Untitled Sermon (11)

INTRODUCTION: What’s that smell.

2 Corinthians 2:12–13 ESV

12 When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, 13 my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia.

I was sure of this - I knew exactly what I was to do.

I wanted to come -He desired. He thought that is what God would have him do.

Second experience of grace - meaning that he was going to minister to them.

An open door doesn’t always mean it’s the right door.

We will often w

It is often better to let God shut the door.

illustartion - boy asking girl out a date. You have to actually ask.

ray testimony

BLESSING OF HIM

he will still be on staff.

recommitting ourselves: we will be trying to find a new church planter next year.

Ray never would have been a pastor without us. And we wouldn't be a church we are without him.

TRANSITION: So what’s our response to God closing that door?

2 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV)

14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession,

triumphal procession -

Now let me give you a little background. Paul draws this encouragement out of a very graphic historical event that occurred in his world. He uses that as a backdrop to what he is going to say. You see words there like “triumph,” “aroma,” “fragrance.” Those are all words that speak of a very unique event, particularly the word “triumph.” The Romans had what was called a “Triumph;” that’s what they called it. A Triumph was when the Roman government and all of its people honored a great general.

The honor could be bestowed on a victorious Roman general only under certain conditions. Before he could win it, he must have been the actual commander-in-chief of all the troops in the field. The campaign must have been completely finished, the region completely pacified, and the victorious troops brought home. At least 5,000 of the enemy must have fallen in one engagement. A positive extension of the territory of the kingdom must have been gained and not just a disaster retrieved or some attack repelled. A victory must have been won over a foreign foe and it could not be in a civil war. And now and then, maybe once in a life time, a general might have that kind of Triumph given to him as his honor. In the actual Triumph, there would be a procession through the streets of Rome to the capital where an offering would be made to the gods.

First there would come the state officials, and there would come the senate in this great Triumph. Then there would come the trumpeters. Then there would come those carrying the spoils from the conquering, all the wealth and the treasures. Then there would come the white bull which was to be offered in a blood sacrifice to Jupiter. Then there would come the captives, the prisoners in chains who would be headed to prison and to death.

Then there would come the priests. The priests would be swinging censers full of incense that was smoldering and smoking, and the fragrance of the incense would fill the air all along the way. And in addition, women would line the street and throw garlands of flowers to be crushed under the hooves of the men on the horses, and thus the fragrance would mount. In the homes of the people, they might light incense lamps, so that the fragrance would fill the entire city.

Then there would come the general himself, and he would be riding a chariot pulled by four horses; and he would have a purple toga marked out with golden stars, and over it he would have another purple robe; it would be embroidered with golden palm leaves. In his hand he would have an ivory scepter crowned with an eagle. And all the people would shout, “Triumph, triumph, triumph, triumph.”

Through us - meaning God is working, it is through us. not us.

Spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere - crop dusting? lol

We win when we follow Jesus.

2 Corinthians 2:14–16 (ESV)

14) and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?

aroma - (Get flowers of something smelly. Scratch off?)

when the procession happens, they were would be flowers crushed and thrown in the air, creating the whole city a sweet smell.

2 Corinthians 2:16–17 (ESV)

16) Who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.

Peddlers of God’s Word - Con men. Trying to trick people.

We don’t skip verses, we preach them.

Ou

2 Corinthians 3:1–3 ESV

1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. 3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

do we need proof that we are God’s workers? no. You are the proof.

CONCLUSION: 6 YEARS AGO, SHOW PICTURE. That day we will remember.

Today as well. I am going to ask to go out and write out tanably what has been written in our hearts.