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.
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.
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