Do not rejoice at power over demons, but over eternal life.
I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:19-20
This command was in the context of debriefing ministry with the 72. When they returned from their ministry they were particularly impressed by the authority the Lord had given them over demons. Jesus was commenting here that they were missing the point. In the big picture, this authority was simply a nice side benefit. The big picture was their relationship to God and their place in His Kingdom. That was the news. That was the impressive fact. That was the point of their ministry, to bring others into an awareness of and participation in this relationship and identity.
