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A Sweet Smelling Savor

Two weeks ago we looked at Ephesians 4:1-16. We looked at how God wants us to be a memorial unto him. Today we are going to continue to look at chapter four verses 17-32. I want us to understand what it is to be a sweet smelling savor unto Him. But before we get to those verses I want us to recall a couple of issues in the verses prior to these since we’ve had a week in-between. Do you remember what I taught about the triumphal entry Jesus made into his father’s presence?

Ephesians 4:8 “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.”

We compared Christ’s triumphal march to how earthly kings marched through the streets with their captors in chains following them. The victorious leader would throw gifts to those in the audience. When Christ ascended on high, he too led captives, but not in chains, they were now free from bondage, and he too gave gifts to men. The difference being that the gifts Jesus gave were to the former captives. Then the gifted ones (the former slaves to sin), were to use their gifts to further the kingdom of God. This addresses how we serve the Lord – with our gifts, building upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets.

Isn’t that an interesting thing to think about? It would be similar to our ticker-tape parades. This photo is from the return of the first Gulf war in 1992. In the Old Testament times when the victorious leader would return they had something similar – minus the sky-scraper buildings. They had fan fare with people on the sidelines cheering him on, his prisoners humbly walking behind him while he is throwing gifts to the audience from the spoils of those following him.

There is one other issue regarding these triumphal entries and that is incense. “The highest honor that could be bestowed on a Roman citizen or magistrate was the triumphal procession in which a victorious general passed from the gate of the city to the capitol. The streets were strewn with flowers, and the altars smoked with incense.” (From The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary.)

Not only did the earthly victor strut throughout the city leading his captives and giving gifts to men – but also in the procession there were those who would carry vessels of incense. The incense being diffused everywhere spoke of the victory of the leader.

2 Corinthians 2:14-15 But 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. (15) For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

Now let’s go back to Ephesians chapter 4.

Ephesians 4:10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.

[In order to fill the whole universe] Some commentaries state that this means that Christ is the fountain from where all blessings flow, referring primarily to the gifts he dispensed. I believe it also applies to the issue of incense. He ascended in order to fill the whole universe with his aroma, as we shall later see from the Song of Solomon. 2 Corinthians 2:15 states, “we are the aroma of Christ” and we spread that aroma through our life style.

Now we are finally going to get to the second half of Ephesians 4.

Ephesians 4:17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.

This addresses’ our life style. The first thing we have to do is change our thinking. We must no longer live as the Gentiles did, in the futility of their thinking.

Ephesians 4:18-19 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.

(19) Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.

In the first part of this chapter Paul dealt with how we serve Christ through our giftings, now he is dealing with how we emulate Christ through our lifestyle.

Ephesians 4:29-32 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

(30) And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (31) Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

(32) Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Our lifestyles are to spread the aroma of Christ throughout this world.

It seems as though Paul is making a transition in his own mind of how he sees himself. In the first half of this chapter he sees himself in the procession of Christ’s triumphal entry as one of the captives, set free from sin, and yet a prisoner of the Lord. He begins this chapter by stating that he is a prisoner of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is in full view as a demonstration of the greatness of the victory of Christ.

But now in the second half of this chapter he passes himself as one in the place of an incense bearer in the procession. He seems to be saying that as he passes on through the world bearing incense it is saying two things, or having two effects, speaking to two different classes of people. It relates to life and death.

2 Corinthians 2:15 For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

Aroma either convicts or condemns

Isn’t it interesting that the aroma of Christ is the sweetest smell there is to the Christian and yet the most repelling thing there is to those perishing! Just think of what the captors of the earthly kings thought as they walked through the street behind the victorious general. As the incense went forth it created the smell of victory for the people of that city or country, but the same smell meant the death of the captors. The same smell created two different reactions.

When we gather together as the body of Christ there is more than just “pews” that we smell. There is a definite sweetness to church that all believers relate to. We are not repelled at all at the preaching of the cross. We are not repelled during our worship.

