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Nobleton Community Church
29084 Sentinel Street PO Box 224
Nobleton, Florida 34661
Rev. Paul V. Lehmann, Pastor
813-389-8683
Nobletoncommunitychurch.org
info@nobletoncommunitychurch.org
OUR VISION IS:
To experience SPIRIT-FILLED WORSHIP AND PRAYER
To be involved in EVANGELISM, DISCIPLINING AND TRAINING PEOPLE
To use our SPIRITUAL GIFTS
To SERVE AND REACH PEOPLE FOR CHRIST, BOTH
“ACROSS THE STREET AND ACROSS THE WORLD”
Nobleton Community Church
Date September 28, 2025
Text TEXT: II Corinthians 2:12-17
Pastor Paul Lehmann
Paul’s triumphant life in Christ is evidenced by this scripture passage. We need to understand his thinking, though, as he has been through a lot of suffering. Perhaps not all physical, but in his spirit, he also suffered because of his complete dedication to Christ. We read in chapter 1: verses 8-11, that he was so discouraged he really didn’t see how he would get out alive. But he saw in this difficulty a lesson that God wanted to teach him and us. It teaches us that we are not to place reliance in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead. Whether we have victory or not totally depends on our captor—that is, who or what is captivating us, secular humanists, Satan, or Jesus Christ.
Then in chapter two of our text this morning, Paul says, “thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession, as captives”— ‘prisoners’—-we read in the TEV (the Good News Bible).
Whatever the experiences through which Paul has passed, he wants us to know that it has been a glorious victory from beginning to end. He emphasizes that because of his union with Christ, it has been one continual victory. It is a victory in a particular sense. A victory through captivity, and what Paul says about his life as a Christian should be true about the lives of each one of us today. Amidst the heartaches and disappointments, the burdens and trials, as well as the joys of Christian living and all that is involved, nevertheless, because of our union with Christ, the story should be one of continued triumph.
So let’s look at:
Three things about this: VICTORY OF TRIUMPH.
FIRST: WE MAY KNOW THAT:
WE CAN HAVE A TRIUMPHANT LIFE IN CHRIST
Paul had a very clear picture in mind when he used this illustration. It would be a picture that was familiar to the Corinthian Christians. They knew how when the generals of the Roman Empire conquered other Provinces with a decisive victory, they brought the people to complete subjugation or submission. It had to be a victory where at least 5,000 of the enemy had fallen in battle. A triumph in Rome at that time called for a magnificent procession of honor of this general, and it was the highest military distinction which he could obtain. It was granted by the “Senate” only to one who had been the actual commander-in-chief in the field and held the office of dictator or consul. In a Roman triumph, the victorious general entered the city of Rome in a chariot drawn by four horses. He was crowned with laurel around his head, and he held a scepter in one hand and a branch of laurel in the other. Marching before him were the members of the Senate and magistrates, and State officials, along with the musicians, and spoils of his victory, and the captives in chains, followed by his army on foot shouting their cry of triumph.
Picture what it was like when the Rays won the American League Championship 17 years ago, and again in 2020 (even though they lost in the World Series, and when the Bucs won the Super Bowl 22 years ago. Then, with Tom Brady in 2021 and 2023. There were parades and shouting in triumph for their tremendous seasons. In 2004, the Lightning Bolts Hockey team won the Stanley Cup. Once again, much celebration. (They won again in 2020 and 2021. When they won in 2004, we lived in the Detroit area when the Detroit Pistons won the NBA championship. There was a tremendous parade and celebration. We like our sports and we love to win championships. We don’t have conquering army parades like Paul has in his mind, when the captives (losers) marched before the chariot of the winning general. No, heathen priests swinging their censers with the sweet-smelling incense burning in them. All of this marked a tremendous day, a day that might happen only once in a lifetime! That is the picture that is in Paul’s mind. He sees the conquering Christ marching in triumph throughout the world and himself and other Christians in that procession.
Now in that procession, as I said, the priests were swinging the incense-filled censers. To the general and to the victors, the perfume from the censers would be the perfume of joy and triumph and life; but to the captives who walked so short a distance ahead of them, it was the perfume of death, for it stood for the past defeat and their coming execution.
