From the desk of Steve Shultz:
Many of you may have read over a long time period now that Denny Cline, who wrote this word, is both my pastor and my friend. I often go to him for counsel, because I need a "discipling" or "mentoring" perspective. So for me, Denny is friend, pastor, mentor, discipler, and I believe he is QUITE PROPHETIC as well. Denny often speaks INTO the lives of many of the great prophetic voices who appear on the ELIJAHLIST, and others as well, and they speak into his life too.
I've seen Denny interpret God's heart right on, year after year, while never claiming for himself that he is always right. He's a regular guy, but a Godly man for the hour. With all that said, Denny "lives" what he is saying below. I believe this word is a true WORD FROM GOD!
By the way, the conference was only a couple months ago, and had great insight from Chuck Pierce, Kimberly Daniels, Dutch Sheets, and Denny Cline, and I opened the conference with what I consider to be one of the most important words I've ever given. I hope you'll buy or download these below:
Denny Cline:
I Received Three Distinct Simple Words: Faith, Discipleship, and Multiplication
At the beginning of this year leading up to the ElijahList conference "What Is God Saying For 2010?", I received three distinct simple words: faith, discipleship, and multiplication.
As I have prayed into this word, all three began exploding in my spirit. I believe we are entering an entire decade of faith that will be an opportunity for the American, and perhaps, the worldwide Body of Christ, to experience and partner with God to see multitudes saved, healed and delivered. But the key is the word in the middle—discipleship.
It is way past time for the Body of Christ to "get over" the memory or fears of mistakes with discipleship from days gone by. Jesus clearly said we are to make disciples (of Him), not just seek converts. There are many in the Church today who have had their sins forgiven, but lack confidence, acceptance, or the boldness to obey Jesus' command because we have neglected it for years.
Go and Make Disciples
Our entire nation could have been predominately following Jesus Christ by now if we had not over reacted to sincere efforts that went overboard on this count. This is a fact not a theory, and it is still not too late to do something about it. We keep waiting for the next outpouring of the Holy Spirit when God is saying, "You have one. Draw near to Me and I will draw near to you. I am here. I am in you. And I am ready to move through you."
In our desire to attract crowds, we have forgotten to spend our treasure in—sowing into the few. What we have done is gotten caught up in addition, when God is ready to multiply. I have felt lovingly admonished by the Holy Spirit that much of our own ministry, while doing good to encourage the Body of Christ, has forgotten the simple command—to make disciples.
We recently prayed over Mike and Lori Salley and a team going from our church to serve with Show Mercy in Uganda. As we did, we prayed for signs and wonders and miracles, including multiplication. They actually were privileged to see food for 50 multiply to feed around 200 children and had pots half-full left over. You can see this on their website (Show Mercy International).
The reason I share the testimony is this—God confirms His word with signs following. Signs point to something. In this case, it's God's desire to partner with His people when they step out in simple obedience to serve, including in the making of disciples. When we do, we will see the results of faith and supernatural multiplication. Here is a simple challenge that is not a theory if taken seriously: True disciples make disciples.
"Go and make disciples...teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."—Matthew 28:19-20
Prepare the Way
Our city population is around 50,000, and our county 100,000. If 100 disciples make 2 disciples in a year, who will then make two the next, and so on—in nine years our entire city would be followers of Jesus. In ten years our entire county would be followers of Jesus. That's not a theory, it's a fact. If you took only 1% of our nation who are true disciples of Jesus and do the same thing, in seven years nearly the entire nation would be following Jesus.
I can hear all the excuses coming back at this idea. I have rehearsed them all. I think stadiums filled with crowds of worshipping saints and signs and wonders sound glorious. But what would be more glorious would be a nation turned to Christ as true followers who are Kingdom oriented Spirit-filled disciples of Jesus Christ. Many of them would go to the nations and do the same thing there. That would truly be the greatest move of God in history. We might even be privileged to be the generation that sees the Gospel preached to every tongue and people group to prepare the way for the second coming of Christ. Too good to be true? Not if we put feet to our faith.
Denny Cline,
Senior Leader at Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Albany and Founder of Elisha Rising
Email: denny@vcfalbany.org