Ephesians 4:22-24 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; (23) to be made new in the attitude of your minds; (24) and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

If you tell someone in the world that they need to die to their way of life and make Christ their savior, they become very offended. To them, that is the smell of death. If you don’t think that is true just look at the spirit that is in the world today. Today a radical Muslim can kill another person and yet America is falling all over itself to say that Islam really isn’t a bad religion. However, if in the midst of this conflict a Christian were to simply state that Muslims need to make Christ their Savior if they plan to go to heaven that is considered the most vial, non-sensitive, hateful remark you can make.

The very same fragrance that we embrace and love is the smell of death to those perishing. Our lifestyle is what puts that smell out there. If as Christians there is no difference between our lifestyle and the worlds then we no longer bring any conviction or revelation of Christ to others. Whenever I come back from one of our Jesus-Sensitive conferences I’m stirred in my spirit about the seemingly lack of commitment I see in today’s American Christian. Our conferences are three very intense days. We spend hours in prayer – hours in the word of God – hours being challenged to live out our Christianity.

Both Dean and I felt that this last conference was the best one we’ve ever had. People were healed, filled with the spirit, speaking in tongues, spending big amounts of time in prayer – but more than all of that was the presence of God. It overwhelmed us.

And then I get back to my Hotel room turn on my computer and go to Facebook only to find a pastor friend of mine from across the country who is boasting of going to a Katy Perry concert and how amazing she is. Another one posted that her father was a preacher. Katy Perry, Brittney Spears, and Mily Cirus are all as ungodly as you can get and each one of them started off proclaiming they were Christians. Today each one of them are sex symbols and there is no way any person who names the name of Christ should even listen to their music.

I literally got depressed over that. And I thought to myself – what is the use in trying to convince a carnal church not to be carnal if they are not interested.

Paul is pretty blunt in his statements about those who don’t know Christ. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. If that becomes the testimony of a Christian – then his life is no longer putting forth any sense of conviction to those around him. The aroma of Christ is the cross, and the cross represents death. Death means separation – when we no longer separate ourselves from the world – then we take on their aroma. It’s in the procession of the victory of Christ where the aroma is found. When we walk in the procession of this world we smell like the world. When you come out of a secular concert – you smell like the concert – not like Jesus. You smell like beer, and smoke, and cursing. You smell like anything but the aroma of Christ.

So if for nothing else – just for my sake – when you cannot say anything more on facebook than what ungodly thing you did last week, or whose ungodly music you just discovered – at least go into your information page and delete your status as a Christian. It’s confusing to the world to think that you call yourself a Christian and yet love the very world Jesus told us to come out of. We have been called to bring the world out of its vain, ineffective, futile thinking – not to encourage them in it by supporting their ungodliness. (Emphasis by me – Brad Williams. It’s time to take a stand for Christ and shun the world instead of accepting it for who’s sake? Lost people. People who do not know Christ don’t need carnal Christians, they need people who live the Word of God and actually stand for something. Truth.)

I’m telling you – it really hit me hard. I even thought to myself – is it worth continuing to pastor a church in today’s world? Perhaps it’s because I just came out of a very powerful conference but I’m concerned that if the gospel was preached the way it should be today – most of the church in America would stop going to church because it seems there is no way we are going to put Jesus over our entertainment. We will fight to defend entertainment much more than we will ever go out of our way to win our neighbors to Christ.

We must ask ourselves; what is it we want to accomplish for Jesus?

I’m serious about this folks – is Jesus not enough for us today? Would it be impossible for you to serve Jesus if you had to put away all forms of entertainment and all you had was the bible and prayer? That’s all we are going to have at our Solemn Assembly for 4 hours – just the word and prayer.

For those of you who feel I speak too much against Hollywood and entertainment – you are a case in point. Those who have died to the worldly entertainment find my statements are much needed because to them these statements smell like life. To those of you who have not died to the world find the same statement convicting because to you these statements smell like death because you have not yet died.

Ok I had to get that off my chest – now back to the bible.

Taught in Him

Ephesians 4:21, Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.