It was also true, though, that when a conquering general came upon a province to defeat them, if they would agree to bow down and worship the emperor, their lives were spared, but if they refused, they were taken captive and executed.
In Christ as our conqueror, it’s the same thing. If we yield to Christ and allow him to reign over us, we are given abundant eternal life,
but if we refuse, the result is spiritual death and punishment. This is the way it is for the ministry of a Christian. We go forward in victory over sin and Satan, and death because of the conquering power of Christ in our lives. As we give the Gospel to others, they sense the sweet smell of life if they are victorious in Christ, but they sense death if they refuse to accept him.
Jeannene’s cousin Jeff was like that. He refused to give his life to Christ. He kept doing things that were destroying his life. First it was alcohol, then drugs. He was in and out of jail many times. Then, finally, one night, he wanted to take his life. He heard the gospel, but it was like the smell of death to him. We were home on furlough from the Congo that year. His mother had made a commitment to Christ and was going to church. Jeff lived alone in a cheap apartment. He was really stressed out because his mother had “gotten religious,” he thought. One night, Aunt Mary called me and said that Jeff was trying to commit suicide. He had turned the gas on with the oven door open. I drove over to his apartment, and I saw him sitting on the couch with his head in his hands. The outside door was open, but the screen door was shut. I called out to him, but he didn’t look up or come to the door. I called his name and walked in. I smelled the strong smell of gas coming from the kitchen, where I saw the oven door open. I sat down beside him and said, “Jeff, you don’t really want to do this, do you?” He shrugged his shoulders. I said, ‘Come on, Jeff, you had the outside door open, with just the screen door shut.’ You don’t really want to take your life. I went and shut the oven door and turned off the gas. The house could have eventually caught on fire, perhaps, but there was no immediate danger of his being overcome by escaping gas. I shared the gospel with him, but he just refused to accept Christ into his life. His mother showed up after a while and took him back to her house. Some years later, he had moved out west, and word got back to his mother that one night, he and his friends were drinking. He was in the back seat of a speeding car, and he fell out the door and was killed. How that happens, I don’t know. But when you are drunk, lots of bad things can happen.
You see, the gospel for Jeff was like a sentence of death on him. He didn’t smell the sweet smell of victory, but death. He refused to let Jesus Christ wrap His arms around him and take him into “protective custody” and give him victory over his addictions and a life that seemed hopeless.
It’s like what happened to me when I hit two little girls with my car in Kinshasa, and was able to get to the police station, for “protective custody.” If you don’t do this, the police will take no responsibility for what the crowd will do to you. (You can read about this in my book, “They meant to Kill Me.”)
My eventual release and victory in that situation was only possible because I was “taken captive,” so to speak. Otherwise, I would have been killed.
Paul was taken captive in triumph. He received liberty in bondage, and because he submitted his life to the Lord, he became a part of God’s triumphal ministry through him. He was blinded on that road to Damascus and was in total submission to others who led him to a house where a disciple named Ananias came after the Lord spoke to him in a vision, to go and lay hands on Paul so that he would receive his sight back.
The apostle Paul was a very good man. A learned teacher, a proud Pharisee. It was hard for him to realize that his self-righteousness was nothing. God had to knock him down in order to speak to him, and then he said in so many words, “Lord, put your chains of victory upon my heart. What do you want me to do?” He was taken captive in triumph. He was put into protective custody and then left in victory.
SO SECONDLY, BECAUSE WE CAN LIVE A LIFE OF TRIUMPH,
WE CAN LIVE A LIFE OF TESTIMONY.
In verse 14, we read that, “God uses us to make the knowledge about Christ spread everywhere like a sweet fragrance.” The picture that Paul put before the Corinthian Christians of the prisoners of war being dragged along the ground was their degradation, but for Paul in terms of spiritual experience, this was the greatest honor; that he could be a slave of the Master.
