The Vision for Kingdom Way

I know the bulletin says I would be speaking on Hearing and obeying, but As I was preparing that message this week, God reminded me of a stiring He laid on my heart a while ago

I normally share the vision for our Church every January, This year I did not do that,

And with the addition of so many new people in the last few months, I feel its important for us to all be on the same page

It probably helps those of us who have been around awhile to refresh ourselves on what were supposed to be doing here

Including myself

Its very easy to get off course and distracted by the ordinary

But God has never called us to be ordinary

In fact every one of you is extra ordinary

God has plans for this assembly that will change this world.

I believe that with my whole being

Yes I recognise we are a small church compared to many

But I am reminded how God throughout the Bible

GOD USES SMALL THINGS TO ACCOMPLISH GREAT PURPOSES.

We have grown up to believe we are limited by what we have

If we don’t have it in our hand....we can’t do it. In every area accept credit....

But I think its important for us to realize we have the resources of heaven at our disposal!

Look at the Bible

Gideon....the least of the least of the least. and he freed a nation

David…a lowly shepherd, not even considered by his father to be worthy, He created a dynasty

God used a little boys lunch to feed thousands

Story after story throughout the Bible God uses the seemingly useless to change the course of history.

Why?

I believe its because He receives a greater glory from it.

think about it.

If David was a seasoned warrior The same size and strength of Goliath, fully decked out in the best armour...what Glory would God receive from it? At very least the story would not be very notable

But who David was totally changes the narrative

Because he went out as an untrained boy with nothing more than a sling, His victory could only be brought about by God

So God gets all the glory.

I believe its better to be undersuited but willing to be used by God

rather than totally equiped and confident in ones own ability.

I know what I’m called to do.....What this Church is called to do..... is far beyond our ability.

I’m OK with that. I know God alone can do it, and that’s how he will get the greatest glory from our lives!

So let’s stop looking at who we are, or what we have. Let’s agree to instead look at the task God has put before us.

The task set before us is bigger than we can accomplish alone

Who willing to join me!

Well before you answer that let show you what you are in for!

by the way my desire to lead this church to change the world, is not just in my head.

Steve Backlund from Bethel prophesied over me the same thought

Video Steve Backlund Prophesy #2 1:10

One thing that is important for you to know about me is I am Vision lead

I have had visions starting as early as the age of 12,

When I was young I didn’t know they were visions, I just though I was a day dreamer

It wasn’t until those day dreams starting coming true that I recognized God was speaking to me.

One of the most memorable visions I realized was when I was on an exchange trip to Quebec in 1992

A group of us were sitting in the room, and while we were talking I felt I had already been in this conversation before.

It was not possible, as I had just met many of these people, and I was in a completely foreign place

I made the asinine statement. We’ve already had this conversation.

They laughed at me, but I said in a moment this person is going to come into the room and say.....

10 seconds later that’s exactly what happened. the girl walked into the room and and spoke the exact words I said she would say

At the time we chalked it up as DejaVu

it wasn’t till later I realized God was trying to teach me something

Since that time I have had many visions, some have come true, some have not.

One thing I am certain of is

Kingdom Way Church of Edmonton is going to change the world!

Who’s with me!

now the question is How we gonna do that?

How are we going to change the world?

Well we going to start small, and then grow it big

no I mean really big

really really really big

Now before you get rattled and say I don’t want a big church

thinking to yourself I like a small church

All I can say is if you want a small church, your not going to like heaven!

let that soak in for a bit.

In fact if a church is healthy it should grow. now I’m not talking about transfer growth. Simple people moving from one church to another

I’m talking about bringing people into the Kingdom

through discipleship.

Matthew 28:18–20 NASB95

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Ever since I started pastoring I knew the importance of Discipleship

One of 1 first series I ever preached was called Fishers of Men, not keepers of Aquariums

unfortunately, I never took my own advice

I realized a year ago I was looking at it all wrong and as a result I became a keep of the aquarium

back then I had this misconceived arrogant notion

We would run discipleship classes to teach everyone how to live for Jesus

I created binders and binders of curriculum

Now I realize how foolish that is

I now know discipleship is a lifelong journey that can only be carried out through relationship.

Vision of Heaven

· Allow me to paint a picture of a message I received from the Lord at the end of 2016

· As I lay awake in my bed attempting to fall asleep God revealed to me His plan to make my dreams come true

· As I lay in my bed I could sense a real tangible presence of the Lord

· It was a type of vision that I never received before. Usually they happen in moments but this one actually took hours

· It was like watching a TV screen yet I could control what I saw on the screen it was quite a surreal experience

· It starts with me in a white room and this glory that filled the whole space was so peaceful and yet powerful at the same time.

