Victory comes at a price 2 Corinthians 2:12-17 (ESV)
- When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, 13 my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So, I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia. 14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.
- The other day I was coming to an end of a weeklong fast and as soon as I stepped out of the car, I was like, man- Eva is cooking for the girls, I knew exactly what she was cooking. Fried meat, onion, tomatoes
- Approximately 80–90% of what we perceive as “taste” is in fact due to our sense of smell
- Aroma: a distinctive, pervasive, and usually pleasant or savory smell
- Fragrance – a pleasant, sweet smell.
- Vs 14 (Esv)- But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.
- Paul is saying that we who are in Christ, as our steps are ordered my Christ (Psalms 37:23) we are emitting a fragrance that declares that we know Christ, and this also spreads His knowledge everywhere you go
- In other words, you are smelling Billboard everywhere you go
- Paul is not just throwing the analogy of fragrance just for kicks, this statement was loaded with sensitive awareness
- Romans had an interesting custom in their culture; they would go out into the nations, they would conquer them, possess their land, and would gather valuable possessions to bring back with them to Rome, which they carried as they walked through the Roman Triumphal Arch. It was a way to present the power, glory, and might of the Roman Empire and place it at their emperor’s feet.
- In a Triumph the procession of the victorious general marched through the streets of Rome to the Capitol… First came the state officials and the senate. Then came the trumpeters. Then were carried the spoils taken from the conquered land… Then came the pictures of the conquered land and models of conquered citadels and ships. There followed the white bull for sacrifice which would be made. Then there walked the captive princes, leaders and generals in chains, shortly to be flung into prison and in all probability almost immediately to be executed. Then came the lictors (Judges executing judgements) bearing their rods, followed by the musicians with their lyres; then the priests swinging their censers with the sweet-smelling incense burning in them. After that came the general himself… finally came the army wearing all their decorations and shouting Io triumphe! Their cry of triumph. As the procession moved through the streets, all decorated and garlanded, amid the cheering crowds, it made a tremendous day which might happen only once in a lifetime.”
- Vs 15-16 (Esv) For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.
- The scent of incense burnt to the gods in a Roman triumphal parade smelled wonderful to a Roman. The same aroma was a bad smell to a captive prisoner of war in the parade, who would soon be executed or sold into slavery.
- Paul likens this to the victorious resurrection of Christ – Seeing Jesus as victorious, conquering General matching throughout the world conquering those that are captive and giving joy to those who are in Him
- To those that love and accept the Lord, it’s a beautiful aroma but to those who are perishing it’s a bad fragrance that make them aware of death or slavery that is imminent
- Example of when you in a restaurant and you see people praying – There is joy
- The opposite is true – When someone is standing by what the Bible says and those that are in sin, get really mad when they hear the truth- most of the time it doesn’t even make any sense
- This evening, I want to remind you that you are not just a billboard, but you are also a moving fragrance!
- This is why Paul says in Philippians 1:27(Nkjv) – Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ
What kind of fragrance are you emitting?
- Vs 16: One fragrance of death and one fragrance of life
- Sometimes we just read the Bible and we don’t slow down to ask ourselves, what does fragrance/aroma has to do with anything?
- Vs 15(AMP) For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which ascends] to God,
- We are called to be a sweet fragrance to the Lord?
- Our offering to the Lord should be a sweet aroma – because if we are offensive to the Lord:
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- 1. Our sacrifice to the Lord will be rejected
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- Genesis 4:3-10 (Nkjv) And [a]in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. 4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. 6 So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is [b]for you, but you should rule over it.”
- Sin is wanting to taint your sacrifice and its up to us to do whatever it takes to stay in God presence
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- 2. We will deceive others and ruin Gods reputation among those who don’t know Him
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- Dressing up well doesn’t necessary mean that you took a shower, perfume business is a $22 Billion $ business
- As Christians our inside should reflect/Smell as our outside
- Matthew 23:25-26 (Amp) “Woe to you, [self-righteous] scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of extortion and robbery and self-indulgence (unrestrained greed). 26 You [spiritually] blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the plate [examine and change your inner self to conform to God’s precepts], so that the outside [your public life and deeds] may be clean also.
How do we make sure that we are a pleasing aroma to the Lord?
- John 15:5 (Amp) I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.
- The Bible says remain- not come and go. Imagine a branch that come and goes as it wills, will that produce anything? No, the minute its cut of its dead
- Paul says: Vs 17 (Ampc) For we are not, like so many, [like hucksters making a trade of] peddling God’s Word [shortchanging and adulterating the divine message]; but like [men] of sincerity and the purest motive, as [commissioned and sent] by God, we speak [His message] in Christ (the Messiah), in the [very] sight and presence of God.
