Satan’s Device to Gain an Advantage

2 Corinthians 2:11

Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

God warns there is a device Satan uses to gain an advantage over the believer. To gain an advantage means to gain a strategic position that helps Satan to win over us. For instance, when I played basketball in high school, we were taught how to block out an opponent by the basket so that we could get the rebound. If we blocked out correctly, it often did not matter that the person behind us was taller than us, because our strategic position gave us an advantage over that taller person.

Likewise, Satan gains an advantage over the believer with one device. Now, it is sad that he gains this advantage over us because we have the tools inside us to win this battle. 1 John 4:4 teaches, Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. There is no way Satan can defeat us if we do right because we have Christ living in us, and Christ living in us is greater than Satan and all his forces.

However, though we have a greater power within us, he can gain an advantage over us by using one device against us, and that device is unforgiveness. You will notice what God says in verse 10, To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Because Paul had the ability to forgive, Satan could not gain advantage of him. Paul was teaching that if he did not forgive, Satan would gain an advantage over him. Satan’s greatest device to gain an advantage against the believer is unforgiveness.

Let me illustrate forgiveness for you. If someone were to take a piece of paper and write on one side a lot of bad things, forgiveness is turning that piece of paper over to give the person who wrote that another chance to write something good on the other side. Forgiveness is refusing to look at the bad someone has done, and giving them a blank sheet of paper to rebuild trust by doing good things. Forgiveness is the teacher throwing away the bad report you wrote, and giving you another chance to write a good report so you can pass it. Anyone can forgive if they are willing to turn the page and give the offender another chance to produce a good report on the blank side of the paper.

However, there is one great key to Satan gaining an advantage over the believer. Paul said, To whom ye forgive any thing… So, you forgave someone in one area, that is commendable, but you must forgive people in every area if Satan is not to gain an advantage on us. This is where many fail. We forgive in most areas, but we fail to forgive in all areas. We turn the page and tell someone to write a good report on the blank side in most areas, but we don't turn the page when we have been hurt deeply. My friend, whenever you don't turn that page, Satan gains an advantage in your life to destroy you.

Let me ask, have you turned the page for those who have hurt you so they can build a good report? Which side of the paper are you focusing on? Stop turning back the page and looking at the bad, but turn the page and never look back. Give people a chance to rewrite a good report for their lives. All Satan needs is one foothold in your life, and he often gains that foothold through unforgiveness. When you choose to forgive all people in every area, you will block Satan from gaining any advantage in your life.