· This figure approach me but I cannot make out his face because he was veiled but everything about him glowed I immediately knew who he was

· As He called my name I was filled with this overwhelming sense of joy peace and fulfillment

· The discussion began with Him asking a simple question:

· "Shawn what did you do with the life I gave you"

· Immediately my life flashed before my eyes and I could recount every moment that took place some good some not so good. Past Present Future things that were, things that are, things that are to come

· certain parts of my life became highlighted and I was finally able to speak

· Lord you know that I've dedicated my life to serving you,

· I've sacrificed, I've given of myself,

· I've done my best to honor you and to represent you here on the earth.

· Yes I know there's times I failed but that was never my intent

· I then began to list all of my accomplishments:

· Even as a teenager I stood up for you in a school that did not honour your name

· I quit University so that I could follow your call into the ministry

· I went to Bible college so I could better serve your people

· I began serving as a pastor when I was 19 years old

· I've faithfully carried out that office for over two decades

· I was a youth pastor where I helped Parents guide the next generation

· I led worship helping people to worship you and enter into your presence

· I preached faithfully your word never trying to distort it

· I saw you heal hundreds of people through me

· I helped the homeless

· I lead a deliverance ministry where I saw dozens and dozens of people set free from demonic possession

· I know I never raise the dead but that never stopped my from trying

· I fed the orphans

· I raise my children in your ways

· I tried love my wife as you loved the church

· I showed love to my enemies

· I was careful not to judge others

· I spent time in prayer

· My spent time in your word

· I was quick to forgive

· I did my best to keep all of your commandments

· After what seemed to be an eternity of Listing All My kingdom accomplishments one by one.

· There was a pause my heart began to leap with anticipation waiting to hear the words that every true disciple of Jesus longs to hear

· “well done good and faithful servant”

· But the anticipation was cut short when Jesus asked another question

· He started out by saying yes those are all good things that I asked you to do but what about my biggest charge to you

· I responded though I can't believe I forgot to mention that,

· but you know as well as I do that I that hundreds of people in a prayer of repentance bring them into your kingdom

· At the very moment I quit speaking a new vision popped into my mind it was a vision of a lady walking up to a house holding hands with another lady

· she put the key in the lock open the door, ushered the other woman into the house,

· sat her down on the bench in the foyer of the house.

· And then went about cleaning up the house she was studious she was detailed she's working very hard, but the woman on the bench just sat there bewildered and what she should be doing

· should she get up and help ?

· should she go do something else ?

· should she just sit there and wait ?

· should she get up and leave and go back from where she came?

· I immediately understood the meaning of this vision

· the First Lady represented the church and how we bring people into the kingdom by having them say a simple prayer.

· And then we get busy doing whatever we are doing and leave the new believer to fend for themselves

· Jesus then said to me

· “I told you to make disciples

· my entire ministry on earth I demonstrated to you on how to make disciples

· my final words I spoke while on the earth was a culmination of everything I intended you to do

· Make disciples

I was obviously impacted by this vision, more than you could know,

Remember what I said at the beginning

The task set before us is bigger than we can accomplish alone

God is not calling this Church to make a few disciples,

not even 100 or a 1000

not even a million or 10 million

God wants this church to bring in 100 million disciples before He returns for His bride

I know you thinking what I was thinking.

There’s not even 100 million people in Canada

let alone Edmonton

That’s how I know we are going to change the world

If you want to know how I got the idea for 100 million disciples Ask me sometime

It took God over 8 months of repeating it over and over again to get it into my head!

I realize I may not be the fastest learner.

God is going to use this church to make disciples all around the world!

Anyone think I’m crazy yet?

Just wait we’re just getting started!

How are we going to make 100 million disciples?

excellent question!

It actually very easy to do in mathmatical terms using multiplication

let me show you!

Let say we have 60 people who dedicate themselves to discipling 1 person this year

Knowing that disciple begat disciples

You know your a disciple because you are making a disciple.....

Next year we’d have

1-120

The next year 240

3-480

4-960

5- 1920

6- 3840

7- 7680

8- 15360

9- 30720

10- 61440

11- 122880

12- 245760

13- 491520

14- 983040

15- 1,966,080

16- 3,932,160

17- 7,864,320

18 - 15,728,640

19 - 31,457,280

20 - 62,914,560

21 - 125, 829,120

21 years if only each of us bring 1 person into the Kingdom per year!

