Do You Smell? Series

MAKING SENSE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP TO GOD – SMELL

Romans 12:1

Do You Smell?

INTRODUCTION:

A. I have saved this message on smell for last for a number of reasons

1. I was not sure how much information I might find in my Bible concerning the sense of smell

2. Secondly, I had no idea where I might go with this message

3. Praise God he was good to provide information and direction.

B. Each of us have a sense of smell

1. It is the sense that enables us to perceive and distinguish the odors of various substances, also known as olfaction.

2. In humans, the organ of smell is situated in the mucous membrane of the upper portion of the nasal cavity near the septum in the nose.

a. It is made up of the olfactory cells, which are actually nerve cells that function as receptors for the sense of smell.

b. The free ends of the cells project outward from the epithelial tissue in the form of numerous hair like processes.

c. These fibers are buried in the mucus that coats the inner surface of the nasal cavity and are stimulated by various odors.

3. Nerve fibers extend from the olfactory cells to an area of the brain called the olfactory bulb.

4. Any disturbance of the nasal cavity—such as the common cold—in which the olfactory hairs are covered with excess mucus or other material, interferes with the sense of smell

5. As I read I came across many who said that most people believe the sense of smell is the least important – that may or may not be true

6. But what I do know is the sense of smell is not as strongly developed in humans as in many other vertebrates & invertebrates

7. And so it is when we come to the spiritual setting of the sense of smell.

C. The predominate theme attached to the sense of smell in both the Old and New Testament is that of SACRIFICE.

1. The apostle Paul probably had the best sense of smell of any man who has walked the face of the planet earth (outside of Jesus, of course).

2. He embodied the idea so aptly in Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

3. The life God desires and expects, and it is only reasonable considering what He has done for us, is one that offers our bodies (an embodiment of our entire life) to Him totally as a living sacrifice.

4. This type of life becomes a sweet smelling savor to our God!

5. And as I said, with the physical sense of smell, this is probably looked upon as the least important sense of all.

D. So lets trace the idea of a sweet smelling savor or order through the Word of God and see what we can learn how important it really is.

1. We will look at it in three different contexts: the first will be in

a. The Life Of Israel, followed by

b. The Life of Christ, and concluding with

c. The Life of the Believer (you and I)

2. I pray that we will be a sweet perfume ascending to our God in praise of His great love towards us.

PRAY

Let’s begin our look at the sense of smell by looking at it in the context of

I. THE LIFE OF ISRAEL, Leviticus 1:2-9 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the Lord, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock. [3] If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord. [4] And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. [5] And he shall kill the bullock before the Lord: and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. [6] And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces. [7] And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire: [8] And the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar: [9] But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord.