2 Corinthians 2:14: 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.
It is God who always leads us in triumph. The word ‘leads’ here speaks of God leading us in triumph. He is our Leader. The word ‘triumph’ comes from the word ‘thriambeuo’ in Greek which means ‘to make an acclamatory procession, to conquer, to give victory, to triumph over, with songs or noise of celebrating, with shouts of triumph.’ In New International Version, it says ‘God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ.’ This procession comes with celebration, a celebration of triumph, parading the victory won, to loud cheers, applause, and shouts of triumph (Psalm 47:1, Exodus 15:1, Exodus 15:21, Psalm 92:4). And we triumph not by our own self-effort, but we triumph in Christ, the anointed, all-powerful One. Friends, we are entering such season now. The battle is on, but the victory is ours. The ‘ark of the covenant’ is in procession again, just as in King David’s time (1 Chronicles 15:14-16) when the ark was brought into Jerusalem. It’s also likened to the time Jesus entered Jerusalem in a triumphal entry (Matthew 21:1-9), and people were shouting ‘Hosanna’, which means ‘help, save, rescue us!’ It’s an exclamation of adoration to the Messiah, the anointed One. This triumphal entry is important as this was when Jesus the Messiah was publicly recognized. Before that, Jesus refused public recognition of Himself as the Messiah, and ministered outside Jerusalem. So the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem was a procession, a public parade (or show) of the entrance of the King of Glory. Jesus is the King of Glory. The ‘ark of the covenant’ always symbolizes the glory of God, the very presence of God. The ark is also a symbol of God’s promise, a reminder of God’s leadership in a battle.
When we live in triumph in Christ, we’ll diffuse or spread the glory of God. However, this is not done through toiling, striving, or self-effort. It’s done in the spirit. It’s done from our resting in the Lord. It’s done by the leading of the Lord. The fragrance or sweet aroma of the knowledge of the glory of God shall permeate the spiritual realm, wherever we go. And whatever happens in the spiritual realm shall be reflected in the natural realm. Imagine the sweet fragrance of flowers and fruits that fills the air. Likewise, the knowledge of the glory of God shall fill the earth as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14). This is truly an end-time prophecy. And this knowledge of the glory of God is not just ‘head knowledge’. The word ‘knowledge’ here in Greek is ‘gnosis’. It means ‘knowing, understanding, be sure.’ It is ‘yada’ in Hebrew. It means ‘be sure, knowing, endued with.’ It is knowing by experience. It’s the expression ‘I know that I know that I know.’
This fragrance of the glory of God is spread ‘through us.’ We are ‘the vessels, the channels, the carriers’ of the glory of God everywhere we go. We are the carriers of spiritual light that emanates in the darkness. When light comes, darkness flees. So every time we are praying in the spirit, or releasing the Word, we are changing the spiritual realm with the ‘light’. The ‘light’ emanates to change the atmosphere around you. This ‘light’ is the glory of God (Revelation 21:23). So, every time we praise, every time we worship, the ‘light’ shines and triumph over the darkness. Every time we love (with the love of God, ‘agape’) and serve, every time we edify someone with the Word of God, every time we preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, the ‘light’ emanates outward and changes the spiritual atmosphere. This is how the knowledge of the glory of the Lord fills the earth as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14). It’s time to look away from ‘what it seems to be on earth now’, and look to God, for we ‘walk by faith, not by sight’ (2 Corinthians 5:7). To walk by faith here is to walk by ‘pistis’ in Greek. It means ‘to walk in conviction, truthfulness of God, assurance, constancy, and reliance upon Christ.’ We are not to walk by sight, which is ‘eidos’ in Greek, meaning ‘an outward view, appearance, form, shapes, fashion, sight.’
So be ready fellow partners in Christ, for we’ll be used by God as such vessels in this season, the end-time season, in a greater intensity than we’ve ever known before. The time is now. The glory of God is here, and reaping time is now (John 4:38). Hallelujah!
