DO YOU HAVE ON THE FRAGRANCE OF CHRIST?

 “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,” 2 Corinthians 2:14-15

Do you realize that as believers we have been saved to spread the fragrance of Christ everywhere we go? This aroma is spread through the proclamation of the gospel, but also through the transformation that God has wrought in Christ in our lives as believers through the Spirit. 

My wife never leaves the house without spraying on one of her many perfumes. My wife, who teaches 3-year old’s, has shared with me that her students, who she loves and gives a lot of hugs too, love smelling her. On more than one occasion, some of her students have asked her if they could hug her just to be able to smell her fragrance. Once she received a call from a mom of one of her students asking what perfume she wears because she could smell it on her child and loved it. On the other hand, she told me once that a fellow co-worker expressed to her that she thought she wore too much perfume.

Similarly, as Christians, those who get close enough to us or who allow us to get close to them, ought to have similar reactions. If you are close to Christ, some will smell your sacrificial love for God and be drawn to it. Others will smell this sacrificial love and despised it.

John Piper writes, “Some people smell the sacrificial love of Christ in the life of a missionary and it only smells like death. They hear the gospel and all they hear is death. They look at the cross and all they see is death. They see no life. No hope. No future. No joy. And so, they turn away. And if they turn away forever, they die. They are the perishing. The smell of death leads to death. That’s the heart-breaking side of missions. They are people who don’t believe. They don’t see Christ as precious. They don’t see his suffering as a treasure. They don’t smell his death for sinners as the sweetest fragrance in the universe. It’s not a satisfying fragrance. It’s simply the smell of death. But there is the heart-rejoicing side of missions. Verse 16: “to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.” Those who are being saved smell the death of Christ as the aroma of life. They see in his death the substitute that they so desperately need before God. The Son of God dying in their place is the fragrance of life. So, they don’t turn away. They believe him and receive him and embrace him and treasure him and they live — forever. Smelling Christ as the aroma of life gives life.”  

Once again, this aroma of Christ is spread through the proclamation of the gospel, but also through the transformation that God has wrought in our lives as believers through Christ. People close to us should not only hear about the sacrificial love of Jesus demonstrated on the cross, but they ought to smell it on our lives as followers of Jesus. Our lives ought to be to some a pleasing, appealing and attracting aroma for Christ. And this ought to be so, not from a distance, but the closer others get to us. However, this will not be so if we are not close to Jesus—if we are not drawing near to Christ.

My wife’s students smell like her. Parents have not only called her about her perfume rubbing off on their children, they’ve called her to express their gratitude for how her love has rubbed off on their 3-year-old in a way that has impacted their home. They remind their parents that, “we need to thank God before we have dinner.” One parent called to tell my wife that during dinner their child ask if Christ was their savior. And then proceeded to share with them, "Jesus loves us so much that He died for our sin so that we could be saved and live with Him forever.” One parent said, “I have to start reading the bible more because our child comes home and shares the bible stories that he’s learning and sadly, I don’t know some of them.” One of the most impactful things parents have shared with my wife is how amazed they are that their child not only obeys my wife, but they want to please her. One parent asked, “how do you do it Mrs. David?” She responded, “I don’t only expect first time obedience, and discipline them in love when they don’t obey the first time, I teach them that God, who loves them, expects it and is sad when they don’t obey. In addition, I love on them.”

Similarly, if we are going to be the aroma of Christ so that it rubs off on others, we must be close enough to Jesus for the fragrance of His sacrificial love to rub off on us—to transform us. Paul wrote, "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Cor 3:17-18).

When Moses talked with God face to face, afterwards he wore a veil over his face to hide the fading glory that was shining on His face. The fading glory and the veil were symbolic of the weakness of the law to bring men to God, compared to the sufficiency of the grace of God in Christ to bring them near to God through the Spirit.

Today, because of the finished work of Christ, we can draw near to God in prayer and He promises to draw near to us. We can behold His glory in the Word through the illumination of the Spirit and be transformed into the image of Christ from one degree of glory to another for the world to see and smell.

O may we seek daily to be perfumed by the love of Jesus and spread His fragrance through our words and actions to those around us that desperately need to know the love of Jesus.    

