10/02/16 HOW DO YOU SMELL?
What aromatic contribution are you going to make in church today?
Remember, my previous post addressed the issue of the spiritual aroma of our lives. We will, "give off" whatever fragrance we have, "put on," and we will give off whatever fragrance we have not removed. Sometimes we don't know that we are giving off an offensive odor. Sometimes there are people who give off the same odor and the don't smell it on themselves, and maybe they are not offended by your stench, but no one likes a repugnant pungency, and trust me, nobody wants to sit next to a stinker.
If we are wearing CRITICISM, we will stink.
If we are wearing ARROGANCE, we will stink.
If we are wearing ANGER, we will stink.
If we are wearing FEAR, we will stink.
If we are wearing WORLDLINESS, we will stink.
If we are wearing SELFISHNESS, we will stink.
If we are wearing WORRY, we will stink.
If we are wearing HATRED, we will stink.
If we are wearing JEALOUSY, we will stink.
If we are wearing ENVY, we will stink.
If we are wearing DECEIT, we will stink.
If we are wearing GREED, we will stink.
If we are wearing Lust, we will stink.
If w are wearing PREJUDICE, we will stink.
If you want to know whether you are giving off any offensive odors, ask someone else. Of course, God and His word is a good place to start, but let's face it, some people are deaf to the voice of God and blind to the written word. However, God uses faithful, wise and loving believers to help others find and follow His will. Find someone with good judgment, honesty, concern. This could (and should) include your pastor, as well as other seasoned saints in the church. Ask them if there are issues in your life that are offensive, then seek God to cleanse you by removing the source of offense and to refresh your presence by covering you with His beauty and sweetness.
Here is how Paul said it...
Ephesians 4:20-32
(20) But ye have not so learned Christ;
(21) If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
(22) That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
(23) And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
(24) And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
(25) Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
(26) Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
(27) Neither give place to the devil.
(28) Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
(29) Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
(30) And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
(31) Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
(32) And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Colossians 3:1-10
(1) If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
(2) Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
(3) For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
(4) When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
(5) Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
(6) For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
(7) In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
(8) But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
(9) Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
(10) And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
