Victorious Life

2 Corinthians 2:14

14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.

Here Paul gives thanks to God by claiming that God always leads us in triumph.

Triumph means great victory or a processional entrance of a general after victory. 

God always leads us in Triumph in Christ

then why do Christians see many defeats in their life.
Whenever you want to do some thing you will see obstacles in life. you feel defeated in every situation. Even though you want to do good, you will ultimately face accusations from people.

How do we connect to this verse in our lives.

Leads us - Are you led by God.

People who are led by themselves
 doesn't see victory or triumph 

Suppose you have to make a decision whether to stay in one place or move to another place. in Nj or Texas.

lot of emotions will come into place.
here in NJ winter is bad, let me move to texas.
texas no state tax, will save more , let me move to texas. 
but on the other hand, you will say here lot of friends how will i make friends there. Here i have good pastor whether i will find a pastor there. If your emotions lead you to take a decision then ultimately you will see its fruit .
But when you sit in the presence of God, take counsel from the Word of God, take counsel from people of God and take a decision you will see that God leads you in triumph wherever you go.

what is the meaning of In Christ.
Have you ever seen emails of christians, at the end you will see "In Christ"
This sounds very spiritual email.

In Christ -  you dont write In Jesus.
Christ means the Annointed One.
The annointing gives the victory.
In Christ - You are a new creation (2 cor 5:17 )
In Christ - You are all made alive (1 cor 15:22)
In Christ - You are all sons of God ( Gal 3:26 )
In Christ - You are all one (Gal 3:28)

And outside of Christ, you don't see victory.


Led by God - In Christ. is what gives us victory.

I want to show the life of one man who has seen so many victories in life in the bible and what made him see so many victories. What is his secret.
what is his life that he had seen such great victories.


Joshua - man of Victory.
We see Joshua first time in Exodus 17:10 fighting the battle with Amalek.
Verse 14: God told Moses , to write this victory and also let Joshua hear this writing. Faith comes by hearing.

So Joshua introduction is with victory and his ending was also a victory.

What is so special about this man that he saw many victories in life.
only once at Ai, he faced a defeat because of one person sin in the camp, but once that person is gone, he saw the victory again.

First we will see his character.

1) A humble man who loves God.

A obedient man to Moses. He is the second in command for Moses.
Whatever Moses says He does it.
Before God elevates you, he tests your obedience to the people above you.
in Exodus 17:8 when Moses said to Joshua , go and fight, he just went and fight.
That is why bible says be obedient to authorities above you.
These are the days when people want positions in church, they try to overthrow others.
But Joshua was a man who always has this serving heart.
There is never an instance where Joshua seeking that position of Moses.
Moses own brother and sister sought for that position, but never did Joshua.

Serving 40 years is not easy under a man. at some point in those 40 years you might want a bigger position. but Joshua served Moses.
Joshua is never in the business of climbing the laader.
No wonder , God did not chose Moses sons for the next leadership, God chose Joshua to be the leader.

The secret of victorious man is his obedience to the authorities God placed above that man.

2) A man who walks by faith, not by sight.
         Spies report.
As i mentioned earlier , most of the people walk by sight.
as in the case of choosing a place or a career, people take decisions by what they see with their natural eyes rather than spiritual eyes.
Open the eyes of heart , such kind of songs when we sing , we should sing with the meaning Lord open my eyes to walk by faith not by sight.
Majority report - Numbers 13:27 
Minority report - Numbers 14:6

2 characteristics of a godly man.
The Lord is with us 
Do not fear people.
and he doesnt go by what he see, but he sees that his God is bigger than what he physcially sees.
did the other see anything wrong - no, they saw huge people, joshua also saw huge people.
but the difference, with spiritual eyes, Joshua saw that His God is bigger than gaint people of the land.

Even in our situations - suppose you are constantly defeated with anger or short temper.
God is with me, although it looks like gaint , but by my God i can overcome.
David also saw goliath as huge man, David saw God more bigger than goliath.
The secret of victory is seeing who God is in our situations and not what the majority says.

3) A man who walks by the Word of God and promises of God.
God 

Joshua 8:35
God - Joshua read the whole Word of God to people of Israel.
What importance Joshua gave in leading the people of Israel.
These are the days where half truth is preached or only to please people are preached.
but Joshua is not a man pleaser but read the whole Word to the assembly.
what a leader Joshua is.

Joshua 1 : 5-6
5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them

God gave a great promise to Joshua that no man can stand against him. 
A man who goes by promise of the Word of God.

Paul says Every promise in the bible is yes and amen.
2 Corinthians 1:20 says 

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.

