"Thanks be to God who leads us, wherever we are, on Christ's triumphant way, and makes our knowledge of Him spread throughout the world like a lovely perfume..." (2 Corinthians 2:14, Phillips translation).

"Now, thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in the Christ and makes known the aroma of the experiential knowledge of Himself through us in every place..." (Wuest translation).

        The analogy is very good, as reference is made to the custom of victorious generals who, in their triumphal processions, would carry some of their relatives with them in their chariot-- while behind the triumphal chariot followed the kings, princes, and other captives of note, bound with chains. Now, Paul writes, we join with Christ in the VICTORY CHARIOT and share with Him-the success which HE won. IN HIM we are more than conquerors!
       "Thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ." (K.J.).
        Always, the Greek word here is "pantote" meaning: EVERY WHEN, at all times.
        What an awesome statement for Paul to make! That irrespective of the many circumstances and happenings, IN EVERY WHEN-- AT ALL TIMES, God was leading him from victory to victory, and always causing him to triumph in Christ. This is the same man who wrote that he had been, "In labours more abundant; in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once I was stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in .the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness." (2 Cor. 11:23-27). If this was a resume of his experiences which qualified him for the position of apostle, he certainly was qualified-- but the issue at hand was not how much he had suffered in the natural, as grievous as that was, but he would glorify and praise God, and declare that through it all he was a partaker of the ongoing triumph of Christ. Always, at all times, the positive far surpassed the negative, and he wrote to the Philippians-- "In nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake." (Phil. 1:28-29). Not only is it given (blessed gift) that we are privileged to suffer for Christ, but Paul went on to state in another place, "In my opinion whatever we may have to go through now is less than nothing compared with the magnificent future God has planned for us." (Rom.8:18).
        So you crawl out of bed in the morning, scarcely able to move, and you are faced with a multitude of pressures and happenings, and wonder how you will make it through the day-- and the Spirit softly speaks within, "who always causeth us to triumph in Christ." Ah, what a challenge. It is IN CHRIST that the victory is found-- not of our own strength and abilities. There is no condemnation in feeling weak and unable to cope with the day-- that " is but a part of our humanity-- and that is when we cast ourselves upon Him, cry out for His mercy, and confess that Christ alone is our life.
        Causeth us to triumph. Here we have the Greek word "thriambeuo" meaning: to celebrate a triumph. It bespeaks of a joyful shouting procession, as evidence of victory. Young's translates, "Who at all times is leading us in triumph IN THE CHRIST." The victory is IN HIM, but the more we are joined to Him, the more He will ultimately share of His victory with us. HE LEADS US in this triumphal train, it is not an exercise of self-will or carnal endeavor, as if we have to psyche ourselves up into a certain mode of self-hypnosis. It is not a form of works dependent upon our own effort. It is CHRIST THE LEADER GOING BEFORE AND ENABLING US TO FOLLOW IN HIS STEP. He is the "Captain" of our salvation. (Hebrews 2:10). Phillips translates it as "the Leader" who goes before us. While Wuest refers to Him as "the Originator" of our salvation. It is because of the victory He has gained, and in which we share, that we have victory regardless of the happenings. Were He not leading us, we would simply mill around in circles getting no place fast. Were He not totally victorious, He would not be able to share such glory with us. It is CHRIST'S triumphant way. It is "the fellowship of His suffering." It is "being made conformable unto His death." And it is "the power of His resurrection." (Phil. 3:10). And when we spread the aroma of the experiential knowledge of Him, it is OF HIM, and not of us. When our life bears witness of the truth it is HIS TRUTH. We experience Him, and then we share this "HIM" with others. What a mighty God we serve!
        The only other time this Greek word "thriambeuo" is used is in Colossians 2:15, where it says that "Having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, TRIUMPHING over them in it (literally IN HIMSELF)." The victory was wrought IN HIMSELF! Yes, in His humanity He became weary, tired, sad; was spit upon, was beaten-- the sorrow, the grief, the pain, it was all there, but Christ went on to BRUISE THE SERPENT'S HEAD-- He spoiled him, stripped off, unclothed, and left him utterly powerless. And when He finished spoiling the adversary, He took away all the authority and power of usurped dominion so that now CHRIST ALONE "has the keys of hell and of death." (Rev. 1:18). So we also read, "That through death He might destroy (disannul, render inactive) him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." (Hebrews 2:14). Satan did not have power OVER death, but he had a kingdom of darkness, of which death is the realm. Whatever usurped form of dominion he had over the human race, was in the form of death. And now that the realm of darkness and death is broken, let us make it very clear, CHRIST ALONE has the keys of death and hell. CHRIST HAS POWER OVER DEATH-- and can MAKE ALIVE again. For sure, this was something that Satan could never do. The thief cometh for to kill and destroy, but he can never give life. But CHRIST IS A LIFE-GIVER. That necessitates a celebration of victory as we glory IN THE LORD. Praise His wonderful, holy name!