What does it mean to be taught in Him? That which is going forth from us, that which is the effect of our lives, is more than just a knowledge of Christ. It is one thing to be taught of Christ. Any professor in any college can teach about Christ from a historical perspective. There is however, a great difference between being taught about Christ and being taught Christ. Everywhere in the world, because of Christians, men are coming to a knowledge of Christ. The very object of our being is that Christ should be known because of us.

There is a very big difference between giving out the truth concerning our Lord, and that strange, deep, indispensable element that says we are that truth. The power and strength of this comes from the fact that we are those who are the living expression of the risen Savior. Why else would the world have such a reaction to Christianity, and yet not have that same reaction with any other religion in the world. It’s because we don’t just teach about Christ – but rather, we bring Christ to men through our very lives. And the aroma of our lives reveals either life or death to them. No other religion in the world has any convicting power.

Wherever we go it is not just that we have truth to give, but it is that we bring Christ to men. It is not merely what we say – it’s what we are. I think it is very appropriate for this chapter to deal with this issue in its second half after having first dealt with gifts. Basically what Paul is saying is that it is one thing to be gifted; it is still another thing to be like Christ. Gifts without character spell disaster. It seems almost every gifted man who lacks character, uses his gift for his own promotion rather than Christ.

It’s those who have been subjected to experiences of intense persecution, those who have gone through the fire of faith, those who have been tested and tried, and yet come through the frey with an unshakable faith in their savior, those are the ones who become the very essence of Him. When they talk with men they are not just sharing knowledge about Christ – they are sharing Christ himself. When they share their faith it’s a demonstration of Christ himself. That is the thing we should very earnestly seek the Lord about.

We have a problem in America – things are too easy for us. We are going to have a Solemn Assembly following the service. We are going to fast the lunch hour – get on our faces and pray. That is about the most costly thing we can do in America. These things make us feel spiritual because we are not yet facing outright persecution which is probably why it’s hard to get the majority of us to even do those things.

The kind of ministry that actually reveals Christ is very costly. Ministry of this kind, the kind that reveals Christ Himself, is intense. It is so different than just having a position in the church. It’s more than the glamour of certain stations in the kingdom of God. To have this kind of ministry is something you must shed your own blood over. It’s the kind of ministry we should literally plead to be set free from unless our life and heart and passion is that Christ himself – not ourselves, but that Christ should be made known.

It’s like being a father. To be a father puts a man in a terrible situation unless his life, heart, and passion, is for his family. A true father will put his life on the line for his children. The same could be said of a mom – but how many have that kind of heart for Christ? How many of us would literally put our life on the line for Jesus? We say we would – as long as we can still do all the things we like to do.

I remember once in Africa when a Muslim teenage girl got saved in one of our meetings. I think Dean was speaking at a Christian school which had many Muslim children in it because it was the only school they had in the area. Dean and I both remember her well because she told us that her family would reject her for surrendering her life to Christ. One year later we were back at the same place and saw her again. We called her by her name and she said, “Oh that is no longer my name. My new name is Righteous!” She went on to explain that after she accepted Christ into her life her father beat her and threw her out in the street never allowing her to come home again. So she gave herself a new identity and started living at the Christian school. She was only 15 years old at the time – and yet willing to die if necessary for the sake of Christ.

In America we cannot even get the church to say “no” to the world and then wonder why we are not seeing great things done in the name of Jesus. What if I said this to you; I insist that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking; could you handle that? Paul the apostle said it to the church in Ephesus but that’s because they were still learning what it meant to be a Christian. Paul was writing the Bible as he wrote to them. They didn’t even have the very words to study that he was composing at the time. We do! So that makes our draw to the world even that much more vile. The church of Ephesus was just learning these things. But we know these things. We have the Word of God in it’s completed form. We have a lot of church history to look back at and yet it seems we have become content to set that all aside. There is no way we would ever lay our lives down for Jesus if we cannot even deny ourselves the carnal comforts of this day.

True ministry is a costly thing. It is a thing of suffering in the same way a parent suffers for their kids. They don’t suffer begrudgingly, but they do suffer. To simplify this we could say that true ministry is Christ ministered, not just Christ ministered about, but Christ ministered.