EARNEST PRAYER / UPCOMING CHANGES TO PRAYER MEETING

When the Apostle Peter was imprisoned for His Faith, we read these important words for the church today: "So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church" (Acts 12:5). God heard the earnest prayers of those early believer. Peter was miraculously set free. 

When was the last time you heard someone pray with earnestness? The dictionary defines the word earnest as follows: “Resulting from or showing sincere and intense conviction.” I’m sorry to say that too often when I hear others pray there’s not only a lack of earnestness, but sometimes it sounds like they’re bored. 

In churches today that still have one, why is the prayer meeting the least attended meeting of the week? If asked, people will show up to almost every other kind of meeting, but call a prayer meeting, and the majority of Sunday morning attenders will be MIA, including ministry leaders. Many would rather watch a rerun of their favorite TV show. 

I believe there’s two reason for the lack of interest in attending a prayer meeting. First, many, especially in America, don’t have an urgent sense of their needs or the needs of others. When we read about the early church being gathered together in Acts 12:12, it wasn’t because of a special event, or tradition. They were gathered together because there was an urgent need that was deeply felt, namely that Peter was locked up in prison. Earnestness in prayer comes from a deep sense of our needs and the needs of those around us. Along with this deep sense of need, there also has to be love in our hearts. If we don’t have love in our hearts, we will not care much for the needs of others. We would rather sit and watch YouTube while others go to Hell. 

Secondly, earnestness in prayer comes not only from a sense of urgent need, but also faith in a God who hears the earnest prayers of His children. Where there’s much faith there will be much prayer. Where there is little faith there will be little prayer. And where there is little prayer we will see little of what only God can do in us and through us for our good and His glory. 

What's the answer to this lack of earnestness and faith in Prayer? If an individual in the congregation can't endure sound preaching because they rather have their ears tickled, what's the answer according to Paul? The answer is preach the word (2 Timothy 4:1-4). Where there's not a heart for earnest prayer, the answer is to pray. I appreciate what Charles Spurgeon said on this subject: 

"Prayer itself is an art which only the Holy Ghost can teach us. He is the giver of all prayer. Pray for prayer- pray till you can pray." 

And I would add, Pray with an open Bible asking God to teach you to pray. Prayer is a two way conversation and it's best to let God start the conversation. My friend Daniel Henderson often says, "The one who starts the conversation tends to lead the conversation." When you seek God in this way, He will begin to share His heart with you--He will share Himself with you. And when you have a right and higher conception of God--when you take on His heart of love, you will pray with faith and earnestness.  

 After Peter was miraculously delivered, Doctor Luke also wrote, “When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying” (Acts 12:12). 

We see here that God moved powerfully in answer to the earnest prayers of the church and He still does today. Recently I read these challenging words by Francis Chan: 

“If prayer isn’t vital for your church, then your church isn’t vital.” 

It’s important to note that when Luke wrote that the church prayed for Peter, he’s referring to believers. In addition, these believers were not gathered in a church building, but in the home of Mary. During the early church, it was most common for the church to gather in homes. Today, believers, especially in America, have the luxury of gathering in the comfort of beautiful church buildings. However, we should never lose sight of the fact that buildings don’t bring us any closer to God. Wherever the saints are gathered in the name of Jesus He is in the midst of us.  

In light of this, about a year ago MBC began Life Groups. These groups currently meet Monday’s, Tuesday’s and Thursday’s. My Monday night LG has not been meeting in recent months due to health issues. However, moving forward it we will begin meeting again, Wednesday, January 30th. 

We’re also excited to announce that in the coming months we will be launching two more LG’s. One of the reasons that we are adding additional LG’s is because they’re growing. Currently we have approximately 50 brothers and sisters meeting in a LG during the week. The LG that meets on Thursday night had a recent high attendance of 26 people. This year we are going to make some adjustments to how LG’s are facilitated so that prayer becomes a vital part of what takes place and not just something that we tag on at the end. 

In light of the growth of LGs and the adjustments that will be made to make prayer a vital part, we believe that it would be best to meet for corporate prayer once a month rather than every week as we do currently. More specifically, LGs will meet nightly every week except the last week of the month. The last week of the month we will have a church wide corporate prayer meeting where we will encourage all LGs to attend. In addition, we will require that everyone who is involved in ministry be in attendance to give themselves to earnest faith filled prayer. 