        In Himself. The entire victory was wrought IN CHRIST. "The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me." (John 14:30). He is LORD, and all other powers are subject to Him. Tested and tried in all points as we are, yet HE prevailed, gained the victory, made a shew of it openly-- and IN HIM we see the ultimate victory and glory. The resurrection was an OPEN SHEW! In His own being He revealed how completely He spoiled principality and power. In Him the Father was well-pleased, and "highly exalted Him, and gave Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Phil. 2:9-11). Such victory, it is hard to comprehend, but IN HIM, Paul says, we can partake of that victory to such a degree that at all times He will lead us, His joyful participants, from glory to glory. In the Father's time He will release a victory shout such as has never been heard, and we shall join in that celebration. "And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth." (Rev. 19:6).
        The corresponding Hebrew word is "gaah" meaning-- to mount up, be majestic, thus, to triumph gloriously.
        The first time the word is used is also the first SONG OF VICTORY recorded in the Scripture-- exulting in God's overcoming. "Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for HE HATH TRIUMPHED GLORIOUSLY: the horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea. The LORD is my strength and song, and HE IS BECOME MY SALVATION. He is my God..." (Exodus 15:1-2).
        Then Miriam, and the ladies, answered them, verse 21, "Sing ye to the Lord, for He HATH TRIUMPHED gloriously; the horse and the rider hath He thrown into the sea." It was a victory that could not be altered-- GOD REIGNS!
        Much more could be said on HIS overcoming-- how He triumphed in Himself, gained an internal victory. But it also must work in us, as we become partakers of His life and victory. It must begin in us-- "Judgment must begin at the house of God...first begin at us..." (1 Peter 4:17). It is a thrill to see God's handiwork in others-- but we also need to be able to say-, "THIS DAY is salvation come to this house." (Luke 19: 9). Praise God !
        Having experienced such a glorious deliverance from the Egyptians, Israel immediately was led into the wilderness. Three days in the wilderness, and they found no water, until they came to the "waters of Marah." Marah means BITTER. And there the Lord proved, tested, tried, assayed them. For sure, overcoming had not yet reached into their inner being, but what was now in their heart would be outwardly manifested-- and so they murmured, bitterly complained, something they would do often in the days ahead. But God was ever so merciful to them, "And the Lord shewed him (Moses) a tree, which when he had cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet." (Exodus 15:25). What mercy and grace in spite of their ignominious behavior.
        The Lord shewed him a tree-- symbol of the cross. How repeatedly Israel would have to be dealt with, until self bowed to the will of God, and they learned to trust Him at all times. THE CROSS is the DIVINE PROVISION for every trial. You cannot walk the overcomer's path without the cross.
        It is significant that soon out of Egypt they came to the border of Canaan, but they were not ready for its dimension, so they left Kadesh Barnea for long years of wandering-- as "The Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, and to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldst keep His commandments, or no" (Deut. 8:2), until finally they were brought back to the border. But now there was a river to cross-- Jordan. All the wandering, and fighting wars in the wilderness, had not put them in possession of one inch of the promised land. In order to possess it they had to BE IN IT! Just as we have to BE IN CHRIST, if we would share His victory. This is not a standing off to one side as a spectator, to see what God is doing in someone else. There must be an experiential participation. We do more than sing and preach about Him, but we are to ABIDE IN HIM, and He must abide in us, so that what flows out of our heart is HIM!
        Now, just as there was a FLAMING SWORD to keep the way open in the garden, and one would have to PASS THROUGH THE SWORD to get in, for the flaming sword was not designed to keep them out of the garden, but to ensure that there would be a way in-- that having been dealt with by the sword and the fire, all who pass through the sword would be qualified to partake of the tree of life. So also at the waters of Marah they would have to FACE THE TREE (the cross) if they would partake of the sweet waters of His life. And likewise Jordan became the gateway into the promised land, and if they were to enjoy the promised land set before them, they would have to experience crossing the river. Change the metaphor as you like, a flaming sword, the tree/cross, the river Jordan-- they all symbolize death to self, to receive His life, that we may "be found in Him." (Phil. 3:9).
