Four Aspects of Making Disciples

(continued)

Listen to Audio #8

IV. Building

Building means making a permanent difference which will produce a life-long

lifestyle.

A. Paul speaks to Timothy’s character.

I Timothy 4:12-16 (KJV):

Vs. 12: “Let no man despise thy youth, but be thou an example of the
believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”

Vs. 13: “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to

doctrine.”

Vs. 14: “Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by
prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.”

Vs.15: “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them that thy
profiting may appear to all.”

Vs. 16: “Take heed unto thyself and unto the doctrine; continue in them;
for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee.”

1. Character is not a matter of age.

Job 32:8,9 (LB): “But it is not mere age that makes men wise, rather, it is
the spirit in a man; the breath of the Almighty which makes him
intelligent.”

Character in a godly life must be developed.

Colossians 1:6 (Phillips): “This is the gospel itself, which has reached you
as it spreads all over the world. Wherever that Gospel goes, it produces
Christian character, and develops it, as it has done in your own case from
the time you first heard and realised the truth of God’s grace.”

Titus 1:1, 2 (LB): “I have been sent to bring faith to those God has chosen
and to teach them to know God’s truth - the kind of truth that changes

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lives - so that they can have eternal life, which God promised them before
the world began-and He cannot lie.”

2. How we talk is a dead giveaway (I Timothy 4:12).

3. Character expresses itself in conduct (I Timothy 4:12).

I Thessalonians 4:7 (KJV) : “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness,
but unto holiness.”

I Peter 1:15, 16 (KJV): “But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye

holy in all manner of conversation. Because it is written, Be ye holy, for I
am holy.”

4. A godly character has godly attributes (I Timothy 4:12).

5. Godly character needs to be fed (I Timothy 4:13).

6. Character is developed along the lines of spiritual gifts (I Timothy

4:14).

a. Everyone has at least one spiritual gift.

Hebrews 2:4 (LB): “God always has shown us that these messages
are true by signs and wonders and various miracles and by giving
certain special abilities from the Holy Spirit to those who believe.
Yes, God has assigned such gifts to each of us.”

I Corinthians 12:7 (KJV) : “But the manifestation of the Spirit is

given to every man to profit with all.”

b. No one has all the gifts.

I Corinthians 12:28-30 (KJV): “And God hath set some in the

church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; after that
miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of
tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are
all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? Do all speak
with tongues? Do all interpret?

c. How to help a man discover his gifts:

1. What does he like to do?

2. What does he do well?
3. How do others see him?

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 7. Wholeheartedness is a mark of godly character (I Timothy 4:16).

8. Godly character must be protected (I Timothy 4:16).

Matthew 26:41 (KJV) : “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation;
the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

I Corinthians 16:13 (KJV): “Watch, stand fast in the faith, quit you like
men, be strong.”

9. The root from which godly character springs is the thought life (I
Timothy 4:16).

Proverbs 4:23 (KJV) : “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are
the issues of life.”

Proverbs 4:23 (Williams): “Be careful how you think. Your life is shaped
by your thoughts.”

Ephesians 4:23, 24 (KJV):”And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in right-
eousness and true holiness.”

Romans 12:2 (KJV): “And be not conformed to this world, but be ye

transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is
good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of

God.”

10. Godly character takes daily choices (I Timothy 4:16).

Luke 9:23 (KJV): “And He said to them all, If any man will come after
Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

B. We never know if building is real until they are away from us.

C. Building usually takes time, exposure, and sensitivity.

D. Building begins with clearing away the debris.

Jeremiah 1:10 (KJV): “See, I have this day set thee over the nations and
over the kingdoms to root out and to pull down and to destroy and to
throw down, to build and to plant.

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 1. Root out-bitterness, hostility, fear.

Hebrews 12:15 (KJV): “Looking diligently lest any root of bitterness

springing up trouble you, and by it many be defiled.”

2. Pull down-idols.

Hosea 10:2 (KJV): “Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty.
He shall break down their altars, He shall spoil their images.”

3. Destroy-bad responses.

Philippians 4:11 (20th Century New Testament).

4. Throw down-ungodly imaginations.

II Corinthians 10:3-5 (KJV): “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not

war after the flesh (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but
mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds), Casting down
imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the
knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the
obedience of Christ.”