If you currently attend our weekly prayer meeting on Wednesday nights, but are not in an LG group, we highly encourage you to join one. If Wednesday nights work best for you, consider joining the Wednesday night LG facilitated by me. 

These changes will take effect starting the last week of January. 

If you have any questions, or need more information about Life Groups, please contact the church office. 

THE POWER OF INTERCESSORY PRAYER

"For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many" (2 Cor. 1:8-11). 

Since being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in June of 2018, many brothers and sisters in Christ have brought me before God in prayer for healing and restoration. People all over the country and in other parts of the world have been praying for me. It's been about seven months since my grim diagnosis and on a regular bases I still receive cards in the mail from people all over the country expressing, "I'm praying for you." I’m so humbled and thankful.

I have (a retired Police officer) received letters from inmates, (believers), serving time in state prisons across Illinois. These letters, expressing their love and fervent prayer for me, have been some of the most moving and encouraging letters I have received. One inmate wrote from Dixon Prison:

Who would have thought 20 years ago a convict would be writing an ex-police officer and not only writing but sincerely praying for him and it's a blessing to me. I know your story and love for Christ. Only Jesus Christ allows us to remove all titles and love as brothers. Trust and obey. When we trust and obey God He does the unbelievable things in our lives. I love you brother. God bless you, your wife, and family (Psalm 62-1-2). You are in our prayers and part of our family Marco. 

Rejoicing always because of Jesus

Paul B. 

Another inmate from Dixon prison wrote:

Dear Pastor Marco

Greetings! I rejoice to hear the praise report of the Lord's healing power in your life. He is faithful! Rejoice! Know that you, and Liz are always in my thoughts and prayers. Be strong and encouraged. The battle is not yours but the Lord's. Remember, greater is He who is in you than He who is in the world; and you are more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus. I love you, and God bless, Liz and your home.

Peace and love

Bro. Modesto E. 

The Apostle Paul, who was delivered from death in answer to prayer and still was facing many challenges wrote to the church in Corinth: “You also must help us by prayer…” (2 Cor. 1:11)

Paul understood well the power of intercessory prayer in the economy of God. I often think, If the great Apostle Paul looked to the prayers of many to secure the help of heaven, how much more should I.

The great preacher Charles Spurgeon wrote: “As to how many souls intercessory prayer has instrumentally saved, recording angel, thou canst tell! Eternity, thou shalt reveal! There is nothing which intercessory prayer cannot do. Oh! believer, you have a mighty engine in your hand, use it well, use it constantly, use it now with faith, and thou shalt surely prevail. And, O God, lend us thy strength now, that this duty may come forcibly home to our conscience, and we may at once engage in this exercise!”

Today, I no longer have stage four cancer. And I know that my deliverance has come in answer to the prayers of many who were moved by the love of God to pray for me.

In light of all that God has done for me in answer to the prayers of many, I’ve asked myself recently, how much time do I spend laboring in prayer for others? I must confess that I can’t say that I labor in prayer for others as much as I know others labor in prayer for me. I want this to change by the grace of God. Spurgeon, who was helped by the prayers of many, expresses the same sentiments:

“Brethren, I have to EXHORT YOU TO PRAY FOR OTHERS. Before I do it, I will ask you a personal question. Do you always pray for others? Guilty or not guilty, here? Do you think you have taken the case of your children, your church, your neighbourhood, and the ungodly world before God as you ought to have done? If you have, I have not. For I stand here a chief culprit before the Master to make confession of the sin; and while I shall exhort you to practice what is undoubtedly a noble privilege, I shall be most of all exhorting myself.”

It important for us to see also that Paul, who wrote, “You also must help us by prayer…” followed up that plea with what should be the ultimate motivation for intercessory prayer: “…so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many" (2 Cor. 1:11).   

Remember that Bro. Modesto, an inmate at Dixon prison, who has been praying on my behalf, wrote in his letter to me: “I rejoice to hear the praise report of the Lord's healing power in your life. He is faithful! Rejoice!" Many others also who have prayed for me are not only rejoicing and praising God for the power of prayer, but are sharing my testimony with others. Furthermore, several fellow saints have shared with me that my testimony has opened doors for them to share the hope of the gospel with others who were moved by how God has worked in my life in answer to prayer.  

O may God, who works mightily in answer to prayer, give us much grace to labor in prayer for one another for our good and to the greater fame of Jesus!