        And now, I dare say, so also all our overcoming is wrought through Christ, sharing the Cross, laying our life down, that He might lead us onward in His triumphal train. Of absolute certainty, "WITHOUT ME ye can do nothing." (John 15:5). Even as Jesus said, "I can of mine own self do nothing." (John 5:30). And the fact is, WE MUST BE OVERCOME BY CHRIST, before we are overcomers IN HIM. He conquers us, and then makes us overcomers in Himself.
        The phrase "triumphed gloriously" is also used in Ezekiel 47:5. Where the prophet described it as "it was a river that I could not pass over, for the waters were RISEN (gaah, increased, risen up), waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over." Such a triumphant flow of life, divinely and gloriously increased. "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10). The waters were risen, and became waters to swim in-- "always causeth us to triumph in Christ!"
        "For Thou, Lord, hast made me glad through Thy work: I will triumph in the works of Thy hands. 0 Lord, how great are Thy works! and Thy thoughts are very deep." (Psalm 92:4-5). We triumph because of the works of His hands.
 "The fact is that what we are we owe to the hand of God upon us, For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus..." (Eph. 2:10, Phillips).
        "0 clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph for the Lord Most High is terrible; He is a great King over all the earth. He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet...God is gone up with a shout..." (Psalm 47:1-3, 5). What an awesome working of God! He is terrible-- to be feared, reverenced, and HE IS OUR EXAMPLE FOR OVERCOMING! The Greek word is "nikao" meaning-- to overcome, prevail, to conquer, to gain the victory.
        Jesus said, "When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils." (Luke 11:22).How beautifully this was fulfilled in Christ. As already noted, HE SPOILED (stripped off, unclothed) all principalities and powers. It was a victory so powerful, so all-encompassing. Whatever negative goods the enemy might have possessed, a stronger than he, JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD, took it all from him, and left him spoiled. How we need our Lord to be the "Stronger than he," for us, so that by His grace we might rise up to walk in the newness of His life, free from all shackles of the adversary.
        He was able to say, "BECAUSE I LIVE, ye shall live also." (John 14:19). The life is in Christ, that is the security. HE is the WAY, TRUTH, and LIFE.
        But it is more than just Christ being the Leader of the procession, He has a wondrous triumphal train coming along with Him-- living because HE lives, victorious because He gained the victory. Emanating the sweet aroma of His life, and the knowledge of Him, BY US, in every place. In every place, in every time, HE is the triumphant One. We experience Him, and then as He so chooses, out of our innermost being flows His life for others. Not because of who or what we are, but because of WHO/WHAT HE IS.
        God is fully committed, because of Christ's victory, to fulfill the new Covenant, stating: "I WILL, THEY SHALL." Thus He makes promise both for Himself, and for us. He will, and we shall. The victory is His, and He leads us in that triumphal train. This is revealed by facing us with the most impossible situations which only He can solve.
        Truly, "The Lord hath made all things for Himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil." (Prov. 16:4). HE controls the interplay, and "HATH GIVEN US the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (l Cor.15:57). The victory, so gloriously His, that they that put their trust in Him can say with Paul, "In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us." (Rom. 8:37). The focus is not on the trial, but on HIM who orders our step and "makes manifest the savor of His knowledge by us in every place."
        How beautifully this was illustrated in Israel long ago. Moses sent out some spies to view the land, and they soon came back with the report that "The people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there." They saw Amalekites in the land of the south: Hittites, Jebusites, and the Amorites in the mountains, Canaanites by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan." (Numbers 13:28-29). Furthermore, the enemy had horses and chariots, while Israel WAS ON FOOT. Yet God had His people, Caleb and Joshua, who could say, "Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it." (v. 30).They BELIEVED that GOD WOULD DO IT, because He had promised-- "Ye shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein: FOR I HAVE GIVEN YOU THE LAND to possess it." (Num. 33:53).
