Well along with the clouds coming in the wind is helping them come in faster.  A few drops of rain, but I do believe we shall have some more today.  Carla hopes it is better tomorrow so some burning can be done.

Chicken is in the oven and the potatoes and corn on the stove, we are figure Carla home around 1415 – or so – she had to open this morning. 

Luke 10:17-20  And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

¹⁸ And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

¹⁹ Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

²⁰ Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

It is exciting to be successful.  It is uplifting to the spirit to see real results from our work.  We pray and God responds and we see healings and miracles; lives changed and people coming to Christ.

It happens in our daily life as we work and accomplish something – we see the results and know that it came about because we made it happen.  Whether it be something we made or a task well consummated it is satisfying.  We are happy and we celebrate.

We take pride in that work and we can use it to build our confidence in doing even better next time.  We may point it out to others; or others may come to us, patting us on the back for doing so well.  It just feels good!

The seventy were sent out to work for Christ.  They saw many things happen, including commanding devils – they were ecstatic and who wouldn’t be.  New Christians serving God, obeying Christ and seeing great spiritual things happening – what an incredible feeling that is.

However, they were enthralled with their part in the work, they were heading in the wrong direction and Christ gently corrected them.  Their Joy should not be in the accomplishments they were involved in, but their service to God because of their salvation.

They, just like us, focused on the results and attributed some of it to themselves “even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.”  While they recognized it was Christ’s name that gave them the authority, they also felt they were part of the reason.

While it is true their service and obedience to God resulted in miracles – the service, their life in Christ is what is important.

We see the same thing happening today.  Preachers have things happen in their service that are supernatural.  If they and the people coming are not careful it is far too easy to attribute God’s work as the work of the Preacher; and, God takes second place.

Men of God are men.  They may have special gifts given to them by God, but they are still men in God’s service.  When they forget that God is the one in charge, that He is to be given the Glory, they start to falter and fail.  While their public persona may appear to be of humility, in their hearts they are proud of what they have done and downplay God’s part in it.

They demand respect and recognition – they may place undue burdens on their followers so they can obtain material things they come to believe are their due.

They forget their roots – their salvation - they forget the commandments of God as satan works on their feelings of self-importance.  They sin and think they can hide it.  They yield to the status and fall. 

We need people to help remind us that we are God’s servants, not the other way around.  We need to remind ourselves that our mission is directly related to our salvation.  Without God we are nothing, it is something we should remind ourselves daily to keep from taking pride in ourselves for that service.

God has given us many gifts to accomplish our service to Him, but we must remember it is His gifts and not ours.  It is Him that must be glorified not us.  It is not natural in of ourselves, but through Christ the pride we have can be overcome in His Name. 

Later, Art :-)

From the ColumbiaRiverGorgeous
May Our Good Lord Bless and Keep YOU....’til we meet again