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Seeds of the Kingdom

Who has got the upper hand?

by David Cross

When you forgive people for what they have done, I forgive them too. For when I forgive - if, indeed, I need to forgive anything - I do it in Christ's presence because of you, in order to keep Satan from getting the upper hand over us; for we know what his plans are.
2 Corinthians 2:10-11, GNB

Let me suggest a simple exercise to help us think about this verse. Hold both hands out in front of you, palms down. Now put the left hand over the right hand, with a little space between them.

The left hand represents the enemy’s rule. The question is: does he have the upper hand in any part of our lives today (represented by the right hand)? How about fears, un-forgiveness or wrong thoughts? If the answer is yes, there is some very good news! The hand of Jesus is well above Satan’s hand and we can bring every part of our lives into the same place as Jesus.

Satan has never had any control over the Son of God, so when we choose to join ourselves to Jesus, by forgiving others or repenting from our own sin, we can receive God’s pardon and be lifted up in those troubled parts of our lives. These places can now move from being underneath the enemy’s rule to being in a place of clear authority, in Christ, over all of Satan’s plans. It’s time to bring the right hand around and firmly above the left!

We know that the enemy wants to keep places of control within us, but we can choose to be with the One who has supreme authority and power over everything. What an amazing God we serve!

Prayer: Father God, show me where the enemy has been getting the upper hand in my life. It’s time to turn things around by the power of Your forgiveness and by standing in my authority in Christ. Amen.

David Cross David is part of the Executive Leadership of Ellel Ministries, with particular responsibility for the Ellel centres in Western Europe. He is married to Denise and they have three grown up children and eight grandchildren. David has been a civil engineer and ski-touring instructor in the Highlands of Scotland. He is passionate about the teaching and practice of the healing and deliverance ministry of Jesus and has written several books: Soul Ties, Trapped by Control, God’s Covering, The Dangers of Alternative Ways to Healing(co-authored with John Berry), an A to Z Guide to the Healing Ministry, What`s Wrong with Human Rights? and, most recently, God`s Way out of Depression. You can follow a daily thought from David on Twitter: @dmcross62

 

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