Proverbs 23:7 (KJV): “As a man thinketh in his heart so is he.”

E. Clearing away debris involves rebuke.

Ezekiel 3:20 (LB): “And if a good man becomes bad, and you refuse to
warn him of the consequences, and the Lord destroys him, the previous
good deeds won’t help him-He shall die in his sin. But I will hold you
responsible for his death, and punish you.”

Rebuke is only viable when the relationship is solid. The person must
know that you love him, and that you’re pointing out problems not to be
critical but to be helpful.

Proverbs 28:23 (KJV) : “He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find
more favor than he that flattereth with the tongue.”

1. II Timothy 4:2 (KJV) : “Preach the Word, be instant in season and out
of season. Reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”

a. Reprove. To expose something in his life, and for him to

develop conviction over it as sin.

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 b. Rebuke-to “Bawl him out” for getting in such a shape or
situation.

c. Exhort-this is always connected with the future, not the past, and
is designed to help correct the problem. Exhortation aims at
producing the right effect in changing a life.

d. The scripture is adequate in doing all of these things.

II Timothy 3:16 (KJV): “All scripture is given by inspiration of

God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness.”

2. Five principles of rebuke.

There always needs to be a proper balance between love and rebuke.

a. If you love a man, you will rebuke him. But it is a two-way

street. He must be committed to you, but you must commit
yourself to him.

b. Find out why he isn’t doing it. Basically, there are two reasons.

1. Rebellion.

2. He doesn’t see it.

c. Rebuke on the basis of impression, not accusation.

d. Have his best interests at heart.

e. Always rebuke from the Word of God.

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F. Planning new structure is also a part of building.

Three helpful questions to ask yourself:

1. What does he need?

2. How can he get it?

3. How will I know when he has it?

G. Every man is different.

We must determine who he is, and where he is before we can help him.

I Thessalonians 5:11-14 (KJV): “Wherefore, comfort yourselves together,

and edify one another, even as also ye do. And we beseech you, brethren,
to know them who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and
admonish you. And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s
sake. And be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren,
warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak,
be patient toward all men.”

1. Who are spiritual leaders (I Thessalonians 5:12, 13)?

a. Those who labor among you.

b. Those who are over you in the Lord.

c. Those who admonish you.

2. How to treat different men (I Thessalonians 5:14).

a. The idle-admonish. Those who are lazy, unruly.

I Samuel 15:23 (KJV): “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,

and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry . . .”

b. The fainthearted or timid-encourage.

c. The weak-help them.

d. Be patient with all men.

H. Building can be specific.

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Men need help in:

1. Making decisions.

I Kings 18:21 (KJV): “And Elijah came unto all the people and said, How
long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow Him. But if
Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.”

God expects our “yes” to be “yes” and our “no” to be “no”.

II Corinthians 1:17, 18 (LB): “Then why, you may be asking, did I change
my plan? Hadn’t I really made up my mind yet? Or am I really like a man
of the world who says ‘yes’ when he really means ‘no’? Never! As surely
as God is true, I am not that sort of person. My ‘yes’ means ‘yes’.

a. Life is made up of choices.

b. Indecisiveness may reveal

1. Immaturity.

Proverbs 17:24 (Williams): “A mature man knows the wise

thing to do, but an immature person can never decide.”

2. A lack of facts.

3. A fear of consequences or people.

II Timothy 1:7 (KJV): “For God hath not given us the spirit
of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

4. Lack of convictions.

Colossians 2:8 (KJV) : “Beware, lest any man spoil you

through philosophy and vain deceit after the tradition of
man, after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ.”

Ephesians 4:14 (KJV) : “That we henceforth be no more

children tossed to and fro and carried about with every
wind of doctrine by the slight of men and cunning
craftiness whereby they lie and wait to deceive.”

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 5. A lack of faith.

Romans 14:23 (KJV): “And he that doubteth is damned if

he eat, because he eateth not of faith; for whatever is not of
faith is sin.”

c. Four helpful thoughts when indecisive:

1. God wants me to know His will.

2. Do I know it? If so, I should trust Him and act on it.

3. Am I trying to find it out? If not, I am kidding myself.

4. Have I found it out? If so, get busy and trust Him.

d. Six insights toward decisiveness:

1. Get the facts.

Proverbs 23:23 (LB): “Get the facts at any price, and hold
on tightly to all the good sense you can get.”