I wonder how many of us are the same as Paul. Do we desire to be slaves of the Lord Jesus, or do we just want the gift of salvation, but not the commitment necessary to really have victory in Christ? There is more involved in Christianity than just accepting the Christian Creed or a Statement of Faith. Even if we accept Christ through faith and receive him into our lives, and submit ourselves to him and are born-again by his Spirit, and are baptized, we must still live a life of total commitment if we call ourselves a disciple of Christ. It involves every phase of our activity. Being a slave of Jesus Christ requires a life of service.
Let’s think again about the prisoners:
who have been captured by the general in Paul’s illustration. As we see these prisoners, we can hear much applause, and we ask why the cheering? The cheering is not for the prisoners, but rather for the general. Every chain around his chariot wheels was a symbol of his power, and the broken weapons the prisoners carried were symbols of their defeat. Paul likens himself to the prisoners, his self-righteousness and ability to persecute or destroy Christians, and his willpower as weapons that have been shattered by the Lord Jesus Christ. Now all of these have been placed in the chains of the Master. It is only at this point that Paul is able to have a witnessing life. Satan tries to use many things as weapons against God and us, but if we surrender to the Lord, he will shatter these weapons, and as we become his captives and through this captivity, we will have freedom and triumph over Satan. If we give our lives to Satan, we will be led by him unto death and destruction.
FINALLY, OUR LIFE OF TRIUMPH AND TESTIMONY
BECOMES ALSO A FRAGRANT LIFE.
We read in verses 15 and 16, “For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one, we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life…”
Christians should have the unmistakable “scent” or “aroma” of Christ, discernible alike to those who accept Christ and also those who reject him and are heading for death. You may tell everyone that you are a Christian, a baptized church member, but maybe those who live around you cannot see Christ in your life. The old habits are still hanging on. When we say we know Christ, but our life shows otherwise, the scent you give off is one that leads to death.
It is like on the farm when we used to haul manure. You just couldn’t get the smell off until you got out of those clothes and scrubbed down. My mother didn’t want me coming into the house until those clothes were off and down in the basement. The smell just won’t go away. But that same smell, when driving through the countryside today, is a sweet aroma to me. I used to comment to my kids about what a beautiful smell. They thought I was nuts and made fun of me. But you see, it was very nostalgic for me, with lots of good memories. It became a “good smell.”
We must give off the fragrance of Christ so that our testimony is meaningful. We must live so that others see Christ in our lives, and then they, too, will want what we have. They will want to live like Christ, too. I wonder if God can say of us like he said of Christ, “This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.” If we have really been taken captive for the Lord and bound in chains to his chariot, so to speak, God the Father looks down and sees Christ in you and you in Christ, and then says, Yes, this is my beloved son. This is my beloved daughter. His perfume or fragrance should be going out from us, reflecting the triumph he has accomplished in our lives.
Jeannene likes “Romance” perfume. Whenever she runs out, I buy her a new bottle. It is rather expensive, but it lasts a long time. But suppose when I bring it home, she puts it in a dresser drawer and never wears it. I would think, “What is this? I gave you that perfume to wear, not stuff it in a drawer and never wear it.” But many Christians do the same thing. Not with perfume, but we have been given so much, yet we keep tightly sealed in ourselves. No one passing near would know for a moment that we have the life of God in us, because not the least small scent is allowed to come forth. But God’s way is that we are unto him a sweet fragrance of Christ, to those who are being saved, and to those who reject Christ, the smell of death. What a responsibility this is. A person who meets you who does not care for the things of God should be convicted by the Holy Spirit by your life, if you are giving off the scent of Christ. Your life should be so changed, so different, and be so much like Christ that others see him in you and sense his presence because of your commitment to him. In this way, he comes off as a fragrance that is pleasing to others and that draws others to him. If your life doesn’t do this, you are not really living a victorious Christian life. It is not a life of triumph, it is not a life that testifies, and it isn’t a fragrant life.
Paul is showing us how our union with Christ, which is the status of true Christians, produces victory through Christ. As we make him Lord of our lives, he leads us through life triumphantly. His blood was shed in the spiritual battle against sin, death, and the grave. He came through victoriously and has given us life. There is victory in him.