- We have to be in the presence of God, to get His message, the divine message so that when we walk among people – those that love the Lord will smell the sweet aroma, and those who are not will be pricked in their hearts
- Everywhere I go, I hear people say, we need to bring God back to the country – which is true
- Who here wants America to go back to God?
- On Sunday Pastor Matt was preaching in Iowa he said how years back the cry was to get prayer back to school – Prayer…associated with Gods presence
- Its sad how far away America gone from God, how many of you want to see prayer back in Schools
- Even more so, how many of you want to see true hunger, a revival in the country
- Here is the Kicker, you have to first return to me says the Lord
- 2 Chronicles 7:14-15 (Amp) And My people, who are called by My Name, humble themselves, and pray and seek (crave, require as a necessity) My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear [them] from heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land. 15 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer offered in this place.
- Get prayer back to your homes – let it be a vital necessity
- Not just prayer meeting – but true prayer – Prayer closets – An intentional prayer for God to move among our children, our families, our church, our country and the whole world
- But it has to start with you!!!
How do we win this Battle – by knowing that Victory comes at a price
- The story of Abraham, Hannah sacrificed a son( Samuel), God sacrificed His only son
- How do you expect to have victory without sacrifice?
- Your 2 minutes prayer is NOT A Sacrifice it does not move Gods heart neither will it yield any victory
- Matthew 26:36 (Esv)Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.
- Matthew 26:40 (Amp) And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “So, you men could not stay awake and keep watch with Me for one hour?
- We want to see God move in our lives, yet we are not even willing to stay and keep watch for an hour?
- Ephesians 6:12 (KJV) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
- Life is Spiritual – Get that in your mind and heart!!
- If you don’t sacrifice to intercede for what we care about, there is one that will sacrifice to render the church useless
- In 2 Kings, chapter 3
- King of Moab rebelled against the King of Israel and refuse to pay tax inform of goats
- King of Israel asks King of Judah and Edom to go to battle with him against the Moabs
- They run out of water on their way there and the call the prophet Elisha who say the following
- 2 Kings 3:16-20 (Amp) He said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Make this valley (the Arabah) full of trenches.’ 17 For thus says the Lord, ‘You will not see wind or rain, yet that valley will be filled with water, so you and your cattle and your other animals may drink. 18 This is but a simple thing in the sight of the Lord; He will also hand over the Moabites to you. 19 You shall strike every fortified city and every choice (principal) city and cut down every good tree and stop up all sources of water, and ruin every good piece of land with stones.’” 20 It happened in the morning, when the sacrifice was offered, that suddenly water came [miraculously] from the area of Edom, and the country was filled with water.
- He did give them water but regarding the victory lets continue to read:
- 2 Kings 3:24-26 (Nkjv) So when they came to the camp of Israel, Israel rose up and attacked the Moabites, so that they fled before them; and they entered their land, killing the Moabites. 25 Then they destroyed the cities, and each man threw a stone on every good piece of land and filled it; and they stopped up all the springs of water and cut down all the good trees. But they left the stones of Kir Haraseth intact. However, the slingers surrounded and attacked it. 26 And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too fierce for him, he took with him seven hundred men who drew swords, to break through to the king of Edom, but they could not. 27 Then he took his eldest son who would have reigned in his place, and offered him as a burnt offering upon the wall; and there was great [d]indignation against Israel. So they departed from him and returned to their own land.
- What happened, they came so close to victory – so close
- They struck every fortified city and every choice city
- They cut down every good tree and stop up all sources of water and ruin every good piece of land with stones.
- BUT – They didn’t win the Battle
- The Radical determination of the King of Moab convinced the King of Israel, Judah, and Edom that they could not completely defeat Moab, they (Israelites) left with near-complete victory!!
- The Moabites out sacrificed them – and they ( who had the promise of God, had seen water appear from trenches) were rendered useless, so they retreated!
- The enemy’s fragrance – death, defeat, discouragement won
- We cannot let the enemy out sacrifice us – Victory comes with a price!!! Are you willing to pay that price – like the apostles, Christians before us, who did with their time, resource and lives?
Here is the ask
- 50 people who are willing – Sacrificial prayers (intercede) – because most of you this message will be only good for this week, but am looking for 50 strong that will say enough is enough- Our children will not be overtaken by the enemy, Families, our church, our country…
- 90 days – Standing on the gap – Everyday to December 31st, 2024
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