2. Face the facts.

Proverbs 14:8 (LB): “The wise man looks ahead. The fool
attempts to fool himself and won’t face facts.”

3. Plan ahead.

Proverbs 16:9 (LB): “We should make plans-counting on

God to direct us.”

Proverbs 11:14 (NEB): “For want of skillful strategy, an

army is lost. Victory is the fruit of long planning.”

4. Think through.

Proverbs 22:3 (LB): “A prudent man

foresees the difficulties ahead, and prepares for them. The

simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.”

Proverbs 14:15 (Berkeley): “The simple believes every

word, but the man of insight makes sure of where he is
going.”

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 5. Make a decision.

I Corinthians 14:8 (KJV) : “For if the trumpet give an

uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?”

6. Do it now.

Get the facts NOW. Face the facts NOW. Plan ahead
NOW. Think through NOW. Make a decision NOW. Do it
NOW.

2. A positive outlook

Philippians 4:18 (KJV): “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,

whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever
things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of
good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on
these things.”

3. Perserverence.

4. Relating to business associates.

5. Relating to the church.

In building, your own life is the greatest tool.

I. Marks of the Spiritual Man

1. The desire to be holy rather than happy.

I Thessalonians 4:3 (F.F. Bruce Paraphrase)

2. The desire to see the honor of God advance through his life, even if it
means he himself must suffer temporary dishonor or loss.

I Corinthians 10:31 (KJV): “Whether, therefore, ye eat, or drink, or

whatever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

3. The desire to carry his cross.

John 16:33 (KJV): “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye
might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good
cheer; I have overcome the world.”

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 II Timothy 3:12 (KJV): “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus
shall suffer persecution.”

4. He sees everything from God’s point of view.

Colossians 1:9, 10 (Phillips): “We are asking God that you may be filled
with such wisdom and that you may understand His purpose. We also pray
that your outward lives, which men see, may bring credit to your master’s
name, and that you may bring joy to his heart by bearing genuine Christian
fruit in all that you do, and that your knowledge of God may grow yet
deeper.”

5. He would rather die right, than live wrong.

Daniel 3:16, 17 (KJV): “Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego answered and

said to the king, Oh Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in
this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from
the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
But if not, be it known unto thee, oh King, that we will not serve thy gods,
nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”

6. A willingness to see others advance at his expense.

7. This man habitually makes eternity judgments instead of time

judgments.

Hebrews 11:26 (Phillips): “He considered the ‘reproach of Christ’ more

precious than all the wealth of Egypt. For he looked steadily at the
ultimate reward.”

J. Possible Problems in this Type of Ministry

1. Never turning a man loose.

2. Not trusting them or trusting God in them.

3. Trying to help too many at once.

4. Impatience.

5. Trying to copy others.

6. Being hard-nosed. (Always love a man and never give up on him.)

7. Operating on past experience and training instead of on prayer and faith.

8. Trying to pour everyone into the same mold.

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Some people seem to do quite well on their own, but I need all the help I can get. My
deepest thanks to those who have made this series possible. First, to four of my dear
friends, who insisted that the series of messages on discipleship be put up on the Internet:
Max Barnett, Billie Hanks, Jr., Ford Madison, and Wayne Watts. They never relented.
Second, to Monte Unger, who took the transcriptions and put them into readable form.
Third, to those who read the manuscript and gave such helpful suggestions: Milton
Bryan, and especially Keith Miller, who laboriously and painstakingly went over it line
by line. Fourthly, to my secretary, Marty Townsend Olson, whose patience and
perseverance through the many drafts was a source of consistent encouragement to me.

www.DiscipleshipLibrary.com

*Gene Warr was commissioned in the US Army at age 19, and served as a
reconnaissance platoon leader in an armored division of George Patton’s 3rd Army. After
WWII Gene returned to business life in Oklahoma City where God has used him in an
extensive ministry in speaking, teaching, witnessing and discipling men in North America
and around the world.

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