When you find a promise in the bible , attest your amen.
when you say Amen, you say Yes Lord I believe it is for me.

4. single minded goal towards victory.

When marching towards victory - there might be obstacles like sin of achin.
Joshua spared no sin to come infront of victory. He did not take any joy in sin, but removed source of sin and marched towards victory.


Joshua 12:7- ending
Joshua defeated 31 kings in all 
-----------------------
The result of his walk with God is

all the people obeyed Joshua. Joshua 1:16,17
and all the enemies subdued before Joshua.

Psalm 65

Psalm 65

Satisfaction.
The are many surveys in the world that are going on about one thing is Satisfaction.
If you visit a bank then bank will send an email or phone call asking about how satisfied you are with the service.
you visit dunkin donuts, on the receipt you can see telldunkin,com.
Another most common satisfaction people talk is Job satisfaction.

restaurants wants to know how satisfied you are with food.
Gadget companies wants to know how satisfied you are with their latest gadget.
Everyone wants to how satisfied you are with the things of this world.

David says We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house.

David is a man who was anointed in his teens that he will become king.
After many years he became king.

you waited many years to become something, and once you become that something you will be satisfied.

But David didnot took satisfaction in becoming the King and not satisfied with the riches that he gets by becoming king. or the royal authority.
In all these surplus , abundant things he has, he says I am satisfied with the goodness of your house.
what a contrast man he is from all others.
be it a king or be it a shepherd.
be it a joy or be it a sorrow.

By what you are satisified, that is your heartbeat is, that says who you are.
for some people however sad they are, if you give biryani, they will be satisfied.

David says I am satisfied with the goodness of your house.
Today Gods House is Church.
Are you satisfied by being part of Church.
Are you satisfied that you are saved and you are actually spending time with the fellow heirs of eternal life.

Also today when a person is satisfied then they think they are blessed.
But bible says differently  turn to Deuteronomy 14:29

29 And the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are within your gates, may come and eat and be satisfied, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.

Psalm 64

During the time of Oppression, But still Rejoicing in the Lord.

David is a man who went through suffering and still rejoice in the Lord.

I always wonder how can you be joyful when you go through suffering.

Every time i went through suffering, i was prayer.

The psalm teaches that secret of being joyful through suffering.

and the key is meditation.

What are the situations that he is going through.

People are talking bad about him, abusing him with words, trying to attack him , they are making schemes to kill him.

In these suffering times, what David is doing is he is meditating on God.

one thing that this psalm teaches is if you go through suffering, and if you meditate on suffering you cannot find joy and rarely you can find deliverance from that suffering.

but a person who meditates on God in times of suffering will see the joy and not only joy he will see deliverance.

What is this meditation.

Today people meditate on lot of things.

When i was 15 yrs old i started yoga, pranayam. and focusing mind on nothing.

Later when after believing in Lord Jesus Christ i saw that there was joy in me because i came to know God.  I have peace because i came to know God.

It is the meditation of God that will bring joy, peace.

The more you ponder upon God, all these by products start coming out.

Psalm 1:2 

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
    And in His law he meditates day and night.

A believer's delight should be the Word of God.

The best blessing that you get through meditation is being Planted .

Being planted means taking deep root inside and bear fruit outside.

Genesis 4:12.

The curse that Cain got is he will be a homeless wanderer and there is no fruit.

these are very inter connected.

When a person doesnot meditate on God, the Word doesn't control that person, then there is no plantaion or no root, and that person will be a wanderer and ultimately no fruit.

Psalm 63

In a dry and weary land where there is no water.

my soul - thirst for you.
my flesh - yearns for you.

A dry and weary situation is one when you look around there is none to help. and in those situations we seek God.

David went through lots of dry and weary situations in his life. where every time a situation comes up when there is no help. His soul , flesh longed for God.
Be it a lion or a bear or a goliath , during any situation , these are all dry situations, but his soul n flesh longed for God.

There are 2 things , having desire for God.
another is seeking God.

Many people have this desire for God. But there are few who seek God.

Having desire for God is one things and then you keep that desire for sometime and then it gets cold and you forget about it.

Hebrews 11:6

Verse Concepts

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

But having desire for God, then you seek Him. God is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

Matthew 7:7 says - Ask it will be given to you, seek you will find.

This is a great promise - Ask God, seek God, knock God.
when you seek God, He will be found.


Effects of seeking God

Satisfied - Verse 5  - He is satisfied. He is not a grumbler, just like a person who feasts on meat.

Joy - There is inexpressible joy for that person.

Meditation -verse 6 - whether its bed, or work, wherever he is, he meditates on God.

Confidence in God  - Verse 7 - Even toughest times, he has the unmovable confidence in God.