DON'T REJOICE...
- UnstoppableRevKev
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
📖Scripture: “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven... Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” -Luke 10:18, 20
🔎Reflection: Fruitful ministry can easily become a snare if the focus shifts from the Master to the miracles. In Luke 10, the seventy-two returned to Jesus thrilled about the power they had wielded: “Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name!” (v.17). But Jesus stopped them in their tracks with a reality check: “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” That’s not a compliment—it’s a harsh warning.
Satan didn’t fall because of murder or adultery. He fell because of pride. Isaiah 14:12–14 is often interpreted as potentially referring to Satan. In Jerome’s translation of the Bible into Latin (the Latin Vulgate), he translated the Hebrew (הֵילֵל בֶּן-שָׁחַר – Helel ben Shachar) as “Lucifer”, which literally means “light-bearer” or “morning star.” The passage exposes a prideful heart and haughty spirit: “I will ascend… I will raise my throne… I will sit enthroned… I will make myself like the Most High.” Service became a platform for self-exaltation, and that road always leads to destruction—even for angels.
Jesus redirected their joy away from signs and wonders and back to what matters most: “Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20). Fruitfulness isn’t faithfulness if the fruit arises from self to feed our ego. It’s dangerously easy to start in humble dependence and slowly slide into spiritual performance—rejoicing in attendance numbers, platform influence, or manufactured benchmarks and “success” rather than constant and desperate dependence upon God and his lovingkindness.
Scripture is clear: God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). So check your joy. Where is it rooted? Is it in what you do for God—or in the grace that saved you? King Jesus didn’t celebrate their ministry “win;” He said, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven!” The LORD was effectively warning them… warning us… “Don’t be like Satan.”
🤺Action: Examine the reason for and source of your joy: Is it rooted in being used by God or in simply belonging to Him? Humble yourself today. Acknowledge where you and your ministry efforts have followed after Satan rather than Christ. Confess to the LORD where you’ve conformed to the pattern of the world (Rom 12:2) and given yourself over to its philosophies (Col 2:8) rather than simply following Jesus. Praise the LORD (public and vocal) by saying, “My name is written in heaven—not because of what I’ve done, but because of Christ alone.” Always allow that to be enough.
🙏Prayer: King Jesus, protect me from chasing results over relationship. Remind me that serving as an ambassador of Your GOSPEL is a gift, not a resume. Keep me from celebrating power when I should be celebrating grace. Thank you that my name is written in the Book of Life only because of You. Amen.
Click the following link for a short video version:
Blessings & love,
Kevin M. Kelley
Pastor
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