How Do You Smell?

How do you Smell?

Thesis: When you are around others what do you smell like? Do you give off the fragrance of life or the odor of death? Can people smell the fragrance of Jesus in your life or do they smell the vile odor of rotting flesh.

Intent of message is to encourage the graduates and the rest of the church to go out into the world and be a sweet smell where ever they are. They need to make impressions on others that they are a fragrant sweet perfume not the odor of a stinking dieing piece of flesh.

Texts:

2 Cor. 2:14-17 (NIV)

14But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. 15For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? 17Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.

2 Cor. 2:14-17 (Message)

In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life. But those on the way to destruction treat us more like the stench from a rotting corpse.

This is a terrific responsibility. Is anyone competent to take it on? No—but at least we don’t take God’s Word, water it down, and then take it to the streets to sell it cheap. We stand in Christ’s presence when we speak; God looks us in the face. We get what we say straight from God and say it as honestly as we can.

2Cor. 2:14-17 (NASB)

14But thanks be unto God, who always leadeth us in triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest through us the savor of his knowledge in every place. 15For we are a sweet savor of Christ unto God, in them that are saved, and in them that perish; 16to the one a savor from death unto death; to the other a savor from life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17For we are not as the many, corrupting the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, speak we in Christ.

Illustration:

Pass around the fresh cut Lilacs have them smell them.

Light some incense so they can smell it during the service.

Introduction:

The sense of smell is one of the powerful senses God has given us. A couple of days ago I was out on the corner of the church and out of the sewer came a vile odor of a dead animal. It turned my nose and my stomach because of its vile odor of decaying flesh. We have all smelled the stench of a skunk it is really implanted on our brains. Why? Because odors – smells are registered in our brains especially foul ones. The truth is smell will influence us in a given situation. For example if someone comes around you and they stink your perception is created. Stinky people usually don’t have many friends nor do people want to hang around them. Why? Smell makes a difference.

When I was in India smell was one scent that worked overtime. I still recall the different smells of India even now 6 months later. They are implanted in my brain. By the way the majority of the smells I remember are vile.

*The first smell of India was a vile smell that slapped in the nose when we walked outside the airport in Bombay. It smelled like nothing I had ever experienced. I not only smelled the pollution but I could taste it in my mouth.

*I recall the first young person who ran up to me and wanted to carry my bags he smelled like he had not taken a bath in years. He looked like it too. Only a young child but living on the streets of Bombay.

*I recall going into our first village getting out of the truck and smelling the stench of open sewage.

*I remember the dog that ran by with a large tumor on his back and the odor it gave off.

*I remember the different smells as I prayed for people at night after the crusades.

There is a motto in India wipe with the left eat and shake with the right. They do not have toilet paper and I recall at night the smells coming from the left hands of people I prayed for.