Luke 10: 1, 9, 16-18 – From the New King James Version
The Seventy Sent Out
1 After these things the Lord appointed seventy (NOTE, SOME MANUSCRIPTS SAY SEVENTY-TWO) others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. 9 And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 16 He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”
17 Then the seventy 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 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. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

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This scripture made me stop and think. I didn’t know if readers wanted to read all of the verses in between, so I just copied and pasted the ones that I felt were related to what I wanted to say today. Can you imagine Jesus giving power to these 70appointees, allowing them to go from town to town, driving out demons in his name? It’s also important to note that Jesus told the 70 not to rejoice in their exorcizing abilities, but to focus on their eternal gift in heaven.

I can imagine how hard that would be. Can you envision, being able to drive out demons in Jesus’s name, and then not be exited about it? Instead of being astounded about your earthly ability, you would need to focus on living forever in heaven.

~Cecelia Dowdy~