Progression in Holiness Requires Spiritual and Emotional Boot Camp

There is no progression in holiness if we cannot be honest with ourselves about ourselves. Growth comes from searching our hearts, admitting our flaws with the desire to be changed by Christ.

 
Asking God to change us is key to a relationship with Christ.

Psalm 51:10 "10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."

At the end of the day, we ought to be excited about what God showed us about ourselves, knowing that everything hard to look at about ourselves will produce better character if we obey what we learn.

 
Ezekiel 36:26 "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."

Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?…"

Those who dismiss and reject the training of their parents will not grow or change; they will cling wildly to what is familiar and comfortable to them. Human parents are not perfect, but they have something to offer. When children regularly obey parents out of obligation but not out of love, they will also practice a superficial relationship with Christ. They will dismiss what God says to be comfortable in the world while claiming they are obeying God. They live a life of partial obedience without concern about their own character damage from living a superficial life of disobedience.

 
Many people do this with the Bible; they change what God said to fit their culture, and they dismiss what they don't like by claiming God's commands do not matter in our day.

 
Revelation 3:19
"Those I love I rebuke and discipline. Therefore, be earnest and repent."

1 Corinthians 11:32 "But when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world."

James 1:12 "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him."

James 5:11 "See how blessed we consider those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen the outcome from the Lord. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy."

Discipline is for our training; see it as a spiritual and emotional "boot camp" necessary for our strengthening.

Gossip is a Relationship Killer as Well as a Reputation Killer

Walk as Christ Walked In Truth and Love

Speaking kindly through all things is not only a strength but also a sign of wisdom. Acting rudely and shouting louder does not change the other person's view; it just makes us look foolish.

Proverbs 26:4-5 "4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him. 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.…"

Sometimes the answer to a fool is silence, or removing ourselves!

There are those who think they can intimidate others into respecting them or bowing to them. This is not only foolish but also a sign of weakness; having to force others to agree with you is a clear indication of an infantile mentality. After all, what does a toddler do when they do not get their way? They demand, shout, and cry to get their way.

A wise person removes themselves from those who care little about truth but want to dominate others.

 
Matthew 7:6
"Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces."
Who are the dogs and the swine? They are those who love themselves more than they love truth. They have no love for God and want to ruin the walk of born again believers.

 
2 Timothy 2:23
"But reject foolish and ignorant speculation, for you know that it breeds quarreling."

Proverbs 29:9
"If a wise man goes to court with a fool, there will be raving and laughing with no resolution."

Proverbs 14:7
"Stay away from a foolish man; you will gain no knowledge from his speech."

Proverbs 23:9
"Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words."

Too often, people remain with fools because they are family or someone expects them to remain friends, but it is not wise and will destroy their walk with God.
To grow in holiness and protect our character, we must be companions of wise, loving, kind people. We encourage one another by our attitudes and actions to walk as Christ walked.

 
Proverbs 18:2
"A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions."

A fool will work to make you angry or fall in some way so they can feel better about themselves. They love to watch others fall so they can validate themselves.

 
Proverbs 13:19-21 "…19 Desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but turning from evil is detestable to fools. 20 He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed. 21 Disaster pursues sinners, but prosperity is the reward of the righteous.…"

1 Corinthians 15:33
"Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

Guard your heart by carefully evaluating the character of your close companions. Not that anyone is perfect, but that your friends encourage you in the Word of God and are deeply committed to loving you the way Christ loves us.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you also are doing."

Ephesians 4:29 "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."

Ephesians 4:1-32 "I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism,"