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.”
21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.
Questions for Reflection:
In verse 20 it seems almost as if Jesus is reminding the disciples to not get caught up in power but to instead remember the true gift they have been given. What examples can you think of when people have missed the true gift for a lesser one?
If you had been one of the disciples, having seen and done what they had seen and done, how would you have felt? How would Jesus’ words hit you?
What do you think Jesus is saying when He says “I saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven.”?
Prayer of the Week:
Jesus, we are so very thankful in this moment that You won against sin and Satan. And we give joyful thanks to You Father, for You have qualified us to share in the inheritance of Your holy people in the kingdom of light. For You have rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son You love, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Hallelujah! (Col. 1)
Jesus, You are worthy to have all authority in heaven and earth because You were slain, and with Your blood You purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.
We join all of the company of heaven in saying, “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise! To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and
honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” (Revelation 5)
Father in heaven, we pray that Your name be treated as Holy, that Your Kingdom reign would come, that Your will would get done on earth here and now in our lives and situations (name any specific situations where you long for kingdom break through) as if it were happening in heaven.
Father, deliver us from the evil one and to that end I now bring the kingdom of God, the authority rule and dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ against Satan and against His kingdom and against every force of evil coming against me, my family, my kingdom and domain this day. I renounce all sin and all evil (name any sins and evil influence you sense coming against you) and bind and banish them away from me, my family, my kingdom and domain in the mighty name of Jesus I pray these things. Amen
