Pleasing Aroma
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Welcome
Welcome
Welcome to Renew!
We are thankful that you are here
I want to start off today by praying for Collegeville and Mrs. Thomas
Intro
Intro
If you have ever had the privilege of getting into my car the aroma that greets you is…interesting
I am not good at keeping it clean or even smell free!
Joy took my car home Wednesday night and sent me this text...
She’s not wrong
In that same token, have you ever been in a locker room?
There are some smells that are IMPOSSIBLE to describe
Or forget.
SO let me ask you, is your life like my car?
Or a locker room?
Let me explain what I mean
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.
For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,
to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?
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.
This letter is Paul’s most personal and pastoral letter
It is more autobiographical than the others he has written
It shared more personal autobiographical stories than his other letters.
Mainly this letter was written to prepare the church at Corinth for his arrival
IN this passage he begins to transition the letter by explaining the nature of apostolic ministry
We don’t know what became of that letter but we know that this letter was written in an effort to continue reconciling with the church.
He does this for the next several chapters
But I want to focus on this section of the letter.
He had some difficult conversations with them
What type of aroma are we putting off?
Are we a pleasing or
Our Life Must Reflect Jesus to God
Our Life Must Reflect Jesus to God
For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,
How do we reflect Jesus?
1st -
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
We must present ourselves as living sacrifices
Sacrificing the things that are convenient or comfortable for us to allow Jesus to work in us
These living sacrifices are essential in Jesus being able to work
The problem with living sacrifices is that they keep crawling off the altar.
tells us how to keep this from happening!
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
If we are truly wanting to be a sacrifice that produces a pleasing aroma then we must follow this.
Allow God to transform our minds and speak his will to our life
When we are that living sacrifice then we become that pure representation of Jesus
We have surrendered our will to him
We have given up our old ways
We are allowing him to transform us in HIS image
We are living in HIS will
But that reflection is more than just to God
Our Life Must Reflect Jesus to the World
Our Life Must Reflect Jesus to the World
One of my favorite things I have heard is being Jesus with skin on
One of my favorite things I have heard is being Jesus with skin on
Being Jesus with Skin On
Understand this, there will be many people that you meet on a daily basis that have never stepped foot in a church
You are the only Jesus they see
Many people you that you meet have seen the church and Christians and have been hurt or turned off by them.
You are the TRUE Jesus they see
For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
We reflect Jesus through the example that he gave us
Think about the type of people that Jesus ministered to
Lepers, tax collectors, sick, blind, prostitutes, adulterers and more!
The people that were despised by the “religious” were the very ones that Jesus went after!
We must meet them where they are but love them too much to let them stay!
We have to be willing to reach out to anyone and everyone
We started off the year talking about being Committed, Whatever the call. Whatever the cost
Are we truly willing to do that?
Do we want to reach the ones that no one else wants?
I want to be the church that reflects Jesus!
Why Is This Important
Why Is This Important
I love
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.
I could have preached a whole message on this!
Peddler - kapēlĕuō (ka - pay - loo - oh)
kapēlĕuō
It comes from the root word kapelos that means to be a huckster
OR a door to door salesman
You ever been approached by a huckster?
They talk a lot!
If you’re talking you’re selling.
Our lives should be reflection of Jesus
We said it last week
Let our lives speak louder than our words!
The great thing is that we aren’t just door to door salesman trying to meet a quota
We have been COMMISSIONED!
We have been sent out in sincerity to live a life that reflects Jesus
This is to be pure and sincere
If we are sincere then we must be transparent!
Show our imperfections but show God working on us!
We have to live a life that is pleasing to God and desirable to man.
to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?
Sometimes the words we say can be sweet like honey
But honey to someone who is sick is like eating cauliflower - or whatever food you think is gross
It is our life that is speaking when words won’t work
How we live our life will either muffle the words we say or speak them through a megaphone!
Where Do We Go From Here
Where Do We Go From Here
Meditate -
God leads us in a triumphal procession!
We have already won!
He is leading us in a victory march!
Commit - Love the unlovable. Reflect Jesus.
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