Therefore, growth in holiness is as much an exercise of growing in repentance. It is to learn to repent quickly and not let sin harbor in our hearts. The holiest man is the man who has learned to repent the quickest. Repentance is an act of obedience and obedience is what Christian maturity is about.

 

Receive Godly Counsel.

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-12)

Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety. (Proverbs 11:14)

…(B)ut exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. (Hebrews 3:13)

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

As Ephesians 4:11-12 states, God has put within His body leaders to give guidance and wisdom that promotes spiritual growth. But pastors and preachers are not the only ones from whom godly counsel can be sought. A Christian brother or sister whose heart is right with the Lord can be the vessel God’s wisdom is imparted to you. We are to exhort one another. It is not just pastors who are to do all the exhorting.