We don’t seem to be compelled to minister Christ today. We need to wake up in the morning with a burning desire to reveal Christ to somebody. Paul did, many others following him did, we should too?

The Incense

Without a vibrant prayer life we don’t really give off much incense.

Revelation 5:8-9 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Incense symbolizes more than just prayer, but rather it is prayer accepted before God because of atonement or sacrifice. We have the privilege of prayer because of the atonement – but that which rises as a sweet smelling savor before God is prayer combined with atonement or sacrifice on our part.

Psalms 141:2 “May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.”

The lifting up of the hands is symbolic to the rising up of the incense smoke. The smoke is what ascends unto God as a sweet smelling savor. However, it’s more than just prayer, its prayer and doing. It is one thing to talk to God, it is another thing to not only talk to God but live as a sacrifice to the Lord. We are to live as though we have been conquered by Christ – for indeed we have been.

I have taught in the past (because it’s hard to teach in the future) about that which rises up to God as a sweet smelling savor.

I have some teaching I do on fasting. During our Solemn Assembly we will be fasting the lunch hour. The teaching relates to the aroma that is pleasing to the Lord.

Numbers 18:17 “But you must not redeem the firstborn of an ox, a sheep or a goat; they are holy. Sprinkle their blood on the altar and burn their fat as an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.

The fat of the animal is what ascended as an aroma pleasing to God. I don’t believe the pleasantness of the smell has anything to do with what burning fat actually smells like. It’s that fat represents carnality. Fat is over-indulgence, it’s a continual nurturing of self. It’s the fleshly nature. It is everything listed in chapter 4 of Ephesians. It’s the futility of our thinking. It’s being darkened in our understanding and separated from the life of God. It’s ignorance. It’s having lost all sensitivity. It’s being given over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.

Therefore when the fat is being burnt it is symbolic of the destruction of that nature. In the book of Romans 12:1 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.” When we offer ourselves as a living sacrifice we are offering up to the Lord our carnal nature. The prayer life is the burning away of the carnal nature. So our prayers rise to the Lord with the sweet smell of the old nature being burned away. That is the incense that goes out from our lives. It is the smell of the victory of Christ in our lives. To some it is a most beautiful smell – to others – those perishing – it is an offense.

So the Psalmist says, “May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.” The lifting up of our hands is symbolic of us offering ourselves as a sacrifice to the Lord.

Romans said we are to be a sacrifice, holy and pleasing unto the Lord. When we are burning away the old nature we are taking on His new nature. Rather than any unwholesome talk coming out of your mouths, we will only speak that which is helpful for building others up according to their needs. We will no longer grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom we are sealed for the day of redemption. We will get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. And we will be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave us. Every time we perform one of these mercies we release a little more of the fragrance of Christ.

Blow Upon My Garden

Song of Songs 4:10-16 “How beautiful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much better is your love than wine, And the fragrance of your oils Than all kinds of spices!

(11) “Your lips, my bride, drip honey; Honey and milk are under your tongue, And the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon. (12) “A garden locked is my sister, my bride, A rock garden locked, a spring sealed up.

Then the bride responds to the groom (Christ)

(16) “Awake, O north wind, And come, wind of the south; Make my garden breathe out fragrance, Let its spices be wafted abroad. May my beloved come into his garden and eat its choice fruits!”

The north wind ‘awakes,’ it is symbolic of the Holy Spirit as a reprover. The south wind ‘comes’ gently as the Holy Spirit as the Comforter. The bride is expressing her great desire to go though whatever it takes to get her spices wafted abroad. I think as a nation we like the south wind. We like the Holy Spirit as a comforter. We like having our cake and eating it too. But if we are ever going to see revival – if the world is ever going to truly smell the aroma we must open ourselves up to the north wind of reproof.

That is a picture of the heart of the bride of Christ. It’s a heart that wants the whole world to know of her savior no matter what price she needs to pay to make that happen. Is that your heart? Is your life a living sacrifice, filled with prayer and the fragrance of the Lord? Are you an incense bearer for the Lord? Is your life a sweet smelling savor unto God? Jesus wants it to be.