“Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” – Luke 10:19-20

In Luke 10, we see Jesus appoint 70 disciples that He sends out to preach the good news of salvation to every city and every place He was about to go. He gives them specific instructions on their conduct while on this exercise and on how they were to heal the sick, cast out demons and free people from infirmities. We learn from subsequent verses that they execute His instructions effectively, and they see results.

Upon their return, they say to Jesus “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name” but He says to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

By His submission, Jesus may be misunderstood by the disciples and many others as a master who downplays the growth of His apprentices. However, His response was not to downplay their victory over the enemy. Rather, it was a caution against complacency and a call for focus. Power, if not handled properly, has the tendency to corrupt the noblest of souls. Many children of God today are caught up in the ministry of miracles and casting out demons they’ve forgotten the weightier assignment of the Kingdom, and clearly our master wanted to save them from threading that path.

Jesus’s call for them to rejoice that their names are written in the book of life is the reminder they needed, it was the ultimate call for them to keep their eyes on the prize above all prizes – eternal life.

Today, Christ is sounding the same warning to the body of Christ. He is charging us not to be complacent because demons and serpents obey us. Indeed, all authority has been given to us, but He is also calling us to keep our eyes on a far more greater victory and prize. It is my prayer that we will remain steadfast and consistent in the spreading of the gospel, while we await His Kingdom to come. Amen.