Luke 10:17-20 (ESV Strong's)
17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
We Have Power AND Security!!
Earlier in chapter ten Jesus sends out seventy-two disciples. Here was his instructions to them:
Luke 10:1-12 (ESV Strong's)
1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.
When they return we hear that all that Jesus told them they would accomplish was accomplished. The changes in the lives of others must have been amazing. God changed lives through these seventy-two disciples. They COULD have been boastful about these things. In one sense they were. Yet, Jesus reminds them that even though all these great things happened, the greatest rejoicing should be over the fact not only do they have power for great things, but they also have their names “written in heaven.” The fact that we have power over the enemy through the Spirit and the presence of the Father through the sacrifice of the Son gives us an assurance that is so profound and powerful to think about. Rejoice that God is using us by empowering us and equipping us and keeping us!!!!
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