Freedom House Church and Healing Centre

What beautiful days we are having!  As I have been sitting by an open window in the mornings spending time with Jesus and walking around my neighbourhood, the smell of perfume from the flowers and blossoms is everywhere!  It causes me to praise God and fills my heart with joy!  I keep hearing the words “the aroma of Christ.”  So I looked up the scripture in 2 Co 2:14-16 and want to share what God has shown me through this scripture.

"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. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?" (2 Co 2:14-16 NKJV)

But thank God! He has made us His captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now He uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this? (2 Co 2:14-16 NLT)

Remember that Paul is writing to the Corinthian Church so they would have known that the Roman triumph was a victory parade for a conquering army and its leader.  Both victors and captives were part of the procession, and both could smell the fragrance of burning spices, which accompanied the parade.  The aroma, however, meant something different to the two groups. 

In the same manner, the fragrance of Christ (the knowledge of Christ, the Person of Jesus Christ) which is manifest through us is an aroma of death and doom to those who are perishing because it signifies and leads to their ultimate judgment.  Those who are being saved find the knowledge of Christ to be an aroma of life leading to life because it signifies life now and leads to eternal life. 

For those of us who are in Christ we should, like Paul, praise God!  He will always lead us to victory in Christ and uses us to spread the knowledge of Jesus everywhere.  Christ in us is like a perfume diffusing through us!  What an amazing truth!  To some, we stink but to others we smell like perfume, bringing life and hope in Christ alone.  Have you ever noticed that some people are repelled and offended by your presence and others are drawn to you and convicted in your presence?

If you read 2 Ti 3:1-7 I think you will agree that it describes how the world is today.  As bad as things are, they are going to get worse!  If you read Rev 8-10 you will see that there is more deception, torment, destruction and judgement coming for those who are of the world.  Remember that the purpose of increased judgement is to bring people to repentance.  So, how much more crucial is it that we preach the gospel?

The Church needs to be prepared for battle remembering the answer to Paul’s question, “And who is sufficient for these things?” (2 Co 2:16) is in 2 Co 3:5-6, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”

The Church needs to cling to God, stand in who we are in Christ, be in the word, persevere, decide who we are going to serve and follow so that we are not deceived.

The Church needs to fulfill her mission.  We must, be led by Holy Spirit and in the power of the Spirit, proclaim the goods news of the gospel, the message about Jesus Christ and warn people of what will happen if they reject it. Like the perfume from the flowers spreading everywhere, we the Church of Jesus Christ, the victorious army in Christ should be spreading the gospel everywhere!

I want to respond to this word by being obedient to Jesus' command!

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mk 16:15)

I want to be used by God to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. I want my life to be a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God.

What about you?

 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches...” Rev 2:7