The spirit of FCBC has always been a conquering one right from her inception. God imparted this spirit to me through 2 Corinthians 2:14-16, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?”
This passage draws on the imagery of a victorious Roman general returning to Rome in triumphal procession. Fragrance of perfume permeates the city. Roman citizens have long recognised the fragrance as a scent of life and victory. The enemy has been defeated. The nation has been protected. Yet, following behind the army of the victorious general are the family members of the defeated monarch. That same fragrance represents the stench of defeat and death for them.
For Apostle Paul, this is what the ministry of the gospel is all about. It is a spiritual battle against the powers of the devil. To those who believe and accept the message of the gospel, it is a fragrance of life. However, to those who reject the message, it becomes a fragrance of death.
Church, we are the army of the living God that’s marching against the principalities and powers of hell. We carry the message of the cross that can mean salvation for those who believe, and condemnation for those who don’t. Apostle Paul engages in this spiritual warfare with unwavering confidence that God will always lead him and his team in victory.
But, this does not mean that the path of spiritual warfare is easy. In fact, Apostle Paul said the opposition they faced from the evil one was so great that they “despaired even of life” (2 Corinthians 1:8). This means they were close to giving up hope that they could live through the opposition. This is also why Apostle Paul used the imagery of warfare in the earlier passage. In spite of the great struggles, he declared that God will always lead them in triumph. This is a conquering spirit! No wonder Apostle Paul said in Romans 8:37, “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.”
In our last round of 幸福小组 (xing fu xiao zu), we launched 480 groups. Of which, 962 people accepted Christ, while 252 people rededicated their lives to the Lord. Praise God! Indeed, God has led us in triumph. May all glory be due to His name! May this conquering spirit continue in FCBC for the glory of God!
- Apostolic Overseer Lawrence Khong