Rejoice that your name is recorded

Luke 10:20, “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this that the spirits are subject to you but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.” Yes, rejoice that your name is recorded in heaven! Hallelujah! Verses 17-19 tell us what the seventy were rejoicing about, “And the seventy returned with joy saying “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name. And He said to them, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightening. Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall injure you.” The power of this passage makes my inner soul rejoice. The words of this scripture and its meaning tells me what my joy should be; that my name is recorded in heaven. Yesterday, God led me to 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, “And he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I am well content with weakness, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake, for when I am weak, then I am strong.” How would we be if God never answered our prayers? Would we be disappointed or feel defeated? Would we forget the greatest gift God has given us? Paul went to the Lord three times to have the thorn in his flesh lifted. God’s response was that His grace is sufficient for him. Often times we wonder why God seems slow to answer or why something we have asked Him didn’t come to pass. It is at these times we should look inward and ask ourselves is God’s grace sufficient. Did we forget the greatest answer given to us, His grace. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:10, “Therefore I am well content with weakness, with insults, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak then I am strong.” Paul realized that if everything he asked was given to him, he may become boastful of himself and forget God’s greatest gift of grace. Jesus told the seventy not to rejoice in the wonders performed, but that their names were recorded in heaven. This is realizing that God has provided the one thing that unites us to Him, His grace, that records our names in the book of Life. When we were yet sinners, He died for us. When we truly believe this, our names are recorded in heaven. Paul understood this and was content with his afflictions and difficulties. God’s grace is sufficient. The Lord told us how to pray in Matthew 9:13, “Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive our debts as we also forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” This should be our prayer for everything we ask God. To keep us, to supply our needs, to forgive us as we forgive others. Not to lead us in temptation but to deliver us from all evil. For He is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever. Yes, we are given authority over the serpents and scorpions, over principalities and powers not for our own sake, but to proclaim His will be done. I realize that His grace is all I need. I believe He will not lead me in temptation and will deliver me from evil. This is my understanding. God has supplied all I need. When I pray to Him, it is something He already knows, and the outcome is for His will to be done. Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name casts out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles. And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me you who practice lawlessness.” Examine your heart and see if you are content in knowing God’s grace is sufficient. Acts 19:15 should be a wakeup call, “And the evil spirit answered and said to them, “I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?”