Through our Lord Jesus Christ, God wants to lead you into triumph. The triumphant life has an unshakeable foundation. Regardless of the myriad of things that we face, God always leads us in triumph in Christ. We want to discover more of what it means to live a life of triumph.
2 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV 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.
Just before ascending back to the Father, Jesus told believers they would receive power to be His witnesses when the Holy Spirit came upon them.
Shortly after the Holy Spirit came on them, this letter was written to the Corinthians about this life of triumph. There is a particular quality of life that diffuses the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ in every place. This triumphant life in Christ is God’s plan for us.
The Apostle Paul shows us how God does this.
It may seem strange that he talks about this life of triumph when he spoke freely about the struggles he faced. Just before this verse, Paul said: “I had no rest in my spirit.” He had “no rest in his spirit” but he said, “God always leads us in triumph in Christ.”
God has made it possible for us to have an unshakable life of triumph.
How can we live in triumph in Christ when we are troubled in our spirit?
Have you ever been troubled in spirit? I mean, you were discouraged, distressed, heartbroken, alone, and troubled in spirit.
We are looking at the secret to a life of triumph in Christ.
This unshakable triumphant life that God gives does not depend on our circumstances or situations. We see this throughout the Bible.
God always brings His people into triumph.
- He brought Noah through the flood when everyone else perished.
- He brought Moses through the Red Sea and Egypt’s armies were destroyed.
- He brought Daniel through the lion’s den and the three Hebrew boys through the fiery furnace, what looked like certain death could not touch them.
God works like that in our lives.
He always leads us in triumph in Christ.
What exactly does the triumphant life look like?
Look at the power of the triumphant life.
Noah’s story gives us a great illustration of how to conquer difficult circumstances in our lives.
In the Book of Genesis, the population began to multiply on the face of the earth. Due to the wickedness of man, the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever.” At that time, God limited the number of man’s days to 120 years. When wickedness of man increased to the point that every intent of the thoughts of their heart was only evil continually, God was grieved in His heart.
Genesis 6:7-8 NKJV So the Lord said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
Consider how Noah made a difference in the circumstances in his life.
It is hard to imagine living around wicked people that only had evil thoughts. How could Noah live a triumphant life in the middle of those circumstances? The scripture says: “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” The key to Noah’s life of triumph is found in verse 9.
Genesis 6:9 NKJV Noah walked with God.
Most people want to make a difference in life, yet many have faced such intense struggles and challenges that they feel they cannot make any realistic impact.
Have you ever felt like you were just barely holding on? Sometimes circumstances make us feel like we are blessed to just exist. Do you feel drained, isolated, and that you are going through it all alone? You know that this is not being triumphant.
Noah knew what it was like to face troubles on every side.
How did he have the power to live a triumphant life? How was he able to triumph over his circumstances and conditions that surrounded him? He had no peers to encourage him. He was alone with His God. He had to learn to stand on his own faith in God.
From Noah we learn some truths that help us triumph in difficult circumstances.
First, you can triumph in difficult circumstances by being true to God’s Word.
Noah’s world was in terrible condition. The malignant growth of evil was widespread and unchecked. Everyone lived with inward, continual, and habitual sin. The whole world was so utterly corrupt that their imagination was only evil. Imagination is our creativity, ingenuity, and resourcefulness. He was like a light in the darkness. He was one light in a dark world. The world hated Noah because he was different. They constantly harassed him.
How could Noah handle the pressure?
This seems to be more than one individual could deal with. Many people find it hard to live for God especially when everything seems to be working against them. It appears that our world is getting darker every day, but we all know many people who fully and freely serve God.
Noah was able to triumph over his circumstances because he listened to God and obeyed His Word.
He was true to God’s Word. He was not forced to do this. Noah had his options open. He chose to listen to God and obey His Word. He wanted what God wanted. It seemed unimportant to him that he was alone in his commitment.
He was willing to enjoy the privileges and accept the responsibilities that went with his choice.