If Each of us would reach 3 people/ year it would take a little over 13 years to bring 100 million people in the Kingdom

It is my intent that we as a church carry out the Great commission

Back to our question

How are we going to make 100 million Disciples?

Relationship

The Cross, vertical- God; Horizontal other people

A. God. Its not about religion, but rather relationship

John 15:15 NASB95

“No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.

This begins and ends with hearing God’s voice, and obeying what He tells you to do!

Eg lady who calls bimonthly to hear what God

John 10:27 NASB95

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;

It also includes encountering His presence,

through worship

Through altar ministry

Through preaching and teaching

B. We are called to have a relationship with God, and each other

1 Corinthians 12:18 NASB95

But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.

As a Church we are beginning to focus on fellowship.

Every morning 1/2 h

Monthly fellowship events

Jesus Dinners

Home group

Your not in this alone

Part 2

Intro

Last week I reminded you of the Vision I have for this Church

As our name suggests, we are all about building God’s Kingdom here on earth

You might say Our job is to point to people the Way to the Kingdom

We are not building our own earthly empire

The goal is not to simply make Kingdom Way a Mega church

but rather build the Kingdom anywhere we have influence

Yes its true, at first my Vision may sound unrealistic

How could 1 man possible think bringing 100,000,000 into the kingdom is a rationale thought.

Well it’s not!

But it’s what we are going to do

last week I put forth how truly easy It can be if everyone get’s on board with it.

If 60 people each decide they are going to bring 1 person per year into the Kingdom, and disciple them, In a little over 20 years this church would reach over 100 million people.

Now I’ve been here for almost 24 years. I look forward to the next 20!

But I don’t really believe it going to take that long.

Why? Because of the Power of the Holy Spirit in our lives!

So The question I Have for you is this

Who you gonna bring!

Let’s look at it this way.

Revelation 19:6–9 NASB95

Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. “Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ ” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.”

Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’

If your are a disciple of Jesus Christ your are already invited!

So let me ask the question again.

Who you gonna bring!

You get to deliver the invitation to the greatest Party creation will ever see

Luke 15:7 NASB95

“I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Luke 15:10 NASB95

“In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

If All of heaven celebrates when 1 sinner comes to repentance

What is it going to be like when all God’s kids come home?

I can only imagine, being able to imagine that

So again Who you gonna bring?

Who is God talking to you about inviting to the Marriage supper of the lamb?

2. The only way to truly obey God is to partner with Him to accomplish His will

John 14:15 NASB95

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

After Jesus gave His disciples the great commission, He gave them another command

Acts 1:4–5 NASB95

Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Jesus gave them a mission, then gave them the How to accomplish the mission

Through Holy Spirit

Now I believe every true believer knows they are to make disciples

When you hear good news, you naturally what to share it

Eddie & Evelyne had their baby on Valentines day

This is true for everyone.

But where I believe the Church is failing is in teaching people how to partner with Holy Spirit.

I see 3 predominate thoughts in the Universal Church regarding Holy Spirit

People are ignorant/fearful of Holy Spirit and as a result want to have nothing to do with Holy Spirit and His gifts

People become obsessed with the working of Holy Spirit, but its all about them. They just getting filled until they pop! It never translates into reaching the lost

People who partner with the Holy Spirit, and allow themselves to be used to reach a desperate world

I think you know what which thought I desire for this Church

I want to talk about How He empowers us to carry out the great commission

1 Corinthians 12:7–11 NASB95

But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

Spiritual Gifts

A Spiritual Gift is a special divine empowerment bestowed on each believer by the Holy Spirit to accomplish a given ministry God's way according to His grace and discernment to be used within the context of the Body of Christ.

Simplified?

God gives you the tools you need to have to do what He wants you to do!

These tools are called spiritual gifts!

Everyone gets what they need!

There you have it!

Where I see us as a Church going

Part 3

1 Corinthians 12:12–31 NASB95

For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way.

We’re going to spend a lot of time feeding off this passage in the coming months

But allow me to give you a brief overview.

God gave His Church leadership to equip the people for ministry

Ephesians 4:11–13 NASB95

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

Let me ask you a question:

have we all attained to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

No I don’t believe so,

So there is still the need for apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers,

To equip the saints for ministry, and build up the body of Christ

How is this accomplished?

So glad you asked

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