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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 lightning. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.  Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.” At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. Luke 10:17–21

The followers of Christ were sent out by twos to give witness to the coming Kingdom of God. They regrouped after their season of ministry and were encouraged by Jesus as He in essence said, “God showed up on your mission and hit it out of the park!’” He wanted to encourage their obedience and to point out what the results look like when we position ourselves faithfully. But He also wanted to ensure that they understood the power in ministry does not come from oneself, but God is in charge of the results. We can rejoice that God used us in His unfolding plan but our joy should always be anchored to the fact that He has included us in His plan by writing our names down in the Lambs Book of Life (Revelation 13:8, 20:15, 21:27).

Jesus, in verse 21, rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, praising the Father because of those who enter the kingdom like children. It says,

“He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants.”

What a rich passage revealing the unity that God desires from his people; one where we clearly see the unity Jesus desired and later prayed for in John 17:22–23,

"The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me."

In Luke’s passage Jesus see the “oneness” that He desires so clearly: Jesus… the Holy Spirit… Father God… and His children all working in unity proving the truth of God’s love in sending Jesus. That’s the way it should be; that’s the way we experience the joy of the Lord.

Church, I encourage you, if there is any breakdown of unity in the relationship that includes Father, Son, Holy Spirit, or fellow Christ-followers, take care of that today so that you know that you are pleasing God, you are experiencing true joy, and God is free to work without obstacle through you.