And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity – 2nd Peter 1:5-7).

We diligently seek to progress in the natural realm, such as careers, education, finances, homes, and cars. While most professing Christians do not diligently seek to progress spiritually.

To progress means to advance or develop a more complete understanding of the provisions given to us as Christians (According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue – 2nd Peter 1:3). God wants us to grow spiritually and progress to sanctification. Sanctification is progress; it does not occur overnight.

When we receive salvation, sanctification accompanies salvation when we allow the process. Sanctification means to be set apart for God. God does not set apart someone still dominated by sin’s power because they will not submit themselves to the Lord wholeheartedly. Through our union with Christ, the power of sin is broken. Sin’s presence is not eradicated, but its dominion over the believer is no longer dominant (Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage – Galatians 5:1).

The power of sin was broken at the acception of salvation, but one must understand they have been set free. Don’t think because one accepts salvation that, Satan is willing to let them go; no master wants to release their slave. Satan was our slave master: whoever you serve, that is who you are servant to (Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servant ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or obedience unto righteousness – Romans 6::16)?

We learn about what Jesus has done and completed for us when we read and study the Word of God. When you know who you are, you have a new mindset, which will become Christ’s mind. You will continue living the old lifestyle if you don’t know who you are.

The believer must understand they have become dead to sin and alive to God (Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord – Romans 6:11). Although believers in Christ have died to sin, sin is still a problem. The sin principle is still present and can express itself through our mortal body, which is subject to death. The difference is that sin has no right to reign; Christians have been bought with a price.

If we don’t read the Word of God, we will not know what we’re capable of as Christians. Jesus has empowered us to fight and win every influence Satan would use to try to get us to sin (Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you – Luke 10:19). We have the power to resist Satan by the empowerment of the authority that Jesus has given to us.

Christians don’t have to lie, steal, gossip, cheat, or hold on to unforgiveness and offensives because our Lord has empowered us to resist the influence of Satan. Whatever sin Satan comes with, Jesus has given you the power to resist.

We will begin spiritually progressing when we learn who we are in Christ. As Christians, we can’t live in the old lifestyle and be connected with the Lord; it’s impossible! Every agent of sin will find itself neutralized by the miracle of the new birth; this is why Jesus stated we must be born again (Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God – John 3:5). The empowerment Jesus gives Christians include dominating over the corrupting power of the sin nature, the pull of the world’s system, meddling in the power of darkness and all that is included in regards to the fleshly nature.

We can’t progress spiritually if we’re feeding our spirit, mind, and heart with the things of the world. If we spend most of our time participating with the world, social media, and television and never feeding our spirit, we will never grow spiritually.

Jesus has already conquered Satan; Christians are responsible for progressing toward the things of God spiritually. Jesus will not read your Bible or fast for you; neither will He go to church for you; that’s your responsibility.

We grow spiritually as we have a consistent prayer life. To get to know God, you must commune with Him. Make Him first in the morning, and make Him the last One you talk with before retiring to bed. As you do this, you are spiritually progressing. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you!

The pull of the world’s actions has been destroyed, and our faith in the truth helps us overcome the world. The principalities and powers of darkness were spoiled through the event of the Cross (And having spoiled [disarmed] principalities and powers, He made a show [spectacle] of them openly, triumphing over them in it – Colossians 2:15). Satan will try to influence you that you have to do what you do, but that’s a lie, Jesus has empowered you to live a godly lifestyle. A life that will be pleasing to the Father.

Examine yourself to the Word of God and see if you’re living like a Christian, and if not, all you have to do is ask the Father for forgiveness and ask Him to help you live a life that will be pleasing to Him. When you do this with sincerity, you will begin to progress spiritually.