Message of the Week

The Little White Community Church

Scripture:  II Cor. 2: 12-17 April  21, 2024

Message: “God’s Triumphal Procession!”          

By Pastor George Gnade

Intro: 1. Last week we learned that “all of God’s promises are guaranteed in Christ.”  But we also were told of the horrible difficulties Paul and his friends experienced in Asia. In the end, it all turned out alright, but it required a lot of faith in the power of God.

2. Something similar happened in the church of Corinth. A man had wandered from the faith creating much difficulty. In fact, that was one of the reasons Paul wrote the Book of I Corinthians. But with Paul’s help, the problem was solved. The man got right with the Lord, received forgive-ness from the Lord and his Christian friends, and the church was restored to a place of peace (II Cor. 2:9-11).

3. But both of the above situations remind us that when the Lord does a mighty work, Satan attacks also. During these attacks, our faith in Christ is challenged.

a. That is why Paul couldn’t wait to meet up with Titus (II Cor. 2: 12-13). They were supposed to meet in Troas, but Titus never showed up. Paul had sent Titus to Corinth because of the problems mentioned above. When he didn’t show, Paul’s nerves got the best of him.

b. He couldn’t concentrate on his ministry in Troas- even though God was blessing his work there. So he moved on to Macedonia, hoping to touch base with Titus there.

4. In II Cor. 7: 5-7, we are told how he finally reconnected with Titus, got a good report about the situation in Corinth, and finally was able to find some peace of mind.

a. Has that ever happened to you? Have you ever had a hard time concentrating on your work because of a personal problem behind the scenes?

b. Or maybe you have found yourself unable to sleep because you couldn’t get the problem off of your mind.

c. How much better do we feel if and when the problem is finally resolved.

5. This is the context in which Paul writes II Cor. 2: 14 where he praises God for “always leading us in triumphal procession in Christ…”

A. Let us consider this triumphal procession.

1.  In the days of the Romans, the commander of the army was allowed to celebrate his victories by leading a triumphal procession on his way back to Rome.  Along the path, they often scattered flowers and carried vessels containing sweet smelling incense.

a. In our passage, Jesus is the commander of God’s army, and He is the one who always leads us in triumph.

b. As part of this celebration, Paul adds in vs. 16, that “through us (Christ) spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.”

2. In I Cor. 11: 26, as part of the Lord’s supper, we are told to “proclaim the Lord’s death till He come.”  That is because Jesus defeated Satan and paid the penalty for our sins on His cross. 

a. We were Satan’s captives and in Christ we have been set free. God wants us to celebrate with Jesus our great victory through Jesus as we follow in His train.

b. And the beautiful flowers we spread and the aroma we carry as we celebrate His victory is “the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.”

3. But most scholars believe this victory procession, not only points back to the cross, but also forward as Jesus continues to win victories wherever the gospel goes. That beautifully fits the context of our passage.

a. In II Cor. 1, Paul was celebrating the victory of Christ he experienced in Asia in which he and his fellow workers “felt the sentence of death” as Satan attacked them with all his power. But God gave them a great victory as they rose up out of the situation by and through His grace alone.

b. Then in II Cor. 2, we learned of all the conflicts and problems caused by Satan as he attacked the church in Corinth, but again, through Christ and the grace of God, it all worked together for good.

4. Notice the contrasts in Paul’s feelings.

a.  In II Cor. 2:12-13, Paul shared how he had “no peace of mind.” Other translations say: “So anxious have I been..” 

b. Then in II Cor. 2: 14, Paul writes: “But thanks be to God always” or “So thankful am I now…”

5. Can you identify with Paul’s experiences? Have you ever been under a spiritual attack that totally overwhelmed you;  and yet in the end, it turned into a victory for Jesus, causing you to praise and thank Him?  That is also what this triumphal procession is all about.

6. Then there is a shift in the emphasis. In II Cor. 2: 15, Paul writes: “For we are the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.”

So the emphasis shifts from the “fragrance of the knowledge of God” to “we are the aroma of Christ.”

B. Please consider what it means to be the “aroma of Christ.”

1. The “we” could very well include us, but the immediate context points to Paul and the other apostles who were preaching and spreading the “knowledge of the fragrance of God.”  That is why they are called “the aroma of Christ.”

a. As they preached and wherever they went, they carried with them “the aroma of Christ” and were therefore closely associated with this aroma. 

b. We often use the expression “you can smell it a mile away.”  Pastors are often visualized in the same way. I was once asked to visit someone only to be told by the person asking me that the people responded by saying they didn’t want the visit because they knew “I would try to save them.”

c. If you are on fire for the Lord, people might feel the same way about you. 

2. How people reacted to Paul – and how they react to us - reflected where they were spiritually.  In II Cor. 2:15-16, Paul wrote: “We are the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.”

a. In the Roman processional, condemned prisoners were chained and forced to follow behind the triumphal procession of the conqueror. The commander’s victory guaranteed the victory of those whom he rescued but also guaranteed the defeat of those He conquered. 

b. So it is among those who are being saved and those who are perishing, between those who want the Lord Jesus and those who choose to reject Him.

In Conclusion: 1. In II Cor. 2: 16b, Paul exclaims: “Who is equal to such a task?” Who is competent to serve the Lord in this way? Only the Lord Jesus Himself can give us the right words to say. Thus He alone deserves all the glory.

2. If Paul didn’t feel competent, I can guarantee you, I don’t feel competent either.  I pray before every opportunity that God gives me to preach, asking for the right words to say. And if you desire to witness to your friends and loved ones, then you need to do the same. 

3. Never forget the good news! Even when things look bad, Jesus is still leading us to victory.  We are part of His victory procession. May God give us the faith to believe it.