For almost 120 years God’s Word was not important to anyone but Noah. Noah continued to believe God and do the right thing.
After Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord, he was given instructions on how to build and equip the ark.
Genesis 6:22 NIV84 “Noah did everything just as God commanded him.”
Noah became triumphant in difficult circumstances because he heard and obeyed the Lord.
Does it still pay to trust and obey God’s Word?
Jesus was speaking to some of those who were following Him. In Luke 6:46 NKJV He said: “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?”
Noah faced constant ridicule and criticism from everyone who lived around him.
His task was long and hard and faced with constant ridicule and criticism. No one believed that God had spoken to Noah. Do you think Noah ever wanted to quit? We could ask Noah, how can you continually have joy when the circumstances of your life do not change?
Noah knew he was doing what God said.
Nothing can bring you as much joy as being exactly in the center of God’s plan for your life. If you want to have a triumphant life in difficult circumstances, you must do what God’s Word says.
Second, you can have a triumphant life in difficult circumstances by keeping your focus on God.
Many people have trouble trusting God because all they can see are their circumstances.It is not that they see too much, but they see too little.
Noah had the capacity to look past his wicked and corrupt world and neighbors and see God.
He could see God working. He knew God was about to do something wonderful. He knew that he had heard from God. He was not going to give up on God.
You should know that God is always working in our world.
In your darkest moments, God is working. When you cannot see or hear God, He is still working. When your days are long and dark, God is still working. When things don’t go the way you planned, God is still working.
Elisha’s servant had difficulty with this when the days were evil.
In 2 Kings 6, the King of Syria was making war against Israel. God kept telling Elisha everything the Syrian king was planning to do before he did it. As a result of God’s help, everything the Syrian King planned failed. When the King of Syria found out what was happening, he sent horses and chariots and a great army to get Elisha.
2 Kings 6:15 NKJV And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”
Have you ever looked at your circumstances and said, “What are we going to do?”
Elisha’s servant was distressed with the situation because he was not seeing enough. All he could see was the horses and chariots and the destress and anguish.
How could Elisha be calm in the middle of the conflict?
Elisha saw something that his servant could not see.
2 Kings 6:16-17 NKJV So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
You need to know that God is involved in your circumstances.
If all you see is the distress and the conflict, you need to know that God is with you. The Lord your God is ready to lead you into triumph. God is here in your life, in the middle of your circumstances.
Romans 8:31-32 NKJV What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
This is a very important verse for you to hear when you are going through difficult circumstances. God delivered up His own Son to suffer and die so that you may have life more abundantly.
1 John 4:4 NKJV You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
Can you see God in your circumstances? Do you think everyone in the Bible felt like they were going to be strong enough to do their assignment?
Sometimes they felt alone and abandoned in life. Sometimes they felt that there were more against them than for them. One time that great prophet Elijah ran until he lost all strength to run from his problems, but then he stopped and God was able to speak to him. God gave him strength and told him that he was not alone.
If you feel that way, you need to put your trust in God.
When circumstances challenge you, put your trust in God. He will make you more than a conqueror. He knows how to make you triumph. Even if you are threatened and challenged by your circumstances, God knows what is going on in your life. When evil has become too strong all around you, God is on your side.
When you don’t know what to do, turn it over to Jesus.
He knows how to bring you out.
The Bible says, “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord,”but that does not tell the whole story.
God’s grace was sufficient to get Noah through and out of a terrible situation. Noah turned His life over to God who was able to keep Him. God told Noah that his labors were going to bring safety to him and his family. God had prepared a future and a hope for Noah.
That same grace and help is available to you.
God’s grace is sufficient for you and He can bring you through. God has the answer for our nation. God can turn things around in your life. He can change circumstances in your family. He can change your health.
You need to hear what God has said and be true to His word and obey it.
Get your eyes off your circumstances and look to God for your help. This is why we are going to pray. We believe God will intervene. We believe His grace is sufficient. We believe He is able to do it.
God has enough grace and power to bring you into triumph.