What's That Smell? (The Aroma Of A Believer)

What’s That Smell?

Scripture Reference: II Corinthians 2:14-17

Preached at Mount Zion Baptist Church on May 19, 2019

Delivered by Rev. John Daniel Johnson

Illustration:

We few weeks ago, our family went up to Chattanooga, TN for a few days. We were up there ministering and also getting a little family time in. Our family was in the vehicle, windows down taking in the mountain air, and traveling down one of the back roads in the area. It was around noon, and that’s when it hit me. The smell of BBQ filled my vehicle. We were passing a local BBQ Restaurant and I witnessed the chimney of the restaurant billowing out the sweet aroma of cooking pork. My mouth instantly began salivating and my animal instincts set in. I wanted meat, now! Being tempted by that smell, I wanted to make sure the rest of the family had the same sensations I was feeling and tasting. So I quieted down the children and asked this question, “What’s that Smell?” Without missing a beat, all three of my girls screamed out, “It wasn’t me.”

Opening:

When the LORD designed us, He gave us five wonderful senses. Even though there are exceptions to this rule, God has given most us of the senses of hearing, vision, touch, taste, and smell. I’ve told you many stories about my past life, so many of you know that my top two senses are taste and smell. I love to eat and I love to smell what I eat.

However, when the LORD designed us, one of the key senses He created in us is the sense of smell. It is a wonderful gift that helps us daily. We are exposed to thousands of different smells every day. We know the time of day by the smell. If we smell bacon and sausage, we usually know it is breakfast. Smells remind us of events and places. When I smell suntan oil, I think of the beach. When I smell hot cocoa and an open fire, it reminds me of winter nights with my family. We are a people who are affected by smells. If you don’t believe me, try not bathing for a week or putting on deodorant and see how many people you affect! We use body sprays, perfume, cologne, or at the very least, we hopefully use soap to improve our smells.

The Scriptures tell us that we are created in the image of God. This also means that He has the sense of smell. This morning, I want to ask a few questions…how do you smell to God? What kinds of aroma do you give off that prove you are born again? By being a child of God, what godly fragrances do you leave behind in your daily walk?

Transitional Sentence:

Today, we are going to look at the biblical fragrances that a child of God emits to those who are in this world, and how to give off the aroma that pleases the LORD.

Read Scripture:

Let me draw you attention to verse 15 once again. Scripture states,

“For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those

who are being saved and among those who are perishing.”

(II Corinthians 2:15)

When the Holy Spirit penned this passage by the hand of the Apostle Paul, every Jewish reader knew what this terminology meant. Throughout the Old Testament, Scriptures tells us what fragrances pleased the LORD.

First, the aroma of sacrifice pleases the LORD. In Genesis 8 we find of the first times of the aroma of sacrifices pleasing God.

“Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every

clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt

offerings on the altar. 21the Lord smelled the soothing aroma;

and the Lord said to Himself, “I will never again curse the

ground on account of man…”

(Genesis 8:20-21)

My brother and sisters, if you want to truly please the LORD, try sacrificing something to Him. While it’s great to put off certain things and to sacrifice things to the LORD, there is only one that truly He wants. Scripture tells us…

“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God,

to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to

God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”

(Romans 12:1)

The Lord is pleased when we present our life to Him. When we give Him our old ways, our old life, former ways of behaving, and be conformed to the image of Christ, we please the Father. Christians let me pause here for a moment and say this. If you’ve sacrificed your old self, it is dead. A sacrifice means death; it is never to return.

Secondly, the aroma the anointing pleases the LORD. Throughout the Old Testament, certain people were chosen by God and anointed to consecrate them for service.

People/Items Anointed in the Bible