        How clearly the Lord gave the instruction-- "When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the Lord thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt." (Deut. 20:1). Be not afraid-- fear is faith in the negative, in the enemy, not in God. The Greek word for "faith" is "pistis," but if you place an "a" in front of it, you then have the word "unbelief." Unbelief does not necessarily speak of no faith, but instead of believing in the truth, you believe in the opposite, in some thing else. Rather than having faith for the positive, believing God for His victory, you turn to the negative, and your mind submits to it, serves it, believes it, has confidence in it, and fear, not faith, rules your day.
        In the natural there was every cause to be afraid-- the enemy had the vast numbers and the finances, well equipped to go to battle. But Israel had the Lord with them, and when HE leads a triumphal train there can be no defeat. The Psalmist had learned this, and said, "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen and stand upright." (Psalm 20:7-8). When the Lord goes with us it is to SAVE US-- to share His victory with us, and enable us to stand fast in Him.
        Some might cry out, "we need the numbers." No! We have God! Remember what Jonathan once said. "There is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few." (1 Samuel 14:6).Then he said to those who were with him, "If they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the Lord hath delivered them into our hand." (v. 10). The enemy taunted them, but their trust was in the Lord, and HE caused Israel to prevail. "So the Lord saved Israel that day." (v. 23).
        Praise God! "We shall do valiantly: for HE it is that shall tread down our enemies." (Psalm 108:13). Valiantly-- the Hebrew word here is "chayil" and means: have force, strength. In ways that leave us astonished and greatly humbled, we see how He goes before us to make a way where there seems to be no way, and we can say, "The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation. The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly. - I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord." (Psalm 118:14-15, 17).
        The voice of rejoicing-- a God-inspired celebration-- because of what the LORD has done. No self-praises here, it is GOD ALL THE WAY. "At midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them." (Acts 16:25). Who would have thought that there could be a joyful shouting in a prison, in the dark of midnight? Yet here we hear something "in the tabernacles of the righteous," as God "causes them to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place." It is the voice of rejoicing and salvation as the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly.
        Mankind today is desperate for a word of encouragement, something to give them a glimmer of hope in the midst of confusion and fear which convulses the swelling tide of humanity. But it is God's plan for His people to come through the dark times of stress and chaos, with songs of rejoicing. HE is our energy source, HE has conquered, and as He leads on with His triumphal procession the world shall stand in awe to see those whom He has invested with this overcoming power. It is not a self-centered, self-exaltation, it is a rejoicing in the Lord, and a magnifying of His name. We triumph IN CHRIST, and it is while we are centered in, focused upon His will, that He will make manifest the richness of the aroma OF HIS KNOWLEDGE by us. This is an awesome truth, that He draws us to Himself, into oneness with Him, and then as vessels meet for the Master's use, He uses us to share, spread our experiential knowledge of Him to minister His life to mankind. But not until we are in union with Him, sharing in HIS overcoming, can we in turn give forth this life as a living perfume, and thus glorify our Redeemer!

                                           O let me bow my knee today in humble adoration,
                                           For I would offer unto God a fervent jubilation.

                                           How valiantly the Lord reveals the right hand of His pow'r,
                                           When for so long a time it seemed to be a waiting hour.

                                           But God is GOD and in His mercy we are lifted up
                                           To share with Him the wonder of His overflowing cup.

                                           And in the tabernacle of the righteous let it be--
                                           I shall not die, but live, and then declare His victory.

                                           The travail that we share with Him gives way to joy and peace,
                                           After the darkness we shall see what He means by "increase."

                                           He overcame hell and the grave, the keys are in His hand,
                                           All principality and power are now at His command.

                                           And now He leads us day by day in His triumphant train,
                                           To manifest in us His grace, and turn all loss to gain.

                                           It is His life, we're not our own, as He abides within,
                                           And spreads the sweet aroma of the victories He doth win.

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(1)Prinzing, Ray and Doris "Letters of Truth"  Boise, Idaho 83705, P.O. Box 5822

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