that when the time comes to march with his army, we can and shall do so. That time has come.
In a second vision, I was standing high on a cliff watching in the distance as great darkness was rolling in. Down in the valley, I saw many tents pitched, and I knew this as the Church, or shall we call it the army of God. Being fully aware of the looming danger, I ran down the mountain to the valley to the tents. What I found was shocking. In the one tent was a man sleeping.
I also witnessed how the man who was sleeping had grown fat. I looked at the man’s weapons. I could see the sword was not sharp, the shield was not oiled and everything was in disarray. I knew this was the situation in many tents and among many of these warriors. I also understood this spoke of the condition of many churches, being the tents, and of many servants of God who had fallen asleep spiritually.
There is a state of disorder in churches. A lack of preparation, training and staying alert. Read 1 Thessalonians 4 and 5. I understood their spiritual armour has received very little attention, and they were hardly allowing themselves to be equipped or trained by the Holy Spirit or by the Word of God. They had simply grown spiritually fat and lazy, always feeding and devouring, but never ready for any sort of real action or service.
As I watched, I heard a ram’s horn announcing great danger had arrived. I watched as this sleeping man tried to arise and when he did, I knew he was hardly prepared for the enemy. He had forgotten how to use the sword (a life yielded to the Spirit), or how to wield the shield (a life of faith). The breastplate has become rusted (a life of righteousness discarded), the belt was hanging loose (truth trampled upon) and even the helmet was hard to find (for many Christians had forgotten who they are in Christ). It was indeed a sorriest and appalling sight.
