Scripture to Read: Luke 10:17-20
The seventy had returned, and God had Luke record this about their arrival in Luke 10:17–20: “The seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.’ 18 And He said to them, ‘I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.’” Needless to say, the seventy were pretty excited about all they had seen God do in and through them. Jesus spoke of Satan falling from heaven. Theologian David Guzik explains Satan’s fall, as he says, “Falling like lightning from heaven doesn’t mean that Satan fell from heaven, but that his fall was as dramatic and sudden as a bolt of lightning from heaven. According to Job 1:12, 1 Kings 22:21, and Zechariah 3:1, Satan still has access to heaven. Yet the success of the disciples against demonic spirits was confirmation that Satan had fallen from his place of authority and power and that although he was still powerful, he was in an inferior place.” This is a great reminder to us all that though we face an adversary, God has given us everything we need to overcome him (Ephesians 6:10–18, 2 Peter 1:3–11). Though we have all of this, Christ wants us to rejoice that our names are recorded in His book in heaven.
Challenge & Application
What does it mean to you, knowing you have all you need to overcome the power of the enemy each day?
What does it mean to you, though, that your name is recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!