The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!” ¹⁸ He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. ¹⁹ See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. ²⁰ Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”²¹ At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. ²² All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”  Luke 10:17-22

“Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us.” All of the battles and victories we have over evil are accomplished by the power of Jesus Christ working in and through us. As such, Jesus must have all the praise. We need to fight the urge and power of spiritual pride, which has been the down-fall of many. Jesus rejoiced at the prospect of people coming to faith in G-d, but he also warned his disciples to be humble and to count their blessings and remember from where they have come, and from where their powers to teach, preach and  heal have come. Simply put, we are dependent on the teaching, help, and blessing of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, even when we are successful – successful to the point of defeating evil spirits. So, let us remember that all of our victories, and all of our joys in ministry are victories only won through the power of the Holy Spirit, and the presence of Jesus, the Risen One – who sends us out to bring in the harvest.

Pastor Dave